Listen to Ah Qin (Playing Go)
It was another Double Ninth Festival.
When Song Shuqing was being draggled and hustled by Ming Qin, her heart was filled with reluctance.
Today is the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, but the life-treasuring Song Shuqing wouldn’t choose to go to the heights of Cangyue Tower, even if every high building or hilltop in the world exploded.
The reason stemmed from a day when Ming Qin heard that she had met the County Princess and became elated with anticipation, wanting to know who would win or lose if the two were to match wits in a game of Go.
Song Shuqing rolled her eyes inwardly.
Thinking of Chongwen Princess’s intimidating face, which would deter people from even approaching, how would she deign to play Go with her?
Song Shuqing replied indifferently, “That day, I went in a hurry for a mission and didn’t have the time to play Go.”
However, a few days later, Ming Qin excitedly told her that the Princess had been very pleased to meet her and had warmly invited her to a Go duel during her next day off.
County Princess?
Happy?
Welcome?
Are you sure you didn’t hear wrong?
Song Shuqing was truly skeptical about this, but as her gaze met Ming Qin’s bright eyes, and that expression which seemed to say “Isn’t our County Princess a great person?”, she opened her mouth but really couldn’t say anything.
Qinqin is a fool; as her senior sister, one can only be tolerant.
She felt helpless.
Very helpless.
(Originally translated on littlepandatranslations.com, let's go!)
But upon meeting the Chongwen County Princess, all the helplessness in her heart turned into sheer astonishment.
This smile that felt like a warm spring breeze, the gentle voice like flowing water, and the charming lift of the eye corners when she looked up—was this woman, who was talking to her junior sister-disciple, really the same Chongwen County Princess who had made her hair stand on end that day at Cangyue Tower?
Unbelievable!
Oh, my goodness, this world is truly unbelievable!
Is this what they call doing nothing for love?
Pushing the petrified Song Shuqing to the already set up Go board, the Princess had taken her seat on the opposite side, while Ming Qin diligently served them tea and water.
Murong Yan wore a snow-white fox fur around her waist, her face filled with smiles, hereyes reflecting the busy figure before her.
After Ming Qin finally slowed down, she naturally extended her hand to embrace Murong Yan and let her sit in her lap, “Sitting upright for too long will be too much for her legs, leaning against me should feel better.”
While explaining to Song Shuqing, she gently stroked the waist of the person in her embrace to make her more comfortable.
Song Shuqing, seeing the two before her, couldn’t help but feel that perhaps she was just having an unlucky day for not consulting the almanac before leaving the house, resulting in her becoming a huge third wheel in front of this affectionate pair.
The brightness of this third wheel was probably enough to solve the energy shortage from her past life, wasn’t it?
As she let her mind wander, Murong Yan turned to her and spoke with a gentleness she had never heard before, “Senior Sister, please begin.”
Who exactly is your senior sister?
Song Shuqing had a headache, but she still maintained a calm expression as she guessed stones.
Murong Yan held the black pieces and went first.
The very first move was placed in the upper right corner (on the side of the County Princess, close to the left corner from her perspective).
As expected.
Pretending to be happy and welcoming was just for show; deep down it was a provocation intent on killing.
Song Shuqing inwardly sighed, gearing up her full attention to deal with the situation.
Murong Yan , after the initial focus, began to casually toss the pieces around.
She even allowed Song Shuqing to conquer territories unchecked, establishing a stronghold from the get-go.
Initially seizing the advantage with ease, Song Shuqing was taken aback, but her ability to smile soon faded.
Soldiers have no constant momentum, water has no permanent shape. What was originally thought to be randomly placed scattered pieces unexpectedly became a formation of ambush troops, throwing her into chaos and engaging her in unexpected combat.
Later, the black pieces played a small advantage into a big one, seizing the initiative and turning what was originally Song Shuqing’s steady internal momentum into nothing in an instant.
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Song Shuqing straightened her head and quickly calculated her moves. Facing traps everywhere, she adopted an unconventional strategy to lure the enemy, waiting for Murong Yan’s mistakes and preparing to strike directly at the heart.
It’s only a wooden board and stone pieces, yet it feels like gunpowder smoke, a barrage of knives and swords, with each move being the result of meticulous calculation and strategizing.
Despite the slowing pace of the game, both players’ foreheads were beginning to show a fine layer of sweat.
Continuing the fight until sunset, Song Shuqing concedes with a bitter smile after finding no place to put her next piece, “It was an unfair victory for me; let’s call it a draw.”
She had already noticed during the latter half of the game that Murong Yan was struggling physically.
“Losing by half a point is still losing,” Murong Yan said calmly, leaning weakly against Ming Qin’s chest, her face showing fatigue. The lengthy game had taken its toll on her body.
As Ming Qin wiped away her sweat with one hand and massaged her spine with the other, she shook her head in frustration, “No more competition, we will not compete anymore.”
Murong Yan looked up at Ming Qin with a faintly amused expression, soothingly placing her cool hand on Ming Qin’s neck, “Didn’t you say you wanted to watch? It’s just unfortunate I didn’t win this round for you.”
“The beauty of the game is what matters, not victory or defeat,” Ming Qin frowns, leaning in to press her forehead against the woman’s, her words somewhat muffled, “I’m worried you’re exhausting yourself.”
“Don’t worry, I’m fine.”
Murong Yan reassures her softly, holding her fingers, then turning her attention toward Song Shuqing, “I thoroughly enjoyed today’s match. It has been a long time since I’ve had such an exhilarating game.”
Coming out of her absorption in the recent gameplay, Song Shuqing acknowledges with genuine admiration, “The Princess is indeed a rare master; today’s session has been exceedingly beneficial to me.”
Murong Yan smiles warmly, offering, “Should there be a chance another day, I hope Senior Sister Song would be willing to duel once more.”
“It would be my honor,” Song Shuqing replies with a hint of humor in her voice, “But indeed, we should start our next game earlier.”
With the sky not yet fully darkened, Song Shuqing, noting the Princess’s fatigue, stands up to take her leave.
After the maid finishes serving the evening meal and the figure of Ming Qin, who had been hiding among the treetops, scales back into the room.
Despite her tired body, Murong Yan’s mind is still replaying the moves of the Go game. Her hands are idle, chopsticks untouched, and even Ming Qin’s calls fail to elicit a response.
“Ah! Ah Qin…”
Feeling her body suddenly lifted, Murong Yan snaps back from her contemplation. Before she fully grasps the situation, she realizes her prosthetic limb has been removed, and Ming Qin is supporting her with a displeased expression using only one hand.
“This won’t do,” Ming Qin murmurs, weighing the princess in her hand with a frown. “How can you be so light and not eat properly?”
Murong Yan looks down at the face showing a touch of complaint and speaks with a sudden cheerfulness, “Is Ah Qin taking care of Yanyan?”
Caught off guard, Ming Qin stammers, then hastily explains, “No, that’s not it. I just think it’s not good to skip meals.”
“Ah Qin can take care of me if you want.”
Murong Yan bows her head to touch Ming Qin’s forehead, their noses brushing lightly. “I will listen to Ah Qin.”
Their breaths mingle, drawing them into an intimate closeness.
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After a moment that stretches into an eternity, the woman held aloft gives in to the impulse first. Her breath, untainted by any food, carries the bold fragrance of peonies directly into Ming Qin’s mouth, an unspoken demand for acceptance.
Ming Qin, with compliant tenderness, embraces everything about the woman, and aware of her shortness of breath, always takes care to withdraw slightly when her breathing becomes too labored.
Understanding the precious woman in her arms’ disposition, Ming Qin, as always, shows compassion. Even when Murong Yan struggles for breath, she continues to gently press against the corners of her lips, keeping their connection unbroken.
“Shall we go eat?”
Ming Qin’s voice is husky, and she nudges Murong Yan’s chin gently, careful not to let her slip from her grasp while she adjusts her hold to lift her higher.
With cheeks flushed, Murong Yan looks down from her elevated position, her eyes glistening as if waves are stirring within them.
Seeing Ming Qin’s worried look, Murong Yan lets out a soft sigh, steadying her own aroused desires with a tender voice of surrender.
“Alright. Together with Ah Qin.”
The author has something to say:
I don’t play Go, and all my references are from research and looking at a few AlphaGo game records. It’s all a bit of a creative bluster, so don’t take it too seriously.
However, I have heard that it’s somewhat of an unspoken courtesy for black to play the first move close to the inner side of white’s left hand, leaving space for the opponent to play comfortably.
I’ve also checked with friends who play Go (and search engines) and it seems that starting the game by playing directly on one’s own side, as the County Princess does, is slightly mischievous (but it’s okay, any mischief from the County Princess is forgivable).
The County Princess to Ming Qin: “I will listen to Ah Qin, but why can’t you see that I also want a kiss?”
The County Princess to her senior sister: “I’ve enjoyed our game, but you can go now.”
Ming Qin loses to Go against her senior sister, muttering: “Damn it, I can’t win.”
The County Princess loses Go against her senior sister, but to Ming Qin: “Winning or losing doesn’t matter! You’re too tired, no more games from now on!”
Conclusion: Both are unapologetically double standard.
LP: Re-translated on February 03, 2024
Lol at Senior Sister being resigned to watching two people flirting in front of her
senior sister being fed dog food.
Is Senior Sister a reincarnator? It’s twice now that she mentioned about a previous life. First she said something about not reading enough parenting books. Now she thought about light bulbs and power shortage issues. Far as I gathered they are still using oil lamps here and likening herself to a light bulb is a chinese slang for being a third wheel, right?