The Crown Prince has fallen, the throne changes hands
Murong Yan had a long dream.
In the dream, she rode on horseback along a dark and secluded forest path, her back not feeling the familiar warmth.
She was alone.
An inexplicable fear and panic filled her heart.
『Don’t be afraid.』
『I will protect you.』
Unexpectedly, a reassuring voice echoed from far behind, spurring her to continue onward.
Gazing past the intertwining trunks of the trees, the distant waters of a lake could faintly be seen.
The distant yet familiar voice sounded once more.
『I hate the water; no matter how hard I try, I just can’t learn to swim.』
It was Ah Qin!
The woman’s grip on the reins tightened, and in a flurry, she thought to turn the horse around to search for that figure that weighed on her mind.
『Yanyan, be good, don’t look back.』
This time, she did not choose to obey. Instead, she pulled on the reins firmly and resolutely looked back.
The icy lake water churned and from the end of the pitch-black path, a bone-chilling cold climbed from her feet, creeping up all the way to her neck.
A black shape floated and bobbed on the water, slowly drifting towards her. Squinting, she saw it was the bloodless face of Ming Qin.
It was her Ah Qin.
It was the vibrant sunlight, the Ah Qin who represented everything to her.
(Originally translated on littlepandatranslations.com, let's go!)
It was all her fault! This was all her fault!
I should never have left at that time; I should have stayed, stayed with Ah Qin!
I should be accompanying Ah Qin on the road to the Yellow Springs, not letting Ah Qin, who can’t swim, drift alone in the lake like this…
Drowned.
Desperate.
Alone.
My Ah Qin.
Murong Yan suddenly opened her eyes in bed, her expression filled with tremendous horror, gasping for breath as large beads of sweat dripped down from between her brows. That annoying nightmare had been hunting her relentlessly these past few days, as if it wanted to devour the last bit of her lucidity.
“Brother! Brother!” Murong Yan shouted towards the outside of the tent, her tone somewhat desperate and hollow.
Murong Can, who was standing guard outside, hurriedly lifted the curtain and quickly stepped in, kneeling down to be at eye level with his sister who was struggling to sit up in bed.
“Brother, today… did you find anything?” Murong Yan asked nervously and with some hesitation, gulping down saliva.
Murong Can shook his head firmly, “Nothing, Yue’er. A thousand people have been dispatched to search day and night, and nothing’s been found.” He took his sister’s trembling hand and comforted her.
Hearing the man’s words, Murong Yan breathed a sigh of relief.
Today was the day the army was to break camp and head south, and it had been five days since the order was given to search the entire forest and dredge the lake, yet not a shred of a message indicating Ming Qin’s death had come through. This brought a glimmer of hope to her nearly hopeless heart.
Ah Qin had said she wouldn’t die.
Ah Qin didn’t lie.
Ah Qin must still be alive.
She must be alive!
Once this is all over, Ah Qin will come back, for she never goes back on her word.
Murong Yan tightly clutched the hair tie in her hand, kissing it, as she continuously chanted in her heart.
On this night, atop a hill outside the capital city, Murong Yan sat alone at the highest point of the ancient temple.
As far as the eye could see, one could view the lights of the capital, restless and unusually noisy.
Today was the day of the decisive battle.
Yet, Murong Yan remained indifferent, alone in the tranquil forest temple, as if the tumult over the imperial succession happening out there had nothing to do with her.
The boiling water made a bubbling sound, breaking the silence. The woman, clad in a red robe, sat elegantly in front of the Go board, her gaze sweeping over the black and white stones already laid out, as she poured the water into the teapot.
Feeling the fatigue in her body, yet her mind was exceptionally clear, she hadn’t been able to sleep for days.
It wasn’t the concern over the outcome of the battle that troubled her, but rather the loathing of the incessant nightmares.
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Thinking about today’s overt and covert struggles centered around the capital, Murong Yan didn’t care much about it.
Although she despised her father’s inaction towards family matters, she had confidence in the 『Prince Yu』 who was responsible for defending the country, and in Murong Can, the ever-victorious general.
Besides, with her meticulous mind, she had played out the scenarios with the men of her household on the sand table dozens of times; no matter how the situation changed, they always had a counter-strategy.
Looking over the Go board, she saw the white stones besieged layer upon layer by the black ones, already at the end of their tether.
The game was nearing its end.
Pouring tea for herself, the light brown liquid mingled with white foam, adding a pleasant fragrance to this small room.
Most of the civil officials had fallen under the control of the Crown Prince’s faction; corrupt and greedy, yet fortunately, the nation’s foundation was strong enough to withstand it. Many outraged scholars could no longer stand by, but due to the overpowering authority, they were unable to resist.
This time, with the imperial edict and the tiger tally in hand, the Prince Yu arrived like the long-awaited morning sun, drawing people towards the light, ready at any moment to capture and strangle those underworld rats who feasted on corruption.
Watching the white side losing the game, she sipped her tea casually, then grabbed the remaining few white pieces from the board and tossed them aside. The sound of the pieces scattering across the ground couldn’t disturb the woman’s serene and indifferent composure.
She drained the tea from her cup and looked up at the cloudless sky.
It was a deep velvet blackness that seemed to devour everything, yet it was studded with dazzling points of light.
In reality, this game of Go was of no consequence to her.
Murong Yan thought to herself.
But still, she hoped to achieve victory, not for anything else, but for Ah Qin.
If one day in the future she could see Ah Qin, she hoped to nestle in that familiar and warm embrace, smiling as she told Ah Qin that her efforts had not been in vain.
Ah Qin, you are a good shadow guard, one who can retire with a pension.
So, take me with you.
If…
If… I truly never see you again, on the road to the netherworld, I will still take that already cold hand that went ahead of me, telling Ah Qin the mission is accomplished, and there’s no need for further concern.
Ah Qin, be with me, whether it’s in the underworld or the cycle of rebirth.
This time, please don’t leave me, okay?
The wooden door creaked slightly, interrupting the woman’s melancholy, as a furry big head squeezed through the gap in the door. The tiger cub, nearly half a year old, had an athletic physique, already showing the makings of a fierce beast.
It approached with a graceful gait, its lean shoulder muscles shifting with every step.
“Hu’er, come here.”
Murong Yan watched the uninvited intruder, her eyes still unable to conceal the hidden sorrow, yet she still showed a tender smile, stretching out her arms.
Hearing the call, the seemingly composed tiger couldn’t help but wag its tail, striding quickly towards the woman. It affectionately rubbed its face against Murong Yan’s, then dutifully sprawled beneath her, seeming both as a companion and a guardian.
Observing the wild beast’s demeanor, Murong Yan’s mind was once again filled with the visage of its master, and her heart was overwhelmed with endless desolation.
She patted the furry head at her feet rhythmically, all the while gazing at the towering city walls.
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Throughout the night, she occasionally lowered her head to sip tea, but more often, she was simply immersed in her gloomy thoughts.
As the night receded, dawn arrived with the rising sun, and the tiger’s half-closed eyes suddenly widened, looking towards the direction of the imperial city.
Murong Yan blinked and focused her attention.
On the distant city walls, they were covered with bright red banners, fluttering in the wind like ribbons, shining brightly in the morning sunlight of the rising sun.
It’s done.
This is the sign of success.
The Crown Prince has fallen; the throne has changed hands.
The mission is accomplished.
A myriad of emotions flashed through her heart in an instant, but it was neither ecstasy nor relief.
It was a feeling of even greater loneliness and emptiness.
The images in her mind froze on the day they left the city when Ming Qin gently tightened the fox fur around her and solemnly swore to her.
『I will protect you.』
Ah Qin, you have indeed protected me.
The mission is also completed.
So, come and find me quickly, just like before.
The author has something to say:
(There will be a second update later.)
Additionally, um… the angsty part hasn’t ended yet, but just like I said before, a bit of bitterness now will make it sweeter later!!! I’m currently writing the ending, and it will definitely be a sweet HE (happily ever after)!
Don’t feel heartbroken oh~ (smoothing things over for everyone)
LP: Re-translated on March 03, 2024
Huhuhu, find your wife now and thank you for the chapter!
Wonder where she’s been and what she’s been doing, also hope the other shadow guards aren’t dead.
Thanks for the chapter!
So is she still alive? Qin qin.. 😭
Pleaaaase let her come back already, I need to see them together.
Thanks for the chapter!
I love the imagery here, really well done by the author and translator. Thank you for translating this series!!