The Princess’ Shadow Guard – Chapter 48

Really, I really want to see Yanyan (from Ming Qin’s perspective)

In Shu.

Even in the scorching summer, the nights remained cool.

Not far from the bustling fireworks and willow-lined alley (red-light district), nestled within a hutong, was a teahouse that had quietly opened at the beginning of the year.

In stark contrast to the quaint shop, a wooden plaque, inscribed with bold and vigorous cursive script, bore the name 『Houshengtang』.

“Alas.”

The place was so deserted that sparrows could be lured to the door. A woman propped her head up at the entrance of the shop, sighing, “This really is too quiet.”

A man in the yard behind heard her words but merely remained silent, sweeping the ground with one hand. The evening breeze lifted his sleeves, revealing that the left sleeve of his robe was empty.

“Ah, I really want to go to the pavilion to listen to music!” the woman cried out loudly, seemingly unable to contain herself as she abruptly stood up.

It was then that the man spoke softly, “Junior Sister Song, the teahouse is still at a loss this month.”

Having said that, he lifted his gaze, his motions ceasing momentarily, silently staring at Song Shuqing, making the woman’s heart bristle with unease.

“Alright, alright, Ah Yun, stop looking at me like that. Fine, I won’t go!” Song Shuqing spread her hands in resignation, slumping back down and sullenly fiddling with the abacus in front of her, helpless against the stern and taciturn demeanor of her senior brother.

“Senior Sister! Brother Ah Yun!” A tall figure pushing a handcart approached in the night. The woman’s face sported several pale scars from cuts, but paired with her hearty smile, they did not look terrifying; instead, they added a wild charm to her originally delicate features.

“Qinqin, you’re back! You’ve worked hard.” Song Shuqing waved her hand and stood up to approach the handcart, looking worriedly at Ming Qin who was carrying tea leaves. “Are you alright? Isn’t that too heavy? Why don’t you rest a bit before moving it? Or maybe wait and let me carry it?”

Her attitude had changed from her usual laziness.

“It’s okay, it’s okay, Senior Sister, you worry too much,” Ming Qin said with a smile, gesturing to her senior sister not to fret. She then effortlessly lifted two large boxes of tea leaves and carried them upstairs without changing her expression.

In fact, it was no wonder that Song Shuqing was somewhat anxious.

It was the early spring when she received a plea for help through a messenger pigeon from Ming Qin. She left Cao Yun, who was recovering from his wounds at the teahouse, and hurriedly rushed to a remote mountain village, only to find no trace of her junior sister.

Carrying a medicine box and anxiously pacing back and forth, a man who seemed to be an honest and simple hunter patted her shoulder and led Song Shuqing to a stone hut in the forest.

There, she saw Ming Qin – drenched and worse for wear.

Yes, thoroughly drenched.

Lying on the bed, Ming Qin’s face was devoid of color. Half of her right ear had been cut off, leaving behind a dark hole hanging next to her head. Her body was covered in crisscrossing blade wounds—slashes, lacerations, and punctures—mingled with bruises of a bluish-purple hue. Although most of them had scabbed over, there were still a few deep wounds oozing blood, hinting at signs of infection.

From head to toe, there wasn’t a patch of skin larger than a palm that remained unscathed. She lay there like a rag, unable to move.

“…Senior Sister, you’re here.”

Upon seeing the familiar Song Shuqing, Ming Qin’s dry lips managed to force out a smile uglier than a cry. She squeezed out a voice from her lungs and said, “The mission… is complete.”

Song Shuqing looked at her beloved junior sister in such a sorry state and felt as if her chest was being suffocated. Her throat felt sour.

Her lips pressed tightly together, she didn’t speak. Instead, she dropped the medicine box with a thud as if venting her frustration, opened up her package with a huff, and took out clean bandages and needle and thread. Bending her head, she began to stitch up the battered body before her.

“…Senior Sister, don’t stay silent,” Ming Qin struggled to say, barely managing to keep her eyes half-opened, “…it’s scary.”

“Shut up!” Song Shuqing couldn’t hold back and scolded the person before her, yet her hands remained gentle, “You stupid donkey.”

Ah, Ming Qin knew her senior sister would be angry.

Watching her senior sister rare display of rage, Ming Qin obediently stopped talking and let her proceed with the work at hand, thinking to herself.

But it wasn’t intentional.

Back in the woods, all I had to do was gauge my remaining strength and dodge like in Tai Chi, drawing out the battle. That way, I would have managed to successfully stall the pursuers, and even in death, my body wouldn’t have ended up so mangled.

After all, since it was for Murong Yan, I was willing to die.

But Xiao He…

That detestable Xiao He.

『Eleven years ago, I killed the beloved mother of the County Princess, and now, eleven years later, I’ll be killing the beloved shadow guard of the County Princess. It feels rather peculiar.』

Unbelievably… that damn beast actually whispered the vilest words in such a indifferent tone next to my ear.

In that instant, my sanity shattered into pieces.

I felt as if my chest had been set ablaze by a raging fire, on the verge of exploding. I no longer cared about preserving my strength; my furious emotions urged me to swing my blade with all my might.

If I could just wound the man before me with a single strike, I would gladly endure two or three blows without feeling any pain.

My entire body was covered in fine blade wounds as we exchanged blows. I, devoid of strength, could only rely on sheer willpower, gradually falling into a disadvantageous position.

In the end, with a brave front like a mad dog, as Xiao He swung his blade towards my head, I forcibly surged forward. Although my right ear was severed in the process, I managed to desperately sever the tendons of the man’s hand.

Afterwards, enraged Xiao He struck back and threw me into the lake, but I still felt it was worth it.

Initially, I thought that being unable to swim meant certain death for me.

Besides, with the mission accomplished, there was nothing worth clinging to. I closed my eyes and let my body sink into the water.

Who would have thought that upon waking up, there were no soldiers from the underworld, neither were there any bird-like men with meaty wings to be seen. Instead, there was only the anxious faces of the hunter couple, frantically attempting to apply ointment to my battered body, not knowing where to begin.

Unable to utter a sound, I was acutely aware of the severity of my internal injuries. I originally just wanted these kindhearted people to leave my body as it was and wait for my last breath. However, I then saw the hunter’s wife approach me with a newborn baby in her arms, still swaddled in its blanket.

The tiny infant waved its arms about, its short fingers clasping onto the tip of mine.

Tightly, warmly.

Such a lively existence, tender yet so resilient.

It couldn’t hurt to try once more.

Ming Qin obediently allowed the enthusiastic hunter couple to clumsily tend to her wounds, and with the help of medicinal herbs of decidedly inferior quality compared to the formulas used by the Shadow Guard Camp, miraculously managed to hold on until her familiar senior sister arrived.

Song Shuqing, with a sullen face, snipped the thread and glanced at the now sleeping patient in front of her. She stood up and deeply bowed to the couple standing by, “I truly cannot express enough gratitude for your care of my junior sister. I am sincerely sorry for this imposition.”

As she reached into her sleeve to hand out some silver taels, the man hastily waved his hands and said, “Please, don’t mention it, my lord. Miss Ming has been very kind to us, and she had already paid for her lodging—a little too generously indeed.”

“Yes,” agreed the woman holding the child. “If you don’t mind the simplicity of our hut, please allow Miss Ming to stay until she has fully recovered before leaving.”

After expressing her thanks once more, Song Shuqing turned back to care for Ming Qin. The two of them stayed in the stone house for a good half-month before setting off to join Cao Yun in Shu.

Having organized the newly arrived tea leaves at the teahouse, Ming Qin climbed to the loft where her bed was situated. The air was still faintly filled with the fragrance of tea leaves, leaving her feeling somewhat empty inside.

It was as if a beautiful silhouette had been imprinted in her heart.

Whether it was the tea leaves that she could never quite understand, or the amber-colored tea liquor that appeared in the porcelain cup when water was poured, or even the tea needle and tea scoop placed to the side, all could stir up memories in her heart.

The mission had already been completed, and she should have been able to relax leisurely.

After all, with Murong Wan ascending the throne, there really wasn’t much left to worry about in the capital.

Despite the fact that Murong Yan reunited with Prince Yu and her family, living happily and comfortably,

Ming Qin’s thoughts were still filled with her.

Touching her chest, Ming Qin could only feel a sense of hollowness.

It was as if no amount of delicious food could fill this emptiness.

Really, I really want to see Yanyan.

The author has something to say:

May I ask what the difference is between ‘dada’ and ‘taishi’? (Raises hand to question)

Since sometimes I’m called one and sometimes the other, I’m a bit unsure. Or are they actually the same? (Tilts head)

LP: Re-translated on March 08, 2024