The Princess’ Shadow Guard – Chapter 54

Don’t die out there

As Ming Qin handed over the used bedpan and the bathtub after a bath to the maid outside the room, she saw her Mistress and the familiar Doctor Ren approaching from a distance.

She blinked, trying to make out their lips moving.

『The situation is really not good.』

『At this rate, we can only maintain her current state; recovery is utterly impossible.”

『The poison that the Princess has been afflicted with is truly troublesome, not like any ordinary poison, and there are no records of it in any books or histories.』

『If things keep going this way, what will we do when the time comes…』

『Ah, if only we could find Wang Wei.』

『Wang Wei? You mean the mad Imperial Physician who was expelled from the Palace a few years ago?』

『Yes, although Wang Wei is a bit crazy, always spouting nonsense, his insights into medicine are extensive. He might have a way, but…』

『But what?』

『I heard he was sent to Jingzhou, but it’s unclear where exactly in Jingzhou. Besides, with his quirky temperament, even if the emperor issued a decree calling him back, he might not be willing…』

“Let me go!”

A sudden voice interrupted their conversation.

“Qinqin?” Gu Yun looked at the dark figure that suddenly appeared.

“Mistress, let me go to find Doctor Wang and persuade him to return to the capital.” Ming Qin stood in front of the two, her face full of sincerity and urgency. “I can do it.”

Gu Yun tilted her head to think for a while, “I remember you were the one who escorted Doctor Wang to Jingzhou five years ago, right?”

“Yes, Doctor Wang should still recognize me.” Puffing her chest, the young shadow guard spoke earnestly. Without waiting for Gu Yun and Doctor Ren to reply, Ming Qin continued, “If I go to find him, I also have a better chance of bringing Doctor Wang back to the capital.”

“And let me try!”

Her tone resonant.

“But Qinqin, you haven’t rested for many days.” Thinking of her beloved child who has been on the move from Shu to the capital without rest, Gu Yun was somewhat worried, “How about, selecting a few junior brothers and sisters from the Shadow Guard Camp to accompany you on the road?”

“To go from the capital to Jingzhou and back within twenty days, we must make haste.” Ming Qin shook her head, analyzing the pros and cons with a clear tone, “Mistress, the junior brothers and sisters are not yet accustomed to such labor and hardship. To travel day and night without stopping, only I can do it.”

Ever since last winter, when He Jingshou protected Murong Wan from the deposed Crown Prince’s soldiers and got injured himself, as the senior brother, Lin Yan has taken up the training work, with no rest day in. And Song Shuqing, who needs to stay in the capital to take care of Murong Yan and assist with making medicine, couldn’t possibly go with Ming Qin either.

Moreover…

Ming Qin thought to herself.

She was already the fastest in terms of speed in the entire camp. If she were by herself, she was even more confident that she could bring back the Imperial Physician Wang within the limited time to treat Yanyan.

She could definitely do it.

No.

She must do it.

“Alright.” Gu Yun, who was unaware of her physical condition, conceded, looking at the persistent Ming Qin, “Indeed, you are the best choice for rushing on the road. Get a record of the Princess’s pulse and medication from Shuqing, and first thing tomorrow morning…”

“I’m leaving tonight.” Ming Qin interrupted her Mistress’ words, turning around as if she could not stay a moment longer, while saying, “I will definitely bring back the Imperial Physician Wang.”

When Ming Qin rushed into the pharmacy, demanding her senior sister Song Shuqing urgently for things, Song Shuqing just silently stared at her with arms crossed.

“Sister! I need to leave the city quickly, please hurry and prepare the record for me.” Seeing no response from the person in front of her, Ming Qin grows anxious, “The journey to Jingzhou is long, I must start as soon as possible.”

Song Shuqing casually took something from a wooden box on the wall and stuffed it into Ming Qin’s rambling mouth, asking, “Is it tasty?”

“Huh?” Not quite understanding her sister’s intention, Ming Qin chewed perfunctorily before saying, “Tasty, tasty. Sister, your pulse diagnosis and medication are…”

“Hmph.” Song Shuqing snorted, her hand clenched into a fist, “You even say bitter Coptis is tasty, are you waiting to die on the road before realizing how terrible your physical condition is? Extend your wrist to me.”

“I… I…”

Ming Qin stepped back resolutely, resisting, “I still have time; I must go to Jingzhou.” Her determined eyes were lit by candlelight, “Senior sister, I’ve already made my choice, haven’t I?”

“You… you… you idiot.”

Grinding her teeth, Song Shuqing’s forehead veins were prominently pulsating, “If you die because of the Princess, even if she wakes up, she won’t be happy. You saved her life, but you’re choking her heart, do you understand?”

Originally, I was somewhat optimistic, thinking that the extra month we negotiated from the deposed crown prince would smoothly heal the princess. And then, the entire Imperial Medical Institute could turn to work together to detoxify my junior sister.

But now, after so many days, even with all our manpower, the princess’s condition hasn’t improved at all, let alone focusing on treating Qinqin?

Damn it, in my previous life, I only took biology as an elective in college, and I know absolutely nothing about the advanced medicine of the 21st century. This is terrible!

“But it has to be me who goes to Jingzhou. Imperial Physician Wang is a quirky man, but he’s familiar with me. I’m the one with the best chance of persuading him,” Ming Qin said calmly as she looked at Song Shuqing, whose face was pale with worry.

She lowered her head, her voice pausing for a moment, “I know, I know when Yanyan wakes up, she will be upset. She’s such a good person, she wouldn’t want anyone to die for her, so Senior Sister… you must not tell her, you have to keep it a secret for me.”

Ming Qin raised her head, her tone firm, “No matter what, don’t let her find me, just let her think I’m still missing.”

Seeing the person in front of her remaining silent, refusing to respond, Ming Qin became anxious, stepping forward and somewhat stubbornly taking the woman’s hand, “Senior Sister, please, you’re the best at lying, aren’t you? Since we were kids, Master never found out. Although Yanyan can always tell if I’m lying, you’re so good you’ll definitely be able to deceive her…”

“Shut it!”

“Do you even know how to speak respectfully? All about lying…” Song Shuqing, in a huff, forcefully shook off her junior sister’s hand and begrudgingly took out a jar of pills from her sleeve. “Take two with meals each day, this should last you about a month.”

She turned away impatiently to continue copying down medical records, mumbling under her breath, “Rushed and shoddy work, no idea if it will even help. Probably won’t, but you’d better take them properly.”

“Senior Sister!” Ming Qin, grabbing the wooden jar, jumped up excitedly and hugged her senior sister, attempting to spin her around, “I knew you were the best!”

“Stop, stop, stop…” Hastily pushing the almost clingy big puppy Ming Qin away, Song Shuqing, worried about getting ink on her hands, quickly protested, “I’m writing, you stupid donkey!”

She stared straight at her pen, a look of concentration on her face.

Just as Ming Qin happily made her fourth round around the pharmacy, Song Shuqing spoke indifferently, “Don’t die out there.”

Unaware, as she did not look at the woman’s lips, Ming Qin continued to bounce around with high spirits.

“If you must die, at least die in front of me. That way, I won’t feel utterly helpless, unable to do anything.”

Song Shuqing blinked her feverish eyelids.

She only hoped not to use the ink in front of her that hadn’t dried yet.

The author has something to say:

I’ve finished writing, 70 chapters~

For the additional stories, my mind is full of various ideas, mainly focusing on the sweet moments between the two characters. I’ll update them sporadically.

Also, I’ve recently found myself wanting to listen to Chinese songs, the kind that aren’t too loud and have heart-touching lyrics. So, if you have any good songs to recommend, please do share one with me (just one per person! Please secretly tell me about your treasured songs~)

Have a great weekend!

LP: Re-translated on March 22, 2024