The Princess’ Shadow Guard – Chapter 100

Teahouse Team Building (5)

“Ah Qin, seems… very excited?” (End of text)

The northern wind was dry and strong, mixed with sand hitting the face, making Song Shuqing, who feared pain, really want to curse at this moment.

She reached out to pull up the scarf around her neck to cover her mouth and nose, a scarf that had a fragrance, personally tied by Zi Yan for her before departure.

Sighing, Song Shuqing complained internally.

Running to the northern border to eat sand in the middle of winter was one thing, but why? Why did she have to sneak out in the middle of the night to take on the task of burning the enemy’s supplies?

The horse beneath her, Wuyun, maintained a steady pace, followed by seven or eight bodyguards assigned by Murong Can. In front of strangers, Song Shuqing had to maintain her image, silently gritting her teeth and swallowing her complaints.

A raise! I demand a raise!

The plan they had devised a few days ago was to stay put below the city, use a suitable number of troops to deal with occasional harassment attacks by Tuoba Yu, then send a few elite soldiers on a night raid, but not to attack the camp, but to attack the late arriving enemy supply convoy, and then, when Tuoba Yu received the shocking news, lead the main force to crush them in one fell swoop.

The plan… is a good plan…

Song Shuqing admired Murong Yan’s ability to deduce the supply route after just a few discussions with her brother… but why?

Why was this damned night raid task given to her?

Pulling the reins slightly, as they got closer to the marked location on the map, Song Shuqing signaled the people behind to be silent, dismounted, and continued to sneak forward in the dark.

Alright, indeed, this task could only be trusted to herself.

After all, Qinqin was night blind and hard of hearing, Qin Zhen had rarely been responsible for field duties before, and it wouldn’t be right to make the Ever-Victorious General do such sneaky things. He still had to lead his troops to beat Tuoba Yu himself during the day.

Thinking it over, it was safer for her to oversee things.

Her thoughts were messy, but her steps were steady, alertly observing the surroundings.

Squatting down, ear to the ground, Song Shuqing listened carefully, then led the people behind her to walk along the wall, soon seeing some lights in the distance, with black flags in the camp, a sign of Tuoba Yu.

“Really here…” unable to help but whisper, Song Shuqing no longer wanted to admire Murong Yan’s calm tea-drinking demeanor before departure. She turned around, took the leather bag filled with kerosene handed to her, “Alright… the sooner we finish, the sooner we go home.”

She chuckled.

“Before dawn, let’s start a barbecue party.”

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Standing on the city wall, under the moonlight, Ming Qin looked at the quietly assembled troops inside the wall, though there were thousands, each was quietly waiting for orders, showing strict military discipline.

“Yanyan, do you want to go down first? The wind is strong here, it’s cold.” tightening the fur coat around the woman beside her, Ming Qin said worriedly, “Besides, when the fighting starts later, it will be very bloody…”

“I’m not leaving.” holding Ming Qin’s warm hand, Murong Yan spoke, exhaling white mist, “You will also be on the battlefield later, I want to watch over you.” her tone brooked no argument.

Having full confidence in the shadow guards’ abilities and knowing that victory in this battle was certain, Murong Yan still insisted on being here, watching Ming Qin, making sure she was safe, making sure she was unharmed.

Reaching out to hug her, Murong Yan leaned on Ming Qin’s shoulder, seemingly able to hear her heartbeat, and couldn’t help but laugh softly, “Ah Qin, seems… very excited?”

A bit embarrassed, Ming Qin nodded, “These days, going out to deal with the scouts harassing from the north… maybe my hands got itchy. Before… every day was too peaceful.” The former shadow guard hadn’t had a thrilling fight in a long time.

Her voice lowered, “I have tied you down…” Murong Yan seemed to blame herself, if one ignored the gleam in her eyes, she really seemed downcast, “It’s all my fault.”

The simple-minded Ming Qin didn’t notice the woman’s expression in her arms, hurriedly explaining, “That’s not true, Yanyan didn’t tie me down, it’s me who doesn’t want to leave Yanyan, peace is good, really! Every day with Yanyan is the best! It’s not your fault!”

Hearing this, Murong Yan buried her head in the shadow guard’s shoulder and neck, hiding her satisfied smile.

But Ming Qin, seeing the woman in her arms not responding, thought she was still unhappy, and comforted her awkwardly, “Yanyan, don’t be sad…” scratching her head, she said loudly, “When dawn comes and the city gates open, I will capture Tuoba Yu and give him to Yanyan as a merit…”

“Is it that easy?” raising her head, Murong Yan smiled, “Besides, if you capture the enemy general first, brother would be very upset.”

“Uh… is that so?” looking confused, Ming Qin hesitated, “Should I let him? But then I can’t give Yanyan a gift, can I?” Her serious contemplation about whether to yield or not would make Murong Can stomp his feet in frustration if he heard it.

Unable to hold back her laughter, Murong Yan replied, “No need to yield.” reaching out to touch the earring on Ming Qin’s earlobe, she said gently, “Ah Qin can give me whatever she wants.”

“Alright!” Ming Qin rubbed her cheek against the soft hand, then said seriously, “I will work hard!”

“Mm. I look forward to it.”

The two leaned on each other until the sky silently brightened, until a faint orange firework flashed in the distant hills.

It was Song Shuqing’s signal.

Success.

Having waited a long time, Murong Can drew his sword, shouted loudly, and instantly, the sound of horns followed, leading the troops out of the city gate.

Fifty thousand troops poured out, charging towards the northern camp ten miles away.

“Cool, I’m going too.” kissing the cheek of the woman in her arms, Ming Qin said, watching the close combat.

“Alright.” squinting slightly, Murong Yan said, “I will wait for you.” her tone was very ordinary.

Letting go and stepping forward, Ming Qin, without hesitation, leaped down from the city wall, her hair tied by Murong Yan flying with her black robe.

Grabbing Qing Shi from the city gate, she mounted the horse and galloped towards the battlefield with the sound of drums and gongs.

Having been stable for days, even with night watch, Tuoba Yu and his troops were still caught off guard by the sudden attack. Combined with the news that their supply line had been set on fire, they were completely thrown into disarray.

(Tuoba Yu: “Wasn’t Prince Yu said to be dead?! Why are you still so aggressive? I thought we had an understanding to just pretend these days, why did you attack and even burn my food?!”)

Holding a long sword in one hand, Ming Qin rode into the battle, her cheeks flushed with excitement, her hand rising and falling, like a tiger among wolves, tearing apart the enemies around her with beastly ferocity.

Precisely inserting the blade into the gap of the armor, turning her wrist to decapitate the man trying to attack her, the blood splashing on her hand moistened the hilt, but Ming Qin continued to advance indifferently.

The sound of killing was deafening.

Murong Can, leading a few personal guards, charged at the forefront, straight into the main formation of the northern army. Seeing the shadow guard in the corner of his eye, he said while waving a long sword engraved with a dragon pattern, “Don’t get scared by the battlefield bloodshed, or I’ll say my sister misjudged.”

“How could that be.”

With red eyes, Ming Qin’s face bore an unknowing wild smile, exhaling white mist, “Yanyan never makes mistakes.” Knocking down the enemy charging at her, the chaotic hoofs trampled, the man’s scream seemed so common on this place.

Holding back a hum from her nose, Murong Can casually cut down the wooden pole with the black military flag, looking forward, waving his sword even faster, seemingly not wanting to fall behind.

The two fought without words.

Suddenly, a muscular man appeared, braids flying, wielding a huge battle axe aimed at Murong Can from the side.

Ming Qin stepped forward to block, raising her sword to deflect the blow, the axe landing heavily on the ground.

But Ming Qin’s wrist also went numb, lowering her arm.

Seeing this, Murong Can immediately filled in, extending his long sword to behead the clumsy enemy before he could react.

“Indeed, somewhat regressed.” her wrist trembling slightly, Ming Qin discarded the dull sword, casually picking up a nearby flagpole, nodding to Murong Can, “Thanks.”

“…Just a casual move, Yue’er would be heartbroken if something happened to you.” he said awkwardly, “Besides, you helped me block first…”

A dragon and a tiger, seemingly incompatible, yet intertwined with a tacit understanding, together like a sharp blade slicing through the enemy troops.

Approaching the enemy’s main camp.

Tuoba Yu, riding on horseback, watched his seventy thousand troops collapse, his army in disarray. Originally just a show of loyalty to the new barbarian leader, now a complete defeat, a case of losing both the lady and the troops.

Gritting his teeth, accompanied by his deputy, Tuoba Yu had no choice but to flee the battlefield amidst the chaos.

“Hmph, abandoning your troops?” Murong Can, with sharp eyes, saw the fleeing man and sneered, “If I let you go, wouldn’t the world think our country’s gates are open for anyone to come and go freely?” Urging his horse, he chased forward.

But Ming Qin was already ahead of him, leading Murong Can by half a body. The man shouted at the unyielding shadow guard ahead, “Hey! Don’t steal my target!”

“Hm? But Yanyan said, no need to yield.” turning back, Ming Qin casually dropped a sentence, then hefting the long pole, “Such things are always first come, first served, right?” Squinting one eye, she threw it like a dart, only for it to be blocked by Tuoba Yu’s bearded deputy.

Not feeling surprised, Ming Qin whipped her horse at the moment the man blocked the dart, galloping forward, leaving Murong Can and the barbarian deputy behind, directly facing Tuoba Yu, not forgetting to call back.

“That bearded one, leaving him to you as compensation.”

Kicking free of the stirrups, squatting steadily on the saddle, breathing twice, the black-robed shadow guard leaped, pouncing on Tuoba Yu, dragging him off his horse, then rolling heavily on the ground.

No time to catch her breath, Ming Qin grabbed the man’s collar, drawing a dagger from her waist and slashing down without hesitation.

But Tuoba Yu wasn’t easy prey, kicking her abdomen, forcing her to let go.

Retreating a few steps, adjusting her breathing, Ming Qin rushed forward again, preventing the man from mounting, slashing his leg with the dagger, forcing him to draw his sword to confront her.

Metal clashed, sparks faintly flying.

Tuoba Yu, tall and strong, wielded a broad sword with great strength, each swing producing a harsh sound in the air. Ming Qin, holding a dagger, moved lightly and quickly, her attacks raining down, leaving shallow wounds on the man.

The two fought back and forth, momentarily deadlocked.

“You, are, strong.” when their blades clashed again, Tuoba Yu spoke in broken Mandarin, “Belong to, where?” Never having heard of such a woman in the northern army, he was curious about her allegiance.

Confused, Ming Qin didn’t understand his fragmented words, tilting her head, “I belong to Yanyan, Princess Chongwen, Murong Yan.” Despite her gentle tone, her strikes remained fierce.

“Princess? The general’s, sister?” raising his hand to block, then swinging his sword again, Tuoba Yu said lightly, “Pity this time, no meet. Heard, she is a beauty.”

“What do you want?” Ming Qin stepped back, her hand lowered, a lock of hair falling over her face.

Thinking the woman before him had lost strength, Tuoba Yu sneered, gripping his sword with both hands, “Women, food, always to be taken.” stepping forward, intending to deliver a fatal blow, “Seems, only next time.”

Raising her head, Ming Qin didn’t dodge, stepping forward, the wind lifting the hair on her forehead, revealing her red murderous eyes, “No next time.” her tone flat, she spoke word by word, “You will die.”

As she spoke, a sharp sound pierced the air, followed by a dull thud as an object embedded in flesh, pain shot through his shoulder, and the previously confident Tuoba Yu’s raised hand faltered.

But Ming Qin had no patience to wait, reaching out to slit cut the man’s head, the blood still warm splashing on her expressionless face.

“Qinqin, I was timely this time, right?” Song Shuqing arrived on horseback, holding her favorite throwing weapon, yawning as she spoke, her lazy demeanor showing no sign of being the one who had just ambushed Tuoba Yu.

“Come or not, he would die.” shaking off the blood from the dagger, Ming Qin picked up the head, her eyes calm.

“Hm? Did this Tuoba Yu make you angry?” knowing her junior sister’s temperament, Song Shuqing shrugged, wiping away the tears that had unconsciously formed in her eyes, “Don’t be angry, don’t be angry, let’s quickly end this battle, I’m very sleepy. And your Yanyan is still waiting for you.”

Awakened by her senior sister’s words, Ming Qin blinked, then urgently changed her expression, “Right, Yanyan!” holding the head with its still open eyes, she whistled, calling Qing Shi, and mounted in a hurry.

Watching her junior sister rush towards the city wall, Song Shuqing sighed, clapping her hands and calling out to the remaining enemy soldiers, “Alright, alright, see? Your commander is dead, those with legs better retreat quickly, those without just surrender.” Seeing a few still struggling, she added, “Your supply line is gone, burned to ashes… yes, by me, the beautiful and wise me.”

Never having been a commander, Ming Qin cared not for the battlefield aftermath, leaving it to Song Shuqing and Murong Can, her mind only on the woman waiting for her on the windy city wall.

The black flags behind her had all fallen, the grassland left only with the red flags of the northern army.

Far away, sensing something, Ming Qin looked up.

Though her vision was not clear, she knew the woman on the city wall was watching her.

“Yanyan!” calling out, though still far away, Ming Qin couldn’t help herself.

Galloping, she shouted, “We won! I won! I beheaded the enemy general!” Overly excited, she unconsciously held up the head like a proud child.

On the city wall, Murong Yan’s side stood Qin Zhen, she looked at the blood-soaked, head-holding 『former』shadow guard like a ghost from hell, uncertainly glancing aside.

Seeing no fear on the princess’s face, instead, Murong Yan wore an uncontrollable tender smile and eyes full of deep love.

Reaching the city wall, Ming Qin stopped her horse, shouting joyfully, “This is the merit I earned for Yanyan!” wiping her face unconsciously, only making the clean side dirty too.

Covered in blood, her bright smile contrasted sharply, but Murong Yan seemed oblivious, her eyes fixed on the shadow guard, her gaze filled with light.

Facing the person below the wall, Murong Yan spoke softly, her voice so low that even Qin Zhen couldn’t hear.

But even if the sound didn’t reach Ming Qin’s ears, she understood the lip read, nodding vigorously at her lover on the wall, “Alright, once we finish, we’ll return to Shu! I’ll listen to everything Yanyan says!”

The northern winter was indeed too cold, not suitable for living.

As long as she was with Yanyan, anywhere would do.

Smiling, she signaled the woman on the wall to wait, hefting her gift, urging her horse into the gate.

Unable to wait even a second longer, she hurried to the place she called 『home』.

(Epilogue complete)

(End of text)

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LP: Re-translated on June 17, 2024

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