The Princess’ Shadow Guard – Chapter 83

Senior Sister Chapter 13

How can the Emperor be more important than her wife?

Murong Yan and Zi Yan’s relationship unexpectedly good.

This makes Song Shuqing feel completely inexplicable.

Every time she sees the two whispering to each other privately, she feels like facing a formidable enemy, wishing she could hug her wife tightly and retreat ten feet on the spot.

After all, one who is close to vermilion gets stained red, and one who is close to ink gets stained black. Song Shuqing really does not want Zi Yan to become the kind of evil demon who can give her goosebumps with just one glance and make her speak with a hundred percent vigilance.

Hmm…

This evening, Song Shuqing went to help Wang Wei next door as a laborer, while Ming Qin was also called to be a laborer for some new experiment.

Therefore, the Houshengtang, closed for the day, only had Murong Yan and Zi Yan drinking tea and chatting.

“So,” Murong Yan set down her cup, her expression flickering, lacking the usual calmness, instead showing a rare thirst for knowledge, “Less than half an incense stick… Could it be that I am too weak?”

“It is probably because the Princess has a more sensitive constitution,” Zi Yan carefully chose her words, “You can slow down for a few breaths, and then build up again.”

“Ah Qin is just too caring, always so cautious.” Though the words sounded like a complaint, the eyes filled with reminiscence were full of affection, “She always insists on me telling her what I want before she continues.” Murong Yan, propping up her head, suddenly chuckled.

“Such a well-behaved Ah Qin, perhaps she’s the most cunning one after all.”

“Qinqin treasures the Princess very much.” Taking a sip of tea, Zi Yan reminisced, “When we were preparing to return to the capital from Shu, Qinqin came to find me and asked me some questions…”

At that time, Ming Qin went alone to the Chunfeng Tower, hiding it from her senior sister, asking straightforward questions without understanding anything, with a sincere and honest expression, which really made the usually calm and knowledgeable courtesan a little unsettled.

“So that’s how it is.” Murong Yan poured tea for the woman in front of her, unable to help but smile, “The first time at the Cangyue Tower, Ah Qin did surprise me indeed.”

Although still clumsily unable to grasp the essentials like Da Yu failing three times to enter the door, only knowing to move forward under the leadership of the person beneath her, but seeing Ming Qin, who had always been pure, pondering with bitten lips, struggling and yet diligently searching for solutions during practical exercises after pre-learning theoretical knowledge, Murong Yan felt nothing but affection in her heart.

(LP: “Da Yu failing three times to enter the door” refers to the legendary Chinese figure Da Yu or Yu the Great, who attempted three times to control flooding but failed before ultimately succeeding.)

“This is probably more delightful than any physical pleasure.”

“And what about your Lord Song?” Setting down the teapot, Murong Yan teased, raising an eyebrow. “Don’t tell me Song Shuqing, when facing her lover, doesn’t have that unserious demeanor?”

Recalling the nights when they leaned on each other, despite being a former courtesan with considerable experience, Zi Yan felt her ears slightly warm. After a moment of contemplation, she lowered her gaze and softly said, “Lord Song is very kind…”

“Lord Song, she…”

Splash!

Zi Yan’s words were interrupted by the sound of the door being pulled open.

“Yanyan!”

Ming Qin, coming back from outside, looked joyful. She hurriedly went over and lifted Murong Yan, who was smiling. After spinning around a few times, she looked up and said, “I’m back, I missed you.”

“Oh my… it hasn’t even been an hour since you parted, how can you be so clingy?”

Following behind, Song Shuqing, shoulders drooping, entered the building. Watching the two people in front of her who seemed to be under a spotlight, she muttered under her breath, looking like her eyes were about to pop out.

But seeing another woman waving at her, she immediately lit up, darted over to Zi Yan, and bent down, lifting the corners of her mouth. “Dear Zi Yan, I’m back! Did you miss me?”

“Thank you.” Smoothening the wrinkled collar of her shadow guard’s attire, Zi Yan attempted to rise and give up her seat, but was pressed down by Song Shuqing.

“No need, no need, you sit.” Fetching a stool from another empty table, Song Shuqing sat beside the woman and poured herself tea using her original cup.

“Senior Sister, Zi Yan, we need to go home first!” Ming Qin, who had already set Murong Yan down, draped a cloak over the woman beside her while addressing the other two.

“Huh? Aren’t Qinqin and the Princess staying to have dinner together?” Downing the tea in her cup, Song Shuqing inquired.

Shaking her head, “Not today.” Ming Qin took Murong Yan’s hand and led the woman to the door. “Hu’er is still at home, and Yanyan said she suddenly wants to go home, immediately, right away.”

Murong Yan beside her remained silent, just lowering her gaze and revealing a meaningful smile.

Zi Yan blinked, understanding in her heart, so she pulled Song Shuqing to bid farewell to the two.

“Weird?”

“Why are they leaving so hastily today?” Seeing the two hurriedly departing, Song Shuqing wondered, “We made a lot of dumplings yesterday that could have been left to eat together.”

“Perhaps the Princess has some important matters to attend to…” Leaning on the shoulder of the person beside her, holding her fingertips, Zi Yan gently caressed them.

“Tired?” Opening her palm, tightly clasping her five fingers, in the space with only the two of them, Song Shuqing’s voice was slightly lower than usual. She turned her head towards the woman and said, “How about resting upstairs for a bit? Shall I take you up?”

“No need, I’m not tired… Oh.” Zi Yan lifted her head to refuse, but was then lifted up by the shadow guard who pretended to be helpless.

Watching the person in her arms looking surprised, Song Shuqing couldn’t help but jest, “What? Do you think my strength is not as great as Qinqin’s?” Though her mouth seemed injured, her eyes were smiling. “Although I can’t carry the Princess as swiftly as Qinqin does, I can still run a few laps around the playground while holding you.”

“Tsk tsk, don’t underestimate the professional appearance of a shadow guard.”

Once the most lazy 『former』 shadow guard in the palace exaggeratedly clicked her tongue and headed towards the stairs.

Holding onto her lover’s neck, Zi Yan slowly spoke, “I haven’t underestimated…”

Her voice was soft, yet extremely serious, the woman’s warm breath brushing against the shadow guard’s ear, “I have never underestimated you…”

“I know, I know.” Steadily stepping, Song Shuqing chuckled lightly, openly admitting.

“It’s just my own simple desire to hold you, it’s my problem, I’m really unreasonable, really bad.”

Turning her head, she kissed the woman’s icy cheek, and Song Shuqing’s eyes were filled with tenderness.

No!

…definitely not.

You’re not bad.

You’re very good.

Zi Yan bent down, burying her head deep in the shadow guard’s neck, her nostrils filled with the familiar scent of tea and herbs, a scent that made her feel at ease.

Thinking of Murong Yan’s question just now, Zi Yan hugged the person who was carrying her back to the room even tighter, pondering the answer she hadn’t had a chance to voice.

Lord Song is very good.

Song Shuqing, she’s very good.

During the day, even though she’s not serious when there are many people around, and her mouth is chatty, she seems careless about everything.

But in reality, when only the two of them are alone, in the dark night with only flickering candlelight, she’s gentler and more considerate than anyone else.

She would lean down and whisper comforting words in her ear when she was restless and anxious. She would pay attention to every subtle change in her expression and adjust her actions accordingly. She would accurately offer her shoulder when she wanted to bite her lip and suppress a moan. She would carefully wipe away her tears when she couldn’t control the surge of emotions.

She gave her the first taste of autonomy, let her get used to sleeping in the warmth of her beloved’s arms, and helped her understand the beauty of the so-called joys and sorrows of life.

No longer fearing the arrival of every night, no longer despising herself as someone who could be crushed at any moment.

Because she was cherished.

Firmly, solemnly.

If it’s with her, I’m fearless.

As long as it’s with her, I’m free.

Pushing open the door and about to put her down, “Rest for a while first, I’ll call you down later for a good dinner.” Song Shuqing gently advised, but found her neck still tightly embraced.

“Hmm?” Unable to see the woman’s face, Song Shuqing leaned one hand against the bed frame and lightly stroked her hair with the other, her voice soft, “Zi Yan, what’s wrong?”

“Don’t go.”

Reaching out to remove the hairpin that an ordinary person couldn’t touch, Zi Yan gently parted her lips, trying to suppress the shyness in her eyes, allowing desire to flow freely. She supported her neck and looked at the person in front of her, “…I’m not hungry, nor tired…, so don’t go.”

“Oh my.”

Half teasing and half encouraging, Song Shuqing responded knowingly, “Having a perfect wife is really lucky.”

Unable to hide it, she revealed an indulgent smile, “Dear Zi Yan always knows what I desire.”

Relaxing her body, she lowered her neck to touch the woman’s forehead beneath her, the shadow guard’s tone sincere and solemn, “Thank you for letting me not have to endure.”

Similarly emitting warmth for Zi Yan, Song Shuqing, who had straightened her body, waited for the woman’s slightly blushing earlobes before reaching out to the belt around her waist.

As night approached, a faint silver light sprinkled in through the window, allowing the shadow guard with keen eyesight to vaguely see the silhouette of her beloved.

“The Princess and Qinqin have important matters to attend to, and so do we.”

Before leaning down again, Song Shuqing kissed the back of the woman’s hand with a gentle smile.

“Even if the Emperor is downstairs right now, no one is as important as the person in front of me.” Tilting her head, the 『former』 shadow guard said the rebellious declaration without a care.

After all, in the 21st century…

How can the Emperor be more important than her wife?

LP: Re-translated May 16, 2024