The Princess’ Shadow Guard Cannot Be Too Clever

e and revealing a meaningful smile.

Zi Yan blinked, understanding the situation, and then pulled Song Shu Qing to bid farewell to the two.

“How strange?”

“Why are they leaving in such a hurry today?” Song Shu Qing questioned, puzzled.
“We made a lot of dumplings yesterday that we could have stayed to eat together.”

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

“Feeling tired?” Holding her palm tightly with interlocked fingers, Song Shu Qing’s voice was slightly lower than usual in the secluded space with just the two of them.
She turned her head towards the woman and said, “How about resting upstairs for a while? Shall I take you up?”

“It’s not necessary, I’m not tired… Ah.” Zi Yan was about to refuse when she was suddenly lifted up by the pretended helplessness of the shadow guard.

Watching the surprised expression of the person in her arms, Song Shu Qing couldn’t help but tease, “What? Do you think I don’t have the strength that Ming Qin has?” With a mockingly wounded expression on her face but a playful glint in her eyes, she continued, “Although I can’t match Qin Qin in carrying the Princess swiftly, I can still run a couple of laps around the playground while holding you.”

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

The formerly most lazy and lax 『former』 shadow guard exaggeratedly licked her lips and proceeded towards the stairs.

With her arms around her lover’s neck, Zi Yan slowly spoke, “I never underestimated…”

Her voice was gentle, yet incredibly earnest, and her warm breath tickled the shadow guard’s ear.
“I have never underestimated you…”

“I know, I know.” Song Shu Qing, with steady footsteps, chuckled and openly acknowledged it.

“It was simply my own pure desire to hold you, that’s all.
It’s my fault, I can be so unreasonable, so naughty.”

She tilted her head and kissed the woman’s cold cheek, Song Shu Qing’s eyes filled with tenderness.

No!

…Not at all.

You’re not naughty.

You’re wonderful.

Bending down, Zi Yan buried her head deep in the shadow guard’s neck, her nostrils filled with the familiar scent of tea leaves and herbs, which brought her a sense of peace.

Thinking about the question that Murong Yan had asked earlier, Zi Yan held the person in her arms even tighter, contemplating the answer she hadn’t had a chance to voice yet.

Song Daren is wonderful.

Song Shu Qing is wonderful.

During the day, amidst the crowd, although she may not act seriously, and her mouth is incessant, lazy and nonchalant as if she doesn’t care about anything.

But in reality, when they were alone together, in the pitch-black night illuminated only by flickering candlelight, they were the most tender and considerate of each other.

She would lean down and whisper comforting words in her ear when she was anxious and uneasy.
She would pay attention to every subtle change in her expression and respond accordingly.
She would offer her shoulder when she wanted to bite her lip and endure silently, and she would carefully kiss away her tears when she couldn’t control the surge of emotions.

She gave her the first taste of autonomy, allowed her to get used to sleeping in the warmth of her beloved’s embrace, and helped her understand the beauty of fleeting encounters.

She no longer feared the arrival of each night, and she no longer despised herself for being vulnerable and easily broken.

Because I am cherished.

With determination, with solemnity.

If it’s with her, I have no fear.

As long as it’s with her, I am unrestrained.

Pushing open the door and bending down to set her gently down, “Rest for a while, I’ll call you down when dinner is ready,” whispered Song Shu Qing, but she realized that her neck was still held tightly.

“Hmm?” Unable to see the woman’s face, Song Shu Qing leaned against the bed, gently stroking her hair, her voice soft.
“Zi Yan, what’s wrong?”

“Don’t leave.”

Reaching out, Zi Yan took out the hairpin that ordinary people weren’t allowed to touch.
She parted her lips slightly, trying to suppress the shyness in her eyes and surrender to her desires.
She propped herself up on her neck, looking at the person before her.
“…I’m not hungry, and I’m not tired… so please don’t go.”

“Oh my.”

With a tone that was both teasing and encouraging, Song Shu Qing responded with understanding.
“I’m so lucky to have a perfect wife like you.”

Unable to hide it, she revealed a indulgent smile.
“Kiss kiss, Zi Yan always knows what I long for.”

Relaxing her body, Song Shu Qing rested her forehead against the woman beneath her, her tone sincere yet cautious.
“Thank you for allowing me not to hold back.”

Standing up straight, her gaze fixed on the blushing ears of the woman, Song Shu Qing reached out to the belt around her waist.

As the night approached, a faint silver light spilled through the window, allowing the shadow guard to vaguely see the silhouette of her beloved.

“The Princess and Qin Qin have important things to attend to, and so do we.”

Before leaning in once again, Song Shu Qing lightly kissed the back of the woman’s hand and chuckled.

“Even if the Emperor is downstairs right now, no one is more important than the person in front of me.” Tilting her head, the 『former』 shadow guard spoke in a nonchalant manner, making a rebellious statement.

After all, in the 21st century…

Who says the Emperor has a bigger role than the wife?