Chapter 8

Of course I know what I’m doing.

It’s nothing new for a Shadow Guard to share someone’s bed, so I’ve always been prepared for it.

Prepared as I may be, I have no experience.

I know that many people plant women they’ve trained at the side of their political enemies, gathering intelligence while also whispering pillow talk.

This was something I learned from other Shadow Guards serving in different princely households.

The Shadow Guards in Royal City form a circle. Almost every Prince, Princess, and even some high-ranking nobles-eight out of ten-keep their own Shadow Guards.

After all, everyone fears for their lives.

Shadow Guards, for their part, tacitly follow the rule of “there are countermeasures for every policy.”

Most Shadow Guards come from the same training camp. Although we now serve different masters, there’s no deep-seated hatred between us.

We’re all just trying to make a living. Unless it’s something major, we rarely fight to the death.

During the last royal hunt, the Shadow Guards of several Princes and Princesses gathered to chat.

The Fourth Prince’s Shadow Guard asked me what I usually do.

I thought for a moment and said, “Eat.”

“And?”

“Go out to eat.”

He was surprised. “Didn’t your Highness send you to a place like Tianxiang Pavilion for training?”

“I was top of my class in the camp. What more training do I need?”

He hesitated, then said vaguely, “It’s just… well… you female Shadow Guards have an advantage over the men in this area, don’t you?”

I didn’t get it. “Huh?”

He paused, then his tone turned sour. “Really envy you female Shadow Guards. Whether it’s intelligence or a head, just sleep with someone and you get it…”

I asked hesitantly, “What do you mean?”

“What else could I mean?” The Sixth Prince’s Shadow Guard slung an arm around my shoulders, speaking earnestly. “We work for our masters, and sometimes we have to sacrifice certain things. To complete a mission, we use whatever means necessary. If you want to find out about the Sixth Prince, you could also…”

I tore off a piece of lamb skewer, chewed, and swallowed. “Oh.”

I grew up by my master’s side and, as a Shadow Guard, had few female friends.

Since they said so, I believed it.

My life belongs to my master. He bought me, saved me from the ravages of war, gave me food and clothing, paid me monthly, and gave me a place to live.

It’s only right that I repay him now.

So that day, I went back to the tent and asked my master if he needed me to sleep with someone for him.

I said, “I am utterly loyal to you, my lord. As long as you need it, I can do anything. Even if I can’t do it well, I’ll try my best.”

My master flew into a rage.

“Who taught you this? Who the hell taught you to say such things?!”

I answered honestly, “The other Princes’ Shadow Guards said so.”

“That’s because they’re cheap! They’re base! They’re incompetent!”

“Who says women can only serve others this way? How many women do this willingly? To hell with ‘willingly’! I told you long ago to stop hanging out with them!”

He pressed his hand to his forehead, clearly furious, so angry he could barely speak. “When have I ever asked you to do such a thing… Damn it…”

I looked at him, half understanding, half not.

He really hadn’t asked. All these years by his side, the only time I killed for him was when he was nearly assassinated.

Most of the time, my job was running errands-buying skewers from the North Market, naan from the West Market, milk cakes from the East Market, and sweets from the South Market.

Running every day, every month, until my lightness skills surpassed my martial arts.

My Axe hasn’t tasted blood in so long it’s gone dull.

My master sat for a while, seeming to grow angrier the more he thought about it, then stood up again.

“Come with me!”

I asked, “Huh? Where are we going?”

He was agitated, grabbing my hand and dragging me out while cursing under his breath, “Useless thing! Don’t even know when you’re being bullied! I’ll kill them all!”

That night, Bai Liwen, taking advantage of the pitch darkness of the hunting grounds, roused each sleeping Prince one by one, berated them thoroughly, and told them to keep their Shadow Guards in line.

My master is skilled in business and usually keeps to himself.

Except for the Crown Princess, the others privately think he disgraces the royal family by competing with the commoners for profit-truly beneath their dignity.

But precisely because he’s so wealthy, my master is known as the “God of Wealth” of Royal City, and the other Princes don’t dare provoke him lightly.

The Princes, thoroughly scolded, looked at each other in confusion. In the end, it was the Fourth Prince who nervously stepped forward to mediate.

“Third Imperial Brother… please calm down first. What happened?”

My master was still fuming. “Why don’t you ask your Shadow Guards what they’ve been saying! If you’re so envious, go sell yourselves! No one’s stopping you!”

“Shadow Guards were just joking with each other… It wasn’t serious…”

“I’m taking it seriously! If you’ve got the guts, come bite me!”