Jiu Yue still couldn’t get her hands on a human skin mask in time.
But she found a substitute!
It didn’t necessarily have to be a human skin mask—anything that could cover her face would do!
The thought of facing Sima Qing with her real appearance… she hadn’t quite mustered the courage for that yet.
But Sima Qing kept sending Uncle Fu to pester her, and even Emperor Yan had come by a few times, urging her to hurry up and meet with him before he decided to leave… So Jiu Yue had no choice but to steel herself and go see Sima Qing.
"Lianqiao! Lianqiao! Go ask Eunuch Mao to fetch me a few masks!" Jiu Yue clenched her fists, making up her mind.
She’d have to face him sooner or later. Maybe if she endured his sarcastic remarks early on, she’d finally find the nerve to go all out!
The System: "..."
The System couldn’t help but ask, "Do you owe him money?"
Jiu Yue scowled. "Of course not! I only took what was rightfully mine!"
"Then why are you so scared? It’s not like he’s going to eat you," the System said, puzzled.
Jiu Yue wiped her face, her tone somber. "You weren’t around back then, so you don’t know what happened before… Let’s just say, if he sees me alive, he probably won’t be happy."
After all, Sima Qing was loyal to the emperor—their relationship was purely transactional. The emperor had wanted her dead, and she’d survived. If Sima Qing hadn’t already reported her survival to the emperor, that was already a sign of his integrity.
How could he possibly be happy about it?
Jiu Yue’s mood grew heavy.
The System: "..."
Staring at the 28% romance progress bar, the System fell into deep thought.
Not happy… then what exactly is he romancing???
"...Never mind." Even though it had upgraded to the latest version, the System still couldn’t comprehend humans. "Just be careful, then."
Jiu Yue perked up. "You’re right. I should be cautious."
Remembering Emperor Yan’s warning—that Sima Qing was devoted to Tianqi, and even if he occupied the position of royal consort, it was only due to his status—she knew she had to stay on guard.
By the time Lianqiao returned with an assortment of masks, Jiu Yue had already finished her rough-and-ready makeup transformation.
"Your Highness, these are the ones Eunuch Mao picked from the imperial storeroom. See if any of them—" Lianqiao’s words cut off as she took in Jiu Yue’s disastrously altered face. Her expression cracked. "Your Highness, what have you done to your face?!"
Lianqiao’s reaction gave Jiu Yue a sense of security. Satisfied, she smirked but didn’t explain.
Her gaze swept over the masks before settling on the second-to-last one. A spark of admiration flashed in her eyes—she was utterly taken with it.
The mask was unique, with only the right eye exposed, yet the intricate cutouts kept it from looking oppressive. And that dazzling golden aura? It struck right at Jiu Yue’s heart.
"Perfect!" Jiu Yue immediately put it on and strode out with confidence.
"Lianqiao, let’s go!"
Lianqiao trotted after her eagerly.
The weather had turned cooler since the rain a few days prior, the wind carrying a hint of desolation.
Sima Qing sat bundled in a cloak atop a pile of firewood, his gaze fixed out the window—who knew what he was looking at.
A draft slipped through the door cracks, making him cough.
Once he started, he couldn’t stop.
When Jiu Yue pushed open the firewood shed’s door, she saw Sima Qing hunched over, coughing weakly amidst the firewood… The sight was downright pitiful.
Jiu Yue: "..."
She couldn’t even bear to look. She turned to Uncle Fu with disapproval.
"You can’t just keep him locked in the firewood shed, can you? He’s already frail, and it’s freezing in here at night—"
Uncle Fu: "..."
It wasn’t like they were forcing him! The man had stubbornly refused to leave!
Uncle Fu forced a strained smile, about to explain, when Sima Qing’s coughing suddenly worsened, harsh and grating, as if he were hacking up his lungs.
Jiu Yue frowned and strode over, hauling him upright without hesitation.
"...Hey, you’re not going to cough yourself to death, are you?" she blurted out, unable to hide her concern.
Sima Qing finally suppressed the itch in his throat, only to hear such blunt concern. He fell silent.
It had been a long time since anyone had annoyed him like this.
A strangely nostalgic feeling.
He lifted his eyes slightly, and the first thing he saw was that mask.
No matter how flawless his earlier deductions had been, without seeing her in person, they were nothing but conjecture.
But now, meeting those familiar, clear eyes—all his reasoning scattered like mist.
The person before him was real.
Sima Qing lowered his gaze again, concealing the storm of emotions in his eyes.
Coward.
Finally dared to show yourself.
Suppressing the secret joy surging in his chest, he calmly withdrew his hand, his expression cool and distant.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Princess," he said, though he didn’t bow. His indifferent eyes locked onto hers.
Jiu Yue cleared her throat awkwardly and looked away.
"Uh, no need for formalities." She scratched her cheek, then turned to Uncle Fu. "Go fetch a physician to check on him."
Uncle Fu gave the frail-looking regent a sidelong glance. He could’ve sworn the man hadn’t been this weak yesterday.
Maybe the cold in the firewood shed really had gotten to him…
Convincing himself, Uncle Fu went to make arrangements.
Lianqiao, standing to the side, couldn’t help but study the future royal consort.
Appearance-wise, he was a good match for her mistress—especially that delicate, fragile air about him, which oddly complemented Jiu Yue’s brash personality.
But his body seemed… fragile.
If he ever angered Her Highness, one punch might be enough to finish him off.
Just as Lianqiao sighed inwardly, her peripheral vision caught Sima Qing swaying unsteadily.
"Your Highness!" she cried out. "He—"
Jiu Yue turned back just in time to see Sima Qing collapse onto the firewood.
Her heart lurched. In two strides, she was at his side. Seeing that he hadn’t fully passed out, she exhaled sharply, then hoisted him over her shoulder and bolted.
"Hang in there! Uncle Fu’s gone for the physician, and I’ll send Lianqiao to fetch the imperial doctor. Don’t you dare die on me…" she muttered as she ran.
From his position over her shoulder, Sima Qing allowed a faint, almost imperceptible smile to curl his lips.
Her hair fluttered against his fingertips, her scent enveloping him completely.
Jiu Yue.
Yan Zhaoning.
You’ve deceived me so thoroughly.
