Jiu Yue went downstairs again, this time without encountering any beasts blocking her path. She walked openly to the vicinity of Yi Yao's room, glanced around, and when no one was watching, silently tried to push the door open—only to find it locked.
There was definitely something suspicious going on!
Her eyes gleamed with excitement as she began picking the lock.
Yes, that’s right—a versatile assassin is truly all-round!
Effortlessly unlocking the door, Jiu Yue finally slipped inside. The room was silent, and Yi Yao was nowhere to be seen. By the dim moonlight filtering in, she groped around, searching for the entrance to a hidden chamber.
Based on experience, secret rooms were either concealed within the walls or beneath the bed.
After crawling along the walls like a gecko and finding nothing, Jiu Yue’s gaze fell ominously on Yi Yao’s bed.
It looked ordinary, plain, and unremarkable—except for the military-style, perfectly folded blanket that stood out starkly among the otherwise delicate, feminine belongings in the room. It was impossible not to notice.
Jiu Yue immediately rummaged through it.
Still nothing.
This was strange.
Where had she gone wrong?
Frowning, she absentmindedly picked up a pillow to shake it—only to realize the pillow wouldn’t budge.
She pushed, pulled, and jostled it until, somehow, she triggered a mechanism. The bed beneath her suddenly slid aside, revealing a pitch-black secret passage.
Finally!
But should she go in?
Jiu Yue hesitated, mainly because she hadn’t coordinated with Qiu Dongfang yet. If something unexpected happened, they wouldn’t be able to work together, and that could spell trouble.
Then, the faint sound of children crying echoed from the passage.
Her expression hardened, and without another thought, she jumped in.
The passage was narrow, barely wide enough for two people to walk side by side. Holding her breath, Jiu Yue pressed against the wall as she advanced. After rounding a corner, a faint light appeared ahead, and the children’s cries grew clearer.
“Why are they awake? Hurry, give them the medicine! We can’t afford delays.” It was Yi Yao’s voice.
Jiu Yue understood immediately. She crept silently to the exit of the passage but didn’t rush out, instead observing her surroundings.
Aside from the children and Yi Yao, there were several other workers inside, all dressed in the same uniform as hers.
As Qiu Dongfang had said, these servants were all under Ma Dachun’s command.
Right now, they were following Yi Yao’s orders, forcing the crying children to drink a medicinal brew.
One by one, the children fell unconscious after swallowing the liquid.
“Who was in charge of dosing them yesterday?” Yi Yao demanded.
One of the workers replied, “Mother Chun handled it herself. She said too much of the medicine would make the children sleep too deeply, so she gave them a lighter dose—probably so they’d wake up just in time when delivered to Master Feng’s estate.”
Yi Yao paused. “I see.”
The worker smirked. “Mother Chun mentioned it, didn’t she? Master Feng enjoys seeing the children afraid of him.”
Yi Yao’s lips curled slightly as she raised a hand and ordered, “Then make sure not to overdo it.”
“Yes.”
The workers resumed administering the medicine.
While Jiu Yue was still pondering what kind of monster this Master Feng was, her gaze accidentally locked with the calm, quiet eyes of one of the children.
In that instant, she recognized the grimy little girl—it was the same child she had met in the cold palace last time!
How had she ended up here?!
Jiu Yue was stunned, unsure whether to be impressed by Ma Dachun’s audacity.
Daring to kidnap a child from the palace? Just how brazen was she?!
Her pulse raced, but the little girl—Xue’er—remained silent, staring intently at her without making a sound.
Neither moved.
Jiu Yue was the first to look away, scanning the room again. Just as she prepared to take down a few workers before dealing with Yi Yao, a noise came from behind her.
Her expression froze, and Yi Yao and the others immediately turned toward the sound.
“What was that?” Yi Yao frowned. “Dashan, go check.”
“On it!” A burly worker strode forward.
Jiu Yue had already retreated into the shadows. She glanced back toward the passage entrance, faint footsteps echoing—she couldn’t tell how many people were coming. Meanwhile, the worker named Dashan was approaching.
After a brief hesitation, she decisively took Dashan down first.
Once he was unconscious, she silently scaled the wall.
The group of workers who entered afterward carried torches, but their leader failed to watch his step, tripping over Dashan’s body and sending the others tumbling behind him.
Seizing the moment, Jiu Yue dropped down from above and blended into the chaos.
“What’s going on?” Yi Yao, hearing the commotion, approached with a few men. She was met with complete disarray.
Before she could even check on Dashan, one worker gasped, “Miss Yi Yao, someone’s infiltrated us! Mother Chun says you must act now!”
Yi Yao’s face paled. She immediately ordered the children to be loaded onto carts.
“Move them out first,” she commanded.
Jiu Yue followed the group, maneuvering herself next to Xue’er. As she reached to pick her up, she subtly pressed a finger to her lips in a silent warning.
Xue’er simply gazed up at her, obediently silent.
Just as Jiu Yue was about to move with the group, someone suddenly grabbed her wrist. A flash of killing intent surged in her eyes—until she heard the person whisper, “Let me carry her.”
She froze.
It was Qiu Dongfang.
As she handed Xue’er over, their eyes met briefly, an unspoken understanding passing between them. Jiu Yue withdrew and slipped to the front of the group, positioning herself before the lead worker.
Yi Yao was counting the children nearby and barked, “Why are you standing around? Move faster!”
Jiu Yue bowed obsequiously—then in one swift motion, drew a dagger from her sleeve and ran through several workers in a single strike.
It was completely unexpected.
Some of the workers collapsed before they even realized what had happened.
Jiu Yue didn’t waste the opportunity. She leaped forward, kicking down several more.
Now, everyone was alert.
Yi Yao shrieked, “Assassins! Capture them!”
The workers surged forward—but Yi Yao herself turned and fled into the passage.
Neither Jiu Yue nor Qiu Dongfang gave chase. They knew Yi Yao was going to summon Ma Dachun.
And Ma Dachun was their real target.
The dagger had been passed to her by Qiu Dongfang earlier, and though lighter than her usual blade, it suited Jiu Yue just fine. With her strength, cutting down the workers was as easy as slicing melons.
Qiu Dongfang took care of a few as well before regrouping with her. “We need to get these children out first,” he said.
Jiu Yue asked, “Is there backup outside?”
He nodded. “But I don’t know where this passage leads.”
“They mentioned a ‘Master Feng’ earlier—do you know him?”
"Master Feng..." Qiu Dongfang's eyes flickered with a sudden idea. "I understand. I'll escort them out first and return shortly to assist you."
Qiu Dongfang and Mo Jin shared a secret signal between them.
Jiu Yue nodded, taking several hidden weapons from him. Once Qiu Dongfang had guided the children into the secret passage, she fastened her short sword at her waist and picked up a longsword dropped by one of the fallen guards.
The commotion at the entrance of the passage had grown louder.
Leaning against the wall beside the entrance, Jiu Yue waited quietly for Ma Dachun's arrival.
