To be honest, Jiu Yue hadn’t expected Sima Qing to agree—her original intention was just to ask him to assign her a temporary caretaker.
But who knew he’d actually step up himself!
This left Jiu Yue feeling oddly guilty, as if she’d been overly demanding…
Ah well, she was already working for him—what harm was there in checking out a dog?
Jiu Yue silently convinced herself, then unfolded the note to see the mission target: Feng Sheng.
Feng?
Instantly, Jiu Yue recalled the "Lord Feng" mentioned by Yi Yao and the others in the secret passage of Misty Rain Pavilion…
Could there be a connection?
Soon, she got her answer.
Qiu Dongfang told her, "Yes, that old eunuch… According to Mo Jin and the others, your first mission was actually to eliminate him in the palace, but it seems there was some mix-up."
Jiu Yue: "…"
So the "dog" referred to a "lackey"!
Qiu Dongfang added, "Lately, he’s been frequenting his private residence to do unspeakable things. This time, we won’t have to stake out the palace—we can go straight to his hideout."
As for what those unspeakable things were…
The cart full of children delivered to Misty Rain Pavilion last time said it all.
Disgust flashed in Jiu Yue’s eyes, her brow furrowing. Qiu Dongfang warned, "That eunuch loves underhanded tricks. Once we’re inside, be careful—don’t underestimate him. Last time, Fu Yu and I nearly fell for his traps!"
Traps… Jiu Yue shuddered.
What a vile eunuch!
Even without his manhood, he still harbored such depraved desires.
For a moment, Jiu Yue doubted whether he was even a eunuch at all… If he wasn’t, she’d personally castrate him!
Qiu Dongfang handed her hidden weapons, knockout drugs, and an antidote pill. "Take this beforehand, just in case."
Once prepared, the two set off for Feng Sheng’s private residence.
To avoid alerting him, they took the same route through Misty Rain Pavilion’s secret passage, arriving at the alley behind Feng Sheng’s estate. Just as Qiu Dongfang was about to step out, Jiu Yue yanked him back.
A moment of silence—then the sound of wheels.
Soon, a carriage stopped nearby. The coachman hopped down, knocked on the door, and two servants emerged. The three exchanged hushed words.
Exchanging a glance, Jiu Yue and Qiu Dongfang moved in perfect sync, slipping out of the passage unnoticed.
Qiu Dongfang ducked under the carriage, while Jiu Yue nimbly vaulted onto the roof and slipped inside through a window.
The interior was dark, but Jiu Yue immediately felt the soft curves of skin beneath her palms.
This carriage wasn’t carrying children—it was filled with women.
Hearing the coachman’s voice outside, Jiu Yue made a quick decision. As the carriage began moving, she lightly tapped the compartment to signal Qiu Dongfang.
The coachman, distracted by the ride’s natural sway, noticed nothing amiss.
Jiu Yue edged toward the window while Qiu Dongfang crawled out from under the carriage. Without words, they communicated through gestures.
After a brief exchange, Qiu Dongfang returned beneath the carriage, while Jiu Yue blended in with the women.
Staring at the dark carriage ceiling, her instincts kicked in—she subconsciously tracked the wheels’ movements and speed changes.
Right turn, straight ahead… left turn… Finally, the carriage halted.
The curtain was lifted from outside. Jiu Yue shut her eyes.
Light spilled in.
Footsteps faded away.
Peeking through one eye, Jiu Yue saw maids standing outside—clearly, they were trained in martial arts too.
"I thought they wouldn’t deliver tonight," one whispered, sounding relieved. "Otherwise, we’d be the ones suffering."
"True… Let’s hurry. Lord Feng has been waiting," another agreed.
One by one, the women were carried out. Jiu Yue played along, soon finding herself hoisted onto a maid’s shoulder.
"This one’s quite pretty," the maid remarked. "I wonder which official sent her. Her attire is… unique."
Jiu Yue, clad head-to-toe in black: "…"
This actually worked?
She’d keep up the act.
Like ants moving their nest, the maids transported all the women inside.
Once the door closed, the women on the bed began waking up one after another.
The room reeked of mixed scents. Remembering Qiu Dongfang’s warning, Jiu Yue subtly raised her arm to cover her nose.
She feigned confusion, scanning her surroundings.
Her eyes landed on an enormous bed.
Decorated like a brothel.
Sheer curtains draped around it, and the shelves along the walls were lined with all sorts of outfits—none of them modest.
Some appeared conservative but were made of translucent fabric.
Others barely had any fabric at all… How scandalous!
As the women stirred, the maids quietly withdrew.
Jiu Yue retreated to an inconspicuous corner, observing their reactions.
Some panicked, some despaired, some wept silently, others resigned themselves.
Recalling the maid’s earlier words, Jiu Yue realized these women were gifts from officials to curry favor with Feng Sheng.
This eunuch had quite the influence…
Jiu Yue rubbed her chin, sharpening her focus, then studied the room’s other details.
Multiple incense burners glowed.
Already, her nose caught whiffs of several fragrances.
Whatever roused the women likely came from an antidote in one of the burners.
Just as Jiu Yue considered investigating, a woman near the bed suddenly screamed.
The room erupted into chaos. The women huddled together, turning toward the source—where the woman clawed at the bedframe, her hair viciously yanked from behind.
Jiu Yue’s gaze sharpened as a disheveled old man crawled out from under the bed, grinning lewdly.
It was Feng Sheng.
Naked, his wrinkled, sagging skin reeked of aged decay. Paired with his perverse smirk, it was downright revolting.
Jiu Yue’s expression darkened.
Feng Sheng, reveling in the terror, dragged the woman off the bed.
"H-help…" she choked, her voice frail as his grip tightened around her throat.
Feng Sheng’s face twisted with delight, as if her pleas were music to his ears.
"Stop screaming. Serve me well, and you might live," he hissed, his mood shifting on a dime.
With a sudden squeeze, he tossed her aside and scanned for his next victim.
This man found pleasure in cruelty.
Jiu Yue exhaled slowly, her fists clenching and unclenching.
The bed had become a slaughterhouse—whoever caught his eye was next.
The young women wanted to flee, but their limbs felt weak and limp—now they were nothing more than fish on the chopping block, utterly at the mercy of others.
As Feng Sheng flashed a smug grin, Jiu Yue suddenly realized the truth.
There had been something else mixed into the incense burners.
