Sima Qing had also prepared a backup plan.
He made a trip to the palace and informed the emperor about the matter.
Of course, the main point wasn’t that the assassins he had raised were trapped and couldn’t escape—it was that Feng Sheng was locked inside and couldn’t get out.
With all the shady dealings of the private residence exposed, along with secret collusion with Prince Ping and others, the emperor naturally wouldn’t let Feng Sheng off. Even if he were to die, Feng Sheng would first have to endure interrogation in prison.
So the emperor dispatched troops to assist Sima Qing.
The heavens weren’t kind—a heavy rain poured down in the afternoon.
By the time Sima Qing returned to the manor, half his clothes were soaked. His attendant quickly wheeled him back to his chambers to change.
But the moment they stepped into the courtyard, the attendant shrieked in terror at the sight of two monstrous mud-covered figures.
Sima Qing, nearly deafened: "..."
Expressionless, Sima Qing looked up and saw two alien-like creatures lying motionless on the ground.
Though Mo Jin had taken most of the manor’s hidden guards, at least a dozen still remained in the shadows.
Yet now, none of them made a sound.
Either they had been dealt with—or there was no need.
"Y-Your Highness, that one’s still moving…" The attendant trembled as he lifted the wheelchair and retreated to the covered walkway, staring fearfully at the two lumps in the courtyard.
Sima Qing narrowed his eyes and looked over. Sure enough, the rounder one was struggling incessantly, while the longer one lay still.
After a moment, the round one thrashed harder, prompting the long one to roll over and smack it.
"I’m not dead yet! If you keep squirming, I’ll chop off your limbs!" Jiu Yue had only woken up because of Feng Sheng’s movements.
The rain had done little to wash away the mud caking her body. Exhaling sharply, she forced herself to sit up and scanned the area impatiently. "That bastard Sima Qing still isn’t back—ha! Your Highness! You’re back!"
Her gaze locked onto him. Sima Qing struggled to recognize Jiu Yue’s face beneath the grime.
And the lump beside her…
Finally relieved to see Sima Qing, Jiu Yue mustered her strength, hauled Feng Sheng up, and dragged him over.
"Here, that old eunuch’s still got two breaths left. Your Highness, do you want him alive or dead?" She loosened the filthy white sash tied around her waist—the other end bound Feng Sheng’s limbs.
Sima Qing: "..."
He fell into an eerie silence, then glanced at Feng Sheng. Never had he seen the man in such a wretched state.
Feng Sheng, now regaining his senses, rasped, "So… it was you…"
Sima Qing waved a hand dismissively. "Take him away. Don’t let him die."
Figures emerged from the shadows and hauled the mud-caked Feng Sheng off.
Mission accomplished.
Jiu Yue immediately collapsed back into the courtyard, letting the rain wash over her. No way was she tracking mud inside—cleaning that up would be a nightmare.
Sensing eyes on her, she didn’t bother opening hers, just waved a hand. "Your Highness, don’t worry. I’ll scrub the courtyard later."
Sima Qing: "..."
Whatever.
The less he spoke to her, the better—for his own sanity.
As he turned to enter his chambers, he caught sight of a fresh streak of blood mixing with the rainwater. Pausing, he glanced back at Jiu Yue, who lay motionless, the mud on her hands washed away to reveal raw, mangled flesh.
Like a corpse.
His eyelid twitched. "Have the maids take her to her room. Summon the physician."
The attendant, equally stunned, bowed hastily. "Yes, Your Highness."
Jiu Yue rarely dreamed.
But this time, she dreamt she had become the rat in Feng Sheng’s private residence, endlessly digging tunnels until she finally burrowed her way back to her hometown.
Just in time for a feast.
Overjoyed, she scurried into the kitchen to steal some food—only to find her parents, eyes swollen from crying, surrounded by consoling relatives.
—Turns out, it was her own funeral feast.
The realization hit her like a sledgehammer. Dazed, the scene twisted before her eyes into a close-up of her own gruesome car accident.
Jiu Yue: "..."
She jolted awake, sitting bolt upright so abruptly that the maid changing her bandages yelped in fright.
"Did I hurt you…?" the maid stammered.
Jiu Yue exhaled and flopped back down. "Nah… Thanks, but you can go. I’ll handle the rest."
The maid didn’t argue, fleeing instantly.
Jiu Yue lifted her hands, now wrapped like dumplings, and grimaced. No need for more medicine—her wounds would heal on their own.
But for appearances, she’d keep the bandages.
After lying in the dim room for a while, she grew restless and stepped outside, spotting a chubby little dog frolicking in the yard.
Delighted, she scooped it up and vaulted onto the roof.
The rain had cleared, leaving the summer heat laced with dampness.
Unpleasant, but alive.
Staring blankly at the sky, she noticed green-tinged stains seeping through her bandages. A thought struck her—maybe none of this was real. The houses, grass, sun, air… all just lines of binary code.
The dog beside her wagged its tail so hard it nearly took flight.
Jiu Yue chuckled, playing with its tail. "What about you? Are you fake too?"
She sighed. When would the system finally show up?
The dog barked again—this time at the figure below.
Jiu Yue turned to see Qiu Dongfang staring up at her.
His face was full of admiration as he leapt onto the roof beside her. "You’re incredible, Jiu Yue."
Jiu Yue: "...Huh?"
Qiu Dongfang continued, "His Highness said Feng Sheng refused to talk during interrogation—until he threatened to bring you in. Then he spilled everything!"
Jiu Yue: "..."
Her eye twitched. "Thanks, but you really didn’t have to tell me that."
"Of course I did! It’s your achievement!" Qiu Dongfang beamed. "His Highness gave you two days off to recover. He also said he’d reward you once you woke up—Hey, where are you going?"
Jiu Yue was already sprinting off with the dog. "You couldn’t lead with the reward?!"
Qiu Dongfang: "...Wait for me!"
In the study.
Jiu Yue stared at the plain wooden token in her hand, a question mark forming in her mind. "Your Highness, this is my reward?"
Sima Qing shot her a glance and turned to Qiu Dongfang. "Take her there in a couple of days."
"Yes," Qiu Dongfang nodded.
Jiu Yue pocketed the token. She had a guess about its purpose—but she wouldn’t say.
"Hey, Your Highness, any other rewards?" She batted her eyelashes. "Like, say, the gold and jewels you usually treat as dirt?"
Sima Qing: "...That’s against protocol."
Her smile vanished. With an eye roll, she turned on her heel and left.
"Call it being stingy if you want, but don’t dress it up as something noble." She strutted away without a care.
Sima Qing: "..."
His face darkened to the shade of ink, yet he couldn’t bring himself to call her back and give her a piece of his mind.
