The next day, after returning from court, Sima Qing summoned Jiu Yue and Qiu Dongfang.
"Have you packed everything?"
The two nodded.
Sima Qing smiled. "Then let's set off."
Jiu Yue mustered the courage to ask, "Your Highness, where are we going? And how long will we stay?"
Sima Qing seemed to be in a good mood, and the usual provocative glint in his eyes when he looked at her was absent. "We’ll be staying at Mingzhi Mountain for half a month."
Mingzhi Mountain… Jiu Yue glanced at Qiu Dongfang, who explained, "It’s about a hundred li outside the city—a summer retreat."
Jiu Yue: "…"
She couldn’t help but ask, "Your Highness, are you going there to escape the heat?"
Sima Qing’s smile widened. "Exactly. This is a privilege granted by His Majesty. How could I possibly disregard such kindness?"
Jiu Yue: "…"
Did he leave his brain behind at court?
It was barely May—what summer heat was there to escape?
She discreetly rolled her eyes, only to hear Sima Qing add, "For this trip, I’m only taking the two of you. To avoid drawing attention, one of you will pose as a coachman, the other as a cook. Make sure you act the part convincingly."
Jiu Yue looked at Qiu Dongfang again and quickly spoke up first, "Then I’ll be the coachman!"
Qiu Dongfang: "…Do I look like a cook to you?"
Jiu Yue turned back to Sima Qing. "I don’t know how to cook. I refuse."
Qiu Dongfang: "…"
Sima Qing: "…"
Sima Qing was momentarily speechless.
He had to admit, the idea of making Jiu Yue play the cook had stemmed from a petty desire for revenge—he was still sulking over last night’s incident.
He didn’t dare dock her pay, but couldn’t he at least make her do some hard labor?
But then Jiu Yue claimed she couldn’t cook… If he forced her, wouldn’t he be the one suffering in the end?
So, Sima Qing silently turned his gaze to Qiu Dongfang.
Qiu Dongfang: "…"
With tears in his heart, Qiu Dongfang accepted the role. "Fine, I’ll go pack again."
Jiu Yue’s eyes lit up. "I’ll come too!"
Half an hour later—
A cross-dressed Qiu Dongfang (as a woman) and a cross-dressed Jiu Yue (as a man) met in the courtyard.
The two began admiring each other’s transformations.
"Your makeup is excellent—I can’t tell you’re a man at all."
"Old Tao mentioned you wanted to learn disguise techniques? I’d say you have a natural talent."
"Oh, right!" At the mention of Old Tao, Jiu Yue suddenly remembered her dog. She deliberately deepened her voice to sound more masculine. "Your Highness, since this is a leisure trip, can I bring my dog?"
Sima Qing couldn’t bear to look at his two eccentric subordinates and waved dismissively. "We leave in half an hour. Be quick."
Jiu Yue happily went to fetch her dog.
Mingzhi Mountain—legend had it that someone once heard a tiger’s roar from its depths, hence the name.
The mountain’s summer retreat was nestled halfway up the slope, surrounded by lush greenery and clear waters—a truly idyllic setting. But now, as they entered, an unmistakable chill hung in the air.
Even Mingzhi Mountain knew it wasn’t the season for escaping the heat.
Jiu Yue pursed her lips and urged the carriage forward. After a bumpy, hurried journey, they finally arrived at their destination. She jumped down first and walked to the end of the path… only to find a dilapidated shack.
Jiu Yue: "…"
She immediately turned around and marched back to where Sima Qing was being helped down from the carriage by Qiu Dongfang. With a grave expression, she announced, "Your Highness, get back in the carriage."
Sima Qing, looking slightly pale, managed to ask, "What’s wrong?"
Jiu Yue replied, "We took a wrong turn. This isn’t the summer retreat."
Sima Qing: "…"
His lips twitched as he steadied himself on Qiu Dongfang’s shoulder and stepped onto the ground. His gaze at Jiu Yue was indescribably complex.
"You actually thought we came here to escape the heat?"
Jiu Yue: "…"
She sighed. "To be honest, if this is what the summer retreat looks like, I’d suspect you’ve been demoted, Your Highness."
Sima Qing: "…"
He shouldn’t have asked.
Without another word, Sima Qing walked toward the shack.
Jiu Yue looked up at the sky in resignation, quietly set her dog down, and tied the carriage to a nearby post. Qiu Dongfang began unloading their belongings.
For a half-month stay, Sima Qing hadn’t brought much—just two large chests, one filled with books and the other with clothes, along with their provisions.
But… they couldn’t just move everything inside yet.
"The place hasn’t been lived in for too long. We need to clean it first," Qiu Dongfang said, covering his nose as he surveyed the interior. He then dutifully went to fetch water for cleaning.
Jiu Yue obediently followed.
After two exhausting hours, they finally tidied up the shack. Jiu Yue felt more drained than after a mission.
She stretched her neck and rubbed her sore back, muttering, "Why didn’t His Highness bring a few servants along?"
Qiu Dongfang lowered his voice. "Only His Highness’s most trusted confidants know about this place."
Jiu Yue understood.
The fewer who knew, the better.
Well, compared to missions, at least this kind of menial work wasn’t dangerous.
If she thought about it, she was basically a cleaner with a monthly salary of 200,000 taels! Damn, what a steal!
Having successfully cheered herself up, Jiu Yue helped Qiu Dongfang move their things inside.
As she watched him arrange the books according to Sima Qing’s preferences, she leaned against the doorframe and suddenly realized something. "Where’s His Highness?"
Qiu Dongfang didn’t look up. "Oh, your driving was so rough that His Highness got motion sickness. He went to get some fresh air near the carriage earlier."
Out of professional habit, Jiu Yue stepped outside to check—but aside from the carriage and her dog, there was no one in sight.
Frowning, she hurried to the carriage and pulled back the curtain.
Empty.
Her heart sank. She rushed back to inform Qiu Dongfang, "His Highness is missing."
"What?!" Qiu Dongfang’s pupils constricted. "Someone must’ve tailed us. We need to find him now."
Jiu Yue didn’t waste time asking questions. She dashed out but hesitated, unsure which direction to search. Qiu Dongfang had already sprinted uphill… Anxiety gnawed at her, but she forced herself to stay calm.
Just as she was about to inspect the carriage for any clues, she felt a weight on her foot.
"Woof—" Her puppy pawed at her leg.
Jiu Yue paused.
Sima Qing was speechless.
He had been abruptly kidnapped, and neither of his subordinates nor the dog had noticed.
Looking up at the black-clad figures before him, he remained composed, running through countless possibilities but unable to pinpoint who might have sent them.
Truthfully… in the capital, aside from the emperor, no one had any reason to target him.
Sima Qing was puzzled—until one of the black-clad men stepped forward and forced a pill down his throat.
"Expired aphrodisiac—now you’ll know how it feels!" the man recited mechanically. "That’s what the employer told me to say."
Sima Qing coughed violently from the rough treatment, but upon hearing those words, his coughing intensified—
Prince Ping?!
He was still in Qingnan, yet he’d hired people to mess with him in the capital?
Realizing whose handiwork the expired aphrodisiac was, Sima Qing fell silent again.
He couldn’t help but wonder.
Was Jiu Yue truly his jinx?
