Jiu Yue couldn't remain silent for long.
Ever since connecting with the system, memories of the original host had been flooding her mind relentlessly.
From her childhood days roaming the martial world with a man to her eventual death by the blade… frame after frame flashed by, swift yet vivid.
These memories surged like a flood bursting through a dam, overwhelming and relentless. Jiu Yue pressed her fingers to her temples, feeling slightly disoriented, as if a breeze had just brushed past her.
Belatedly, she turned her head, noticing the nearby flowers and grass—completely undisturbed by any wind…
She couldn’t help but reach out her hand, feeling the wind swirl around her fingertips.
In her mind, the system’s exaggerated, mechanical sobbing had already begun: "Wahhh… you owe me a mission target… I finally fixed all the bugs and rushed straight to you, only for Prince Ping to be already dead… wahhh…"
The wind vanished.
Jiu Yue snapped back to reality, her expression complicated. Hearing the system’s accusation, her lips twitched.
"Not paying a single bit." Before she even finished speaking, she picked up the freshly wiped blade again and, without a flicker of emotion, stabbed Prince Ping’s corpse once more.
Scum.
Trash.
And he wanted a political marriage? What a joke!
Having inherited the original host’s complete memories, Jiu Yue no longer had even the slightest mercy to leave Prince Ping’s body intact.
For the sake of his ambitions, he had coldly manipulated the affections of three women—his heart was so blackened, who knew what it even looked like! He deserved to rot in hell!
The system: "…"
Suddenly, it didn’t dare cry anymore.
Why did it feel like… after all this time apart, she had become way more ruthless???
The system fell silent.
Jiu Yue, however, exhaled deeply and stood up, walking to the side.
Si Shui was staring at Prince Ping’s corpse in silence, his eyelids twitching slightly.
Cold-blooded and merciless, not even blinking… That night on the cliff of Mingzhi Mountain, she hadn’t seemed this strong, had she???
Just as he was puzzling over this, Jiu Yue suddenly walked toward him. Si Shui tensed, instinctively wary—but she simply reached out and took Xue’er from his arms without a word.
"…" Si Shui hesitated, wanting to say something but unsure how to begin.
Jiu Yue looked down and saw that Xue’er had already stopped breathing.
She hadn’t made it after all.
After a silent sigh, Jiu Yue quietly wiped Xue’er’s face and straightened her collar, covering the dark bruises around her neck…
Si Shui felt an inexplicable sadness and couldn’t help but study the female assassin. But then, she abruptly turned to him and asked, "Do you guys handle burials?"
Si Shui: "…"
He caught the unspoken implication. "You want to take the princess’s body with you?"
Before Jiu Yue could answer, a large crowd suddenly surged behind them.
"Trying to leave? And where exactly would you go?!" A sharp shout rang out from the group. The two looked up simultaneously to see the dark-faced leader of the imperial guards.
Si Shui reflexively stood up, while Jiu Yue swept a cool gaze over the newcomers.
Seemed like the chaos in the palace hall had also been resolved.
"Boss, she’s…" Si Shui seemed to want to explain, but the leader cut him off sharply. "What are you standing around for? Not a single one of Prince Ping’s people gets away! Capture her now!"
Si Shui froze.
Jiu Yue, however, raised an eyebrow slightly. After gently placing Xue’er down, she stood up as well.
"Boss, she isn’t—" Si Shui tried again, only to be interrupted once more.
"Si Shui! Are you disobeying orders?!" the leader barked.
Orders…
Whose orders?
Jiu Yue suddenly laughed, the sound abrupt and cold.
The imperial guards answered directly to the emperor. Who had issued this command? The answer was obvious.
At this moment, Jiu Yue couldn’t help but recall Nan Xun’s meaningful expression when he had suggested faking her death.
…She really had been too naive.
This emperor was far from as simple as he appeared on the surface.
If he were truly simple-minded, Prince Ping would have overthrown him long ago.
The emperor and Prince Ping had grown up together—he must have been aware of Prince Ping’s ambitions for years.
After ascending the throne, he had first seized Su Yingxue, then used Sima Qing to counter Prince Ping… And as for the blame for the corrupt officials? Sima Qing had borne half of it.
Jiu Yue clenched her jaw, genuinely impressed.
Sensing her host’s complicated emotions, the system finally realized the gravity of the situation. It hesitantly asked, "Aren’t you going to run?"
She could definitely escape.
But if she did, she’d be branded a wanted criminal across Tianqi… What a headache!
At this moment, Jiu Yue wholeheartedly agreed with Nan Xun’s suggestion: faking her death really was the easiest way out!
An idea flashed through her mind. She turned and fixed Si Shui with an eerie stare.
"In that case…" Jiu Yue snorted coldly. In one swift motion, she leaped up and sent Si Shui flying with a slap. Kicking up the whip he had left behind, she turned to the leader with a taunting smirk. "Let’s see who captures who, shall we?"
"Such arrogance!" The leader sneered, gripping his iron whip as he charged forward.
The leader’s whip was rigid, while the one Jiu Yue held was flexible.
A spark of excitement flickered in Jiu Yue’s eyes.
Perfect—let’s see which type of whip was truly superior!
The two clashed fiercely near the rock garden, while the other guards surrounded them, clearly preparing to block any escape attempts.
Si Shui clutched his chest as he staggered to his feet. When he saw Jiu Yue wielding the whip, a sense of familiarity struck him.
Then, as the whip lashed out with uncanny precision—landing squarely on the leader’s backside—
Si Shui’s eyes widened in shock.
How could it be her?!
No wonder! No wonder that night on the cliff, she had suddenly stabbed the other assassin mid-fight!
No wonder today, when he had tried to stop her, she had flung him aside in annoyance, saying she was in a hurry to kill Prince Ping…
She was clearly that expert who served by the regent’s side!
"Misunderstanding!" Si Shui immediately ignored the throbbing pain in his chest and rushed toward his comrades, ready to explain. But before he could speak, one of them swiftly clamped a hand over his mouth.
Si Shui stared at the man in disbelief.
The man met his gaze solemnly and gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head.
"This is His Majesty’s will," came the whispered words.
Si Shui turned with difficulty, looking between the leader and Jiu Yue, his emotions in turmoil…
Who she worked for didn’t matter.
What mattered was that the emperor wanted her dead.
Si Shui struggled to accept it.
Just because… she had originally been one of Prince Ping’s people?
The rebel forces had been subdued. Apart from a few high-ranking officials who remained, the other ministers had been escorted home.
Sima Qing stood on the palace steps, his gaze sweeping the surroundings. The emperor’s voice drifted over, faintly amused. "What is my uncle searching for?"
"Checking where Qi Xiuyuan dropped dead," he replied casually.
The emperor smiled faintly. "No need to worry, Uncle. Today, he won’t escape death."
Xiao Chi, having just finished deploying his troops, approached with his blade in hand. "His Majesty is right. By now, that traitor Prince Ping must have already fallen to his trusted subordinate’s blade!"
Sima Qing paused.
He had been inside the hall earlier and hadn’t seen when Jiu Yue arrived, but he had caught a glimpse of her leaping across rooftops.
An uneasy feeling prickled at him. Frowning slightly, he muttered, "I’d prefer to see it with my own eyes."
Just as he was about to turn away, the emperor suddenly grabbed his arm from behind.
"Imperial Uncle," the emperor said, locking eyes with him, his grip unrelenting. "You're frail. You should return to your residence and rest early..."
But Sima Qing took a sudden step forward and pushed his hand away.
"Your Majesty," he asked, enunciating each word, "where have your shadow guards gone?"
The emperor froze for a moment. He had known Sima Qing for years, yet this was the first time he had seen such an expression on his face—cold and distant, his eyes chillingly indifferent.
"Imperial Uncle..." The emperor spoke again, then hardened his gaze and seized Sima Qing's arm once more. "Imperial Uncle, don’t forget—'When cutting weeds, remove the roots.' That’s what you taught me!"
What a ruthless principle—cutting weeds by the roots.
From the emperor’s perspective, it made sense. A master who had served Prince Ping for years, even capable of overpowering the palace’s shadow guards—even if she had now turned against Prince Ping, who could guarantee she wouldn’t betray the emperor next?
Eliminate the root, leave no future troubles—
But Sima Qing was not the emperor.
He gave the emperor a long, deep look before mustering all his strength to shove him away.
The emperor stumbled back into Xiao Chi, disbelief flashing across his face as he stared at Sima Qing’s retreating figure.
"Your Majesty has grown into the ruler you are today. The late emperor would surely rest in peace." There was no anger or blame in his voice, only a faint weariness the emperor could barely discern.
"From now on, the Tianqi Dynasty no longer needs a regent."
Without another glance back, Sima Qing walked away.
