The system felt as though it were treading on thin ice.
From the moment the transmission malfunctioned, it had been sent back to the factory for repairs, only for the inspection to reveal no hardware bugs—just pure magnetic interference.
And so, the system fell into an endless connection loop.
The constant blare of the "connection failed" alarm nearly gave it PTSD, until suddenly—success! Overjoyed, it planted a kiss on the main system before eagerly diving into the new world.
Only for the sky to come crashing down.
The reason it had been dispatched to this world was because the female lead had seemingly gained self-awareness, rejected the plot, and ended up dead at the hands of the male lead. Unacceptable!
Now, after finally securing a host, it arrived only to find the male lead stabbed through by said host.
The system was devastated.
There was no way it could recruit another host to salvage the male lead's role!
Despair reached its peak…
Yet it didn’t even dare cry.
Because its host was busy fighting, and it didn’t want to disturb her.
So the system watched, trembling, as Jiu Yue took on ten opponents at once—not even daring to cheer her on.
—That’s right, Jiu Yue was fighting ten men single-handedly.
Her whip had been replaced with the leader’s iron flail.
It was heavier, sure, but the damage was undeniably greater. The whip required precise control to hit its mark, but the flail? Just swing with all your might!
So Jiu Yue decisively lashed the leader’s backside, then casually snatched the flail from his grip.
Leader: "…"
Furious, the leader clutched his rear and retreated, waving his men forward.
Jiu Yue welcomed them all—each received a solid strike.
When Sima Qing arrived with Fu Yu in tow, the first thing they saw was Jiu Yue surrounded by the imperial guards, with Prince Ping’s corpse—and Xue'er’s—lying nearby.
Sima Qing’s gaze swept over the blood staining Jiu Yue’s clothes, and his voice rang out, cold with suppressed fury. "Stand down!"
Normally, the guards would only obey the emperor’s orders… but right now, Sima Qing’s command felt like salvation.
So they immediately retreated, putting distance between themselves and Jiu Yue.
Except for the one still locked in combat with her.
Both Jiu Yue and the guard were baffled.
Honestly, the guard wanted to flee too—since when was the leader’s flail this terrifying?! A single strike felt like ascending to the heavens in agony! And this assassin kept aiming for his pressure points!
But escape was impossible—
Because Jiu Yue had a firm grip on him.
Guard: "…" Please spare me! I’ll never charge ahead again!
Jiu Yue had no intention of letting go.
No way!
She’d set the stage perfectly for her fake death—if this guard ran, how could she pull it off?
Spotting Sima Qing pushing through the guards from the corner of her eye, Jiu Yue’s eyes gleamed. She suddenly slammed the flail into the ground.
The guard hesitated, thinking she was calling a truce. He prepared to honorably withdraw—only for her to seize his forearm.
To everyone else, it looked like she was merely restraining him.
But the guard knew the truth—an overwhelming force shoved his hand forward.
His blade plunged straight into Jiu Yue’s chest—
Not like Sima Qing’s previous feigned strike, but a genuine, heart-piercing stab!
The guard’s eyes widened in horror. He recoiled, releasing the hilt as the blade remained embedded in Jiu Yue’s body. In that moment, he knew no amount of explaining would clear his name.
"Boss…" He scurried back to the leader, who was still nursing his backside, only to receive an approving nod.
"Good work!"
The guard opened his mouth, then froze under Sima Qing’s icy glare.
Guard: "…"
It wasn’t me! I’m innocent!!!
Sima Qing ignored the scapegoat. His mind went blank as he watched blood spill from Jiu Yue’s lips.
"My lord…" Fu Yu reached out to steady him.
Sima Qing brushed him aside, stepping forward until all he could see was the blinding red.
Jiu Yue couldn’t stop the bleeding. Blood gushed out relentlessly, yet Sima Qing remained silent.
Fine. They hadn’t rehearsed this. With a sigh, Jiu Yue began her solo performance.
Trembling, she raised a bloodied hand—intending to clutch his sleeve—but he inexplicably met her halfway, gripping her sticky fingers without hesitation.
Jiu Yue was surprised but didn’t dwell on it. She held his hand weakly, forcing out words. "My lord… it seems I won’t be collecting this month’s gold…"
Ah, what a waste.
"I know… you never trusted me…"
Well, the guard served the emperor, but to Jiu Yue, royalty was royalty.
"But…" She managed a smile, her eyes softening. "It was a pleasure working with you."
"If possible… for my meager contributions…" Her trembling finger pointed at Xue'er. "Bury me with her. Somewhere quiet… the peach grove outside the city would be nice…"
Sima Qing stayed silent.
He stared at his bloodied hand, listening to her fading voice, feeling her breaths grow shallower. Finally, he looked at her face.
Jiu Yue closed her eyes, murmuring her last words.
"So tired… I just want to rest."
Then, stillness.
The wound was real. The burial, too.
When Jiu Yue awoke, she found herself in a coffin. The system’s voice echoed in her mind. "What’s your relationship with that regent?"
"…Why ask now?" She sat up, groping in the darkness.
Xue'er lay beside her—preserved by some fragrant substance in the coffin. The summer heat hadn’t spoiled her yet.
The system hesitated before speaking. "See for yourself."
Jiu Yue climbed out, surveying her surroundings.
The peach grove, just as requested. No blossoms in summer, just an ordinary night.
A modest grave mound stood before her, marked by a tombstone: "Jiu Yue."
She ran a hand over it—fine craftsmanship.
Then she peered back into the coffin. No torch, but moonlight glinted off something inside…
Wait—was that gold?!
Jiu Yue’s eyes widened. She reached in, confirming it.
The system then spoke in a complicated tone, "Not a single thing in this coffin is cheap... So, what exactly is your relationship with the Regent?"
Jiu Yue was momentarily stunned before collecting herself. After a brief pause, she answered thoughtfully, "An employer-employee relationship, I suppose. Though he’s quite wealthy—and generous."
On that point, she had to give him credit.
The amount of gold in this coffin far exceeded two months of her wages.
The system wiped away metaphorical tears. "No wonder you ended up on this crooked path."
After all, the Regent and Prince Ping were sworn enemies. With Jiu Yue working under the Regent, Prince Ping was bound to meet his end sooner or later.
Jiu Yue hesitated, recalling the gust of wind that day... But in the end, she chose not to say anything.
Now that her memories had fully merged, she carefully wrapped Xue'er in the soft fabric lining the bottom of the coffin, grabbing a handful of fragrant herbs as she did.
Under the pale moonlight, she restored everything to its original state and slipped away without a sound.
