After provoking the holy maiden of Miao territory, she was infected with a love curse.

It went on until night.

A light drizzle began to fall outside, and Yin Huaixi held the dying Sang Che tightly in her arms.

She could feel the deathly aura surrounding Sang Che gradually dissipating.

He finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Only when facing her second sister did Yin Huaixi truly make a choice between her family and Sang Che.

She knew that from the moment she was arrested, many things could never be the same again.

Yin Qingyue wanted to take her to the yamen because her second sister didn't know that she could have escaped that day, but was instead used as a target by the imperial guards and shot into a pincushion.

If Sang Che hadn't fed her the love potion that day, she would probably have become food for the fish in the stream long ago, eaten and then pulled out, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say she was a puddle of mud.

Holding Sang Che tightly, Yin Huaixi whispered in her ear, wishing her body could become a heater to make Sang Che feel better.

"Ah Che, if you die here tonight... I'll leave without saying a word, and I won't even collect your body."

"I will go back to my second sister and tell her that I am willing to accept punishment and confess my guilt..."

Yin Huaixi's lost and forlorn tone sounded like that of a young woman who had just married and lost her husband, filled with sorrow and despair.

Sang Che, who hadn't slept at all, couldn't tell if she was angry or worried.

She was about to open her eyes when she heard the sound of water being trampled outside. The noise was not small; on the contrary, it was quite loud.

Without saying a word, Yin Huaixi covered Sang Che's ears and made two "sizzling" sounds at the little tooth that was sleeping on the side.

Little Tooth had been awake for a while.

Now it no longer harbors any resentment towards Yin Huaixi; on the contrary, they can get along harmoniously.

Raise the snake's head.

Yin Huaixi: "I'd like to trouble you, Xiaoya'er. Could you please lure away those arrogant guys outside the door?"

Hearing Yin Huaixi's instructions, Xiao Ya'er stared at the crack in the door and immediately darted out without any hesitation.

Yin Huaixi asked Xiao Ya'er to distract the officials who were searching, and only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.

Little Tooth is no ordinary snake; it was kept by Sang Che, so its intelligence is naturally beyond that of ordinary snakes.

Yin Huaixi trusted it more than anyone else to let it distract the pursuing group.

Just as the red snake disappeared from sight, a cry of alarm came from outside the door, and someone hurriedly pounded on the door.

"I wonder who is staying at my house tonight? I just saw a snake slip out. Could you please open the door and see if anyone is alright?"

Xia Ping's parents died early, leaving behind only this dilapidated house. She makes a living by sewing and washing clothes for people on the street.

Occasionally, when some of her friends or elders had arguments, they would come to her house for a short rest.

The city was so bustling with activity tonight that Xia Ping became suspicious, which is why she didn't knock on the door immediately.

I knocked on the wooden door several times, but no one answered.

Xia Ping is not thinking straight.

He turned to report it to the authorities, but the wooden door creaked open.

A woman of unparalleled beauty stood before her, leaving Xia Ping speechless.

If Xia Ping had seen this beautiful woman during the day, she might have called her "Fairy Sister." But seeing her in the pitch-black night, Xia Ping was so frightened that she fell to the ground.

...

Half an hour later.

Xia Ping accepted the silver from Yin Huaixi, then cooked some white porridge and brought it over to the two of them.

"Sister, what crime have you committed that the authorities are investigating?"

Xia Ping had been curious about the woman lying in Yin Huaixi's arms. She was about to reach out to check her breathing when Yin Huaixi grabbed her hand and stopped her.

My wrist hurts.

Xia Ping frowned, quickly withdrew her hand, and apologized softly, "Stop, stop, pretty lady, I won't touch your woman!"

Yin Huaixi: "..."

Can't this person speak properly?!

What do you mean by "her woman"?!

Yin Huaixi spoke in a tone completely like she was lecturing a child: "She's not my woman. I don't let you touch her because she's poisonous. Be careful."

After spending a long time with Sang Che, Yin Huaixi began to get used to the deep, subtle fragrance emanating from him. Her actions just now were not motivated by any other intentions.

I just wanted to remind Xia Ping not to be deceived by Sang Che's harmless face. In fact, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call Sang Che a "mad dog"!

Hearing Yin Huaixi's warning, Xia Ping belatedly touched her hand, her heart pounding with fear. She asked, "Really? Pretty sister, you're not lying to me, are you?"

"You're not telling me this person...is highly poisonous because you're possessive of their food?"

The term "food possessiveness" has even appeared!

If Sang Che is going to protect her, it's probably because he's worried someone will steal her away!

Staring resentfully at Xia Ping, Yin Huaixi said, "What a joke, why would I lie to you?"

"If you don't believe me, you can always touch it yourself..."

Despite saying that, Xia Ping couldn't help but burst out laughing as Yin Huaixi hugged the person in his arms tighter and tighter.

"Okay, pretty lady... I won't compete with you for a wife."

Having been orphaned at a young age, she had naturally heard from people on the streets that "spoilers" were most likely to occur among the young ladies and maids of wealthy and powerful families in these grand mansions.

This is nothing unusual, why is she making such a fuss?

Seeing Xia Ping laughing so hard, it seemed like she was mocking her.

Yin Huaixi reiterated this point.

"We're not what you think..."

She lowered her head again to sniff Sang Che's scent, wanting to make sure it hadn't disappeared.

Suddenly, Sang Che opened his eyes and met Yin Huaixi's gaze.

The charcoal fire in the room was still crackling, the sound like drums beating in Yin Huaixi's ears.

With a smile in his eyes and deep affection, Sang Che weakly asked, "Is that so?"

"Huaixi, what is our relationship?"

After saying this, Sang Che simply reached out and wrapped his arms around Yin Huaixi's neck, pressing himself close to Yin Huaixi's reddened earlobe.

She lowered her voice and coughed twice in a deliberately feigned manner, hoping to make Yin Huaixi feel sorry for her.

"We've clearly done everything, Huaixi... how cruel you are! You just won't give me a proper status?"

"If you truly don't care about me as you say, then tonight... just leave me behind and use me as bait..."

"I won't blame you... I understand your pain... your hardships..."

Seeing the two people in front of her talking, Xia Ping very consciously covered her eyes with her hands, turned around and sat down.

"Pretty lady, I didn't see anything this time, so you can't scold me!"

Forced to bend over, Yin Huaixi retreated repeatedly, her hand pressing against Yin Huaixi's approaching chest.

"Sang Che, your injuries haven't healed yet... don't get so close to me..."

The sensation on her fingertips was no longer cold, but warm and smooth. Yin Huaixi finally breathed a sigh of relief. Sang Che could now even banter with her.

This means that Sang Che has recovered from his near-death state and is now able to jump around and is full of energy.

She... can then stop worrying about Sang Che.

"But I just want to be close to you, Huaixi."

"You have done so much for me. I understand that a small kindness should be repaid with a great one."

"I won't be like those ungrateful wretches, ungrateful...and not repaying kindness."

Yin Huaixi added another piece of charcoal to the stove in front of the three of them. Holding the fire tongs, she asked with great interest, "A-Che... how will you repay such a small kindness from me?"

Sang Che: "Of course I'll be your dog, acknowledge you as my master... You can do whatever you want with me."