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

Zhao Huining was the eldest princess of the new dynasty.

Those who dared to deceive her under her rule are now buried under a mountain of weeds.

She repeatedly tolerated Jiawan's outrageous behavior in front of her, indeed because Jiawan had saved her at Fengming Mountain.

He applied medicine to her wound and bandaged her up.

This would prevent her from becoming a "puppet" in Sang Che's hands, turning her into an ignorant, emotionless, and desireless walking corpse.

Zhao Huining originally didn't have much affection for Sang Che, but now Jia Wan's repeated biases made Zhao Huining wonder if Jia Wan cared so much about Sang Che because the two had been childhood sweethearts.

She didn't consider herself a suspicious person; it was just that Jiawan's attitude towards Sang Che was too different.

This difference aroused suspicion in Zhao Huining's heart. She wondered if what Jiawan had said to him was just a whim of her girlish heart.

I didn't take it too seriously.

She was nothing more than a dispensable "medicine person" in Jiawan's life; Jiawan could beckon her over when needed.

To be ordered around at will.

Say some sweet words.

Try to win her heart.

But the only person Ke Jiawan truly cared about was that one.

Sang Che's status as a "saintess" in Miao territory is not something to be joked about. Even though Jia Wan has a lot of witty remarks, she will subconsciously restrain herself when facing Sang Che.

Zhao Huining had noticed this back at Fengming Mountain, but she didn't take it seriously at the time, thinking that Jiawan was just afraid of Sang Che's power as a saintess.

Looking back now... Jiawan just didn't want to lose her composure in front of Sang Che and leave a bad impression on him.

...

His eyes were dark and unfathomable.

Zhao Huining took a deep breath, her breathing becoming rapid. She had only one thought in her mind: if Jia Wan really cared about Sang Che that much.

So she tortured Sang Che and then dumped him in front of Jia Wan. She wanted to see if Jia Wan could still be as tough as she was in front of her.

Faced with Zhao Huining's threat, Jiawan's eyes revealed disbelief.

"Ah Ning, you promised me a few days ago... you wouldn't... do anything to Ah Che..."

"And what do you mean now?"

Zhao Huining raised an eyebrow.

"And what about you, Ah Shui? Didn't you also promise me... that I would be your only one? Why are you favoring one over the other...?"

"Look at yourself now. Your eyes and heart are filled with nothing but your A-Che, the good holy maiden of your Miao region. Ever since I captured you and brought you here, your heart... has probably been filled with resentment towards me."

"Those flattering things you said to me the other day were just to keep me calm... Ah Shui, tell me... now that you've manipulated me again, how... should I punish you?"

"It must be to make you lose the one you love, otherwise your heart will always have someone hidden inside, and there will never be an empty space there... I find that very annoying."

They were forced to retreat step by step.

Jiawan raised her resentful eyes, completely disbelieving the absurd words Zhao Huining uttered.

"Don't talk nonsense here. A-Che and I grew up together. She is indeed the holy maiden of our Miao region. The order I received since childhood... is that I must risk my life to protect A-Che."

Before she could finish speaking, Zhao Huining forcefully covered Jiawan's mouth, unwilling to hear Jiawan utter Sang Che's name again.

With her warm palm pressed against her soft lips, Jia Wan had the idea of ​​biting Zhao Huining hard to see if she would let go in pain.

"As long as I'm here, Ah Shui... you'll never be able to save her."

"Now that I've found this Gu worm, I suppose if I could find a way to follow it, or if I could spread the word about you, do you think your good A-Che would come to your rescue?"

With her lips and tongue blocked, Jia Wan couldn't make a sound, only whimpering. With gritted teeth and a determined heart, she bit Zhao Huining's palm hard.

Despite the intense pain, Zhao Huining had no intention of pulling her arm away; she was enjoying Jia Wan's hysterical outburst in front of her.

"Waaah... How dare you..."

Zhao Huining: "What wouldn't I dare to do, Ah Shui? Let alone you, as long as I want to... there's nothing in this world I can't do, and even this world should be mine."

Her smile didn't reach her eyes. Zhao Huining let Jia Wan's pearly teeth sink into her flesh. Then, Zhao Huining called out to the door.

"Someone come here."

"Please invite Master Ziyang over; I have something to say to her."

Seeing this scene, the maid outside the door did not step forward to bandage Zhao Huining, but instead took the order and withdrew on her own.

Having served in the princess's residence for many years, these servants understood better than anyone else that they should not interfere in anything the princess had not instructed them to do.

Otherwise... you'll be courting death.

Seeing the fear in Jiawan's eyes, Zhao Huining smiled slightly.

"Ah Shui, you've been by my side for so long, you must already know who Master Ziyang is."

"If she makes an appearance, I think your A-Che will fall into my hands and become a lamb to the slaughter, but it will only take a little while."

Getting closer step by step.

Zhao Huining looked down at Jia Wan with a completely condescending gaze. Although she was clearly speaking threatening words, she showed no joy whatsoever, only the disappointment of defeat.

Zhao Huining hated the man in front of her for his sweet talk, hated that he didn't tell her the truth, and hated that he didn't love her enough.

She hated the person in front of her even more because his heart and eyes were full of other people, he never gave her a place to stay, and he never begged her for anything.

They pinned their last sliver of hope on Sang Che.

If she had just spoken kindly and sincerely, and cared more about her, Zhao Huining wouldn't have wanted to end up like this with Jiawan.

"By then, I really need to see if you're willing to sacrifice everything for your A-Che... give your all."

When she released her grip, bloody marks appeared on Zhao Huining's palm, dripping down her little finger to the ground, but she felt no pain whatsoever.

"Ah Shui, on that day, will you kneel down and beg me?"

"Let me release you again—good A-Che?"

Zhao Huining would never give up what she considered hers to someone else. If Sang Che really had the ability to take Jia Wan away from here, she would follow him relentlessly.

What's hers can only be hers.

This was a promise Jiawan made to Zhao Huining at Fengming Mountain; there was no point in reneging on it.

...

But only for a short while.

Master Ziyang, accompanied by a maid, arrived outside Zhao Huining's bedroom, carrying a whisk. The maid stood respectfully outside the door and said, "Your Highness, Master Ziyang has arrived."

Upon hearing this title, Jiawan, whose wrists and feet were bound and who had been thrown onto the bed, struggled to break free, but to no avail.

Ah Ning... what does this mean?

Did she expect her to listen carefully to how she and this Master Ziyang plotted their famous plan to capture A'Che?

With her mouth tightly bound by white silk, Jiawan could only manage whimpers despite her best efforts.

The Taoist priest who strode over seemed not to hear him, paying no attention to the faint figure appearing and disappearing on the bed.

The Taoist bowed and asked, "Your Highness, is there something you wish to discuss?"

Zhao Huining sat upright at the table, listening to Jiawan's movements, feeling pleased. Ah Shui should be hidden away by her like this.

They only obey when they hide...

If I hide it, they won't keep talking about Ah Che all the time.