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

The eldest princess temporarily resides outside the side room.

Yin Huaixi held her breath, focusing intently on Sang Che's actions.

"Ah Che, I'm going to keep watch up ahead."

"If you are in any danger, just come this way."

Holding a bamboo broom, Yin Huaixi's broom-wielding posture went unnoticed by the busy palace maids.

Sang Che: "Yes, this place is too dangerous."

"Huaixi, you should go far away."

Yin Huaixi: "..."

She knew that A-Che was saying this out of concern for her, but why did it sound so awkward?

...

As Zhao Huining walked back alone, holding an umbrella, she was caught off guard when she saw the two guards she had assigned to stand beside Jiawan bowing to her.

"Greetings, Your Highness."

"I wonder if Your Highness has summoned us for something important?"

These words completely stunned Zhao Huining. Her fingers involuntarily tightened around the umbrella handle, knowing that something had gone wrong. Zhao Huining concealed her expression without showing any emotion.

She asked in a cold voice, "Who sent you to find me?"

The two guards realized something was wrong and immediately replied, "Your Highness, it was the Imperial Concubine who specifically sent us to find you."

Upon hearing the words "Imperial Consort," Zhao Huining felt a sense of relief, as long as it wasn't a guard sent by the emperor.

She didn't care about anything else, lifted her skirt and hurriedly walked back.

The guards followed closely behind.

A thin layer of fine sweat quickly appeared at his temples.

They were afraid that if they left even for a moment, it would ruin His Highness's plans.

As her shoes waded through the puddles, Zhao Huining bumped into a Taoist priest carrying a bamboo broom. She hadn't intended to look closely, but the man's figure gave her an incomparably familiar feeling...

She seemed familiar!

The thought crossed Zhao Huining's mind, and he stopped.

Could it be that the Miao people from Fengming Mountain have come looking for us?

The more she suspected this, the more worried Zhao Huining became that the Miao holy maiden Sang Che really had a way to get to her.

Her next step is to kidnap Jiawan right under her nose!

Jiawan's "Ache" really has a good plan and a good scheme.

Of all days, it had to be this one…

They wanted to choose the anniversary of the Empress Dowager's death, when she was traveling with the Emperor and preoccupied with her own affairs, to come to this Taoist temple and kidnap people.

Zhao Huining, who was originally able to remain calm, felt a surge of anger rising in her heart whenever she thought of Jiawan calling out Sang Che's name day and night.

In what way does she fall short of Sang Che?

Now, Sang Che has become even more arrogant, daring to send her people to rob her.

Does she think the imperial city is her backyard garden at Fengming Mountain? Coming and going as she pleases?

There's no such thing as a free lunch!

...

I saw that long-unseen face across from me.

Yin Huaixi held the bamboo broom in her hand, ignoring the two guards accompanying Zhao Huining.

A smile played on her lips as she fixed her deep eyes on Zhao Huining and said directly, "My lord, it's been a long time."

As soon as the voice came out, Zhao Huining recognized Yin Huaixi as the Han Chinese who had escaped with her at Fengming Mountain...

However, the guards were ruthless at that time, and they shot Yin Huaixi so many times that he was riddled with holes.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Zhao Huining witnessed Yin Huaixi's bloodshed and death firsthand.

How could this person possibly come to her in such good spirits now?

Could it be that the Miao people were impersonating Yin Huaixi, trying to make her feel guilty so they could catch her off guard and take Jiawan, whom she had finally managed to capture, back to Miao territory?

Zhao Huining sneered: "Yin Huaixi, are you a human or a ghost?"

Yin Huaixi: "..."

That's really direct.

Yin Huaixi: "Of course I'm human."

"Your Highness, you were unable to save me from this dire situation that day. Is it because you feel guilty that you ask this question?"

Upon hearing her insightful words, Zhao Huining realized that Yin Huaixi had not died that day.

It goes without saying who saved her.

It is said that the divine blood of the Miao holy maiden is comparable to the elixir of immortality, and it seems that this rumor is indeed true.

Otherwise, with Yin Huaixi shot like that, how could he possibly be alive to speak to her?

Zhao Huining knew that Yin Huaixi had come to see her behind Sang Che's back, either because she was acting on Sang Che's orders, or because, as before, Yin Huaixi needed to rely on her power to escape Sang Che's "clutches".

She turned to the two guards beside her and whispered, "You two may leave now. I have something to say to this young lady."

Yin Huaixi saw that Zhao Huining agreed.

She continued sweeping away the leaves piled up in the puddles, without beating around the bush.

"Since Your Highness is the eldest princess of the current dynasty, you must surely have the ability to protect my sister's family."

"If Your Highness agrees, I can also do something for you."

Zhao Huining never expected that Yin Huaixi's elaborate efforts to see her were actually to plead for her family.

How can I trust your words?

"Yin Huaixi, don't forget, you are Sang Che's bedmate. I'm not stupid enough to open my heart to you."

I rolled my eyes in exasperation.

Yin Huaixi directly exposed Zhao Huining's hidden thoughts.

"Your Highness's statement is somewhat biased. A-Che is the one who insists on sticking to me, and I can't shake her off no matter what I do... I can't win her over, so I have no choice but to accept it."

"But what about you, Your Highness?"

"What are Your Highness's feelings for Ah Shui?"

"Does Your Highness really think that bringing someone all the way from Lingshui City to be kidnapped is all for nothing? Does Your Highness have a clear conscience?"

Throughout the court and among the common people, Zhao Huining had seen far too many eyes harboring ulterior motives, filled with greed, resentment, and even lust.

But she had never seen Yin Huaixi look at her with such certainty in her eyes...

No wonder this woman could bewitch Sang Che; she's truly terrifying.

Zhao Huining smiled faintly, trying to hide her embarrassment.

"She had bullied me for a long time at Fengming Mountain. What's wrong with me capturing her and getting my revenge?"

"Yin Huaixi, don't forget, you are a Han Chinese, you shouldn't have fallen for that witch."

Yin Huaixi replied neither servilely nor arrogantly, "I should pass those words on to Your Highness verbatim."

"I am not a subject of the Han people, nor do I eat the food of the Han people. I am just an ordinary citizen, and I have suffered so many attacks from my own people. It is already a miracle that I did not die."

"Your Highness...you secretly harbored Miao people behind His Majesty's back; isn't that an unforgivable crime?"

"Is Your Highness truly not afraid that His Majesty will find out about this?"

The rain is getting heavier.

Zhao Huining sneered: "None of your business."

"If you can persuade Sang Che, tell her to leave quickly and not to think about people or things she shouldn't be thinking about."

"If she covets my people, I won't treat her kindly once I capture her."

Having her secret exposed, Zhao Huining no longer wanted to argue with Yin Huaixi. Her jade pendant swayed as she walked away, her white jade dress billowing as she held an umbrella.

But Yin Huaixi called him back.

"Your Highness... I can't stop A-Che from doing what she wants, but doesn't Your Highness want a way to bewitch people?"

Having already obtained the secret recipe from Jia Wan, Zhao Huining stopped because of Yin Huaixi's words.

She turned her head.

After a long silence, raindrops fell on the oil-paper umbrella, making a pattering sound.

Zhao Huining: "Yin Huaixi, I don't need you to tell me how to bewitch people, but I need you to tell me... what the love potion tastes like."

"Just tell me about your family, and I will help them."

"I will also help them clear their names so that you can return to the Yin family and be your third young lady again."

"How is it?"

Zhao Huining never bothered to do things she wasn't sure about; she had once found a bright red Gu worm on Jia Wan's body.

After his subordinates spent a considerable amount of time deciphering the code, Zhao Huining realized that it was a love potion personally crafted by Jia Wan.

She had previously put the matter aside and hadn't thought of how to use the love potion.

Now that Zhao Huining has encountered Yin Huaixi, who is afflicted by a love potion, he immediately becomes interested.

She needed to know whether this love potion was actually effective...

Ah Shui wanted to leave, didn't he?

Isn't she trying to poison herself?

Let's reverse it all then.

Let her taste the bitter fruit of her own actions.

She provoked me first.

She should love herself.

She shouldn't have run away with Sang Che and abandoned her.

She shouldn't have...