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

He was threatened by Yin Huaixi.

The woman beside Zhao Huining, who was still patting her trouser legs and checking her body for any remaining poisonous insects, hurriedly said, "Your Highness, don't listen to that witch's nonsense."

"She says that, but who knows what she's really thinking!"

"In my opinion, Your Highness, we should simply capture and kill these two. Why bother giving them any courtesy?"

The woman beside him was making a lot of noise, which made Zhao Huining glance at her. His gaze was as cold as the Arctic, which made the woman feel like she had a fishbone stuck in her throat, and she couldn't say a word against it.

Zhao Huining: "My ideas are my own; I don't need anyone else to make them for me."

Immediately, Zhao Huining moved closer to Yin Huaixi. Looking at Sang Che, who was being tightly hidden behind Yin Huaixi, she said out of the blue, "Sang Che, you've really put a spell on everyone around you. They all wish you were alive."

"I'm terrified that something might happen to you."

"Then I'll make sure you don't get your way."

Upon hearing Zhao Huining's words, Yin Huaixi was about to make a move when Sang Che smiled contemptuously and put his hand on her shoulder.

He walked out from behind Yin Huaixi.

Rain still clung to Sang Che's brows as she said indifferently, "Your Highness is so angry with me, a mere commoner, could it be because Ah Shui's feelings for me have angered Your Highness?"

"I have always heard that the imperial family is kind and generous. I am sure that Her Highness the Princess is not angry with me over such a trivial matter. It is my short-sightedness that has led me to overthink so much."

Sang Che: "This humble subject did not know his place and said so much. I hope Your Highness will not be angry."

"Don't let a few words from a commoner upset you and ruin your health; that would be a loss."

The more she spoke, the more her eyebrows and eyes arched. She showed no fear whatsoever at the situation of being surrounded by Zhao Huining's men, which surprised the women beside Zhao Huining.

Could it be that this Miao holy maiden really has some secret recipe to bring flesh back to life from bones? Otherwise, how could she dare to challenge the authority of the princess like this?

Or is this person... truly tired of living?

When Zhao Huining's sore spot was hit, she felt as if a steel needle had pierced her heart. The "pain" was so intense that it caused swelling, soreness, and numbness, making it hard to breathe.

Zhao Huining composed herself, the anger in her eyes flashing only briefly before disappearing: "Sang Che, since you two are childhood sweethearts, then I'll show you... whether you really have the ability to take Ah Shui away from me."

"All the passages at the foot of the Taoist temple are guarded by my men. As expected... even if you have a backup plan, it will be of no use to me."

"No matter how Ah Shui tries to escape, no matter how she tries to leave my side, it's impossible."

Hesitant and timid.

Only those who lack real power would act this way.

Zhao Huining has the ability to set up this net, and he also has the ability to be the fisherman and catch them all in one fell swoop.

"Men, seize them!"

"It was transported back to the princess's residence overnight."

Upon receiving the order, the guards standing beside Zhao Huining drew their swords without hesitation and surrounded Yin Huaixi and Sang Che.

...

The dungeon was pitch black, the torches crackled and the flames flickered.

His whole body was bound tightly, like a hairy crab about to be steamed.

Yin Huaixi shuffled along the ground, her bottom twitching, until she reached Sang Che's side.

She glanced around to make sure the guards on the perimeter weren't looking her way, then whispered, "Ah Che... although bringing us into the princess's residence was part of your plan."

"But what you just said was far too flamboyant. Aren't you afraid the Princess will have someone smash your head open with a knife?"

Seeing Yin Huaixi lean closer, Sang Che lazily rested her shoulder on Yin Huaixi's back, saying indifferently, "If she wants Ah Shui to hate her forever, then let her crack her skull open."

"It's not a big deal."

Long, black hair fell onto Yin Huaixi's neck, bringing a tingling, itchy sensation. However, with her hands and feet bound, Yin Huaixi could not resist at all.

She bit her lip and hummed twice.

He bumped into Sang Che with his shoulder.

"Ah Che, don't stand so close to me, it's so itchy..."

"I feel really uncomfortable."

Sang Che, however, persisted and did not give Yin Huaixi a chance to escape. She simply turned around like Yin Huaixi.

"Huaixi, when you were facing the Princess just now, were you really... worried that she might do something to me, which is why you were so nervous?"

...

Originally intending to deny it outright, Yin Huaixi saw Sang Che's curious and clear eyes, and the words of refusal stuck in her throat.

Since the two of them are locked up in this dark and gloomy place anyway, it doesn't matter if she says some things to cheer Sang Che up.

She made a deal with the Princess: as long as the Princess didn't break the deal, Sang Che wouldn't die at Zhao Huining's hands.

However… Zhao Huining’s condition was that Sang Che could not return to Miao territory.

Yin Huaixi had thought that if things were as they were in the original story, the emperor's iron hooves would eventually trample into Miao territory, and the Miao king and the emperor would eventually have a battle.

Since the Miao people have no power to contend with the emperor, the Miao king will inevitably make Sang Che sacrifice himself to create the "Gu King".

This was something the Miao king had been planning all along.

But if he were to truly refine the Gu King, how could Sang Che's body and blood remain intact?

Yin Huaixi made up her mind that Sang Che could not return to Miao territory, nor could he... go to refine the Gu King.

Whether Sang Che lives or dies is none of her business, but she can't let him die so miserably, becoming a pawn in someone else's scheme.

Considering that Sang Che has saved her many times, she only needs Sang Che to keep his promise and remove the love curse from her.

She would give Sang Che a final choice: after the matter was accomplished, he could return to the Yin residence with her to escape the conflict between the imperial court and Miao territory.

She will resolutely return to be the revered holy woman of the Miao people, and she will not stand in her way.

It was entirely up to Sang Che to make the decision.

...

I waited for a long time.

Sang Che didn't get a reply from Yin Huaixi, and she continued to rub her fluffy head against Yin Huaixi's neck.

He said affectionately, "I know you must care about me to do this."

"Huaixi, it doesn't matter if you don't say it... I know in my heart that you treat me well."

These cheesy words made Yin Huaixi want to scramble away from Sang Che, but Sang Che wouldn't allow her to do so.

The two chased each other.

They were having a great time in prison.

The guards at the gate were stunned.

These two aren't treating prison like a resort!

...

Once again thrown back into Zhao Huining's palace, Jiawan tightly hugged Xiaoya'er.

She knew that Sang Che had most likely failed to escape, and she was thinking about how to plead with Zhao Huining.

A sound came from the front door of the sleeping quarters. Zhao Huining was not accompanied by any maids. She was wearing a moon-white robe, and her dress was still stained with water.

Her long, slightly damp hair, which was tied up, came in.

"Ah Shui, didn't I tell you already? Your good Ah Che can't save you."

"Don't even mention a small Taoist temple, I have spies all over the capital."

"If you..."

Before Zhao Huining could finish speaking, in the blink of an eye, a small red snake twisted its body, poised to strike, and darted out of Jiawan's hand!

It seemed to be courting death, determined to perish together with Zhao Huining.

Unaware of the small red snake, Zhao Huining's wrist was bitten hard, and a sharp pain shot through her.

Immediately, Zhao Huining grabbed the snake by its seven-inch mark and was about to throw it down, intending to crush it into a pulp.

"Don't touch it!"

"I'm not leaving... I'm not leaving!"