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

The movement of pinching the snake's seven-inch mark slowed down, and the originally cold and sinister snake scales seemed to become less rough on the hand.

Zhao Huining stared intently at Jia Wan's hurried appearance. She gently tossed the snake onto the carpet and glanced at it with disdain.

"Ah Shui, that's the snake she kept... and you still care about it so much?"

Jealousy crept into her words without her realizing it.

Little Tooth curled up on the ground. It wanted to go forward but was scolded by Jiawan, so it had no choice but to hide behind the flowerpot with a wronged expression, its snake eyes staring resentfully at Zhao Huining.

Be ready to bite her again at any time.

However, in response to Zhao Huining, Jia Wan hurriedly grabbed her arm and, without saying anything more, pressed her warm, moist lips against the bloody hole on Zhao Huining's wrist, which had been bitten by snake fangs.

She took a deep breath of Zhao Huining's blood and spat it onto the ground.

Back and forth.

Only when Zhao Huining's blood was no longer black but turned bright red did Jiawan feel relieved.

But she didn't loosen her grip; instead, she held Zhao Huining's wrist tightly to prevent the poison from climbing upwards.

Jiawan's lips were stained with blood. She looked up at Zhao Huining's face and said anxiously, "Don't say so much. Xiaoya'er's teeth are poisonous. Although they are not fatal... they will still affect you."

Zhao Huining was stunned by Jiawan's concern.

After leaving Fengming Mountain, Jiawan would only speak harshly to her whenever they met again, and the two would start arguing after only a few words.

Zhao Huining never expected that Jiawan would care about her so much.

Zhao Huining raised her hand to pull her arm back, and said to Jia Wan, "Since you know this snake is poisonous, you shouldn't have sucked out its venom for me."

"Ah Shui, are you really not afraid of death?"

He was bitten by a snake, yet he's still so aggressive.

Jia Wan loosened her fingers and released Zhao Huining's wrist. She frowned and stared at Zhao Huining, finding it difficult to speak, "Xiao Ya'er's venom is not fatal, but... it will arouse people's lust."

"If I don't help you suck it out, Aning, you'll feel terrible."

She never expected Jia Wan to say such a thing. She turned around in disbelief and glanced at the small red snake hiding behind the flower bed.

His brows furrowed slightly.

Zhao Huining: "What on earth is Sang Che thinking? How could she keep such a... thing?"

They worried that Zhao Huining might stomp on Xiaoya'er in a fit of anger, turning him into a flat, withered snake.

Jiawan quickly reached out and grabbed Zhao Huining, pulling him back.

"In short... Little Tooth's poison won't be fatal, so don't provoke it again."

"Ah Ning, let Ah Che go."

"I will stay."

During the few hours she was imprisoned, Jiawan had thought it through clearly: Sang Che's coming to rescue her did not mean he abandoned her.

They insisted on taking Zhao Huining away from the cave, feeding her medicine and healing her wounds little by little.

It was all done by Jiawan alone, and had nothing to do with Sang Che.

She couldn't let her impulsiveness affect Sang Che. She was the one who provoked Zhao Huining, so she could take responsibility for her actions.

Her body gradually began to burn, but Zhao Huining ignored the heat in her heart as she looked at Jiawan's pleading expression.

I feel unwell for no reason again.

Zhao Huining: "Ah Shui, you only bow down to me and say these sweet words to me because of her."

"Is she really that important to you, worth sacrificing your entire life for?"

This time, Jiawan did not run away, did not take a step back, and did not evade Zhao Huining's questioning.

She took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling.

Their eyes met, and Jiawan answered earnestly, "A'ning, I told you long ago that A'che is the holy maiden of our Miao region, just like the emperor of your dynasty."

"You Han people value loyalty to the emperor and love for your subjects, and so it is in our Miao region. We believe in gods, and we will also risk our lives to protect the holy maiden chosen by the gods."

"Caring for A-Che and protecting A-Che has always been my top priority since I was a child."

"Ah Ning... just like your subordinates would stand in front of you without hesitation."

Jiawan spoke with neither arrogance nor servility.

She never thought that sacrificing herself to protect Sang Che was something unacceptable. Sang Che treated her very well, and she should protect him.

Every word Jiawan spoke was sincere.

But to Zhao Huining, it felt like an ice pick piercing her bones; she understood what Jia Wan wanted to tell her…

She, Zhao Huining, could never rank ahead of Sang Che in terms of status and position.

Sang Che is her faith.

They are the people she wants to protect.

Even so, Sang Che would still resolutely venture into dangerous territory to save Jia Wan.

She recalled how Sang Che smiled smugly at her in the rainy night, deliberately and obviously showing off her relationship with Jia Wan.

No matter what, Zhao Huining could not let this matter pass easily.

She couldn't deceive herself into thinking she didn't care.

The more she listened, the angrier she became. Zhao Huining didn't want to think about it anymore, but she couldn't bring herself to get angry at Jiawan, who had been so focused on sucking out the snake venom for her.

He could only whisper, "That's enough... Ah Shui, please stop talking..."

"The more you beg for her mercy, the less I will let her go."

Jia Wan could tell that something was wrong with Zhao Huining. She didn't care about anything else at the moment, so she reached out and placed the back of her hand on Zhao Huining's forehead.

His eyes and brows were full of worry.

"Ah Ning, why is your face so hot? Is it because of Xiao Ya'er's snake venom?"

"You'd better call someone over right away... or you'll be poisoned."

Seeing that Jia Wan was being so caring and considerate again, Zhao Huining didn't turn around to call someone over, but instead stood still.

"Ah Shui, can't you cure that snake's venom?"

"It's something from your Miao region, so even if I send the imperial physician over, it won't help."

Jiawan: "..."

She was taken aback. Only Sang Che had the prescription for Xiao Ya'er's antidote, and she didn't know how to cure Xiao Ya'er's poison.

Zhao Huining noticed Jia Wan's hesitation, so he ignored it and took a step forward, blocking Jia Wan's way out.

"What's wrong, Ah Shui? You've always called yourself the most skilled pharmacist in Miao territory, so how come you can't even cure a simple snake venom?"

Provoked, Jiawan instinctively stiffened her neck, furious.

"Who says I can't even cure a tiny snake venom? That's an insult to me... I... of course I have a way!"

Zhao Huining: "What method? Like you did just now, will you suck out the remaining poisonous blood for me again?"

Faced with Zhao Huining's provocation, Jiawan, who always valued her reputation, naturally could not tolerate such humiliation.

Jiawan decided to take the initiative and force Zhao Huining to back down so that she would go to the imperial physician for treatment herself.

She stood with her hands on her hips, head held high and chest out.

"Little Tooth's poison is very easy to cure; it doesn't require any expensive medicine, as long as you..."

Zhao Huining laughed: "What do you want from me?"

Jiawan said shyly, "Just let it all out...let it all out."

These words, which were essentially meaningless, almost made Zhao Huining laugh so hard she bent over.

"oh…"

"Ah Shui, it was this snake you brought that bit me, so you have to take responsibility for it."

"No desertion is allowed tonight."