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

The Imperial Palace.

Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

After returning from the Taoist temple, Zhao Yuan went straight to see the commander of the Feather Guard.

Unexpectedly, the commander of the Imperial Guards said that he had ordered his men to search the entire Princess's residence from top to bottom, but still found nothing amiss.

"Your Majesty, what I say is true."

"Even if you gave me a thousand lives, I would not dare to deceive Your Highness."

"There is indeed nothing unusual about the Princess's residence."

Seeing his trusted confidant in this state.

Zhao Yuan didn't press the matter further; he knew his dear elder sister would never give him a chance to find fault with her.

"It's alright, I had already anticipated that my elder sister would be wary of me."

"Put down everything you are doing and let the deputy commander take over temporarily. I want you to personally keep an eye on the Princess's residence. Have your trusted confidants take turns guarding it for twelve hours a day. Don't let a single mosquito escape."

Upon hearing His Majesty's instructions, the commander of the Imperial Guards dared not delay and immediately clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"Yes, Your Majesty's decree will be obeyed."

"Your subject will certainly go through fire and water, and die ten thousand times without hesitation."

...

He walked out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, his mind heavy with worries.

The commander of the Feather Guards was then surrounded by his men.

"Boss, what did His Majesty say?"

"But we're still supposed to keep an eye on the Princess's residence?"

The commander of the Feather Guards nodded: "Yes."

His subordinates were puzzled: "Boss, just a few days ago His Majesty valued His Highness so much, how come today..."

The commander of the Imperial Guards immediately interrupted him when he saw that he was about to speak rudely.

"Watch your mouth. What should you say, and what shouldn't you say? Don't let anything slip out."

Reprimanded by the commander, the man obediently shut his mouth, his fingers resting on the hilt of his sword, unable to utter a single word.

"Alright, I'm not saying this to scold you. Go back and pack your things."

"Call a few more brothers; we still have to take turns on duty tonight."

The commander of the Feather Guard flicked his sleeves and strode away from the place.

Although he was extremely loyal to the emperor.

To be fair, Her Highness the Princess usually treated him quite well.

In the past, he was only the second son in the clan, and was born to a second wife, so he suffered all kinds of humiliation.

Only His Majesty and His Highness extended a helping hand to him, and now he is repaying His Majesty's kindness... but should he really turn against His Highness?

Speaking of which, His Majesty was born as the Empress's legitimate son, possessing everything, just like his elder brother in the clan, and now holds a high official position.

He commanded a large following and enjoyed immense prestige both in and out of the government.

On the contrary, Your Highness and he are in the same boat. If Your Highness were a man, the throne would be rightfully yours.

If he were the eldest son and not born to a second wife, then his good-for-nothing older brother would have no place in the family...

I stepped over the threshold.

The commander of the Imperial Guards was stopped by a palace maid.

"My lord, wait a moment."

The voice was familiar. The commander of the Imperial Guards turned around and saw that the little palace maid who used to be by His Highness's side was now a favorite of the Imperial Concubine calling out to him.

"What is it?"

The commander of the Imperial Guards remained vigilant and did not approach directly to avoid gossip in the palace that he had taken a liking to a palace maid.

This will be difficult to explain to His Majesty.

"My master has something he wants me to pass on to the adults."

Without saying another word, the palace maid stuffed a slip of paper into the hand of the Feather Guard Commander.

He left without looking back.

Only the commander of the Feather Guards remained, frowning and staring thoughtfully at the yellowed letter in his hand.

Immediately, the commander of the Imperial Guards raised his head and stared at the palace maid's back as he began to ponder.

Is the master she speaks of the Imperial Concubine, or the former Prince?

...

A few days later.

A grand banquet was held in the palace to celebrate the Empress's birthday.

Zhao Yuan usually dotes on Consort Gui, but now that it is the Empress's birthday, he needs the support of the Empress's maternal family, so he focuses on stabilizing the Empress and has no time to care about Zhao Huining and Consort Gui.

"Your Highness, why don't you continue drinking?"

"Could it be that appreciating chrysanthemums here is more refined?"

Gong Peilan dismissed the palace maids following behind her, leaned against the carved white jade railing, and gazed at Zhao Huining with alluring eyes.

I glanced at her.

Zhao Huining was not as polite as before.

"Your Majesty, what do you desire?"

That day, Gong Peilan helped her resolve the Emperor's investigation, and Zhao Huining had no intention of letting it go.

One should not accept rewards without merit.

She knew very well that Gong Peilan was Zhao Yuan's concubine, and no matter what, Gong Peilan would stand firmly by Zhao Yuan's side.

Gong Peilan shook her head and chuckled softly, her hairpins and pearl hair ornaments swaying slightly.

"Your Highness, have we become so estranged? I'd like to know... does Your Highness have a woman hidden in the Princess's residence?"

Zhao Huining's expressionless face finally changed when she heard Gong Peilan say "hiding a woman".

"Since Your Majesty knows, why doesn't Your Majesty tell His Majesty, instead of helping me to keep it a secret?"

Gong Peilan approached Zhao Huining and said with a smile, "Your Highness is not picky about your husband and does not like men. Even if you take a fancy to that official's daughter in the capital, or even a lowly actor, it is not a big deal."

"But what if Your Highness falls in love with a woman you shouldn't love? Is that why Your Highness fears His Majesty finding out?"

Zhao Huining: "Peilan, we've been friends since childhood. How could I not know your temperament and character? Conversely, how could you not know my temperament and character?"

"Just tell me what you want. Surely my emperor brother can give it to you?"

Gong Peilan sighed softly.

"Your Highness truly loves that woman, going to such lengths to protect her. If I don't help Your Highness, it seems I'd be doing you a disservice."

Gong Peilan smiled charmingly.

Her dress fluttered in the wind.

...

"You wait here."

"It's just a quick meeting, I'll be right back."

Jiawan lifted her skirt with her fingers and gave orders to the maids behind her.

"Yes, Miss Jiawan."

"His Highness has instructed that you may visit them, but it is best not to stay for more than half an hour."

"We'll keep watch outside."

Hearing the servant's reply.

Jiawan sneered inwardly. Aning was still the same…

It was clearly agreed that she would be allowed to move freely within the mansion, but in the end, her every move was still closely monitored.

Even when he went to the toilet, Zhao Huining would have someone keep an eye on him.

She's an absolutely outrageous psychopath!

Ignoring the servants following behind her, Jiawan walked towards the dungeon.

There were also some unfamiliar faces imprisoned here, but Jiawan pretended not to see their pleading eyes.

Her only concern was Sang Che's safety.

If Jiawan had known that this matter would implicate Sang Che, she would have preferred that Sang Che not come to save her.

In this way, Sang Che will at least not end up in jail.

Arriving at the prison gate as instructed by the servants, Jiawan spotted two people huddled together in a haystack.

Yin Huaixi was fast asleep. Sang Che pulled out a bearskin coat from somewhere and wrapped it around Yin Huaixi. She placed her fingers on Yin Huaixi's forehead, her eyes full of worry.

"Ah Che..."

He called out Sang Che's name.

Sang Che then raised his head and met Jia Wan's eyes outside the prison door.

Her fingers gripped the iron bars tightly, the coldness seeping into her palms. Jia Wan took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling slightly, and said to Sang Che, "A Che, I'm not leaving."

"I will beg her to let you go."

"Don't come looking for me again, A-Che. Your safety is the most important thing."

Faced with Jiawan's rambling, Sang Che could only sigh.

"Ah Shui, Huai Xi has caught a cold."

"Could you... prepare a prescription and decoct the medicine as I instructed, and send it over?"

Jiawan: "..."

Was A-Che even listening to her?!

Yin Huaixi is all I can think about!

Hopeless!