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

The feel of the bridge of my nose was so real.

All the jumbled thoughts that flooded Jiawan's mind were thrown to the back of her mind.

She gripped the sheets with her fingers, rubbing them hard to create wrinkles, and Jiawan's breathing became disordered.

This was also the first time Jiawan realized that she had indeed been reckless and careless when she was at Fengming Mountain.

His breath was moist.

Then it itches.

An itch that spread throughout my entire body.

Jiawan was panting, unable to utter the words that were still on her lips.

Zhao Huining could feel the person in front of her breathing almost erratically, so she released the movement of gently sucking on Jiawan's nose.

The look in her eyes when she looked at Jiawan was unusually devoid of hatred; instead, it held a deep smile that reached the depths of her eyes.

"Ah Shui, I don't know if you remember this, but you did the same thing back then... you rolled off the bed and insisted on squeezing in with me."

"I said the ground was cold, but you said it was warm when two people snuggled together."

"And now, can I give you that feeling now?"

...

Sometimes Zhao Huining really wanted to whisper in Jiawan's ear and question her.

"Ah Shui, look—your A Che isn't omnipotent. She can't save you, and she can't take you out of the capital."

"Between her and me, Ah Shui, who would you rather believe?"

But Zhao Huining couldn't bring herself to say it. What she wanted from the beginning was not for Jiawan to be hostile towards her.

Especially for someone...someone who holds a very important place in Jiawan's heart.

If a comparison had to be made, Zhao Huining knew very well that she would be the first to be abandoned.

Just like it is now.

Jiawan was willing to come to her bedside not because she had let go of her grudges, but because she was bowing down for the sake of the person Sang Che cared about.

Bow your head to her.

A vague unease lingered in Zhao Huining's heart, and she couldn't convince herself otherwise. This thorn, buried deep within her soul, kept pricking at her heart.

She felt resentful that Jiawan cared more about Sang Che than she did, and that in Jiawan's mind, the people Sang Che cared about were ranked higher than her.

Zhao Huining could neither deceive herself nor ignore this fact.

There was actually another reason why she agreed to Yin Huaixi's unreasonable request.

It was Zhao Huining's selfish desire to divert Sang Che's attention to follow Yin Huaixi, who had "run away."

Only when there is a rift between Sang Che and Jia Wan will she have an opportunity to take advantage of it.

Only then can we truly solidify Jiawan's dependence on and trust in her.

...

Jia Wan's heart pounded at Zhao Huining's words, and she instinctively looked away to avoid his gaze.

But her waist was tightly locked.

They gave her absolutely no chance to escape.

As heat gradually rose in her body, Jiawan's tone became urgent.

"Ah Ning... let go..."

"You only said you wanted me to sleep with you, you didn't say anything else..."

"Who sleeps like that, cuddling?"

As Zhao Huining shook his head beneath Jiawan, he sensed her intention to escape. He reached out and hugged her even tighter, wishing they could become one.

"Ah Shui, I said I'd stay with you all night, and I meant it. Isn't your dear Ah Che still waiting for the prescription?"

"If you leave now, I'll call someone immediately..."

Guessing what Zhao Huining was about to say, Jia Wan panicked and immediately covered Zhao Huining's lips with her hand, her brows furrowed.

Jia Wan: "Who said I was leaving? I'm just not used to being this close..."

"And you, Aning."

Zhao Huining: "Yes, I'm here."

Jiawan: "..."

Jiawan: "You should just sleep peacefully tonight and not touch me."

This sounds familiar.

Zhao Huining once said the same thing to Jiawan at Fengming Mountain.

However, at that time, Jiawan completely ignored Zhao Huining's rejection.

He never intended to keep his promise.

Zhao Huining nodded.

Her tone was tinged with amusement, and it was hard to tell whether she genuinely agreed or not, as she said, "Yes, Ah Shui is right."

"When I go to sleep at night, I will definitely behave myself and will not cause any trouble for Lord Ah Shui."

Jiawan: "You'd better be."

Hearing Jiawan's arrogant tone, Zhao Huining looked at her and felt even more delighted.

Zhao Huining: "Tsk, Ah Shui, have you forgotten that this is my residence?"

"There's a limit to how far you can go by borrowing someone else's power."

"If you continue like this and disrespect me, how can I maintain the dignity of the royal family in front of the servants?"

As Zhao Huining said this, she reached out and supported Jia Wan's thin, flimsy outer garment, which seemed to be leaning forward, but in fact there was an indescribable ambiguity in her movements.

Now, Jiawan's act of pretending to be stupid won't work anymore.

She used to use this trick often, especially when facing Zhao Huining, she would use all sorts of shameless methods.

"I just said... don't touch my clothes... if you touch them again, I'm going to kiss you."

Zhao Huining was not afraid at all.

"Ah Shui, then come on over."

"I'm right here, I won't move, dare you kiss me?"

Jiawan could never stand being provoked, and this provocation sent all her random thoughts flying out of her mind.

Without saying a word, she opened her mouth and bit Zhao Huining's thin lips, determined to teach Zhao Huining a lesson.

Her lips were held in his mouth.

Zhao Huining was neither angry nor did she push Jiawan away.

She took the initiative and became the host.

Instead of being angered by the sudden attack by Jiawan, they gained the upper hand in this "game".

By the time Jiawan realized something was wrong, it was too late for her to back down.

Her clothes gradually slipped off her shoulders, revealing a side of Jia Wan that Zhao Huining had never seen before.

"Ah Shui... Ah Shui..."

"Don't even think about running away... Don't even think about leaving my side again..."

Soft whispers completely enveloped my ears, and the damp sensation mixed with the sound of water drifted in in waves.

Jiawan's body was completely under her control, and an unparalleled pleasure washed over her...

Seeing Jia Wan's enjoyable and submissive demeanor, Zhao Huining's desire to possess Jia Wan reached its peak.

Born into royalty, Zhao Huining had access to and enjoyed everything from gold and jade artifacts to delicacies.

Even when she encountered many nobles and royalty, they had to bow respectfully to her. Zhao Huining's possessiveness towards Jiawan almost consumed her.

This person should belong to her.

No matter what, it's hers.

No one can take it away.

The night was long, and she and Jiawan had plenty of time together.

...

dungeon.

It smells of traditional Chinese medicine.

Yin Huaixi squatted down next to Sang Che. She watched as Sang Che skillfully poured out the medicine, and a bowl of pitch-black Chinese medicine was handed to Yin Huaixi.

"Huaixi, drink up."

"I prepared this prescription; one dose will suffice."

"You don't need to drink any more bitterness."

Watching Sang Che hold the medicine bowl, Yin Huaixi sighed with melancholy.

"Ah Che... this medicine was... obtained by Ah Shui humiliating herself, how could I..."

Sensing what Yin Huaixi was concerned about, Sang Che grabbed her wrist and forcefully shoved the medicine bowl into her hand.

"She did it voluntarily, so please accept it."

"You'll only get better if you drink this medicine; otherwise, Huaixi, you won't even be able to get out of this prison."

Before Yin Huaixi could express her protest, Sang Che continued, "Besides, Huaixi, how do you know Ah Shui isn't enjoying it?"

Yin Huaixi: "!?"

Although I don't want to admit it, it seems... what Sang Che said makes a lot of sense.

Isn't Jiawan enjoying it?

This time, Yin Huaixi did not resist. She took the medicine bowl and was about to drink it all in one gulp.

The sounds of fighting came from outside the prison gates.