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

Faced with Sang Che's question.

Yin Huaixi's heart stopped at that moment.

Her fingers curled slightly, and she realized something was wrong; thick, fresh blood stained between her fingers.

As Yin Huaixi retreated, she gasped for breath, only belatedly feeling the pain of her palm being cut open.

"Ah Che, I was worried about you because you stood in front of me earlier."

"I have no other intentions, and you shouldn't overthink it..."

Seeing Yin Huaixi's flustered appearance, Sang Che's eyes sparkled like a black cat's.

She moved closer to Yin Huaixi, reached out and grasped Yin Huaixi's wrist, a clean piece of silk cloth, seemingly from nowhere, was carefully wrapped around Yin Huaixi's palm.

Sang Che said, "Huai Xi, do you know the saying... 'The more you explain, the worse it gets'?"

The handkerchief smelled very different.

Yin Huaixi could smell the mind-altering fragrance.

Seeing Sang Che's smug expression, Yin Huaixi subconsciously denied it: "Ache, I just did it on a whim, don't overthink it."

"Besides, I have the love curse that you planted in my body. I was driven by the curse worm... It's not unbelievable that I did such a thing."

Yin Huaixi harbored resistance, which she made exceptionally obvious.

She just didn't want to admit that she had really fallen for Sang Che...

The more Yin Huaixi denied it, the more she realized something was wrong.

She was genuinely concerned and worried that something might happen to Sang Che.

It was the Gu worms inside her that were causing her to act uncontrollably, making her unable to extricate herself.

Sang Che deftly wrapped the silk cloth around her fingers and smiled faintly, "Huai Xi, if we can get out of here, I will remove the love curse for you."

"At that time, I will let you choose for yourself."

These words were spoken with utmost sincerity.

If it were any other trivial matter, Yin Huaixi might have believed Sang Che's words.

Unfortunately, Yin Huaixi understood Sang Che's stubbornness best.

Will she really let go on her own initiative?

Yin Huaixi was unwilling to gamble on that possibility; she would rather look for other solutions.

Undo the love spell.

...

"Knock knock".

Two rapid knocks on the door startled Zhao Huining, who was already a light sleeper.

The candles inside the hall had burned down to half their original length, but outside the windows, darkness still enveloped everything.

"What is it?"

With her hand propped up on the edge of the bed, Zhao Huining asked in a hoarse voice.

The man outside the door sounded slightly flustered: "Your Highness, there's been trouble in the dungeon."

Something went wrong?

With a firm press of his fingers, Zhao Huining immediately guessed who was behind this, the culprit.

Since we parted ways at the Taoist temple.

Zhao Huining received a secret letter from the Imperial Concubine.

She knew the emperor would take action against her, but she never expected it to happen so soon.

She put on her clothes and was about to leave.

Her wrist was grabbed by Jiawan's fingers, and Jiawan, half-asleep, was still murmuring softly.

"Ah Ning... my dear Ah Ning... don't go... stay and sleep with me..."

Even though Jiawan said many things that she disliked Zhao Huining after being locked up by Zhao Huining.

But this cannot hide the fact that Jiawan truly cares about Zhao Huining.

She just couldn't help being attracted to this person and couldn't help but get closer to Zhao Huining.

These are all the most instinctive reactions.

Zhao Huining was momentarily moved when she was surprised that Jiawan was so obedient after falling asleep.

She turned her head and stared at Jiawan's sleeping face. Jiawan's eyes were tightly closed, and her beautiful eyebrows were slightly furrowed. She was obviously having a bad dream, which made her subconsciously close to and rely on the only person she could trust.

A warm palm covered Jia Wan's hand. Zhao Huining lifted the blanket and tucked Jia Wan's hand back into the blanket.

The servant's voice came from outside the door again: "Your Highness, the dungeon guards may not be able to hold out!"

This shout made Jiawan open her eyes abruptly, and the chaos in her mind was instantly dispelled. Jiawan let her long hair fall messily, covering her collarbone.

Her eyes were bloodshot, and she was breathing heavily.

"Ah Shui, why are you up?"

"Won't you rest for a while longer?"

Ultimately, Zhao Huining didn't care whether Sang Che got into trouble or was arrested by the emperor's men.

She even had the sinful thought that if Sang Che were really captured by the emperor's men, she could simply tell Jia Wan that he couldn't be saved.

Let Jiawan not waste her efforts, constantly thinking about someone who will never come back.

"Someone's calling outside... Has something happened?"

During her time at the Princess's residence, Jiawan was no fool; she knew very well that the servants and attendants of the Princess's residence treated Zhao Huining with utmost care and caution.

He had to watch Zhao Huining's expression in everything he did, for fear that if he made a mistake, he would end up paralyzed.

Unlike the Miao people who treated Sang Che with such respect and politeness at Fengming Mountain.

The news that someone would risk incurring Zhao Huining's wrath by delivering it in the middle of the night must be extremely important.

Zhao Huining met Jia Wan's curious eyes, and she pretended not to care, saying, "You don't need to worry about it, it's not important."

What Zhao Huining least wanted to see was Jia Wan's worried expression towards Sang Che; she couldn't help but care and compete with her.

Jiawan didn't believe Zhao Huining's unusual guilty conscience and struggled to get out of bed regardless.

"Ah Shui, you don't believe me at all?"

He quickly stopped her. Seeing her like this, Zhao Huining felt a surge of anger mixed with bitterness rising in his heart for no reason.

"Ah Ning, haven't you noticed? The way you talk to me... means you're hiding something from me."

Jiawan sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes lowered. She knew very well that Zhao Huining cared about her just as much during this time, but Zhao Huining was just as proud and arrogant as she was.

No one was willing to back down, and no one was willing to admit defeat.

Zhao Huining remained silent for a long time after being exposed, until there was another knock on the door.

"Your Highness...Your Highness!"

Zhao Huining then replied helplessly, "I understand. Send more men to guard the dungeon, and remember not to pursue recklessly."

The servant, having received the order, then withdrew.

However, upon hearing the word "dungeon," Jiawan was now certain that something had gone wrong on Sang Che's side, and she immediately got up.

"Ah Shui, if you just walk out like this, you'll only become their target. Do you think you have the ability to save Sang Che?"

Zhao Huining leaned lazily against the bedside. When she said those words, she was certain that a smart person like Jiawan would turn back.

As she expected, Jiawan did indeed turn around and look at her.

"Ah Shui, didn't you say that?"

Zhao Huining's eyes held a half-smile; she was certain that Jia Wan would agree to her next request.

"Your good A-Che is an indispensable Holy Maiden to Miao Jiang. How about this, A-Shui, you stay here and stay by my side, and I will let her go."

Such conditions were far too tempting, and Jiawan's mind had been tormented after several failed escape attempts.

She wasn't like Yin Huaixi, who could single-mindedly think about escaping.

From childhood to adulthood, Jiawan received only one education and belief: to absolutely support Saintess Sangche.

Without any hesitation, Jiawan immediately turned back, her burning gaze fixed on Zhao Huining.

"Ah Ning, are you serious?"

Zhao Huining nodded.

She reached out and pressed her palm against Jiawan's beautiful face, her eyes filled with unparalleled satisfaction.

She spoke softly, her voice a mix of affection and warning: "But you have to stay willingly, Ah Shui... If I find out you're still deceiving me and thinking about your good Ah Che..."

"Then I won't be soft-hearted anymore."