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

The decision to stay.

Jiawan had made this preparation long ago.

She had long thought that as long as she stayed as a hostage, A Ning would no longer make things difficult for Sang Che, nor would she set foot in Miao territory again.

She went alone to ensure Sang Che's safety and the safety of the entire Miao region.

is worth it.

There's nothing wrong with that.

With her eyes lowered, Jia Wan completely chose to submit and bow her head. She placed her fingers on Zhao Huining's wrist, her fingertips gently touching Zhao Huining's skin.

"Ah Ning, as long as you save her... I'll agree to anything you ask."

Zhao Huining: "Okay, Ah Shui."

"Remember this, you said these words to me yourself."

"It's no use going back on your word."

A flicker of joy rose in her heart, but it was quickly overshadowed by Jiawan's concern for Sang Che.

Zhao Huining stood up, beckoned someone in, and had a maid help her change her clothes.

Seeing that Zhao Huining was about to leave, Jiawan got up from the bed, wanting to go with her.

But Zhao Huining turned around and stared at him.

That one glance froze Jiawan in place, and she didn't dare to move.

Unexpectedly frightening Jiawan, Zhao Huining spoke softly again, "Ashui, there is a lot of bloodshed outside, and swords have no eyes. You stay here and don't let these people see you."

If the secret letter from Gong Peilan was indeed true, and it was true that her younger brother had become suspicious and wanted to snatch her from her residence, Zhao Huining would never have let Jiawan go out and parade around in public.

Her brother was right; Jiawan was indeed her weakness, her heart and soul, and her Achilles' heel.

His brows were furrowed.

Jiawan reached out and gripped the bed curtains tightly, her fingernails nearly tearing them apart.

Her throat bobbed, and her eyes betrayed a deep worry.

"Ah Ning... but I won't go. I'm worried, I'm afraid—"

Knowing that she was going to mention Sang Che's name again, Zhao Huining, who had anticipated this, simply interrupted her.

"Ah Shui, with me here, you don't need to be afraid."

"Since I promised you that Sang Che wouldn't get into trouble, then she won't get into trouble."

"If you don't believe me, then you shouldn't place your hopes on me."

Her tone was slightly impatient, and it was a response she was trying her best to control.

They knew Zhao Huining was angry.

Jiawan remained silent and said nothing more.

With only those resentful eyes, she stared longingly at Zhao Huining, as if if Zhao Huining failed to save Sang Che, Jia Wan would cry on the spot when she returned.

Zhao Huining: "Never mind, I'll go take a look."

After saying that.

Zhao Huining did not turn back, but instructed the guards standing outside the door: "Guard this place. No matter who comes, do not let them in."

The guards all lowered their heads.

They replied in unison, "Yes, Your Highness!"

Confined to this empty hall by Zhao Huining, Jia Wan was filled with worry. She originally wanted to use her Gu technique, but Zhao Huining's residence was well protected, so there was no way to prevent poisonous insects from entering.

Not even a mosquito can be seen!

It's true what they say, even a skilled cook can't cook without rice!

This put her in a very difficult position!

Jiawan paced anxiously inside the hall, unable to put her mind at ease. She could only press her ear against the door, listening carefully to the sounds outside.

...

A fierce battle raged outside the dungeon.

Sang Che didn't care about that. She reached out and grabbed Yin Huaixi's wrist, wrapping up Yin Huaixi's bloody wound again.

While feeling heartbroken for Yin Huaixi's severe injuries, Sang Che couldn't help but feel a secret joy...

She knew it was despicable, but she couldn't help thinking about it.

Huai Xi's hand injury was sustained while saving her. So, whenever Huai Xi opens her palm and sees this scar, will she also think of her?

Realizing the pain only after the fact, Yin Huaixi winced in pain. She noticed the faint smile on Sang Che's face and angrily said, "A-Che, what are you laughing at?"

"Is my injury something to be laughed at?"

Sang Che pursed his lips as Yin Huaixi scolded him.

Instead, she looked intently at Yin Huaixi, making him feel embarrassed.

"Huaixi, do you really want to know why I'm laughing?"

Yin Huaixi: "I do want to know, but what good things can you possibly say?"

She's been shocked by Sang Che's outrageous and shocking remarks more than once. Even a complete idiot with maximum insensitivity would realize something's wrong by now.

Sang Che, unusually uncharacteristically, expressed his dissatisfaction, saying, "Why can't I say anything nice? Huai Xi's words are unreasonable. To be fair, I've said plenty of nice things to you, Huai Xi, in the past."

As he said this, Sang Che secretly plotted something.

Sang Che pinched the area around Yin Huaixi's wound hard, and a clear pain spread through his palm, causing him to frown immediately.

"It hurts...it hurts so much!"

"Ah Che, what are you doing!"

Seeing her charming appearance, Sang Che approached Yin Huaixi, who smiled.

"Huaixi, do you still remember why your hand hurt?"

"That's what I'm laughing at."

The inexplicable remark left Yin Huaixi completely bewildered. Just as she was about to say something, the fighting outside the prison ceased.

The guards from the Princess's residence arrived, covered in blood and wielding knives. They only breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that Sang Che and Yin Huaixi's prison was safe and sound.

fine…

Those Your Highness wished to protect are safe and sound.

"Sang Che, you really are lucky to be alive."

"I thought I would find your corpse when I came in."

Zhao Huining looked weary, her fair skin and luxurious clothes clash with the eerie, flickering firelight of the dungeon. She wore a cloak, and her brows furrowed with weariness.

Hearing Zhao Huining's sarcastic remarks, Sang Che remained unperturbed: "Your Highness, how could the people His Majesty sent possibly want me dead?"

"It seems that His Highness's purpose in capturing Ah Shui is nothing more than to use the blood of Chi You from Miao territory in Ah Shui."

Yin Huaixi, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, was so frightened by Sang Che's words that she didn't dare to breathe loudly!

Sang Che really knows how to precisely step on landmines!

Ignoring the pain in her hand, she stood up abruptly and covered Sang Che's red lips with the cloth strip, letting it rub against his lips.

"Your Highness, A-Che...that's always how she talks, please don't take it to heart."

Having been thoroughly humiliated, Zhao Huining lifted his shoes and slowly approached the dungeon.

Her eyes were like icebergs as she stared intently at Sang Che, saying coldly, "Sang Che, you don't need to provoke me with words like that."

"I won't use Ah Shui's Chi You blood. Of course, if I were to use it, it would be yours."

Even though Yin Huaixi covered her lips, Sang Che still mumbled, "Your Highness had better say that."

The way the person in front of her cared so much about Jiawan's every move made Zhao Huining's emotions, which had been soothed by Jiawan in the palace, surge up again.

Zhao Huining: "Sang Che, do you know why I came to save you tonight? It's not because I'm afraid His Majesty will find out about these secrets."

"But Ah Shui begged me to save you."

"She even promised me that as long as I saved you, she would grant me whatever my request or condition was."

"Sang Che, you may not know this yet, but Ah Shui will stay in the capital forever, stay by my side, and will never go back to Miao territory."

Zhao Huining, who felt like she had turned the tide, looked at Sang Che and reacted from her silence before he could speak.

Her dress swayed slightly.

Zhao Huining then left the dungeon.

She needed to go back to be with Ah Shui and didn't have time to argue with Sang Che here.

Extremely boring.