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

Imperial City.

People were already selling their wares early in the morning.

"What exactly are they investigating? Just a few days ago, a large group of soldiers who had been stationed at the city gate withdrew."

The ordinary people carrying vegetable baskets in the capital were not exactly unsophisticated, but these people in armor patrolled the capital all day without any apparent reason.

This is truly unsettling.

"Who knows? With the late emperor gone and the crown prince ascending the throne, I reckon things are in a lot of chaos in the court. Let's not make any more pronouncements."

"To avoid the situation..."

Sitting inside the carriage, Yin Huaixi could clearly hear the discussions of the people on the street, but she dared not turn her head to look at Sang Che's face.

...

Before she left, Zhao Huining called her to the private room where they were discussing business and handed her something.

Inside the sphere outlined in gold thread was a brown pill.

Zhao Huining looked at her with a smile and said calmly, "Huaixi, this is the elixir that Master Ziyang refined to cure Gu poison."

"If you no longer want to be controlled by others and no longer want to serve Sang Che, then swallow this pill."

"At that time, you will be truly free."

With her fingers tightly gripping the gold thread, Yin Huaixi looked at Zhao Huining, unable to guess what she was planning.

They wanted her to test the medicine and see if that so-called real person's pill could actually break Sang Che's love curse.

Or perhaps Zhao Huining wanted to completely sever ties between her and Sang Che, so that without the love potion keeping her alive, she could kill Sang Che without restraint.

A jumble of thoughts raced through Yin Huaixi's mind. Back at Fengming Mountain, she desperately wanted an antidote to break the love curse.

But now that she held the antidote in her hands, Yin Huaixi felt an indescribable awkwardness. Her fingertips almost blended into the glittering gold thread, and she did not choose to pry open the sphere containing the pill and put it down her throat.

What's wrong with her?

Why is she so dependent on Sang Che, so reluctant to part with him? Could it really be the love curse within her?

The two could not only sense each other's warmth and coldness, but also perceive each other's emotions. Yin Huaixi dared not let herself fall into too much worry, otherwise it would really arouse Sang Che's suspicion.

She could never lie to Sang Che, as if whatever she said would be seen through by Sang Che's eyes, which were as clear and pure as the snow of the northern border.

The roads in the capital were well-maintained, and the wheels of the carriage made it feel smooth even without the bumps of gravel. Through the carriage curtain, Yin Huaixi was preoccupied with her own thoughts.

She planned not to take the antidote for the love potion that Zhao Huining gave her until she left the capital and Sang Che was completely safe.

After Yin Huaixi returned to the Yin family and the crisis in the Yin household was officially resolved, she confirmed that there was no longer any connection between the two of them, and then she could take the pill to remove the love curse.

Say goodbye to Sang Che for good.

"Huaixi, what's so interesting about staring at the carriage curtain? Why don't you turn around and look at me?"

"Am I much uglier than that carriage curtain?"

Before the two left the Princess's residence, Sang Che was called aside by Jia Wan for a private talk.

After waiting for a while, Yin Huaixi finally saw the two of them come out. Yin Huaixi asked Sang Che what they had talked about, but the other party refused to say.

However, after the two of them boarded the carriage prepared by the princess, this was the first thing Sang Che had said to her.

To avoid arousing Sang Che's suspicion, Yin Huaixi turned her head away and said with a hint of melancholy, "I'm just lamenting that I haven't been in the capital for long... and I've been locked up the whole time, and now I have to leave."

"I really can't bear to part with it."

When she said the words "I can't bear to part with them," Yin Huaixi stared at Sang Che with her eyes fixed on him, as if there was something else behind her words.

Sang Che, always clever and quick-witted with a sharp mind, pretended not to see anything this time. She opened her palm and smiled as she offered it to Yin Huaixi.

Sang Che: "Since Huai Xi is reluctant to part with it, how about I come and accompany her to see the beautiful scenery of this imperial city another time?"

"It's going to be very interesting since only Huaixi and I are here."

Yin Huaixi, who felt that Sang Che was acting strangely today, didn't respond. She was speechless: "How interesting! Che, you're really good at self-promotion."

Sang Che was disliked, but he wasn't angry.

She moved closer and sat down next to Yin Huaixi. The carriage was already cramped, and with Sang Che squeezing in, Yin Huaixi had even less room to sit.

They had no choice but to let Sang Che do as he pleased.

"When did I ever boast about my own wares? If Huaixi doesn't believe in my ability to serve people, she's welcome to try it out."

The shameless Sang Che was simply irresistible. Yin Huaixi stretched out her index finger and pressed it against Sang Che's red lips, giving her a glare with her beautiful eyes.

"Ah Che, can you distinguish between day and night? Don't just blurt things out."

"Even though there are only the two of us here, the coachman in front is a person too!"

Sang Che stared at Yin Huaixi's slender index finger, reached out and grasped it, instantly squeezing Yin Huaixi's hand into his own.

She chuckled softly, "Without distinction between day and night? Does Huaixi mean some things can be said during the day, while others can only be said at night?"

Yin Huaixi: "..."

She was truly impressed by Sang Che!

How did this guy even do his reading comprehension?!

Reaching out to pull her index finger, Yin Huaixi found that she couldn't pull it out no matter how hard she tried; it was as if her index finger was welded tightly to Sang Che's palm.

"Ah Che, let go..."

Sang Che: "I won't let go."

The two played around inside the carriage, with Sang Che continuing to tease Yin Huaixi with a smile.

...

The Princess's Residence.

Jiawan was idly peeling nuts.

She noticed that Zhao Huining had become increasingly lenient with her since she agreed to stay, although she still had a little shadow following her around.

However, this is harmless.

It's a hundred times better than being locked in the bedroom, unable to move an inch.

Jiawan looked at the colorful butterfly perched on the table. She knew that Sang Che was worried about her and had left the little butterfly there so that it could be looked after.

In case something happens in the palace, Sang Che still hopes that Jia Wan can ask her for help and support, and not completely trust Zhao Huining, a Han Chinese.

A bouquet of fresh flowers sat on the table; these were a gift from Jiawan to Little Butterfly.

She watched the butterfly cautiously sipping nectar, and murmured to herself, "Ah Che, what if Yin Huaixi wants to break up with you after you leave?"

"I always felt there were things she hadn't told you. If you don't believe me, then just consider it me being nosy."

After eating and drinking its fill, the butterfly raised its bewildered head, its antennae twitching as if it understood Jiawan's unspoken meaning.

...

With both hands pressing down on Yin Huaixi's wrists, Sang Che pressed down completely on Yin Huaixi's body. Their breaths mingled, and their noses were just a hair's breadth apart.

"Ah Che... let go of me..."

"You're pressing down on me like this...it makes me very uncomfortable..."

Leaning awkwardly against the carriage, Yin Huaixi looked up at Sang Che, her knees brushing against his indigo dress, trying to get him to let go of her.

The coachman cracked his whip, intently watching the road ahead, completely ignoring the colorful butterflies fluttering overhead.

Once outside the city gate, the road became bumpy due to the abundance of gravel. The wheels suddenly lurched, and Sang Che was thrown over the edge.

The two of them squeezed together.

Yin Huaixi's back ached terribly. Just as she was about to say something, she heard Sang Che whisper in her ear, "Huaixi, let me hold you for a while."

"Is that okay?"

Sang Che's voice carried a hint of melancholy.

It was as if the two were about to part ways.