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

Even the most hard-hearted person would be moved by Sang Che's plea to stay.

Yin Huaixi didn't say anything. This time, she didn't resist. Instead, she reached out and hugged Sang Che's waist. The two of them embraced tightly like this.

Sang Che has lost a lot of weight during this period.

Compared to before, Sang Che's appearance is now more aloof and otherworldly. Yin Huaixi thought about it and realized that she still preferred the way Sang Che looked when she first met him.

At least back then, Sang Che was truly carefree and wouldn't become anxious or overthink things because of her.

"Alright, Che."

"I'm being held by you right in front of you. We're both tired, let's get some rest."

"The journey from the capital back to Lingshui is still quite long."

...

On his way to the capital, Sang Che ordered all the Miao people of Fengming Mountain to move out. They returned to the depths of Miao territory, far away from the Silver Moon River.

As for the bandit stronghold, Sang Che had no intention of caring about their lives or deaths.

Anyone who isn't an idiot would know what it means if they knew that the people of Fengming Mountain had left and the village was empty.

They can stay here if they want; Sang Che has no intention of sending troops to support them. Whether the Miao King is colluding with this bandit stronghold is the Miao King's business.

It's not her problem.

She wasn't incapable of influencing the king's decisions; she simply couldn't be bothered to.

Although the Miao region appears to be harmonious and peaceful.

But seeing is not always believing.

Therefore, Yin Huaixi's promise to visit the bonfire at Fengming Mountain with Sang Che when they arrived in Lingshui City has long become an impossible reality.

But who says you can only see bonfires at Fengming Mountain?

Whenever Sang Che wanted to see it, she could see the campfire, just like the person in front of her.

Abandoning her is absolutely out of the question.

Sang Che no longer wanted to hide Yin Huaixi deep in Miao territory. She knew that once the High Priest joined forces with the Miao King, Yin Huaixi, as her weakness, would inevitably be closely watched by the High Priest and the Miao King.

Limited by others, Sang Che never wants to experience that again in his life.

Moreover, they threatened her with what she cared about most.

No matter who the other person was, Sang Che felt disgusted, even if it was under the guise of doing it for her own good.

Sang Che thought... The imperial court's foundation is unstable and it is too busy to take care of itself. As long as the Miao King stays in Miao territory and does not cause any more trouble.

Then he can probably remain the Miao king for another ten years or so.

Sang Che only wanted to keep the Miao people who believed in her. As for those who insisted on following the Miao King to their deaths, she could not stop them.

She didn't care that the words "abandon" and "betrayal" were used to describe her.

She had already experienced these painful things.

...

The carriage traveled towards Lingshui City and was about to reach the city gate.

Yin Huaixi took out the packet of medicine powder that Zhao Huining had given her from her bosom.

"This was personally developed by the imperial physicians of the Imperial Hospital on my orders. It is colorless and tasteless. Just mix it into your tea and give it to Sang Che to drink, and you will be able to get rid of her completely."

When Yin Huaixi first heard Zhao Huining say this, she thought that Zhao Huining was going to break her promise with Jiawan and secretly kill Sang Che with her.

When Yin Huaixi reached out but failed to take the powder, she mustered her courage and questioned Zhao Huining, her eyes burning: "Didn't Your Highness promise me and Ah Shui that you would let Ah Che go?"

Zhao Huining was not surprised by Yin Huaixi's concerns. She had already seen that Yin Huaixi's attitude towards Sang Che was far from as bad as she described when she was at Fengming Mountain.

Even now, Yin Huaixi is even willing to question Sang Che, the "benefactor" who could clear the Yin family of suspicion, for Sang Che's sake.

How can this not be considered caring?

However, Yin Huaixi was even more stubborn than her and refused to admit it.

Zhao Huining: "I gave you the antidote to the love potion and this powder not so that you would kill Sang Che."

"I just want to give you a chance to leave Sang Che's side completely."

"Isn't this what you've always wanted?"

With a flirtatious smile in her eyes and brows, Zhao Huining, her thin gauze sleeves fluttering, stroked the strings of her zither, while an incense burner burned on the table.

The smoke rises gently.

The landscape paintings and calligraphy behind her made her appear ethereal, as if the person sitting in front of Yin Huaixi was not the eldest princess of an imperial family.

He was merely a refined gentleman who played the piano.

"Yin Huaixi, as for why you asked, I think you should know the answer to that question."

"I just don't want Sang Che to be happy."

Zhao Huining raised her eyes: "Since I promised Ah Shui that I wouldn't touch her Ah Che, I also promised you, so naturally I won't break my promise."

"However, Sang Che can't have all the good things and happiness in the world."

"She should lose something too, that's only fair, isn't it?"

His fingers gripped the packet of medicine powder tightly.

Yin Huaixi understood that when Zhao Huining said that Sang Che "lost something," she meant that she and Sang Che should completely separate.

Having previously stood against her second sister, Yin Huaixi asked herself honestly, and she had no regrets. Her actions were indeed to repay Sang Che for saving her life.

Now faced with this choice again, Yin Huaixi thought that she should no longer be indecisive. The reason she was still attached to Sang Che was not because she liked him, but because... Sang Che had planted a love potion in her heart.

As long as the love potion is broken.

She could then return to the Yin family mansion without any guilt or psychological burden, and become the "Third Miss".

She shouldn't be so indecisive.

...

The carriage bumped along.

Sang Che woke up once during the night and saw Yin Huaixi take the water pouch off her skirt, gently and carefully remove the stopper, and put it to Sang Che's lips.

"Ah Che, are you thirsty?"

"Drink this water, and you will quench your thirst."

She glanced at the water sac.

Without any hesitation, Sang Che reached out and took it. She put it to her red lips, but did not drink it immediately.

My heart is pounding.

A thin layer of sweat appeared on Yin Huaixi's palms.

She knew Sang Che was always clever, and wondered if she would notice that the water was laced with medicine.

A strange emotion welled up in Yin Huaixi's heart. She even wished that Sang Che had found out directly, so that her heart wouldn't have to suffer so much.

However, Sang Che held the water pouch between her fingers, looked at Yin Huaixi, and then slowly began to drink.

With a slight twitch of her fingertips, Yin Huaixi reached for the water bag almost without thinking.

But she was still too slow.

Sang Che gently wiped the corner of his lips with his indigo sleeve, making a crisp, tinkling sound.

She smiled and said, "Huaixi, just let me know if you want some water."

"Why go through all this trouble to snatch it from me?"

Handing over the half-empty water pouch, Sang Che approached Yin Huaixi and gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"Huaixi, drink up."

Faced with Sang Che's reaction, Yin Huaixi awkwardly turned her face away and hurriedly put the stopper back on the water bag.

He said, panting, "I don't want to drink... I'm not thirsty yet... The journey is still long, Ah Che, drink sparingly."

Without looking directly into Sang Che's eyes, Yin Huaixi waited for a long time but didn't hear the familiar tone from him. She sensed something was wrong and suddenly turned around.

Sang Che had already fallen asleep on the table.

Her eyelashes are very long, and when she closes them slightly, she looks very well-behaved.

"A-Che...A-Che?"

Yin Huaixi called Sang Che's name softly twice, but received no reply. She then glanced at the water pouch in her hand.

The remaining half-bag of water clearly told her that Sang Che had indeed fallen for the drug powder.

She will not wake up for at least twelve hours.

Yin Huaixi closed her eyes, took a deep breath, bent down and leaned close to Sang Che, placing a light kiss on Sang Che's cheek.

At such close range, the bell on Sang Che's body was struck by her, and Yin Huaixi just quietly watched Sang Che.

She stood up and said softly, "A-Che, we will eventually have to part ways."

Take good care of yourself.

"Is that okay?"

Her eyes filled with tears, and a clear tear fell onto the table and onto the back of Sang Che's hand, but the distraught Yin Huaixi was completely unaware.