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

The collar was crumpled and wrinkled.

Jiawan's gaze unconsciously drifted downwards, where Zhao Huining's slender, white fingers rested against her chest.

Her heart pounded like a drum. Jiawan swallowed hard, pressed her tongue against her palate, and mumbled, "What's wrong, Aning?"

"You're only allowed to meet pretty women late at night, but I can't ask a pretty woman to keep me company? What kind of logic is that?"

"Furthermore, when did you order your servant to stop me from entering? Our relationship has grown so distant, what reason do I have to stay in this imperial city?"

The emotions that had been suppressed at the courtyard gate suddenly erupted. Jia Wan stared at Zhao Huining with her bright, innocent eyes, her fingers digging into the back of Zhao Huining's hand, trying to pull his hand off.

Zhao Huining, who was only bothered by Jiawan staring at Shen Shuang, never expected that her actions would provoke Jiawan into a long and unending rant.

Having clearly heard what Jia Wan was saying, Zhao Huining couldn't help but lower her head and chuckle. Her expression only further enraged the already irritated Jia Wan.

"Ah Ning, what's so funny about this? You don't think I'm joking with you, do you?"

"If you keep going like this, I'm packing my bags and leaving tomorrow. Anyway... it's not safe to stay in the capital!"

Furious, Jia Wan struggled desperately and actually managed to break free from Zhao Huining's grasp. Just as she turned to leave, Zhao Huining grabbed her wrist again.

Zhao Huining's fingers were very light; she didn't use much force.

If Jiawan wanted to break free, she could simply be thrown aside. But Jiawan, who had been so determined not to see Zhao Huining that night, suddenly stopped in her tracks.

The shoe stopped in mid-air.

Jia Wan's dress billowed in the night wind, and she pursed her lips, ultimately choosing to linger for a moment for Zhao Huining.

It was only for a moment...

She wanted to hear what other excuses Aning could come up with.

Knowing that Jiawan's anger comes and goes quickly, the key is to be quick and good at coaxing her.

Zhao Huining scratched Jia Wan's wrist with his finger and pulled her back.

"The night wind outside is chilly, and it's likely that the leaves will all fall soon, and a thick snow will start to fall."

Still holding her neck straight and not turning around, Jia Wan snorted softly. Her sensitivity to the weather was much stronger than that of Zhao Huining, the pampered princess.

She doesn't need to remind me.

Jiawan retorted, "So what?"

Zhao Huining gently comforted her, "Ah Shui, even if you want to be angry with me, don't take your own health for granted."

"I didn't ask you to come over tonight because Shen Shuang and I have important matters to discuss, and I didn't want you to get too involved, so I had someone keep watch outside."

After hearing Zhao Huining explain the whole story in detail, Jiawan's anger subsided.

Ok.

She's overthinking it.

But... she didn't do anything wrong when she was angry, Ah Ning just went too far!

Seeing the concern that Jiawan showed her, Zhao Huining didn't say what she had been keeping to herself.

She was confident that she could stir up trouble and make both the emperor and Prince Rui fall for her scheme.

If King Kerui really intends to seize the throne, the capital city will inevitably descend into chaos.

At that time, Zhao Huining could not be entirely certain that the Princess's residence could hold off the rebels and refugees.

She wanted to find an excuse to send Jiawan to a safe place in a few days, so that she wouldn't worry.

Jiawan immediately saw through Zhao Huining's hesitation. She straightened her posture, bent down, and smiled at Zhao Huining, saying, "My dear A-Ning, you weren't just asking for a favor, were you?"

"Then why don't you come and beg me?"

"Whether you want to kill and rob, or you want to use someone for your own purposes, these are all trivial matters to me."

Zhao Huining: "..."

Zhao Huining: "According to the laws of the Great Xin Dynasty, murder and robbery are acts of contempt for the authority of the law. You can say this to my face, but you'd better keep your mouth shut in front of others."

Zhao Huining reached out and pinched Jia Wan's lips, then shook his head helplessly.

She felt like she'd heard those words somewhere before; Jia Wan was really just copying Sang Che.

Instead of learning the good things, they've picked up a whole bunch of bad ones.

Seeing that Zhao Huining was about to launch into another long lecture, Jiawan stuck her fingers into her ear canal and quickly shook her head.

"I can't hear you, I can't hear you, I can't hear you! I can't hear you!"

She plopped down on the stool, looked at the pastries Zhao Huining brought to entertain Shen Shuang, and unceremoniously picked up a piece and stuffed it into her mouth.

As a native of Miao territory, I know the authentic Miao crafts of "casting Gu" and "raising Gu".

Jiawan had to admit one thing: the culinary skills of the people of the Central Plains were the best in the world. They could make such delicious pastries simply by using some glutinous rice, a little sugar powder, and fresh flowers.

Let people linger.

Seeing that she was enjoying her meal, Zhao Huining came over and poured Jiawan a cup of chrysanthemum tea to cool her down.

She knew that Jiawan liked this kind of soft and glutinous pastry, so she specially asked the kitchen to prepare it, knowing that Jiawan would definitely come to see her tonight.

These pastries were originally prepared for Jiawan.

Shen Shuang doesn't like sweets, so the pot of green tea that Zhao Huining has on hand, which is a tribute from Jiangnan, is for Shen Shuang.

Jia Wan, who was eating pastries, suddenly stopped halfway through. Holding the pastries in her hand, she looked at Zhao Huining with suspicion, wondering what Zhao Huining was up to now.

"Drink it, there's no poison in the tea."

"You've been eating too much rich food lately; you need to cool down your body."

Jiawan: "..."

Sarcastic and unsettling!

Ah Ning must be making sarcastic remarks about her!

Before Jiawan could put down the pastries in her hand and reach for the cup of orange-yellow chrysanthemum tea that Zhao Huining had poured for her, Zhao Huining reached out and gently wiped the glutinous rice powder that had gotten on Jiawan's lips with her thumb.

She looked at Jiawan, wiping carefully and attentively.

Zhao Huining: "Eat slowly. No one's going to take it from you here. Eat as much as you want. If it's not enough, I'll have the kitchen make some more."

Do you really think she's a pig?

Realizing it was late at night, Jia Wan felt a tiny bit of crisis; if she ate any more, she might really turn into a pig, so she put the pastries back in her hand.

"I forgot, Your Highness didn't prepare this for me. Your Highness prepared it for that beautiful lady. It's me who's in the wrong for eating someone else's food."

Hearing her speak like that, Zhao Huining was not angry at all, but smiled even more.

Like a toddler, she pulled over a stool and sat down opposite Jiawan.

"Ah Shui, so this is what you look like when you're jealous."

Jiawan: "..."

Jiawan: "So what?"

"Who says you can't be jealous? Did His Highness make that rule?"

Zhao Huining suddenly moved closer to Jiawan, who was delighted and said, "Then eat more. I find you... quite amusing."

Jiawan: "..."

She took the pastries from the plate and was about to put them in Zhao Huining's mouth. Zhao Huining didn't dodge; instead, she immediately took Jiawan's finger into her mouth, her eyes filled with affection.

abnormal!

Jiawan hurriedly pulled her hand back, darting away like a startled rabbit.

Watching Jia Wan's retreating figure, Zhao Huining picked up the pastry that Jia Wan had just handed her and slowly took a bite.

It seemed as if she was still biting Jiawan's finger.

At that moment, Zhao Huining made up her mind that even if she had to fight to the death, she would protect Jiawan's safety.

She, a person born into royalty yet rootless and adrift, seemed to finally have hope for tomorrow.

The thought of wanting to get soaked in the snow with Jiawan in the morning swept over me like a tidal wave.