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

The year-end is approaching.

Yin Qingyue returned later than in previous years.

She took so many days off this year that she was left behind to clean up the mess.

"Sir, are you also from Lingshui? Why don't we travel back together?"

"Sir, are you going to buy some fine goods from the capital to take back to your family?"

The little girl behind her kept pestering Yin Qingyue, which annoyed Yin Qingyue so much that she picked out a sachet and placed it on the girl's forehead.

"Just say you want to hitch a ride with me."

"Giving you a ride back alone isn't a big deal."

Yin Qingyue owns a residence in the capital. When she returns to Lingshui for the New Year, the local servants from the capital don't need to go with her; they can stay at the residence and take care of it.

Hearing Yin Qingyue relent.

The newly hired maid chuckled and quickly took the sachet that Yin Qingyue gave her, without even having a chance to examine it closely.

Then I saw a figure walk into the shop. The woman was dressed in luxurious clothes, and it was clear that she came from a prominent family.

Behind the woman was another woman in a red dress, her eyes sparkling, as if she hadn't been out much.

Yin Qingyue was slightly on guard, but before the richly dressed woman could speak, the woman in the red dress approached her with her hands behind her back.

"You must be Yin Qingyue, Lord Yin?"

The young girl thought it was incredibly impolite of the visitor to address her by her given name.

He immediately rushed forward.

"How rude of you to address an adult by their first name!"

Jia Wan didn't expect the girl opposite her to have such a fiery temper. She immediately shrank behind Zhao Huining, using Zhao Huining as her shield.

Goodness, I've run into a feisty one.

"One must not be rude."

Instead, Yin Qingyue reached out and lightly tapped the little girl's head with her knuckles, making a crisp sound.

The aggrieved girl covered her head, still wearing the constable's uniform, looking quite wronged.

Within this imperial city, hidden talents abound.

If Yin Qingyue didn't teach this little girl a lesson, and she accidentally kicked a hornet's nest, her boss would probably make things difficult for her if she wanted to ask for leave to go back to her hometown this year.

"Is Lord Yin returning to Lingshui? I happen to have a friend living there; could you please take some things back with him?"

Zhao Huining simply smiled and casually hid Jiawan behind her, her attitude very polite.

Yin Qingyue didn't think much of it.

"May I ask where your friend lives and what their name is? If you don't have too much of this, I can take it back with me."

Upon hearing Yin Qingyue's agreement, Jiawan stood on tiptoe and placed her hands on Zhao Huining's shoulders. She was about to agree when Zhao Huining pushed her back with his palm.

"Yin Huaixi".

"Your sister, sir, is an old friend of mine."

Jiawan was sullen when Zhao Huining ruthlessly stole her lines.

However, this was the first time Jiawan had seen Yin Huaixi's family. She sighed inwardly, "Are all Han Chinese women this good-looking?"

Yin Huaixi's older sister is also very beautiful and pleasing to the eye.

Upon hearing her sister's name, Yin Qingyue did not immediately believe the person in front of her. She hesitated slightly, while the little girl from before seemed embarrassed.

She immediately apologized: "I'm so sorry, I didn't know you were an old friend of the adult's sister."

"I take back what I said earlier."

"Pah, pah, pah."

Seeing her like this, Jiawan felt bad.

"It's okay. It was indeed my rudeness. You don't need to apologize to me."

Alas, there's nothing we can do; the customs of the Han and Miao people are simply different.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Just as the two children were about to fight, Zhao Huining grabbed Jiawan and said politely to Yin Qingyue, "This is a small token of our appreciation for the New Year. Please pick out some more, and I will pay the shopkeeper for them all at once."

"I have a few things to ask your sister to pass on."

These things were saved up by Jiawan through her frugal living at the Princess's residence.

She always thought about Sang Che, wishing she could give him all the good things in the world.

Zhao Huining was not angry when she found out.

Her sweetheart could give gifts to whomever he wanted, and as long as the gift was bought by her, Zhao Huining was quite satisfied even if it made her feel a little uncomfortable.

...

Lingshui City.

Every household was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations.

It’s not lively.

The shop was packed with people.

During holidays and festivals, who wouldn't want to add some new items to their home?

Yin Huaixi knew that Sang Che was uncomfortable from staying cooped up all the time while recuperating, so she took her out to the street to get some fresh air and clear her head.

I only felt at ease after wrapping myself up in layers upon layers, making sure I was completely covered.

The streets of Lingshui City were much more lively than those of the Miao village. It was indeed the first time Sang Che had seen Han people celebrating the Lunar New Year. She thought of the bonfire she had promised earlier.

Inevitably, a sense of regret fills my heart.

Holding Huaixi's hand like this, and spending the Han Chinese New Year together seems like a pretty good idea.

She wasn't so greedy anymore.

With his deerskin boots crunching in the snow, Sang Che smiled a genuine smile, a rare occurrence for him.

Unlike the forced smiles of the past.

Snowflakes covered the umbrella, and Sang Che insisted on holding it. Yin Huaixi couldn't persuade her otherwise, so she let her have her way.

"Your Han Chinese streets are so well-organized, and even your festivals are so lively."

Yin Huaixi: "Wait until the New Year, A-Che, you'll know what real excitement is."

"We'll keep setting off firecrackers to scare away the Nian monster."

"There will also be a generous amount of lucky money."

As the year draws to a close, there are vendors selling rice cakes on both sides of the street. Sang Che glanced at one and thought it looked very similar to the glutinous rice cakes from the Miao village.

They are mostly made of glutinous rice, which has a soft and chewy texture and a unique fragrance.

It is memorable.

"What do you want to buy to eat?"

Sang Che was in a rare good mood, and before she could even speak, Yin Huaixi gave a look and ordered Qingmei, who was following behind her, to go and buy it.

Having received her mistress's order, Qingmei immediately strode over, opened her purse, and began negotiating the price with the shopkeeper.

Before long, Qingmei returned with a bag of rice cakes. The white, tender, and fragrant rice cakes were coated with brown sugar powder, making them very appetizing.

"Miss, here you go."

Yin Huaixi naturally stuffed a skewer of rice cake into Sang Che's hand. Smelling the aroma, she felt a sudden urge to eat and took a bite of the rice cake.

Chew slowly.

"Hey, Yin Huaixi."

"You still dare to go out on the street?"

Wrapped in fox fur coats, the young masters had just come out of the restaurant when they unexpectedly ran into Yin Huaixi on the way.

They were used to delicacies and wouldn't even glance at the rice cake in Yin Huaixi's hand.

He found it ridiculous and immediately let out a sneer.

"They've even started eating rice cakes. Only someone like you, Yin Huaixi, who's been out fooling around, would like this kind of cheap stuff."

"Speak! Brother Shichang is now paralyzed, is it your doing?"

Before she could even take a few bites of the rice cake in her hand, an annoying bug came over, ruining Yin Huaixi's good mood. She was about to go forward.

Sang Che then took the lead and walked up to her.

The young master immediately recognized that Sang Che, the pale-faced girl, was the little maid that Yin Huaixi kept by her side. This fact had spread throughout Lingshui City; everyone knew about it.

His arrogance immediately flared up even more.

They were just short of rolling up their sleeves.

"Girl, how dare you, a servant of the Yin family, look at me like that? Do you have a death wish?!"

"You think you can look at my face like that?!"

But before he could even get close, he became even more arrogant.

A small, crimson snake emerged from Sang Che's sleeve, its body crouched, poised to strike.

The young master was startled. His boots slipped on the wet street, and he landed hard on his bottom, grabbing Zhang Xue with both hands, looking quite disheveled.

"Hahahaha..."

The onlookers in the distance burst into laughter, completely humiliating him.

Sang Che gently stroked Xiao Ya'er's head with his fingertips. She couldn't focus her gaze, but she squatted down.

He whispered, "So you want to die?"

"Then I'll grant your wish, how about it?"