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

One month later.

On the emperor's birthday, a grand banquet was held in the palace, inviting all civil and military officials to a family feast.

For the sake of the royal family's dignity, Zhao Huining was also released by the emperor, but the emperor was naturally "uneasy" about his eldest sister.

Feathered guards were stationed on both sides of Zhao Huining to keep a close watch on him.

The birthday banquet was about to begin, but the seat reserved for Prince Rui was still empty. The emperor, who was naturally suspicious, frowned and immediately summoned the imperial guards.

The guards, having received their orders, quickly left the main hall. The emperor suppressed his displeasure and chatted and laughed with his civil and military officials.

A moment later, the guard who had left suddenly turned back, quickening his pace and losing his previous nonchalant demeanor.

He leaned close to the emperor's ear and whispered something.

"What did you say?!"

Even the emperor, who was good at hiding his thoughts, was completely flustered at this moment.

"Your Majesty, it is absolutely true."

"Prince Rui has rebelled!"

"At this moment, Prince Rui's army has already surrounded the outer perimeter of the imperial city!"

With the situation so dire, even the emperor, with all his power, couldn't hide such a momentous matter.

He staggered and almost fell to the ground, but fortunately, the imperial concubine beside him reached out to help him up. Clutching a handkerchief in her hand, she said anxiously, "Your Majesty, don't panic."

"There are still people left in the palace; Prince Rui's personal guards can't accomplish anything significant."

The emperor felt relieved for a moment after hearing the imperial concubine's words of comfort. Realizing that he had lost face in front of the civil and military officials, he immediately gave the imperial guards a cold look.

I was about to angrily rebuke him.

To everyone's surprise, the guard's forehead was covered in cold sweat.

He leaned closer and whispered, "Your Majesty, it's not just Prince Rui... General Shen has also mobilized his troops!"

General Shen has never expressed his opinion or taken sides. The emperor has never trusted him and has tried to suppress him time and time again, but General Shen has always managed to fool him.

The emperor had sent him to suppress bandits a while ago, intending to wear down Shen Weishan's soldiers and prevent any unforeseen complications, allowing them to conserve their strength.

Unexpectedly, Shen Weishan turned against him and decided to oppose the emperor.

Help Prince Rui ascend the throne!

If it were only the personal guards that Prince Rui brought, the emperor would be absolutely certain that he could capture him, hang him on the city gate, and behead him as a warning to the public.

But now, Prince Rui, General Shen, and those forces in the shadows in the court have joined forces to plot a rebellion on his birthday.

It means having made a decision that one is certain to die.

"Issue my imperial decree: order the palace guards to defend this place to the death! I am determined to personally lead the army to meet my good elder brother!"

Feather Guard: "Yes, Your Majesty."

...

The people in the capital city were terrified and hid in their homes, not daring to even breathe loudly.

They were terrified that the soldiers would break into their home and loot and vandalize it.

Some clever ones had already pocketed their gold, silver, and valuables, hiding in the cellars of their houses, guarding a Buddha statue, and constantly praying to Amitabha.

Since ancient times, the imperial city has been a battleground. Although the people in the city long for peace and stability, they also understand that they must make sure they have a way out.

Otherwise, they wouldn't even know how they died.

Unlike other inns where doors and windows were tightly shut, Sang Che leaned against the window, looking down at the entire imperial city and seeing the vast army on the streets.

"Ah Che, you're too bold. Aren't you afraid of being discovered?"

Yin Huaixi never expected that they would eventually return to the capital, but this time... a huge change had occurred in the palace.

"What's there to be afraid of? They're not targeting us. This prince is too stupid. When someone told him to put a white hat on him, he happily rushed forward."

"People with such an impatient nature will eventually become targets."

The character "王" (king) with a white hat on top—that's the character "皇" (emperor).

Yin Huaixi brought over a cup of tea, handed it to Sang Che, and said with a smile, "A Che, you were born a saintess, so naturally you don't understand how much allure the throne holds for them."

"They would rather give up everything than not hold onto the throne."

Yin Huaixi had no interest in these guys who wanted to ascend the throne; she only wanted to know how Ah Shui and the Princess were doing now.

She had no say in the fate of the royal family; whether the eldest princess lived or died was up to fate.

However, Ah Shui was one of the few people in the Miao village who had ever helped Yin Huaixi.

Out of respect for A-Che, Yin Huaixi was determined to rescue Jia Wan, which was why the two of them risked coming to the capital.

"I don't understand, and I don't want to understand."

"Huaixi, let's wait a little longer. My little guy has found Ah Shui. As long as we can bring Ah Shui out, my mission will be successfully completed."

The sound of soldiers' footsteps echoed as they approached the inn.

Sang Che then got up and closed the window, turning the brightly lit room into a dim one, but keeping the horde of soldiers out.

"Okay, I'll do as you say."

"Sending these little guys out to scout ahead is the best course of action."

In the imperial city, no one would suspect that an insect harbors any ill intentions.

Upon receiving Yin Huaixi's affirmation, Sang Che couldn't help but move her face closer to her. She reached out and put her arm around Yin Huaixi's waist, and sighed, "Huaixi, it's quite nice to be in this dark place with just the two of us."

Yin Huaixi couldn't stand Sang Che's clinginess any longer. She placed her fingers on Sang Che's wrist, but couldn't bear to push her away.

The night is long, and now we can only wait for Sang Che's little ones to report back to us so we can know what's going on in the palace.

...

Prince Rui rode on his horse. Since he was made a prince, he had never ridden his horse so recklessly on the streets of the imperial city.

This feeling of returning to his princely status made Prince Rui enjoy it even more.

He had always resented his father for not giving him the position of Crown Prince.

Since his father wouldn't give it to him, he had no choice but to take it from his younger brother.

"Your Highness, General Shen's army has stopped outside the palace... and has not advanced any further."

The guards who rode back looked flustered. Although they had General Shen as their only backer in the capital, Shen Weishan's sudden change of heart caught them off guard.

Hearing this expected answer, Prince Rui calmed down.

"It's alright. I expected Shen Weishan, that opportunist, to do this. Go and fetch my spear."

"Since my good brother is personally leading the expedition, then I will play along with him."

They fought their way into the palace.

The guards under Prince Rui's command had actually been on the battlefield and fought against those nomadic tribes. Their ability to deploy troops and fight was no less than that of the imperial guards in the palace.

The emperor, who was surrounded, never expected that the army under Prince Rui would be such a tough nut to crack.

"Your Majesty, retreat to the secret passage first! We will cover your retreat!"

Seeing that the situation was not good, Yu Wei made a decisive decision.

The emperor, however, still refused to flee.

He knew that if he retreated today, his throne and his reputation would be lost forever.

"I'm not leaving!"

"I'm going to have a good showdown with my elder brother! You'll all come with me!"

The officials, who were once so imposing in the court, were now cowering in the hall, prioritizing their own safety.

Taking advantage of everyone's preoccupation with their own problems, Zhao Huining went up to the top floor. She looked down at the imperial city where she had grown up and thought of how she used to play hide-and-seek with her mother and younger brother when she was a child.

She often hid here, and only her mother could find her.

"Your Highness."

The palace maids, who had been waiting there, brought out the bow that had been prepared in advance.

He took the bow in one hand and the arrow in the other.

Draw the bow and nock the arrow.

Facing the fierce wind that reeked of blood, Zhao Huining's long black hair fluttered in the wind, her fingers clenched tightly, and her eyes squinted.

In the center of the imperial city, Zhao Huining found Zhao Yuan, whose "Imperial Expedition" was extremely conspicuous.

Zhao Huining chuckled softly, her hands not trembling at all.

"My little brother, you still haven't found me."

A sharp blade cuts through the wind.

The gun is easy to hide, and the dark arrow is hard to prevent.