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

Yin Huaixi: "..."

She sighed helplessly.

Well, being ostracized and misunderstood is her destiny.

She can understand.

She gripped the crystal-clear jar of ointment tightly with her fingers, then turned and went back to Sang Che's room.

Just as Yin Huaixi had promised, she did not keep Sang Che waiting for too long.

"I just went to get the medicine. Your maid brought it over. You should be able to use it anywhere, right?"

Speak softly and gently.

Yin Huaixi's attitude towards her today was unusually good; it could even be described as "attentive."

However… there’s a saying among the Han people.

It is also very famous.

That is—"One doesn't visit the temple without a reason."

Could it be that Yin Huaixi feels even a little bit guilty towards her, which is why he's being so attentive today?

The initial discomfort she felt because Yin Huaixi had secretly gone to see the Han people behind her back had completely disappeared.

Surprisingly, Sang Che quite liked Yin Huaixi's attitude towards her; at least she wasn't like a block of wood as before.

Oh no.

Wood can even catch fire when rubbed together.

It's more like a rock.

She shook her head slightly, raised her injured foot, and her bare, jade-like feet captivated the eye.

The silver anklet swayed slightly as Sang Che softly urged Yin Huaixi, "I personally prepared all their ointments."

"Of course not."

Upon hearing this...

Yin Huaixi breathed a sigh of relief. Similarly, she also gave up the idea of ​​drugging Sang Che and sneaking away from the village.

People from the Miao region are born and raised dealing with medicinal herbs and poisons, so using medicine is probably not an option for them.

If we really have to talk about it, the only thing that can help is the secret prescriptions made by the imperial physicians in the palace, which the Miao people are helpless against.

I wonder if my second sister's people have come looking for her yet. If government officials are involved and helping her out, her chances of escaping will increase significantly.

Seeing that Yin Huaixi did not make a move for a long time.

I don't know what she's thinking.

Sang Che had finally managed to calm his thoughts, but they began to fluctuate again.

Was she thinking about the Han Chinese man she had just met?

He's just a fishmonger, what's there to be concerned about?

"Huaixi...why aren't you hurrying up?"

"My foot...it hurts so much."

Sang Che's voice carried a hint of coquettishness, but it wasn't quite charming; it was utterly innocent.

Upon hearing this, Yin Huaixi froze, almost dropping the ointment in her hand.

Intentional…

This woman must have done it on purpose!

This woman is definitely not simple!

Even though she knew Sang Che was doing it on purpose, Yin Huaixi still obediently squatted down and placed her fingertips on Sang Che's ankle.

Its delicate texture feels like a piece of warm, smooth jade.

She applied some snow-white ointment directly, gently smoothing it with her fingertips onto the bruise. This time, Yin Huaixi wasn't thinking about anything else.

She was so focused that it seemed as if a hunting dog was chasing her.

"alright."

"Next time, when I'm not around, you'd better be careful."

"This isn't a place you usually stay, so it's understandable that you feel unfamiliar with it. This time you bumped your foot, but who knows what might happen next time..."

He rambled on and on about a lot of things.

Sang Che smiled gently, raising her delicate eyebrows as she looked at Yin Huaixi with her eyes that couldn't see anything.

It was as if he could look directly into Yin Huaixi's soul.

Sang Che: "Huai Xi, are you concerned about me?"

Yin Huaixi: "..."

Sang Che: "You...feel sorry for me?"

Despite her status as the "Holy Maiden of Miao Territory," Sang Che didn't have much contact with people. Usually, only the High Priest would inquire about her health condition and whether it had flared up.

This was the first time someone had spoken to her so softly and gently, with such an awkward personality.

Unexpectedly, Sang Che would get hung up on such a trivial question. Yin Huaixi took a step back, putting a distance of one step between herself and Sang Che.

There was a boundary between the two, like the Chu River and the Han River.

Yin Huaixi then felt that the strange atmosphere had lessened a bit.

"Of course, you brought me here to get some fresh air because of me."

"I'm not that heartless..."

Yin Huaixi simply couldn't bring herself to say the words "ungrateful wretch" after that.

Why do I feel like she insulted herself?

As her voice faded into the distance, Sang Che slowly touched her white socks with her fingers, pretending to stumble and stagger.

Sang Che: "So... do you still want to go home?"

These words came out of nowhere, and it felt like a string on a musical instrument had been taut, causing a wrong note to be played in Yin Huaixi's mind.

What did Sang Che mean by asking this question?

Could it be that she noticed something unusual about her going out earlier?

Yin Huaixi's heart was pounding with anxiety. Had it finally arrived?!

With her hands behind her back, she spoke calmly and without batting an eye, reciting the prepared speech.

"Although my family is wealthy, I am an illegitimate daughter. My parents died early, and my biological sisters and brothers do not love me. Instead, they worry that I will take away their land and shops."

"They sent me away, giving me only some meager silver. Originally, I left Lingshui City intending to try my luck in the capital and see if I could find a way out..."

She repainted herself with an innocent identity, not because Yin Huaixi didn't love her elder sister, but because only in this way could she exclude her elder sister and others and avoid any risks.

Otherwise... given the temperament of the Miao people, they might secretly send people to the Yin residence to "act recklessly".

Sang Che did not interrupt Yin Huaixi. She listened quietly, and judging from her expression, she was trying to determine whether Yin Huaixi was lying.

"You know what happened next."

To prove she wasn't lying, Yin Huaixi unusually sat down next to Sang Che and took the shoes and socks from his hands.

She then placed Sang Che's snow-white legs on her knees and skillfully put on Sang Che's shoes and socks.

He acted like he was serving someone.

There was no indication that he had any intention of defecting.

Sang Che: "So you don't want to leave, is that right?"

Feeling guilty, Yin Huaixi, who was pinching Sang Che's ankle, did not run away this time and told a lie.

"Yes, I won't leave."

"I'm just kidding... I'm your little dog."

Yin Huaixi truly dared not swear a solemn oath that would be struck by lightning.

...

Two maids stood quietly at the door of Sang Che's room, their ears pressed against the crack in the wooden door, and could only faintly hear voices coming from inside.

Her tone was soft, like the murmurs of newlyweds.

The two exchanged a knowing glance and smiled meaningfully.

They retreated.

"Doing such a thing in broad daylight... Is the Holy Maiden's body really alright?"

Back in the next room, A-Cai sat down, pressed her palms to her cheeks, and began to worry that Sang Che was indulging in love.

"Hopefully that guy will be gentle with the saintess; at least she has some conscience, knowing to come here for medicine."

Yiyun sat opposite Acai, nodding in agreement.

...

As the sun sets, night falls in the blink of an eye.

Yin Huaixi suddenly opened her eyes, and even though drowsiness was creeping into her thoughts, she insisted on not falling asleep.

Carefully lifting the thin blanket.

Yin Huaixi, who was hunched over as she got up, didn't dare to make a sound. She slowly put on her socks and then her coat.

Only then did he walk to the window and take a look.

The bandit stronghold was completely silent, except for the firelight still burning on the dock, where laborers were unloading goods. It seemed that this group of people had gone out to rob another group in the dark and had just returned.

Yin Huaixi concealed her thoughts.

The dockworkers are busy unloading cargo, which will surely make them less vigilant, giving her a good opportunity to meet with her elder sister's spies.

As she tiptoed to the door of the inn's private room, Yin Huaixi glanced back at the bed curtains. She was worried that Sang Che's cold poison would flare up, so she tucked the blankets in for her before leaving.

Hopefully... Sang Che won't wake up when she returns.

Quietly opening the door a crack, Yin Huaixi slipped out like an eel.

After a while, Sang Che sat up in bed, wide awake.

She braced herself against the blankets, which still held the warmth of Yin Huaixi's body, and her expression turned gloomy.

Huai Xi... is it really time to run away from her?