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

The capital city, the imperial palace.

Golden tiles and red walls, solemn and dignified.

Tian Jian, dressed in the uniform of a feather guard, rode forward on horseback, his temples adorned with crimson pearls, causing pedestrians to give way.

I dared not look at it for more than a second.

"Please show me your token, sir!"

The gatekeepers bowed respectfully to Tian Jian, who then took out a black iron token from his waist, its black tassels swaying slightly.

In the blink of an eye, the guards opened the gate, and Tian Jian passed through without hindrance.

Sitting in the carriage, listening to the clatter of hooves, Zhao Huining felt no longing for the capital city she hadn't seen in so long.

While at Fengming Mountain, she never wanted to escape for a moment, but now she suddenly missed the days when Jiawan chattered away beside her.

Holding the many silver ornaments given to her by Jiawan, Zhao Huining was restless.

Her eyes darkened as she thought of Yin Huaixi being chased by the Imperial Guards.

Yes, how could she not know what His Majesty was thinking? She has been suspicious by nature since childhood and doesn't trust anyone.

Now that they think she's useful and want to keep her for a political marriage, they respectfully address her as "Imperial Sister".

What about in the future?

When all the birds are gone, the good bow is put away.

The cunning rabbit dies, the running dog cooks.

Wasn't Yin Huaixi's fate of being hunted down by the Imperial Guards the same fate she would have faced?

This throne... if he can sit on it, why can't she?

Since she couldn't even bring someone out of Fengming Mountain, their sibling relationship was no longer of any importance.

Since His Majesty wants to find the whereabouts of the "Gu King" and make Miao Jiang completely submit to the court, she can start from there.

To lose sight of the bigger picture, to pick up a sesame seed and lose a watermelon.

It's only interesting to humiliate a country's ruler in this way.

The carriage came to a stop, and Tian Jian dismounted. He respectfully lifted the curtain for Zhao Huining and addressed her respectfully, saying, "Your Highness, His Majesty is waiting for you."

Zhao Huining showed little joy as she stepped down from the carriage. The palace remained prosperous even in the autumn season.

Golden chrysanthemums, carrying a faint fragrance, wafted in on the breeze. Zhao Huining had grown up in the palace since childhood and needed no introduction.

She sat upright in the chair, separated by a curtain.

The emperor dismissed his attendants.

"My beloved concubine, you may leave now."

"I have important matters to discuss with my elder sister."

The graceful woman put down the grapes in her hand, a ripple of emotion stirring within her, and she quickly agreed.

Walking behind the screen, the woman followed the emperor's gaze toward the small bridge, and as expected, she saw Zhao Huining, dressed in a plain robe, looking dashing and heroic.

"Greetings, Your Highness!"

The maids and eunuchs standing on both sides quickly bowed.

"Your Majesty, it was my oversight that led to your imprisonment."

The emperor, with a gentle smile, reached out and rolled up his sleeves to pour Zhao Huining a cup of tea.

It was pushed over.

"Fortunately, Lord Tian was efficient and rescued my elder sister."

Looking at the emerald green tea in the teacup, Zhao Huining reached out and pinched it. Then the Emperor continued, "Elder sister, could you tell me if you've heard anything about Phoenix Cry Mountain?"

A casual, perfunctory greeting.

He went straight to the point, wanting to ask her if she had any clues about the Gu King.

It was exactly as she had predicted in the carriage, without any difference.

Zhao Huining: Yes.

The emperor's expression changed instantly. Unable to hide his joy, he leaned closer and coughed lightly.

"Your Majesty, I have long heard the legends of Miao territory that as long as one obtains the Gu King, even without knowing Gu techniques, one can command a multitude of Gu. At that time, even if the Miao people use Gu, as long as one obtains the Gu King, one will have no worries."

Is this really true?

Zhao Huining looked at her younger brother's face and nodded slightly.

"Indeed, I saw it with my own eyes. Your Majesty can rest assured that the Grand Preceptor had no intention of deceiving Your Majesty."

Having received a definite answer from Zhao Huining, the emperor could no longer hide his thoughts. Seeing that he was eager to ask, Zhao Huining simply told him directly.

"Your Majesty is wise and powerful. Your guess was indeed correct. Chi You's descendants are indeed hidden in Fengming Mountain. The holy maiden that the Miao King has been hiding is indeed in the village."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yuan became even more smug.

The Empress rarely praises anyone.

This time, the Empress has truly impressed her.

"Your Majesty flatters me. I merely acted slightly as the Imperial Advisor suggested."

"Your Highness, you've stayed in that village for quite some time. Have you seen that Holy Maiden?"

"When Father Emperor was on the throne, she was imprisoned in this palace, but my elder sister and I were too young and ignorant at the time... so we never saw her."

"Is her method truly as ruthless and formidable as the old palace elders have said?"

Zhao Huining recalled the fleeting glimpse of Sang Che's figure and didn't respond this time.

This can be considered an admission of what Zhao Yuan said.

Seeing Zhao Huining's expression, Zhao Yuan had already anticipated it. He reached out and took out a jade tablet, pushed it forward with his large hand, and spoke with great importance.

"I have complete confidence in my elder sister's abilities."

"When I captured that Miao holy maiden and brought her back to the palace to refine the Gu King, catching the Miao King off guard, I still had to attend to matters in Jiangnan and had no time to deal with it."

"How about entrusting the entire responsibility to my elder sister?"

Looking at the lifelike, ferocious beast on the jade pendant, Zhao Huining did not accept it immediately; she smiled faintly and declined.

"His Majesty values ​​me so highly; if I were to still need His Majesty's help as I do today, wouldn't that spoil His Majesty's plans?"

Zhao Yuan knew that his elder sister felt guilty, and he had no intention of taking the jade pendant back.

"Elder sister, Father has just passed away. Among all the people in the court, I trust you the only one."

"If my elder sister doesn't help me, I truly don't know what to do!"

Looking up and staring directly at the emperor's face, Zhao Huining thought to herself that he really knew how to act.

Unfortunately... she no longer believed it.

...

Leaning against the medicine cabinet, Yin Huaixi squinted as she finished writing the last character and put away her brush.

"I'll read it again, A-Che. Listen carefully, and if there are any mistakes, just tell me."

Sang Che obediently listened and listened to Yin Huaixi read the prescription aloud again, just as Yin Huaixi had instructed.

"There are no mistakes in what you wrote."

The answer was affirmative.

Yin Huaixi felt a surge of joy.

She's a genius!

Holding the paper in a good mood, Yin Huaixi finally turned to look at Sang Che this time.

"Do you have any of those medicinal herbs here?"

The thought of immediately brewing some medicine to calm the burning desire in my heart surged up within me.

Yin Huaixi was unwilling to wait any longer, nor did she want to suffer this torment any longer.

Hearing her question, Sang Che shook his head.

"It's not here."

"In another warehouse."

Yin Huaixi was completely bewildered when she first learned that there were two more warehouses. How come she didn't know about this? It seems that Sang Che has been keeping it from her all along!

"Ah Che, then take me there."

To tone down one's words.

Yin Huaixi was even more curious about what was stored in that warehouse. Could it all be medicinal herbs used for detoxification?

She needs to figure it out carefully, so that if she ever needs it, she can take something out of it and prepare for the future.

Seeing that she was acting on impulse, Sang Che was even more certain that it was the unstable relationship between the love potion and Yin Huaixi that made her thoughts so erratic.

She shook her head: "Huaixi, I'm busy."

Yin Huaixi: "Then have someone take me there."

Sang Che laughed at her confidence.

"If I hadn't been there in person, that place wouldn't have opened no matter who came."

"Huaixi, didn't I tell you? If I have what you want or want to get, you can exchange it for something I'm interested in."

"Isn't this what you Han Chinese call 'giving and receiving'?"

I've never seen such a shameless scoundrel!

Yin Huaixi choked on her breath and walked straight toward the door. Just as she was about to step over the threshold, she hesitated again and again and pulled her foot back.

She and Sang Che have done all sorts of shameful things, it's not like they haven't done them before, so what's there to be shy about?!

The most urgent task is to gather clues!

Turning her head, Yin Huaixi solemnly said, "Okay, I promise you."

What do you want tonight?