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

Put the ointment back in its original position.

Jiawan clapped her hands, turned her head, put her hands on her hips, and smiled.

"The clothes I'm giving you are my own. Even if they don't fit you, you're not allowed to complain."

Zhao Huining pursed her lips, but said nothing.

These Miao people are unpredictable; who knows what this Miao woman's intentions are?

She had important business to attend to in Beijing, and now she's been absurdly brought here.

Unfortunately, the martial arts masters around her were all helpless against Miao witchcraft, otherwise she would not have fallen into this woman's hands.

They were manipulated at will.

"Don't look so dejected. Didn't I tell you? If it weren't for me, you would already be Ah Che's puppet."

"Don't say I didn't warn you."

Completely oblivious to her surroundings, Jia Wan plopped down next to Zhao Huining and naturally rested her head on Zhao Huining's shoulder.

She was filled with conflicting thoughts, really wanting to ask Zhao Huining what kind of sachet she used and what the recipe was, to make her smell so good.

But for the Miao people, asking for prescriptions or how to make Gu worms is tantamount to stealing secrets, and no one would tell them directly.

Unless... the relationship is very unusual.

correct.

Why didn't she think of that?

She could refine the Forget-Me-Not Gu while simultaneously cultivating a good relationship with the Han woman, hoping to extract the recipe for the sachet from her.

Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?

While Han Chinese may not be as skilled at making poison as the Miao people, when it comes to sachets and the art of incense making, they are truly unparalleled, leaving others far behind.

Jiawan had long wanted to capture a Han Chinese to ask about the method of making incense, but the incense sachets made by those idiots smelled terrible and were not even as good as a corner of the dress of this Han Chinese woman.

The thoughts in my mind are so beautiful.

Jiawan couldn't help but keep leaning forward to smell Zhao Huining's fragrance, completely infatuated.

It was being rubbed against.

Zhao Huining quietly moved to the other side of the bed, having taken a look around the room while the woman was having her episode.

I came to a conclusion in my mind.

This woman was of high status.

Regardless of her intentions in bringing him back to the room, he could now make good use of this woman to obtain information from the outside world.

Let the imperial court find this place and rescue her.

"Don't go!"

"Ahem... I brought you back, but there are conditions. Don't think I'm someone you can mess with."

Jiawan looked up at Zhao Huining and pulled her over unreasonably, the silver bells on her hand jingling softly.

"What are the conditions?"

Zhao Huining raised an eyebrow. Her expression didn't show much fear, but rather more confusion about the Miao woman.

I'll tell you later.

Extending her finger, Jiawan gestured to Zhao Huining with a serious expression.

"Anyway, I'm the owner here. If I say one, you can't say two."

"I said go east, you can't go west."

"I said I need you to come with me, so you can't not come."

"Did you understand?"

Jiawan's deliberately fierce demeanor was somewhat like a cat pretending to be a tiger, and Zhao Huining nodded knowingly.

"I understand."

Seeing that the Han woman was quite compliant, Jiawan rested her cheek on her hand and said with considerable appreciation, "Hmm, you're quite obedient."

"Unlike the one next to A-Che, who is completely unyielding and only dares to be so tactless because A-Che likes her."

As she began to speak, Zhao Huining sensed something unusual.

He quickly asked out of curiosity, "That person... isn't from your Miao region, is he?"

When Zhao Huining woke up, Jiawan carried her into the side room. She didn't know who "Ache" was that Jiawan was referring to.

However, Zhao Huining did have a memory of the character "澈" (che). That... holy maiden from Miao territory also seemed to have "澈" (che) in her name.

If the woman sitting next to her held a high position in Miao territory, then the way she addressed her so intimately as "A-Che" would be understandable.

I think so.

That's the only one left.

Jiawan nodded, then realized something was wrong. She frowned and glanced at Zhao Huining, her tone becoming curious.

"Why are you asking this? You don't mean to—"

To prevent Jiawan from seeing her intentions, Zhao Huining directly interrupted Jiawan's guesses.

"I didn't mean that, it's just that you brought it up first, and I thought I'd respond to what you said... that's all."

With a single sentence, Zhao Huining absolved himself of all responsibility. His upright and frank demeanor made Jia Wan blink.

I think she's a bit naturally suspicious.

"Oh, I see."

"That person... I can't tell you much about her background, but in short, she can't escape our Miao territory. Even if she wants to... beg A'Che to soften her heart and agree, the High Priest and the Miao King will not agree."

It proudly raised its tail.

Jiawan turned to look at Zhao Huining, and she smiled just like a triumphant cat.

"The same to you."

"Don't even think about escaping."

Pointing to herself with her index finger, Jiawan introduced herself: "My temper isn't even half as good as A-Che's. If you anger me, then I'm sorry... I'll tie you up."

Zhao Huining lowered her eyes.

He didn't say anything.

If they were from Miao territory, why would they think of escaping if they had won the favor of the Holy Maiden?

The other person is most likely either Han Chinese or from the Central Plains, just like her.

He was determined to escape this place.

Zhao Huining's eyes were deep, and the ambiguous expression on his face vanished in an instant.

It seems she needs to find a way to contact that person and work together to escape this hellish place.

Escape the control of this childish brat.

Thinking of her, so dignified…

Forget it.

It's so shameful to bring up one's status like that, it's disgraceful.

...

"Achoo!"

Yin Huaixi, who was awakened by the cold, sneezed. She turned her head and saw that Sang Che was curled up again.

The bed, which was warm before I went to sleep, was now ice-cold, and touching it felt like falling into an ice cave.

Unlike ordinary people suffering from illness who scream in pain, Sang Che curled up in the quilt, his fingers tightly clenched into his palms, the veins on the back of his hands bulging with force.

She didn't utter a sound, only her breathing became disordered and rapid.

The complexion that had improved somewhat after the herbal bath was completely gone at this moment.

Subconsciously, Yin Huaixi reached out, almost uncontrollably, wanting to check Sang Che's current body temperature.

Even though preparations were made.

When Yin Huaixi placed her palm on it, she was still startled by the cold.

This doesn't look like a caress to a person at all; it's clearly snow falling in the dead of winter!

Remembering the instructions given by the two maids during the night, Yin Huaixi did not rush to get up. She wanted to withdraw her hand and see how Sang Che, who was so arrogant, was being tormented by illness.

But in the brief moment she was stunned and hesitant about whether to take the silver charcoal, Sang Che had already reached out and grabbed Yin Huaixi's wrist.

Caught off guard, Yin Huaixi was pulled down.

Her nose was pressed against Sang Che's thin lips, and her knees hit the edge of the bed. The pain made Yin Huaixi's body tremble, and she fell down on Sang Che, the culprit.

With a pair of eyes fixed on those dark eyelashes, Yin Huaixi could clearly feel their breaths mingling.

One is cold, the other is hot.

"Ah Che...you're too cold..."

"I'll go get you some charcoal... Please bear with it for a bit... okay?"

Yin Huaixi's response was Sang Che's tightening embrace, leaving her with nowhere to escape.

She could only murmur Sang Che's name.

"Ah Che... wait a minute... I'm coming right now—"

Sang Che said weakly, "Don't go..."

"Stay...with me."

"Is that okay?"