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

Deep in the dense forest.

Box after box of arrows were brought up, and Tian Jian stared at the guards carrying the goods, his expression still solemn.

"Has Your Excellency received definite news? Are you already planning to attack?"

Yin Qingyue asked aloud. She had been helping Tian Jian organize the scattered clues, and she had lost a lot of weight, making her facial features even more defined.

"I do have news, but Lord Yin, you should refrain from asking too many questions."

"To avoid upsetting the higher-ups."

Knowing perfectly well whose orders Tian Jian had given him, Yin Qingyue still refused to give up.

Having spent a long time navigating the complexities of officialdom, she was no longer the passionate Yin Qingyue she once was.

Taking a step back to appear less aggressive, Yin Qingyue sighed softly. The red string used to secure her official hat was not tied tightly and swayed slightly.

"My lord, my younger sister is truly a cause for concern. I hope you will tell me the truth."

"I, Yin Qingyue, will always remember your kindness."

He turned to look at her.

Tian Jian raised his thick eyebrows, his feet stepping on the gravel, thinking about how Yin Qingyue had kept her men in check for days without any mishaps.

With a clear understanding in mind, if she didn't offer someone some reward, Yin Qingyue might harbor resentment and cause trouble.

If that affects the mission assigned by his superiors and causes trouble, he won't have enough heads to lose.

"Fine."

"Since you've come for your family, I can no longer hide anything from you."

"I received a message from the village. The magistrate told me that everything is ready except for the final push."

"Let me wait for her news. When the time comes, all we need to do is give the order, and you and I will act according to the plan, catching those Miao people off guard and rescuing our people inside."

Unexpectedly, such a big question came out, Yin Qingyue thought to herself.

It seems that Tian Jian's trip to rescue his niece was a pretense; his real purpose was to complete his mission.

I had heard before that the one sitting on the dragon throne was different from the late emperor in his hatred of Gu magic. The new emperor would stop at nothing to seek the legendary "Gu King".

Given His Majesty's suspicious nature, the mole in this stronghold must be someone of great importance.

She will only be one of His Majesty's few confidants.

No wonder His Majesty, upon hearing the news, hastily dispatched Imperial Guards to this godforsaken place.

They didn't care about the high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital; they clearly had ulterior motives.

Despite the turmoil in her heart, Yin Qingyue remained outwardly composed, raising her hands in a fist salute and treating Tian Jian with the utmost politeness.

"Thank you for understanding my concern for my sister. I will do my best to cooperate with whatever you say."

Tian Jian knew that Yin Qingyue had volunteered to come here to save her sister; otherwise, who would give up a lucrative job in the capital to come to this damp and cold place to take on a thankless task and suffer so much?

It's okay to have selfish motives.

I'm afraid some people have no selfish motives.

That would be difficult to control.

Tian Jian was able to rise to this position and gain the emperor's deep trust; he was no fool. He understood the relationship between superiors and subordinates.

"Ah, Qingyue, we all have families, I understand your feelings."

"I will lend you a few men, all of whom are among the best in my Feather Guard. You only need to rescue your sister; I will take care of that person's matter."

The two then discussed the details of how they stormed the village, before Tian Jian flicked his sleeves and strode away.

As Yin Qingyue watched his retreating figure, the immense pressure she had been under for days finally burst forth, turning into a sigh.

...

For several days, Sang Che, who had been suffering from a cold poison attack and remained unconscious, had his residence surrounded by a dense crowd.

The Miao people carrying curved knives were all filled with fear.

Yin Huaixi has been relaxed and at ease these past few days. Apart from the two guards who have been following her, the Miao people haven't sent anyone else to keep an eye on her.

Now is the best time to escape. As long as he takes down these two Miao guards, Yin Huaixi can make a quick getaway.

This time, Yin Huaixi wanted to see how Sang Che, whose cold poison had seeped into her bones, would capture her.

Sang Che, like a clay bodhisattva crossing a river, is barely able to save himself.

Even if there are Gu worms she has planted in Phoenix Cry Mountain, so what?

The person who used the Gu technique is in imminent danger.

Since that big argument.

Yin Huaixi really didn't go to see how Sang Che was doing or how his condition was.

She didn't look at it because she felt it was unnecessary, and also because she was afraid she would feel sorry for it.

It wasn't that she felt guilty, but rather that she had to be wary of Sang Che's succubus persona as the protagonist of this book.

"Miss Yin, have you thought about what I'm about to discuss with you tonight?"

"Now is the best time to leave. If we hesitate any longer, I'm afraid neither of us will be able to leave here."

Zhao Huining has a pair of phoenix eyes, and she exudes an aura of authority without being angry.

Sometimes Yin Huaixi really wanted to ask her how she managed to make Jiawan completely lower her guard in such a short time.

Could it be... just because of this face?

Amitabha, good is good.

This is truly a world that judges people by their appearance!

No wonder it's that kind of story!

Seeing that Yin Huaixi did not answer her question immediately, Zhao Huining had a teasing thought.

He deliberately said, "The Miao people here say that although Miss Yin is a Han Chinese, she is the one destined to be the Holy Maiden, as divined by the High Priest."

"Could it be that Miss Yin has fallen deeply in love with that Miao holy maiden and is unwilling to leave?"

This is a blatant provocation.

Yin Huaixi could tell that Zhao Huining was testing her, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

Could it be that Zhao Huining is afraid that Sang Che's illness is fake, and that everything in the past was a setup to lure the enemy in and capture her?

Thinking about this, Yin Huaixi really admired Zhao Huining's first-class counter-surveillance capabilities.

Staying in the palace was definitely worthwhile.

Those who weren't mentally sound would have been dragged out and beheaded long ago.

You're overthinking it.

"If I couldn't bear to part with her, I wouldn't have been so cruel to her."

Yin Huaixi distanced herself from Zhao Huining; she still didn't like this kind of woman with such deep scheming.

He said sincerely, "Thank you for taking me out. I will meet you tonight at the place you instructed me to go."

Zhao Huining nodded slightly. A small braid with a silver butterfly ornament was adorning her temple. At first glance, she looked heroic and dashing, yet still retained a girlish charm. It was clearly the work of Jiawan.

"Alright then."

"Miss Yin, please be punctual. I will not wait for you if you are late."

...

Outside the window, a bright moon hangs over the green mountains.

Yin Huaixi didn't pack anything else this time; her package was full of heavy dry food.

What kind of glutinous rice cakes and ointments?

Taking all of these with her, Yin Huaixi walked to the wooden door. She remembered that the two men had used a particularly effective sleeping potion last time, and later she had even indirectly asked Sang Che for some.

in case the emergency.

Sang Che had always been very attentive to her, giving her whatever she wanted. Yin Huaixi had long planned to use this bundle of bewitching incense when she ran away.

I couldn't bear to throw it away.

Now that she's seized this opportunity, she might as well take advantage of it.

Using a tinderbox to light the incense, Yin Huaixi cleverly slipped it through the crack in the door.

The two Miao guards were already drowsy, and when they smelled the fragrance on the night breeze, they fell into a deep sleep and lost consciousness.

Half an hour later, the incense had burned out.

Yin Huaixi then stealthily pushed open the wooden door and saw the two Miao men carrying curved knives lying around in a mess.

She has been drugged.

Yin Huaixi tiptoed around and also removed the silver ornaments from the two men's bodies, intending to use them as travel expenses.

...

Bedside room.

Sang Che was breathing rapidly and gasping for breath.

A pair of eyes suddenly opened.