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

The sky was beginning to lighten with the first light of dawn.

Yin Huaixi was covered in sweat from walking. She raised her arm to wipe the thin layer of sweat from her forehead and took a deep breath.

He licked his chapped lips.

"Sir, how much longer do we need to walk before we can escape from here?"

Zhao Huining, whose expression grew increasingly serious, stopped in her tracks and sighed.

He lowered his eyes and took out an exquisitely crafted gold and jade whistle from his sleeve, which was engraved with a lifelike coiled dragon pattern.

This thing is clearly not something an ordinary family could own. Zhao Huining didn't hide it from her, so she must really be desperate.

"We're lost."

Hearing this expected remark, Yin Huaixi felt relieved and sat down heavily. She took out dry rations and a water bag from her bundle.

He reached out and handed it to Zhao Huining.

"Now that things have come to this, sir, please have your meal first."

Looking at the pastries covered in icing, Zhao Huining simply broke off a shrub, placed it on the damp ground, and sat down.

She placed her hands on her knees, turned to look at Yin Huaixi, and a rare smile appeared between her brows.

"What time is it now? How can you still be in the mood to eat this?"

Seeing that Zhao Huining was still in the mood to tease her, Yin Huaixi wrapped the pastries in oil paper and stuffed them into her palm.

He replied truthfully, "My lord, you may not know this, but these kinds of pastries made with sugar are very filling. You can eat a few pieces and then drink a few sips of water."

"You won't go hungry all day."

After walking all night, a wave of exhaustion washed over Zhao Huining. Without much hesitation, she reached out and took the pastries Yin Huaixi offered, stuffing them into her mouth.

The two had only taken a few bites.

Screams echoed from the mountains, followed by a dense rain of arrows!

The two were not close to each other, and only occasionally a few arrows flew into the wooden stakes!

Zhao Huining immediately stood up, quickly ate a few bites of pastry, walked to the tree trunk that had been pierced by the arrow, braced her foot on the tree stump, and pulled out the arrowhead with one hand.

Looking at the unique patterns on the feathered guards, Zhao Huining focused her gaze and then looked carefully towards the source of the sound.

"This is…"

Yin Huaixi leaned closer, her eyes filled with curiosity, and her questioning expression couldn't be clearer.

"The people who came to meet me."

With a swift movement of her hand, Zhao Huining concealed the arrowhead, clearly indicating her desire to prevent Yin Huaixi from seeing it.

"Now that they've started fighting, Miss Yin, you must be careful. If you run away, the people in the Miao village will definitely chase after you."

As Zhao Huining observed the situation in the mountains, the dejected look on her face, which had appeared due to getting lost, vanished completely.

"I'll go meet up with the team leader, and they will arrange a proper route to take us back to the yamen in Lingshui City. Does Miss Yin have any objections?"

Hearing her sound reasoning, Yin Huaixi shook her head and said, "I'll do whatever you say."

The two walked forward, unaware that a small red snake was following behind their footprints.

The little snake deftly parted the grass and trees with its body, its belly pressed against the muddy ground, making not a sound, and silently followed behind the two.

...

"grown ups!"

"We have temporarily suppressed the enemy!"

Upon hearing the report from his scouts, Tian Jian was overjoyed. His Imperial Guards were top-notch, even surpassing the imperial army in strength.

"In that case, have you found... the whereabouts of my niece?"

He paused, and Tian Jian rubbed the backs of his thumbs together with his hands behind his back.

Just as the man was about to answer, another guard in the distance, panting heavily, with a flushed face and a letter clutched in his hand, knelt down with a thud.

"grown ups!"

"The secret message is here!"

Upon hearing the words "secret letter," Tian Jian's expression changed instantly. Ignoring the battle situation, he rushed to the guard who had come to deliver the message and snatched the brown letter from him.

Tear off the sealing wax.

Unfolding the thin letter, Tian Jian recognized the handwriting all too well!

Tian Jian was horrified.

This is His Majesty's work, written by His Majesty himself!

The secret letter was of great importance, so Yin Qingyue stayed where she was and did not interfere in matters that were not her responsibility.

As her gaze swept across the green hills and clear waters, Yin Qingyue learned that a fierce battle was raging in the distance, with the Imperial Guards clashing with the Miao soldiers in the Miao village.

Hopefully, her sister can escape safely from this village.

Without follow-up support, the imperial guards would have annihilated the Miao soldiers of Fengming Mountain in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

It's time for this farce to come to an end.

After quickly skimming through the secret letter, Tian Jian's expression shifted several times before finally freezing. While Yin Qingyue was still staring into the distance, he gave her a deep look.

He let out a soft sigh.

Tian Jian silently apologized in Yin Qingyue's direction.

If the emperor commands his subjects to do such things, the subjects have no choice but to do them. In the face of imperial orders, even violating benevolence and righteousness or being unfilial to one's elders is not a big deal.

He used his rough hands to stuff the letter back into the envelope and finally placed it on his chest.

Tian Jian drew his long sword and gave orders to his guards.

"His Majesty has ordered that you all follow me to slay these demonic Miao people!"

...

The closer we get to the battlefield in the dense forest.

The stronger the smell of blood, the better.

The lush bushes were completely covered in blood, and Yin Huaixi guessed that they must have run into the Miao people patrolling the mountain.

In the past, these Miao people would have been no match for the imperial army's elite troops, but they had an excellent understanding of the terrain of Fengming Mountain.

Even with their natural advantage, these Miao people couldn't hold out for long.

"Who goes there!"

"Surrender now!"

A dense array of crossbows were set up, and countless black arrows were aimed at Zhao Huining and Yin Huaixi. The armored guards had faces as gloomy as iron.

"Wait a minute."

Where is Tian Jian?

Zhao Huining remained unmoved in the face of danger, raising her palm high, which shocked the leader of the Feather Guard squad.

This woman not only speaks Mandarin, but also addresses the adults by their full names. Could she be the "niece" the adults are looking for?

"Are you deaf?"

"I'm asking you a question: Where is Tian Jian?"

Zhao Huining's aggressive demeanor softened the attitude of the squad leader considerably. He raised his hand and made a gesture, which all the guards understood.

He raised his hand and put the crossbow back.

"Are you the person the master is looking for?"

Seeing that he was like a blockhead, Zhao Huining was about to take out her personal belongings to let the man know her true origins.

A hearty laugh came from not far away, and Tian Jian couldn't hide his joy. He said, "My dear niece, your uncle has been looking for you for so long!"

"Finally, I've found it after searching high and low!"

Upon seeing that the person who came was indeed Tian Jian, Zhao Huining breathed a sigh of relief and strode forward without putting on guard.

However, as soon as Zhao Huining reached Tian Jian, Tian Jian pressed down on his shoulder with his large hand. Tian Jian leaned close to Zhao Huining's ear and said in a hoarse voice, "Your Highness, please forgive me, but I'm afraid I cannot take the woman you brought back with me out of Fengming Mountain."

Tian Jian made a slight gesture, and the Yuwei, who had undergone rigorous training, immediately understood and raised his crossbow to aim at Yin Huaixi, who was about to follow.

He turned around in surprise.

Before Zhao Huining could ask, Tian Jian spoke up again: "Your Highness, it was not that I intentionally wanted to displease you."

"Your Majesty's decree is my command, and I dare not disobey."

Seeing Zhao Huining walk past, Yin Huaixi wanted to follow, but the rustling sound made her stop.

Even though it was midday and the sunlight was just right, Yin Huaixi felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave.

She understood the intentions of these guards!

It seems they're now trying to silence us!

Without any hesitation, questioning, or shouting, Yin Huaixi turned and ran!

...

Walking unsteadily through the woods, Sang Che, following in Yin Huaixi's footsteps, looked even paler, his illness radiating from him.

If someone were to pass by, they might mistake her for a female ghost.

Without anyone noticing, a red butterfly fluttered down onto Sang Che's shoulder.

"Xiao Hong, what did you say?"

Sang Che murmured, a moment of panic crossing his mind.