In a moment of impulse, I forcibly kissed my brother's best friend.

Time stretched on endlessly, and her heart was pounding erratically. Her slender hands cradled his head, unsure whether to push him away or pull him closer.

After an unknown amount of time, he finally felt completely satisfied with his meal, and then pulled her back into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head, letting out a long sigh of relief.

Although it was still dark, thankfully there was no sign of it raining any further.

"Cui Yutang, go and get my clothes back." She murmured weakly, her voice languid with satisfaction.

"Okay." He rested his chin on the top of her head. "Just let me hug you one more time, and then I'll go right away."

"Mmm." She buried herself deep inside him, like a little animal that had found its safest nest.

By the time she finally managed to get dressed normally, the sky had gradually cleared up.

When Cui Yutang retrieved her dress from the study, he also brought a jade pendant with him. The jade pendant was smooth and lustrous, with a warm, watery texture, and engraved with the character "谢" (Xie) in gold.

"Yige, did you give me this jade pendant?" He looked at her expectantly, his eyes sparkling.

Xie Yige took the jade pendant, examined it carefully, and her eyes were full of surprise: "How did this end up with you? I lost it when I was in Donglin, and I thought I would never find it again."

Cui Yutang was heartbroken.

This wasn't a gift from her?

I found it myself!

"How about you give it back to me?" he asked tentatively, his tone tinged with a hint of grievance. "And how about I give you my jade pendant too?"

"Is this the jade pendant you're referring to?" Xie Yige took out a jade pendant from his bosom. It was the very pendant that represented his status as the eldest son of the Cui clan of Qinghe. It was simple and heavy, with mountain and black bird totems. "But you gave it to me a long time ago."

Cui Yutang's expression shattered instantly.

She took advantage of his lack of memory.

"Yige, if I go to your house to propose marriage like this, will you look down on me?" His voice was filled with an unease he had never felt before.

Xie Yige gave a half-smile: "You'll know when you get there."

"Could you give me this jade pendant first?"

"Take it."

After Cui Yutang got the jade pendant back, he was finally happy. She gave him the jade pendant she wore close to her body, which should mean that he could propose marriage, right? He held the jade pendant in his palm, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up.

After daybreak, the rain stopped.

Xie Yige immediately found Zhiwei, and they boarded the carriage to return together.

Having done something wrong early in the morning, Cui Yutang was naturally kicked out and made to ride a horse by himself.

He and Li Zhige stood guard over the carriage on either side, neither speaking nor making eye contact, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

After escorting Xie Yige back to the Zhou residence.

The gentleness on Cui Yutang's face vanished instantly, replaced by a cold expression. He spurred his horse straight to Qinghui Garden, leading Cui Shijiu directly to the dark dungeon where the Miao people were imprisoned.

In the dimly lit cell sat a woman dressed in red Miao clothing.

Her skin was pale, yet she possessed a cold and stunning beauty. Her pupils were pure black, unfathomable, as if they could suck one's soul into them. Just sitting there, she exuded a strange beauty, like a poppy blooming in the dark night.

She was stunned for a moment when she saw Cui Yutang, dressed in white, walk in, and then a faint smile appeared on her lips.

No wonder that stupid woman, Li Roujia, acted like she'd gone mad.

Cui Yutang's face was expressionless, but his eyes were as cold as ice.

"Nineteen, feed her a poison pill first."

"Yes, Master." Without saying a word, Cui Shijiu pried open her mouth and fed her a green pill.

"What did you feed me?" The Miao woman's composure finally crumbled. She desperately gagged, but to no avail.

"Take her out."

The venue was changed to a room that resembled a secret chamber, with thick stone walls on all four sides and only a single oil lamp overhead emitting a faint light.

"I brought you here, so you should know what I'm going to do. Cooperate well, and I'll spare your life." Cui Yutang got straight to the point, leaving no room for negotiation.

"If you wait two months until the poison has fully matured before removing it, it won't be as painful," the Miao woman couldn't help but say. "Why are you in such a hurry?"

"This is none of your business."

"It seems you're going to suffer like this for someone you've forgotten." The Miao woman's eyes flickered. "Is she really that important to you?"

"You have no right to discuss her."

"I've heard that people from the Central Plains like to have multiple wives and concubines." The Miao woman suddenly changed her expression, her eyes becoming alluring and seductive. "How about I become your concubine? I'm so beautiful, you won't lose out."

"Cui Shijiu, torture her."

"If you agree to marry me, I will provide you with evidence of Prince Rong'an's rebellion."

"I can find it myself, I don't need it." Cui Yutang gestured to Cui Shijiu with a cold look in his eyes.

The Miao woman then began to panic.

"Wait! I will fully cooperate with you, please don't torture me. It will take me at least three days to remove this curse, but you will suffer a lot during these three days and will need to stay with me in the secret room the entire time. Also, there can be no outsiders when I am accelerating the maturation of the young curse and when I am removing it."

"No, I need someone to supervise the whole process."

"Young Master Cui, you've already fed me poison." Her eyes flickered, exuding charm. "Besides, I'm just a woman. Do you think I'm going to eat you? Although I have a good impression of you, we Miao women have our bottom line, unlike you Central Plains people who take advantage of others in distress."

"I'm not interested in what you think or what kind of person you are," Cui Yutang's voice was as cold as ice. "But I don't want to be alone in a room with any other woman and cause my future wife to misunderstand. Besides, I really don't trust you. And you have no right to refuse now."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Nineteen, arrange for someone to go to the Great Ci'en Temple and invite the master over."

One hour later.

Two men dressed in white monks' robes appeared in the secret chamber. One had a slender face and a detached and indifferent demeanor, with a peaceful look in his eyes that suggested he had seen through the ways of the world; the other had thick eyebrows and deep-set eyes and was exceptionally handsome. They were none other than the monks Xuanling and Xuanji.

Cui Yutang stood up to greet them: "Thank you for your hard work, both masters."

The Miao woman's expression changed, and a cold smile appeared on her lips: "You actually sent two holy monks. You really think highly of me."

"Amitabha." Monk Xuanling's tone was gentle, like a spring breeze.

"Holy Maiden, why should you belittle yourself? Your status in Miao territory is not low. Although my junior brother is skilled in medicine and knows a little about Gu magic, everyone knows that his martial arts are only mediocre. But you'd better not think about using any tricks, because this humble monk happens to know a little about martial arts."

"As expected of the eldest son of the Cui clan of Qinghe, I've learned something new to be protected by you all like this."

"Excellent, excellent." Monk Xuanling smiled slightly. "Ayu is our good friend, and has nothing to do with the Cui family of Qinghe. Don't let fame and fortune cloud your judgment."

"Enough with the nonsense, let's begin," the Miao woman said coldly.