Wasn't he supposed to be beaten to death? Why did this powerful cousin love him so much?

Xie Jue took the cloth bag with a slight doubt, untied the outer cotton straps, and a pair of brand-new brocade shoes lay quietly inside the indigo cloth bag.

The stitches are fine and sturdy, showing that a great deal of effort was put into them.

Xie Jue touched the sole of the shoe and found it to be thick and evenly stitched.

Xie Jue: "This... you made it?"

"Mmm!" Jiang Sese nodded vigorously, her smile carrying a hint of pride, yet also a touch of embarrassment.

Xie Jue's everyday black boots and official shoes were all made by the inner court's professional craftsmen according to regulations. Ordinary women and servants in the inner court had no precedent for making shoes themselves.

However, Jiang Sese and Hongdou had inquired and found out that if she was making brocade shoes for Xie Jue to wear at home as his wife, no one would care too much.

Jiang Sese felt a little apprehensive but also excited: "I learned this from Hongdou, why don't you try it on and see if it fits?"

Hongdou used to be someone in Xie Jue's household, so she naturally knew what size shoes Xie Jue wore.

Jiang Sese spent more than half a month making these boots, waiting for Xie Jue to give her a surprise.

Xie Jue sat down and changed into the boots made by Jiang Sese. They fit perfectly and were very comfortable to wear, showing how much effort had been put into making them.

Xie Jue glanced up at Jiang Sese's anxious expression and couldn't help but chuckle, "You have so little confidence in yourself, Sese?"

Upon hearing Xie Jue's tone, Jiang Sese breathed a sigh of relief and visibly became happy: "You like it?"

Xie Jue glanced at her, smiled, and said, "Yes, I like it."

"That's good. I was just worried that I might have made them too small or too big." Jiang Sese walked around Xie Jue a couple of times, looking at the new boots on his feet, her eyes crinkling into crescents with satisfaction. "I'm telling you, I made the soles really thick."

Before transmigrating into the book, she was a lifelong single, mostly living a lazy and carefree life. She didn't know what to say when her boyfriend was going on a business trip.

I've read a ton of romance novels.

But you can't just apply it to yourself.

Jiang Sese simply couldn't bring herself to say those words like "I will only part from you when mountains crumble and the heavens and earth unite."

Jiang Sese thought for a moment, then earnestly instructed, "I don't know the situation in Jiangnan, so I can't say anything else. You must be careful, and don't just focus on the water situation; take care of yourself, eat on time, and be safe!"

Simple concern, straightforward and warm.

Xie Jue: "Yes, I know."

"Tell Fuyun if anything happens. No matter where I am, I will come back as soon as possible."

For a sage, the country and its people are of course more important.

But he never claimed to be a saint.

Even with extraordinary talent, he was still just a mortal.

Xie Jue said, "I have made arrangements for things in the capital. Xie Ping will stay in the capital to protect you secretly." Although Xie Jue had made many arrangements, he was still worried.

His trip will last at least half a month.

Who knows what might happen in half a month? Xie Jue naturally hoped that nothing would happen, but being prepared was his habit.

Jiang Sese was somewhat surprised that Xie Jue didn't bring Xie Ping. Xie Ping was Xie Jue's most trusted confidant, and Xie Jue felt at ease entrusting many things to Xie Ping.

However, Jiang Sese didn't say anything more, but instead changed the subject.

Jiang Sese blinked, seemingly just expressing her curiosity casually, "Um... is Chu Shaoyuan still in prison? His Majesty... how does he plan to deal with the Chu family?"

Xie Jue glanced at Jiang Sese.

Jiang Sese's heart skipped a beat when he looked at her. She remembered how the original owner had tried to seduce Chu Shaoyuan before, and the unintentional smile on her face almost disappeared.

She shouldn't have agreed to Chu Shaoyuan's request.

but--

Chu Shaoyuan is the male lead!

If anything were to happen to the male lead, Jiang Sese was genuinely worried that the world would collapse. It was like a dream; once she discovered something illogical, she would instantly realize she was in a dream and wake up.

This was Jiang Sese's first time transmigrating into a book, so she didn't have much experience.

The transmigration novels I've read in the past are, after all, just novels.

Xie Jue's voice was devoid of emotion as he slowly asked, "Why are you asking him?"

Jiang Sese: "...Is that even a question? After all, he's Xie Yihua's husband and your brother-in-law. If something were to happen to Chu Shaoyuan, Xie Yihua wouldn't be able to survive either."

"...Are you jealous?"

Jiang Sese tilted her head and scrutinized the expression on Xie Jue's face.

Unfortunately, Xie Jue's skill was too profound, and it was impossible to tell whether he was jealous or not.

Jiang Sese couldn't help but remind herself of what she had said before: "You said you wouldn't be jealous."

Xie Jue remained calm and composed, his expression unchanged: "...I'm not jealous."

"Yihua tried to kill you several times for Chu Shaoyuan's sake. Do you really care about Chu Shaoyuan's life or death because of her? Hmm?" Xie Jue looked over with a probing gaze.

Jiang Sese's heart almost jumped out of her throat!

"Uh... well..." Jiang Sese's eyes started darting around, her brain racing, trying to bluff her way out of it. "I don't care whether he lives or dies, I'm just curious, just gossiping. Didn't you say you wouldn't hide anything from me, that you'd tell me anything I wanted to know?"

Jiang Sese suddenly turned the tables on him.

Xie Jue glanced at her with deep, unfathomable eyes, his expression complex and difficult to decipher, before finally letting out a barely audible sigh.

"The Chu father and son can be spared the death penalty, but they cannot escape punishment. Chu Wei cannot escape, and as for Chu Shaoyuan... he is young and inexperienced, and is more likely to be coerced by his father. Considering that he is Yihua's husband, I will plead with His Majesty and try to get him a lighter sentence."

We can't let Xie Yihua become a widow so soon after getting married.

Although Xie Jue was utterly disappointed in Xie Yihua because of Jiang Sese's situation, he wasn't so desperate as to force her to her death.

Hearing that Chu Shaoyuan could save his life, Jiang Sese finally felt relieved.

Great! The male lead didn't die! The main plot hasn't fallen apart!

As long as the main characters' storylines remain unchanged, the overall direction of the plot will not completely derail.

Xie Jue's gaze lingered on Jiang Sese's suddenly relaxed face for a moment, his eyes darkening.

He didn't know what she was hiding; it was perhaps her biggest secret.

But as long as she's by his side, what is the secret...?

He doesn't have to ask.