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

Xie Yihua was secretly pleased that Jiang Sese had been locked up in the quiet room of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, thinking with a sense of satisfaction that Jiang Sese had finally tasted the bitterness.

At this time, someone from the Xie family came to summon Xie Yihua late at night. Although Xie Yihua was full of doubts, she still hurriedly packed her things and rushed back to the Xie residence.

In the flower hall, Xie Yao dismissed all the servants, leaving only the brother and sister.

Xie Yihua was uneasy at his display of force, but forced a smile and said, "Third Brother, is there something urgent that you're calling me so late?"

Xie Yao's lips curved into his usual lazy smile, his peach blossom eyes slightly raised, and he asked casually, "Yi Hua, have you met that adopted daughter of the Fu family?"

Xie Yihua's heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously looked up to carefully examine Xie Yao's expression.

Seeing the smile on his lips and the deep but unchanging look in his eyes, I felt a little relieved.

Xie Yihua breathed a sigh of relief and replied in a light tone, "I saw her, at her birthday banquet. What's wrong, Third Brother?"

"Oh? Well... how is she?"

A surge of contempt and jealousy welled up in Xie Yihua's heart.

Sure enough, his old problem has relapsed!

Jiang Sese's stunningly beautiful face from the birthday banquet flashed before her eyes, especially the bright red cinnabar mole between her brows, which was extremely jarring. A flash of malice appeared in her eyes and then disappeared.

Xie Yihua curled her lip and said, "She's just a vulgar girl who got lucky. She's plain-looking, bland, the kind of person you wouldn't notice in a crowd. She's really not worth mentioning."

Xie Yao listened and nodded silently.

It seems that Xie Yihua did indeed do it on purpose.

But why?

Cousin SeSe didn't do this to save her... Why would she do this?

Xie Yao didn't know what had happened, but he guessed that Sese had been injured while trying to save his sister, and Xie Jue had taken advantage of the situation to tell everyone that she was dead.

Xie Yao stared intently at Xie Yihua, his thin lips parting slightly: "Yihua, you were the one who killed Wang Da, weren't you?"

Xie Yihua's expression changed slightly, and he said, "Third Brother?! This was all your idea, so I..."

"It was my idea that came up to you," Xie Yao interrupted her coldly.

"But, Yihua, when I gave you this idea, you didn't tell me that the adopted daughter of the Fu family is Cousin Se Se."

Xie Yao enunciated the last few words with extreme force, conveying a chilling intent that seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth.

boom--!

Xie Yihua's mind went blank, and the blood in his body seemed to freeze instantly!

He found out! He actually found out!!

Xie Yihua's eyes widened suddenly, her pupils contracting sharply in extreme shock. She quickly explained, "Third Brother, please let me explain. I just don't want Cousin Sese to marry Eldest Brother. His mind is entirely on the court; Cousin Sese won't be happy marrying him! I'm doing this for Cousin Sese's sake!"

Xie Yao smiled sarcastically, knowing that Xie Jue's mind was indeed entirely on the court.

He had previously thought that his older brother wouldn't be sentimental.

Therefore, he never believed his words about liking her.

But he secured for her the status of the adopted daughter of the Duke of Dingguo.

So that she could marry him legitimately.

In this respect, I am indeed ashamed of myself.

Seeing Xie Yihua's forced explanation, Xie Yao's deep coldness intensified. "Are you truly concerned for Cousin Se Se, or do you want her dead?"

"Third Brother! You've wronged me!" Xie Yihua's eyes instantly filled with tears, which rolled down her cheeks in large drops. Her voice was choked with sobs as she tried to soften him with her grievances and tears.

"My cousin SeSe saved me; she's my benefactor. How could I possibly want her dead? I just... I just don't want to see her jump into a fire! Big brother really isn't right for her! Third brother, you have to believe me!"

Xie Yao simply stared at her coldly, unmoved.

Her tears and explanations were like a cheap farce in front of him, failing to stir the slightest ripple.

Her acting skills are nowhere near as good as those of the girls in brothels.

Looking at Xie Yao's cold expression, Xie Yihua steeled her heart, and a resolute madness flashed in her eyes!

"Fine! Since Third Brother doesn't believe me! Then I'll prove my innocence with my death!" Xie Yihua shouted sharply, suddenly raising her hand, pulling out the sharp gold hairpin from her hair, and stabbing it towards her slender neck!

But just as the hairpin tip was about to pierce her skin, Xie Yao suddenly grabbed her hand!

He cannot bear the guilt of driving his own sister to her death.

The excruciating pain made Xie Yihua cry out in agony; her wrist was almost crushed. Xie Yao released her hand and flung her away forcefully, causing Xie Yihua to stagger back several steps.

The gold hairpin in her hand flew out and landed on the ground.

Xie Yihua, still shaken, clutched her throbbing wrist and looked at Xie Yao.

Xie Yao slowly withdrew his hand and said, "Go back to the Chu family, and don't let me see you again."

"Third Brother..." Xie Yihua asked tentatively, her voice still hoarse from crying and tinged with barely perceptible joy, "You...you're willing to believe me now?"

"Get out." Xie Yao didn't look at her, but turned his back and coldly uttered a single word.

Xie Yihua glanced at Xie Yao with a wronged expression, but knew when to stop.

She used Xie Yao to deal with Jiang Sese; no matter what, she won.

Xie Yihua breathed a sigh of relief and left in a hurry.

As dawn broke, Xie Yao, who hadn't slept all night, summoned Shu Xian and said, "Prepare the carriage; we're going to the Duke of Dingguo's residence."

Xie Yao sat back in the carriage, his eyes closed, his face pale to the point of being almost transparent. The bloodstains that had been wiped from the corner of his lips the night before were long gone, leaving only an abnormal crimson afterimage.

Upon arriving at the Duke of Dingguo's residence, the gatekeeper was somewhat surprised by the arrival of this Third Young Master Xie so early in the morning, but he dared not neglect him and immediately informed him.

Before long, Xie Yao was led to the study, where he met Fu Wenzhao, who had rushed over upon hearing the news.

Fu Wenzhao also hadn't slept all night, his eyes were bruised, and his brows were furrowed with worry.

But Fu Wenzhao forced himself to be cheerful, cupped his hands in greeting to Xie Yao, and said, "Young Master Xie, what brings you here this early in the morning?"

Fu Wenzhao was puzzled. He had no close relationship with Xie San. Why did Xie San come here at this time?

Xie Yao said, "Young Master Fu, I came here for my cousin Se Se."