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

Xie Jue rushed to the capital day and night, only to hear that the person he had been longing for had entered the palace.

Throughout the journey, his biggest worry was Emperor Jingyuan.

His bodyguards ultimately proved useless.

Time was too short; if he had a little more time…

Xie Ping noticed out of the corner of his eye that the eldest young master's hand was trembling slightly. Xie Ping was taken aback.

Then, the eldest son's voice, still devoid of emotion, rang in her ears: "Go find Fei Ying."

Xie Ping finally breathed a sigh of relief and went to find Fei Ying.

When Xie Jue arrived in the capital, he did not return to the Xie family, but went straight to the palace gate.

Xie Jue requested an audience with the emperor to apologize, citing that he had "failed to repay the emperor's favor by returning to the capital without authorization."

Unexpectedly, Emperor Jingyuan summoned him soon afterward.

Emperor Jingyuan narrowed his eyes as he looked at Xie Jue, who was covered in dust and hadn't even had time to change his clothes.

"How is the situation in Jiangnan?"

Xie Jue lowered his eyes and said, "Your Majesty, the river dredging has been planned in stages, the canal transport scheduling has been temporarily handed over to Fang Zhen, the commander of the Suzhou Guard, the disaster relief grain distribution accounts have been reviewed, and the rectification of local officials will continue to be promoted by the Provincial Surveillance Commission. I have arranged everything properly before setting off back to the capital."

Emperor Jingyuan remained silent.

Even if everyone else is as good as him, can they be as good as him?

Xie Jue: "Your Majesty, I wonder where my wife is now?"

"Wife?" Emperor Jingyuan raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly, his tone as indifferent as ice. "She's not even married into the family yet, so how can she be called a wife?"

"In my heart, Se Se has long been my only wife, and this will never change."

Xie Jue raised his eyes, and Emperor Jingyuan saw a strange blend of deep affection and resolute determination in them.

Even the most hard-hearted person couldn't help but be moved.

The word "love"... what exactly is the word "love"?

Emperor Jingyuan looked at him, a fleeting, unfathomable emotion passing through the depths of his eyes, which then turned into an even deeper, icy pool.

Emperor Jingyuan leaned forward slightly, exuding an invisible pressure. A cold smile curved his lips as he spoke, each word like a knife: "Oh? What if... she dies?"

"I will follow!" Xie Jue replied without the slightest hesitation.

On the way back, he considered the worst-case scenario.

I originally thought it would be a difficult decision to make.

Xie Jue also felt that he was not the kind of person who was easily swayed by romantic feelings.

But once it was said, it didn't seem as difficult as I had imagined.

She gave birth, he gave birth.

She dies, and he does not live on alone.

The air seemed to freeze, making it difficult to even breathe.

After a long while, a cold glint flashed in Emperor Jingyuan's eyes, and he suddenly slammed his hand on the table and stood up!

"Is this all you've got?! A grown man, a pillar of the nation, and all you care about are personal feelings?! What about your ambitions? What about your aspirations? I appointed you to govern Jiangnan, placing high hopes on you, only to have you risk your life for a woman?! A man's ambition lies in the four corners of the world; he should have the world in his heart and strive to achieve great things!!"

Xie Jue: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. I am terrified."

"However, I dare to ask Your Majesty, if one cannot even protect the one they love, even if one's official reputation is illustrious and reaches the highest heavens, how is one any different from a walking corpse?"

"My ambition has never changed. To assist a wise ruler, to uphold the state, and to bring peace to the world is my lifelong wish."

"Your Majesty is willing to be a sharp sword in your hand, cleansing the court of its long-standing corruption, and to use all my knowledge to help Your Majesty achieve a great and lasting legacy. But all of this is predicated on the fact that the people I wish to protect are still alive."

Emperor Jingyuan stared at him dangerously: "Are you threatening me?"

Xie Jue looked at him quietly, showing no fear whatsoever: "Your subject dares not, Your subject is merely speaking the truth."

Having no weaknesses can be either a good thing or a bad thing.

Emperor Jingyuan sneered and said indifferently, "Even without Jiang Sese, there's still the Xie family, isn't there? What, you're not going to care about the Xie family either? Your dear sister has done quite a lot."

What Xie Jue knew, Emperor Jingyuan knew even more of, not less of.

But the emperor wouldn't care about those trivial matters.

Even the infighting among the concubines in the harem was something Emperor Jingyuan turned a blind eye to. He didn't care, so he didn't want to get involved, and he was too lazy to bother. Besides, what did the struggles in the harem have to do with him?

The referee never leaves the field.

Xie Jue glanced at Emperor Jingyuan, and thinking of Xie Yihua, his heart grew even colder. He lowered his eyes and said, "It is all my fault for failing to restrain him."

She originally thought that, even out of respect for him as her older brother and because Sese would be her sister-in-law in the future, she should at least show some respect to Sese.

But I never expected it.

She didn't care about him, her brother, at all.

For her sake, he might consider letting Chu Shaoyuan go.

But she didn't think about what would happen to him if something happened to Sese.

Emperor Jingyuan bluntly stated, "You've spoiled her too much!"

Xie Jue lowered his head: "Your subject has nothing to say."

Seeing Xie Jue's appearance, Emperor Jingyuan couldn't help but feel powerless. He was getting old, after all. If he were twenty years younger, he could search the entire world and find another Xie Jue.

However, only the emperor himself knew the extent of his health.

Emperor Jingyuan suddenly said, "I just remembered, I happen to have some good news to tell you."

Xie Jue said, "Your Majesty, please speak."

Emperor Jingyuan: "I recently bestowed the title of Princess Chenjia upon a woman of excellent character and beauty, who has won my heart. I see that you two are a perfect match, both talented and beautiful. I intend to bestow her upon you in marriage."

Xie Jue's eyes narrowed slightly, but when he heard Emperor Jingyuan say that he planned to bestow Princess Jiachen upon him in marriage, his tense heartstrings strangely relaxed.

Xie Jue raised his head and smiled, "Your Majesty's favor is too great for me. But Your Majesty may have forgotten that you have already arranged a marriage between me and Sese."

A mischievous glint of pleasure flashed in Emperor Jingyuan's eyes.

This kid has finally had his day.

She is also Danxia's daughter.

The smartest, cutest, bravest, and kindest woman in the world, Danxia, ​​now has a daughter just like her.

If she is Danxia's daughter, then she is his daughter.

their daughter.

Emperor Jingyuan chuckled softly, the sound particularly clear in the empty hall.

"Oh? Is that so? I've already granted a marriage? Well, I guess my memory's failing me. But..."

Emperor Jingyuan leaned back, relaxed, and slowly added, "This Princess Chenjia is truly beautiful. Once you see her, you might... regret so readily rejecting my kindness."

Xie Jue: "Your Majesty is too kind. Heaven and earth can bear witness to my heart. No matter how beautiful Princess Chenjia may be, I will never regret it!"

"Good! What a wonderful 'no regrets'!" Emperor Jingyuan clapped his hands and laughed, his eyes filled with a mixture of admiration and mockery. "Then today I will let you meet this Chen Jia, so that you can see how good my judgment is."

"Guards! Please invite Princess Chenjia into the hall!"

"Summon Princess Chenjia to an audience!" The eunuch's shrill voice pierced through the palace gates.

Xie Jue lowered his eyes and waited quietly.

The palace doors were gently pushed open.

A slender figure in purple, illuminated by palace lanterns, slowly entered the solemn imperial study.

Xie Jue did not look up immediately. It wasn't until that familiar purple hem came into view that he slowly raised his head.

But Jiang Sese rushed over even faster, not caring where she was, and threw herself into his arms. Xie Jue caught her steadily and hugged her even tighter: "Sese... Sese... It really is you..."

He knows...

He knew it.

My heart, which had been hanging in suspense, can finally be put at ease.

Xie Jue looked down at the person in his arms, stroked her head, and whispered, "Were you frightened?"

Jiang Sese lifted her head from his embrace to look at him, her eyes sparkling, and stubbornly said, "No, don't underestimate me!"

Emperor Jingyuan, sitting on his throne, coughed, his face tense.

The two of them came to their senses and immediately knelt down together.

Emperor Jingyuan said, "This is Princess Jiachen. What did you just say? I seem to have forgotten..."

Xie Jue immediately looked regretful and pursed his lips, saying, "Your Majesty, I regret it..."

We must let His Majesty succeed at least once.