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

Jiang Sese couldn't help but chuckle, her eyebrows curving like dew on a flower, a fleeting moment that made one's heart melt and impossible to forget.

Chen Shixuan was stunned for a moment before she came to her senses. Her face turned as red as a boiled shrimp, and her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz: "Sister... Sister is so beautiful." She would be happy to marry such a beauty.

Jiang Sese exchanged a few more words with Chen Shixuan when Zhang Fumeng, who had just arrived, excitedly squeezed in: "Sese! I knew you'd turn bad luck into good! But I... but I never imagined you'd suddenly become Princess Chenjia!! How did this happen?"

Others might worry about feeling awkward and be embarrassed to squeeze in, but Zhang Fumeng had no such concerns. As long as she wasn't embarrassed, it was others who were.

Zhang Fumeng has a straightforward personality and speaks directly, which draws the attention of the others.

However, Zhang Fumeng asked the question that they were curious about but dared not ask.

How did Jiang Sese get the title of Princess Chenjia?

I really want to learn, please teach me...

Jiang Sese spread her hands and said, "Maybe it's because I look like Consort Chen."

Jiang Sese was already grateful to have escaped with her life; she didn't think she'd be so lucky again.

Before Emperor Jingyuan even saw her, he clearly intended to kill her.

Several girls who had been eagerly awaiting the answer looked disappointed upon hearing this.

Does she resemble Consort Chen?

It's not like no one has ever sent a beautiful woman who looks like Consort Chen to the emperor before, so why didn't those other women receive the same treatment?

Li Wanru, Sun Mingwei, Liu Yuying, and the others exchanged glances, looking somewhat uneasy.

They had all made sarcastic remarks or acted coldly and distantly because Jiang Sese was able to be married to Xie Jue by the Emperor.

Now the situation has taken a dramatic turn. Jiang Sese not only survived the attacks of rumors unscathed, but also rose to become Princess Chenjia, a position that even princesses had to flatter.

The group pushed and shoved each other, hesitantly moving forward.

"Congratulations, Princess..." Li Wanru's voice was barely audible, and she forced a stiff smile.

Sun Mingwei quickly curtsied and said, "Congratulations, Princess! We have come to offer our congratulations."

The most surprising person was Liu Yuying, who is known for her harshness.

Liu Yuying, completely changing her usual demeanor, smiled so broadly her eyes crinkled into a smile: "Your Highness is truly blessed by Heaven! I was blind before, unable to see Your Highness's extraordinary beauty. Now, His Majesty has personally bestowed upon you the title of Chenjia, which shows that Your Highness is favored by Heaven and will enjoy boundless glory in the future. We only hope to stay by Your Highness's side and share in her good fortune!"

Everyone else cast surprised glances at Liu Yuying.

Liu Yuying had also previously made fun of Jiang Sese, but I never expected her to be so shameless.

However, those who know when to yield are wise, and we're all in the same boat, so there's nothing to laugh at her for. If Liu Yuying were to remain stubborn at this point, that would be truly laughable.

Unlike the harmonious and lively atmosphere here.

The atmosphere in the court today was extremely oppressive. The civil and military officials stood on both sides, hands at their sides, holding their breath, not daring to utter even a cough.

Emperor Jingyuan listened to the Censorate's impeachment memorial against the Third Prince Chen Jingyan—accusing him of colluding with the General of Shuoyun, smuggling military equipment, falsifying troop numbers, withholding rations and pay, harboring bandits for personal gain, and harboring treacherous intentions. Each and every charge was supported by irrefutable evidence.

Emperor Jingyuan raised his gaze from the memorial, swept it over the assembled officials, and slowly spoke: "The Third Prince has colluded with border generals and harbored bandits to bolster his own power; the evidence is irrefutable. He is hereby deposed as a commoner and permanently banished from the Prince's residence, forbidden from entering or leaving."

Some of the officials quietly gasped.

Emperor Jingyuan continued without pausing: "Duke of Ying, Chu Wei, conspired with Chen Jingyan to commit evil and is sentenced to immediate execution. All members of the Chu clan involved in this case will be dismissed from their posts, exiled, and their property confiscated."

As Emperor Jingyuan spoke, his gaze fell on the young figure in the scarlet robe in the front row.

The other person's expression remained calm and composed.

Emperor Jingyuan glanced at him, his eyebrows twitching almost imperceptibly.

He had assumed Xie Jue would plead for the Chu family—after all, Chu Shaoyuan was his brother-in-law, and Xie Yihua was his only younger sister.

Emperor Jingyuan withdrew his gaze thoughtfully.

According to the laws of the Great Yong Dynasty, the female relatives of officials who committed crimes should be confiscated and forced into prostitution by the Jiaofangsi (a government-run brothel). However, considering Xie Jue's years of service in governing the country, he gave a lenient sentence—the female relatives of the Chu family were exiled along with the male members, but were exempted from being sent to the Jiaofangsi.

……

Jiang Sese was hunched over her desk, her pen dipped in ink, writing a line of characters crookedly on the paper—

"Long, long ago, in the faraway land of Persia, there lived a boy named Aladdin..."

At her birthday party last time, she told the story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, and Chen Yi and the others insisted that she rewrite the story.

Jiang Sese had just started writing when she heard that Xie Jue had arrived.

Jiang Sese quickly put down her pen and went to see Xie Jue.

Xie Jue was wearing a scarlet official robe and had just come from court.

His scarlet official robe, like a burning sunset falling upon him, was strangely tempered by his calm demeanor, revealing a restrained nobility. The robe was crisp and impeccably tailored, exuding an undeniable official authority.

A rhinoceros horn belt inlaid with white jade cinched his waist, outlining his slender and upright figure, exuding natural elegance.

Beneath that youthful appearance lies a composure and maturity forged through trials and tribulations.

That elegance is not like the flamboyant display of spring blossoms, but rather like the clear, cool glow of an autumn night's moon. Hanging high in the sky, its brilliance is understated, solitary and unapproachable.

Jiang Sese stared wide-eyed, wondering to herself, "Does this count as a uniform...?"

Xie Jue sat down, amused, and asked, "Do you have any plans for tomorrow?"

Jiang Sese snapped out of her reverie and said, "Ah? Oh, I plan to go back to the Duke of Dingguo's mansion tomorrow. My godfather and brother have been quite worried these past few days, so I have to go back and see them."

Xie Jue looked Jiang Sese over and said, "Would you like to go back to the Xie family for a visit?"

Jiang Sese was stunned for a moment.

During the time she lived in the Xie family, the only people who were truly kind to her, besides Xie Jue, were Aunt Sun.

Jiang Sese immediately perked up, her eyes sparkling as she asked, "Is it okay?"

Xie Jue raised an eyebrow at Jiang Sese. She seemed unaware of the significance of the character "Chen." Not every princess had a title, and certainly not just anyone could receive the title "Chen."

Xie Jue said, "You are now Princess Chenjia, what's wrong with that?"

At this point, Jiang Sese was no longer sleepy. She leaned over to Xie Jue and told him that the girls who came today were exceptionally polite and warm. Even those she didn't know came up to her and said a few words.

Xie Jue reached out and tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear, his tone indifferent, but with a hint of amusement in his eyes: "It's a good thing that they respect you now."

Upon hearing Xie Jue's words, Jiang Sese realized that she hadn't seen Xie Yihua, Chu Zhiyin, and the others today.

Jiang Sese hesitated for a moment before asking, "How is the situation with the Chu family?"

Xie Jue glanced at her, his gaze showing neither surprise nor displeasure.

She always paid extra attention to Chu Shaoyuan, but he didn't perceive it as admiration. Her concern was open and honest, as if she were afraid of missing something important.

Xie Jue said, "Chu Wei is sentenced to immediate execution, and the entire Chu family is to be exiled."

Jiang Sese remained silent for a long while.

"What about Xie Yihua?"

Xie Jue glanced at Jiang Sese and patted her head: "She will be exiled along with the Chu family. Female relatives should be imprisoned and have their household registration confiscated, but His Majesty, out of consideration for the Xie family, has shown leniency and spared her from being sent to the brothel. She will be exiled along with the men."

Jiang Sese nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

Jiang Sese raised her eyes and met Xie Jue's gaze; he was looking at her.

He always said he would stand by her side, and Jiang Sese had heard it so many times, but she always kept a cautious reserve in her heart.

It's not that I don't trust him, it's that I don't dare to take this promise for granted.

But only now did she truly realize that he had kept every word he said to her. From beginning to end, he had never let her down.

Xie Jue was a little puzzled by her gaze: "What's wrong?"

Jiang Sese's face flushed, and she blurted out instinctively, "I, I... I like you..."

Xie Jue looked at her for a while, smiled, and said, "I'll accompany you back to the Xie family tomorrow."

Jiang Sese froze, incredulous: "...At a time like this, shouldn't you say you like me too?"

Xie Jue: "Don't you know whether I like you or not?"

Jiang Sese nodded: "I know, but..."

Xie Jue smiled faintly: "Okay... I like you."

It's not that he liked her just because she liked him.

Instead, he will like her regardless of whether she likes him or not, and if she doesn't like him, he has enough patience and time to wait for her to fall in love with him.

The cycad blooms, the rooster lays eggs, and the cradle rope breaks after seventy-two years.

Buddhist teachings say that this is the perfection that can only be attained after many years of arduous practice.