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

As they approached the Xie family's residence, Jiang Sese remembered something else.

In the book, Xie Yujiao visited Tianxiang Tower, and Xie Jue burned it to the ground in a fit of anger.

But now that she's the one who's entered Tianxiang Tower, will Xie Jue... also burn Tianxiang Tower down?

I didn't feel anything while reading the novel.

It was something the author only mentioned briefly.

But after Jiang Sese actually went to Tianxiang Tower, she realized that these people, like Hongdou and Lü'e, were not just thin background figures in the novel, but living, breathing people.

All of these people died in the fire at Tianxiang Tower.

Whether good or bad, no one is spared.

Jiang Sese pondered for a moment, then slightly pulled away from Xie Jue's embrace, raised her eyelids, and tentatively asked, "Tianxiang Tower..."

Xie Jue's fingers, which were around her waist, paused slightly. He glanced down at Jiang Sese before changing the subject: "Yu Jiao's marriage to the Second Prince is approaching, and then..."

Jiang Sese, however, was not led astray by him.

Jiang Sese reached out and gently tugged at his sleeve, biting her lip as she asked again, "What do you plan to do with Tianxiang Tower?"

Xie Jue looked down at her, remained silent for a long while, and then told the truth: "It was burned."

Jiang Sese's heart tightened. She looked up at his face, her voice soft but unusually serious: "What about the people inside?"

The injustice has the head and the debt has the owner.

How can we let everyone be buried with us?

The others knew nothing, did nothing, and yet they were burned to death in the fire. It's such a terrible injustice!

Xie Jue said calmly, "Tianxiang Tower is a den of iniquity; there are no innocent people there."

Jiang Sese's face tightened: "But there are always girls like me inside, and servants doing odd jobs. They had no choice, so how can they be blamed?"

Xie Jue listened in silence, his calm, unfathomable eyes revealing no emotion, but the grip on her fingers tightened slightly.

"Okay, I promise you, I won't burn it."

He lowered his eyes to look at her. "Are you satisfied with this?"

Jiang Sese nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling, and repeatedly said she was satisfied.

Jiang Sese discovered that Xie Jue would never refuse if she asked. This was why Jiang Sese kept pushing her luck.

Seeing her triumphant and jubilant expression, Xie Jue reached out and pulled her back into his arms, sighing softly, "When will you ever get rid of this meddlesome habit of yours?"

Jiang Sese raised her head and said with great positivity, "This is not called meddling in other people's business, this is called doing good deeds and accumulating virtue." Jiang Sese was originally an atheist, but if something like transmigrating into a book has already happened, what else is impossible?

It's always better to be kind to others than to be evil to them.

Xie Jue didn't reply, but tightened his grip on her arm even more.

……

The carriage arrived at the Xie family's residence.

Xie Jue got out of the car first, then turned around and reached his hand into the car.

Jiang Sese held his hand, lifted her skirt, and carefully stepped onto the footstool to land.

Jiang Sese wore a beaded veil hat with a thin veil, her entire face hidden under the hazy gauze, with only a slender chin showing.

Jiang Sese looked up at the familiar yet unfamiliar mansion, and her heart was filled with mixed feelings as she recalled the scene when she left last time.

Hongdou stepped forward lightly and removed Jiang Sese's veil.

A large group of people stood inside the hanging flower gate a few steps in front of the carriage.

Inside the hanging flower gate, led by the second wife, Madam Wang, a group of female relatives had already received the news and were waiting to welcome Princess Chenjia—this was the rule, and also a necessary matter of decorum.

Several prominent head maids stood with their hands at their sides, and there were twice as many maids as usual in the corridor.

Today, Wang was wearing a rusty red jacket with a front opening, her face beaming with smiles, but only she knew the true feelings hidden beneath those smiles.

When she saw Jiang Sese leaning out of the carriage from afar, her heart was filled with mixed emotions.

Earlier, Xie Yujiao had told her that Jiang Sese was still alive and had even become the adopted daughter of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion. Although Wang felt sad at the time, she wasn't that heartbroken. Later, after thinking about it carefully, Wang realized that this was probably due to Xie Jue's abilities.

If it were Zhang'er instead, Jiang Sese would probably still be Jiang Sese, instead of the daughter of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion.

Thinking about it this way, Wang felt somewhat more at ease.

Moreover, Xie Jue married a daughter-in-law she looked down upon. Wang couldn't help but sneer, saying that Xie Jue was just an ordinary man who had been blinded by that face.

But at this moment, Wang Shi stood inside the hanging flower gate, looking at the girl she had once guarded against like a thief. Now, she was wearing a cloud brocade dress bestowed by the emperor, with her hair styled in the style of a princess. With Xie Jue's slight support, she gracefully stepped down from the carriage, her face radiant and her demeanor composed.

Princess Chenjia

How did she become Princess Chenjia again?! Wasn't she already the daughter of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, a perfect match for Xie Jue?

I had previously heard that the adopted daughter of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion was involved in a murder case and was punished by being sent to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to reflect on her mistakes.

How come she's a princess now?!

When Zhang'er fell in love with Jiang Sese, she took great precautions against it, feeling that Jiang Sese was of lowly status and not good enough for her son. She was afraid that her son would be bewitched by this "vixen" and ruin his future.

But who could have imagined that the orphan she once looked down upon would now transform into Princess Chenjia, whom even she had to kneel and bow to!

This huge difference was like a resounding slap across her face.

Wang felt her face burning with shame, her heart filled with regret—who could have imagined that Jiang Sese would have such abilities! She could even bewitch the emperor!

If only... if she hadn't stopped me...

Wang dared not think any further, and could only suppress this bitterness and regret deep in her heart, her smile growing increasingly stiff.

Princess...

Xie Yujiao, standing behind Wang, had completely lost her usual arrogance. She lowered her head, her eyes darting around, and her fingers unconsciously twisted her handkerchief.

Xie Yujiao used to think that Jiang Sese was kind and easy to bully, so she dared to give Jiang Sese a hard time and say sarcastic things. Now that Jiang Sese has become a princess, Xie Yujiao has put away all her temper.

Xie Yujiao was just a bit arrogant towards those of lower status than herself; she wasn't stupid.

Standing on the other side of Wang was Qi Yun, the future young mistress of the second wife.

Qi Yun's mother and sister had already returned to the Qi family home, waiting for her to come back when she got married.

Qi Yun also had a smile on her face, but it was a very forced smile.

Qi Yun looked at Jiang Sese dressed in the attire befitting a princess, at Xie Jue protecting her from the side, and at Madam Wang bowing respectfully—

Without Xie Jue, Jiang Sese would be nothing but a merchant's daughter, not even as good as Qi Yun.

These thoughts churned in Qi Yun's mind, but her face remained impeccably smiling as she curtsied along with everyone else.

Wang Shi didn't need to bow to Xie Jue; that bow was for Jiang Sese.

Jiang Sese was in a great mood as she watched Wang Shi force a smile at her. It was truly a case of fortunes changing, and today it was her turn.

Jiang Sese smiled and said, "Please rise, Second Madam, and everyone else, please rise as well."

Looking at the face before her and hearing the familiar voice, Madam Wang swayed slightly, but controlled her expression, showing no sign of distress. Upon hearing that Xie Jue and Jiang Sese were going to see Princess Anning, Madam Wang quickly said, "I have recently caught a headache, and it hurts terribly. I really can't bear it and I'm afraid I'll be impolite, so... I won't accompany the eldest son and the princess."

Qi Yun hurriedly stepped forward, took Wang's arm, and said with feigned concern, "Madam, is your head throbbing badly? Let me take you back to rest and call a doctor to come and see you."

A hint of disgust flashed in Wang's eyes. After picking and choosing, it turned out to be... all for naught.

Regardless, Wang did not embarrass her daughter-in-law in front of the main branch of the family. Despite her dissatisfaction and resentment, she still held Qi Yun's hand.

As she turned around, Qi Yun couldn't help but glance back at Xie Jue. Xie Jue was talking to Jiang Sese with his head down, his indifferent eyes filled with a gentle smile.

...So it turns out that someone like Xie Junheng could also have such a gentle and considerate side?

If I told anyone, I'm afraid no one would believe me.

Qi Yun wouldn't have believed it if she hadn't seen it with her own eyes.

Many people, knowing Xie Jue's character and personality well, wouldn't dare to even consider pursuing him. Of course, there are also those like Chu Zhiyin, who are like moths drawn to a flame.

Qi Yun withdrew her gaze, tightened her grip on Wang Shi's hand slightly, and helped Wang Shi walk away along the veranda.

Xie Yujiao hesitated for a moment, glanced at Jiang Sese, and then left with Wang Shi. At least for now, Xie Yujiao didn't know how to face Jiang Sese. Jiang Sese has climbed too fast! Even more exaggerated than her older brother!

Outside Rong'an Hall, Cuiwei bowed deeply to Xie Jue and Jiang Sese, her face troubled: "Young Master, Princess, the princess suddenly felt unwell today and has ordered that she will not receive any guests. Please return home first."

After he finished speaking, there was a moment of silence.

Jiang Sese understood.

Today is the first time she, as Princess Chenjia and Xie Jue's betrothed, has paid a special visit to her mother-in-law, Princess Anning. Princess Anning's public refusal to see her, feigning illness, was not simply a matter of physical discomfort, but rather a deliberate act of coldness.

If this matter were to reach the elite circles, gossip would spread like wildfire in no time. Everyone would be certain that Princess Anning disliked this marriage, and that the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law already harbored resentment towards each other.

From now on, if she makes the slightest mistake in her actions, or if someone in the court tries to attack her and implicate Xie Jue, today's closed-door refusal will become a ready-made pretext for others to gossip about.

At that time, all the blame will be placed on her, and she will be criticized for being impolite and not pleasing her mother-in-law.

Jiang Sese wasn't afraid. It was just gossip. As long as it wasn't said to her face, she could pretend she didn't know.

Jiang Sese was about to suggest to Xie Jue that they go see her aunt first, but Xie Jue smiled lightly, raised his eyes, and said casually, "Cuiwei, I have something for you to tell Mother. Once she hears it, her illness will naturally disappear."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Sese was slightly taken aback, while Cuiwei, standing beside her, looked up at her young master with a face full of astonishment.

Xie Jue: "Just say that Princess Chenjia's birth mother is Consort Chen."