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

Jiang Sese came out of Aunt Sun's courtyard and heard from the maid that the eldest young master was waiting for her in the pavilion next door, so Jiang Sese went there.

At the end of the covered walkway, a crabapple tree was in full bloom, its pink and white petals falling softly to the ground with a gust of wind.

Jiang Sese had only taken a few steps when she saw a tall, slender figure standing under the crabapple tree.

Xie Huaizhang was dressed in a moon-white robe with dark patterns today. He looked thinner than before, and his jawline was more defined. His gentle, jade-like eyes were looking in the direction she came from, his gaze filled with too many unspeakable things.

Xie Huaizhang had come specifically after hearing the news, but upon seeing Jiang Sese from afar, he stopped in his tracks, as if stopped by something invisible.

Jiang Sese paused for a moment, then broke the silence first: "Second Young Master."

Xie Huaizhang seemed to be brought back to his senses by this voice. He quickly cupped his hands in greeting, his voice slightly hoarse, "Greetings, Princess Chenjia."

Jiang Sese: "Second Young Master, there's no need for such formalities."

Xie Huaizhang finally raised his eyes and glanced at Jiang Sese.

One glance was enough to overwhelm him with a bitter feeling.

"You..." Xie Huaizhang opened his mouth, but too many words were stuck in his throat.

Is she doing well?

How did she get through those days?

He thought she was dead, so he wanted to marry someone else, but he never expected that she... was still alive.

Perhaps now, in her eyes, his deep affection is nothing more than this.

Xie Huaizhang lowered his eyes, swallowing back all the words he wanted to say, and simply nodded gently: "I am relieved that the princess is well. Farewell."

After saying that, he turned around and walked away alone along the way he had come.

Xie Huaizhang did not return to his own courtyard, but instead went to find Qi Yun.

Wang Shi told Xie Huaizhang about Jiang Sese herself. Now that Jiang Sese's matter could no longer be kept secret, it was better for her to tell Xie Huaizhang herself than to let him hear it from others, and also to see Xie Huaizhang's reaction.

Fortunately, Xie Huaizhang, as she expected, controlled his emotions.

Regardless, Jiang Sese is now Xie Jue's undisputed fiancée.

Qi Yun was somewhat surprised to hear that Xie Huaizhang had come to see her. Since the two had become engaged, Qi Yun had avoided Xie Huaizhang coming to her place to avoid suspicion.

Qi Yun: "Second Young Master, what's wrong...?"

Before he could finish speaking, Xie Huaizhang interrupted him with a cold voice: "You knew all along, didn't you?"

Qi Yun's smile froze, and her eyes widened in panic: "Second Young Master... what did you say?"

Xie Huaizhang looked at Qi Yun with disappointment in his eyes, pursed his lips and said, "You already knew that Cousin Sese was still alive, didn't you?"

Qi Yun's heart sank.

She knew this day would come sooner or later, but when Xie Huaizhang stood before her with such intense questioning and pain, she still felt flustered.

Tears welled up in Qi Yun's eyes, filled with grievance and fear: "Second Young Master, please let me explain. It was... I knew on the day of the birthday banquet that Miss Jiang was not dead..."

Qi Yun raised her tear-filled face and said, "But I'm doing this for the Second Young Master's own good..."

"For my own good?" Xie Huaizhang's tone was full of sarcasm, as if he had heard a joke. "You kept it a secret from me that my cousin Sese is still alive, and you're doing it for my own good? Don't you know... don't you know how I feel about her..."

"Of course I know! But I saw the Second Young Master completely collapse after learning the tragic news of Miss Jiang... He barely recovered. At that time, Miss Jiang was already the daughter of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion and engaged to the Eldest Young Master. If I told you that she was still alive but had become your elder brother's fiancée, how... how would you face yourself? Wouldn't you be plunged into excruciating pain again?"

Qi Yun cried pitifully, as if she truly cared for Xie Huaizhang.

Looking at her tearful face, Xie Huaizhang felt as if the fire of anger in his heart had hit a cold, damp wall. The burning sensation remained, but he had nowhere to vent it.

"Fine, but why did that maidservant of yours say that Cousin Sese was helping Xie Yujiao bully you? I know Cousin Sese isn't that kind of person!"

"Where did you get this idea?" Qi Yun asked with surprise, but alarm bells were ringing in her mind. Luckily, she had been careful and hadn't told Xie Huaizhang herself, just in case.

Instead, he had the maid casually mention it to Xie Huaizhang.

Qi Yun shook her head vigorously, tears streaming down her face even more fiercely: "I never said such a thing. I don't know why the maid said it. Why would I let the maid say such a thing? My maid must have misunderstood something..."

Qi Yun looked as if she had been utterly wronged, even making a move to kneel down, "If the Second Young Master doesn't believe me, I'll call that girl here right now and confront her face to face!"

Xie Huaizhang fell silent.

All the questions, anger, and resentment seemed so pale, ridiculous, and meaningless at this moment.

Even if it is proven that Qi Yun was the one who did it, it will only make things more embarrassing.

They were already engaged. Regardless of love, one should always show some respect to one's wife, just as his father did to his mother.

Xie Huaizhang turned around abruptly and strode away without looking back.