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

Jiang Sese had just finished breakfast and was flipping through the local chronicles of Yangzhou when Hongdou came to announce that the two princesses and Miss Zhang had arrived.

Chen Shixuan was already engaged and was spending this time at home preparing for her wedding.

Chen Shixuan is half a year older than Jiang Sese. If it weren't for waiting for Xie Jue, Chen Shixuan, with her background and personality, wouldn't have waited until now to get engaged.

Now that Xie Jue and Jiang Sese's marriage is settled, Emperor Jingyuan has arranged another marriage for Chen Shixuan.

Jiang Sese quickly put down the map and told Hongdou to hurry up and bring it over.

As soon as Zhang Fumeng came in, she kept asking if the new notebook was finished, saying that she had read the last one countless times and could recite all the dialogues in it.

Jiang Sese said irritably, "How could it be that fast?"

Just as Zhang Fumeng was about to reply, Chen Yi, who came in with her, laughed and said, "Don't you believe me? She really can memorize things."

Chen Pei chuckled, "That's right. I heard she stays up until the wee hours every night. I think you should just keep it to yourself and not write it for her."

Zhang Fumeng immediately retorted, "You're always pointing out my shortcomings, but what about yourself? You copied that 'Biography of a Peasant Girl' twice. The first copy was ruined, and you said your handwriting was bad, so you copied it again—why don't you talk about yourself?"

Because Chen Yi really liked Jiang Sese's storybooks, she asked a palace maid to copy one, while Chen Pei copied it herself.

Zhang Fumeng turned to look at Jiang Sese, as if she wanted to drag everyone down with her, "You don't know, Pei'er doesn't say it, but she blushes every time the Ninth Prince in the storybook is mentioned."

Chen Pei, who usually spoke in a gentle and mild manner, surprisingly retorted this time: "The Ninth Prince is truly good. He was kind and gentle from beginning to end, never forcing that peasant girl. The other prince, though good, was too domineering. That peasant girl clearly saved the Empress Dowager, yet he made things difficult for her at every turn. It's simply infuriating!"

Zhang Fumeng immediately chimed in, "See? See? Chen Pei admitted it too."

Chen Yi rolled her eyes at her: "It's better for us to be like this than for you staying up all night. By the way, I heard you even showed Sese's storybook to the Imperial Concubine?"

Jiang Sese was eating pastries nearby when she heard this and almost choked. She quickly drank some tea to calm herself down and asked nervously, "You showed my storybook to the Imperial Concubine? How could you bring something like that to her? What if there's something taboo in it—"

Zhang Fumeng waved her hand dismissively: "It's nothing, it's nothing. My aunt even praised your writing, saying it's just as good as that 'Return to Immortality'!"

Zhang Fumeng hasn't forgotten the old grudge from the tragic ending of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai.

Although she still watched the new drama in Huixiandai, it didn't stop her from holding a grudge against the tragic ending of Liang Zhu!

"Who said only men can write storybooks? My aunt even asked me to ask you if you're interested in writing a play script. She loves reading those kinds of plays. If you do write one, she'll only have the people from the Bell and Drum Division rehearse it, and she'll never let any other men see it."

The Bell and Drum Office was one of the twenty-four departments of the inner court, responsible for using bells and drums to tell time and for ceremonial processions during festivals. It was also responsible for performing variety shows, acrobatics, songs and dances for the emperor and his concubines.

Jiang Sese breathed a sigh of relief when she heard it was a compliment.

But when she heard that Consort Zhang wanted her to write a play script, Jiang Sese broke out in a cold sweat. She couldn't possibly write it all; she really couldn't.

But the Imperial Concubine personally named him...

It was Zhang Fumeng herself who came to say it again...

"Uh... this..." Jiang Sese swallowed hard and could only say, "I am honored by Your Highness's kindness, so I will do my best to try."

Zhang Fumeng immediately cheered, "That's great! I knew you could do it, Se Se!"

Jiang Sese couldn't help but say, "Since I promised to write scripts for the Imperial Concubine, you should show them to her less often in the future. If there's anything taboo in them, we're doomed. Besides, what I write isn't exactly proper literature... I just don't think it's appropriate for the Imperial Concubine to read it."

Emperor Jingyuan's favor towards her was a case of loving the house because of the house, and such love was not reliable.

Emperor Jingyuan was not a foolish ruler. He could give her status, wealth, and a princess's mansion; these were nothing more than a drop in the ocean to him, mere favors that wouldn't affect the stability of the empire. But he knew perfectly well what he couldn't give her and what the consequences would be.

Therefore, Jiang Sese remained well-behaved and did not become arrogant just because she was a princess. She also did not intend to test Emperor Jingyuan's limits or how tolerant he was of her.

Testing someone's limits is playing with your life, and she never gambles.

She could be careful to read people's faces when she was living under the Xie family's roof, but now she can live her own life behind closed doors in the princess's mansion.

Zhang Fumeng stared wide-eyed at Jiang Sese, never expecting that Jiang Sese, now the Princess of Chenjia, would still be so cautious. If she were the Princess of Chenjia, she would definitely do all the things she never dared to do before!

Zhang Fumeng said, "Now, besides His Majesty, who can ruin you? You are the Imperial-bestowed Princess Chenjia, Xie Junheng is your future husband, and the Duke of Dingguo is your godfather. With so many people standing behind you, who would be so blind as to criticize you?"

"Besides, you're writing serious stories, not anything immoral. My aunt said the women you write about are brave and resourceful, far superior to the 'talented scholars and beautiful women' tales written by those pedantic scholars!"

Those literati only know how to write about scholars being favored by princesses, rich girls, or fairies. It's all stuff men love to read.

Jiang Sese slowly said, "Fumeng, you're right. I am the Imperial Princess Chenjia, and indeed no one dares to touch me easily. But the higher one stands, the more cautious one must be. If I rely on my status and don't restrain myself, the first person to be unhappy will be His Majesty. His bestowal of this title upon me is a favor, but this favor is not for me to squander. You also said that no one dares to criticize me—but that's now. If I really do something outrageous, the first person the censors will impeach won't be me, but Xie Jue. I'm not afraid of what others say about me, but I'm afraid of implicating him."

Jiang Sese knew in her heart that the reason why Emperor Jingyuan was unwilling to let Xie Jue marry her was probably because of this.

Xie Jue himself can be impeccable, but can his bedmate be?

What Jiang Sese didn't know was...

Emperor Jingyuan's initial preference for Chen Shixuan was undoubtedly a well-considered decision.

Daughters raised in prestigious families are generally more diligent and have a broader perspective than those raised in humble families. This is also why Emperor Jingyuan initially favored Chen Shixuan. Despite her privileged background and being pampered throughout her childhood, Chen Shixuan did not develop a spoiled and willful temperament; instead, she was gentle and sensible.

A wife like that would never cause Xie Jue any trouble.

Zhang Fumeng's eyes flickered slightly upon hearing Jiang Sese's words.

Chen Yi and Chen Pei also began to look at Jiang Sese with new respect.

Saying something is one thing, doing it is another. We can say what we can't necessarily do. How many people in this world can remain true to their original intentions after gaining power and prestige?

Most people are ordinary. Let alone those who have gained such immense power, even those who suddenly become rich will inevitably flaunt their wealth and squander it.

I originally thought Jiang Sese was low-key because she was timid.

I didn't expect them to be on the fifth floor.

Zhang Fumeng was arrogant and domineering because she relied on Consort Zhang being her aunt, and she didn't care about anyone.

But Jiang Sese's words made Zhang Fumeng suddenly think of something, and her eyes became hesitant for a moment.

After Chen Yi and Chen Pei left, Zhang Fumeng said, "My dear sister, there's something I want to discuss with you, but please don't tell anyone else. Do you think... I shouldn't have eloped with someone?"

Jiang Sese: ? ? ?