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

According to the custom of newlyweds, breakfast was served only in the warm pavilion next to the new house.

The two-person pear wood gilded snack table is not large, just enough for two people to sit facing each other. The table is covered with a bright red brocade tablecloth with twin lotus flowers, and a complete set of white jade gilded plates, silver spoons and jade chopsticks. Each snack is served in a small dish, exquisite but not piled up.

Hongdou and Qingshuang stood on either side, serving the dishes. The maidservants outside brought the food boxes to the door of the warm pavilion and then stopped, allowing the two of them to carry them in by hand.

Xie Jue has been eating alone since he was seven years old. He only eats with his family during festivals. Not speaking while eating or sleeping is a rule ingrained in his bones.

However, Jiang Sese insisted on chatting about something while eating to make her meal more palatable.

Although it was the first time the two of them had dined alone, they didn't feel awkward at all; on the contrary, they both felt a sense of novelty and joy.

Jiang Sese picked up the silver spoon, scooped up a spoonful of honey-soaked lotus seed and lily bulb soup, and put it into her mouth.

The lotus seeds are stewed until soft and tender, and the slight bitterness of the lily bulbs is coated with rock sugar and honey, making it sweet and smooth to the taste, and warm and comforting as it slides into the stomach.

Jiang Sese couldn't help but exclaim, "This soup is so well-cooked! The bitterness of the lotus seeds has been completely removed, and the lily bulbs are so tender."

Seeing that she liked it, Xie Jue smiled slightly and pushed the bowl in front of him to her side as well.

"This is for you too."

Jiang Sese didn't stand on ceremony with him. She took his cup and scooped up another spoonful, saying indistinctly, "You don't need to give me all of it. One cup is enough for me." Although she said that, the spoon honestly scooped up another large spoonful.

Xie Jue watched as she drank most of her own cup, a slight smile curving his lips. He then placed a piece of mandarin duck lotus flower pastry into her dish.

Jiang Sese looked down at the ever-growing pile of dishes in front of her, then looked up at him earnestly: "Are you feeding a pig?"

"no."

"Then why did you give me all the food?"

"You're too thin, eat more."

Jiang Sese looked down at herself and really didn't think she was thin anywhere. She had only heard the words "you're too thin" from Aunt Sun and Xie Jue.

Everyone else thought she looked just right, but only the two of them thought she was too thin.

Xie Jue's gaze followed Jiang Sese's eyes for a moment without making a sound, then moved back.

As soon as Jiang Sese raised her eyes, she caught Xie Jue's gaze. She looked at him suspiciously, feeling that his glance just now was meaningful, but his expression was clearly calm and indifferent.

Jiang Sese decided not to argue with him, since the lotus seed soup was really delicious anyway.

"The Xie family's cooks are still the best."

"He's our family's cook," Xie Jue corrected her.

Jiang Sese paused for a moment, then smiled and her eyes crinkled: "That's right, he's our family's cook."

Hongdou and Qingshuang exchanged a glance, then silently pursed their lips.

How wonderful! There's no messy, chaotic strife between wives and concubines. Such a scene would be impossible in other families.

Having many wives and concubines has the advantage of having many offspring, but the disadvantage is that it can easily lead to chaos in the household.

Longevity Silver Noodles are actually smooth chicken soup noodles topped with a pair of soft-boiled poached eggs. The two eggs together symbolize a long and happy marriage.

Jiang Sese lowered her head, picked up her chopsticks, and stirred the noodles. She remembered a scene from a modern TV drama where the bride and groom would bite off a noodle and share it with each other. She couldn't help but chuckle.

Xie Jue asked her what she was laughing at, and Jiang Sese quickly said it was nothing and lowered her head to eat her noodles.

Next up are half-cooked boiled dragon and phoenix dumplings, also known as "descendant dumplings".

Hongdou served two dumplings to each of them, and smiled, saying, "Please, young master and young mistress, have some 'descendant dumplings'."

Jiang Sese took a bite, her face scrunched up; it was indeed raw.

Xie Jue also took a symbolic bite before putting down his chopsticks.

These are all for good luck.

While eating, Jiang Sese suddenly remembered that Zhang Fumeng had mentioned yesterday that Shen Ziyu had been promoted: "By the way, wasn't Shen Ziyu promoted to a compiler in the Hanlin Academy?"

Xie Jue didn't even look up when he heard this, only replying with a simple "Mm".

He paused, then added, "Do you think Shen Ziyu is a good person?"

Jiang Sese was puzzled by his question, and after thinking for a moment, she said, "Shen Ziyu? He's really good. He's upright, willing to take on difficult tasks, and has a good character—"

In the storyline, Shen Ziyu was poisoned to death after reporting the Chu family's affairs.

Although the author did not reveal the mastermind, Jiang Sese always suspected that Xie Jue was behind it.

Now it seems her suspicions were indeed valid.

Otherwise, how come Shen Ziyu is alive and well this time?

Xie Jue: "And what about me?"

Jiang Sese put down her chopsticks, feeling utterly bewildered. How could these two be compared at all?

Although Shen Ziyu is a good person, she is too straightforward.

Jiang Sese stood up with a grin and sat down next to Xie Jue, taking his arm and saying, "You're definitely the best!"

Xie Jue smiled, then pulled Jiang Sese up and led her by the hand toward Princess Anning.

But after taking two steps, Xie Jue stopped.

Jiang Sese: ?

Jiang Sese: "What's wrong?"

Xie Jue looked at her seriously and said, "How about I have someone bring a sedan chair?"

Jiang Sese: ...

No, why did things turn out like this after we got married?

Give me back my noble and aloof older cousin!