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

Jiang Sese paused, biting her lip, and after a long while muttered, "I'm not unhappy..."

Xie Jue: "Hmm?"

Jiang Sese immediately backed down and admitted, "Okay, actually, there's a little bit." Her voice was so low it was like a mosquito's hum, utterly unconvincing.

Xie Jue: "Hmm?"

That "hmm" sound, like a hook, easily pierced through Jiang Sese's pitiful pretense.

Jiang Sese immediately backed down, her shoulders slumped slightly, and she confessed in a low voice, "Okay, actually it's a little bit..." Jiang Sese stretched out her thumb and forefinger, gesturing a very small distance.

"But I know that even if I say it, you won't..." Jiang Sese's tone was filled with a sense of resignation and frustration. She felt that her request was both pretentious and willful, and in the context of ancient times, it was simply unreasonable.

Could you really expect Xie Jue to kick out his trusted maid, whom he's served for over a decade?

"Se Se." Xie Jue interrupted her, his fingers gently tracing her slightly furrowed brows. His tone was more serious than ever before. "In the previous Great Zhou Dynasty, there was an old custom that after a man got married, he would serve in the inner courtyard study, often becoming a servant."

Since Xie Yihua's incident, Xie Jue has come to understand that there are some things in this world that even with extraordinary means, one cannot have both.

And don't even mention hurting her feelings over the sake of two maids.

He wouldn't do something like buying the box and returning the pearl.

Jiang Sese suddenly looked up, her eyes wide with surprise and a hint of suspicion: "Examples from the previous dynasty?"

"But...that's all from the previous dynasty." Jiang Sese didn't expect Xie Jue to bring up the old system from the previous dynasty.

"What happened to the previous dynasty?" Xie Jue raised an eyebrow and said calmly, "Since there are precedents to follow, there's no harm in doing so."

Jiang Sese: ...

Jiang Sese looked at Xie Jue hesitantly, and after a long while, asked weakly, "Then... what about Qing Shuang and Shu Tong? They have served you for many years, doing their best..."

This is what she is most conflicted about and concerned about.

She felt uncomfortable that Xie Jue had dismissed Qing Shuang and Shu Tong.

She felt uncomfortable having Qing Shuang and Shu Tong continue to serve Xie Jue.

"They will naturally remain in the manor." Xie Jue had clearly thought this through. "The internal affairs of the manor are complicated. Qing Shuang is calm and meticulous, and Shu Tong is quick-witted and thorough. They are both capable. From now on, they will be responsible for assisting you in managing the affairs of the inner courtyard. My study and daily life will be taken care of by the servants in the outer courtyard arranged by Xie Ping."

"As for the future..." Xie Jue thought for a moment and said, "They are not young anymore. After a year or two, if they meet suitable families, I will treat them with the respect due to younger sisters, prepare sufficient dowries, and marry them off."

Jiang Sese was surprised that Xie Jue had considered everything so thoroughly in such a short time.

The slight grievance and awkwardness I felt just moments ago vanished instantly, leaving only a heart full of emotion and a touch of sweet guilt.

Jiang Sese suddenly leaned forward and quickly gave him a light peck on the cheek.

The soft, warm touch was fleeting, like a feather brushing past, yet it made Xie Jue pause slightly before a deep smile and warmth spread across his eyes.

Xie Jue tightened his arms, holding her tightly in his embrace as she tried to pull away. His voice was low and chuckled: "I told you last time, if you want to thank me... how should you thank me?"

Jiang Sese tried to cheat, but Xie Jue made her accept the thank-you gift she deserved.

Jiang Sese thought the gift of thanks was finished, but then she saw Xie Jue lower his head again. Jiang Sese quickly closed her eyes again, but then she heard Xie Jue chuckle softly, and the kiss landed only on her forehead.

Xie Jue sighed softly and said, "...Let's wait until tonight."

Jiang Sese hadn't quite recovered from the forehead kiss. She blinked and subconsciously asked, "...What tonight?"

Xie Jue raised an eyebrow slightly, looking at her with a leisurely air: "Now? I don't care, but you—" His gaze shifted downwards for a moment, then returned, "You're not fully recovered yet."

Jiang Sese's cheeks flushed instantly. She covered his mouth and whispered urgently, "Don't say anything! There are people outside!"

Xie Jue didn't struggle even though her mouth was covered, but her usually calm eyes were now full of smiles.

After a long while, Jiang Sese finally let go of his hand, her face flushed.

Xie Jue pulled her closer, gently rubbing his chin against the top of her soft hair, and said, "Sese, I said before that after we get married, I would accompany you back to Yangzhou. Now that His Majesty has granted me leave, the time is just right."

When the topic of returning to Yangzhou came up, Jiang Sese paused for a moment before finally looking up at Xie Jue. However, Xie Jue's eyes remained smiling, and it was impossible to discern the depth of his expression.

Jiang Sese hesitated for a moment, then asked, "When do we set off?"

Xie Jue looked down at her: "We'll set off again after I accompany you back to the Duke of Dingguo's mansion."

Jiang Sese was taken aback: "Isn't it the next day?"

She knew about the homecoming ceremony; Hongdou had mentioned it to her briefly.

Xie Jue took her hand and said, "In ordinary folks, it is true that people may simply go home to visit their ancestors the next day, but we still need to pay respects at the temple tomorrow."

Jiang Sese listened attentively and gave a soft "oh".

Xie Jue glanced at her, his eyes gentle, and said, "On the third day, after all the ceremonies are completed, we, as husband and wife, will return to your parents' home together. Only then will it be considered complete. In ancient times, this was called 'comforting the parents.' The two of us will go together, firstly to inform your family that you are doing well in your home, and secondly, I will personally visit your adoptive father to thank him for betrothing you to me. Only then will the ceremony be considered complete."

Jiang Sese thought for a moment and said, "Okay."

But then I remembered something else.

Jiang Sese suspected that Xie Jue was the one who did it.

Jiang Sese leaned against Xie Jue's chest, her fingers unconsciously circling the jade pendant's tassel at his waist, then tentatively asked, "About what happened with Yu Jiao, did you do anything?"

After a long while, Jiang Sese still hadn't heard Xie Jue's voice, so she struggled to lift her head to look at him, only to see him with his eyes lowered in a deep gaze: "Yes."