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

After being thoroughly bullied, Jiang Sese didn't want to talk to Xie Jue anymore. She lay listlessly on the bed, letting Xie Jue hold her and call for water to come in.

Hongdou brought in water and saw that the two layers of curtains were still hanging outside, but the innermost half of the light gauze bed curtain was hanging diagonally on one side, while the other half was scattered on the edge of the bed, like a thin cloud.

Hongdou glanced at it, and her face turned bright red! Ahhhhh!

Through the gap in the half-drawn gauze curtain, she glimpsed her young mistress nestled in the eldest young master's arms. Although she was still wearing a light purple robe, the sash was loose, and her undergarments were nowhere to be seen. Beneath her delicate, white collarbone, her skin was as white as jade, with a few faint red marks. Her once bright and lively eyes were now tinged with a lingering rosy glow. She nestled languidly in the eldest young master's arms, her lips red and moist, her cheeks flushed with a faint blush, like a peony petal that had drunk its fill of night dew, alluring and radiant, its beauty almost dripping with vitality.

It was truly an absolutely stunning face.

The eldest son, dressed in a moon-white undergarment with the collar wide open, had one hand around the young mistress's waist. Their outer garments were scattered haphazardly on the floor in front of the bed, overlapping each other, like a sensual and alluring painting.

Hongdou, holding her breath, put down the basin of water and the cloth, her face flushed, and didn't dare to look any longer before quickly retreating.

Fuyun: "What's wrong?"

Hongdou, her cheeks flushed, glanced at Fuyun and muttered, "You'll go in later." You knew what was going on.

Inside the room, Xie Jue held Jiang Sese's waist while reaching his hand down.

But Jiang Sese suddenly slapped him, his voice trembling, "What are you doing!"

Who said there are no fields ruined by plowing, only oxen that die from exhaustion?! Who said that?!

Jiang Sese wanted to cry but had no tears.

Xie Jue paused for a moment, then said helplessly, "I'm trying to help you..."

Jiang Sese: "Then, then you're not allowed to touch me again..." Her voice and tone were weak and listless.

If it really came to physical violence, Jiang Sese was actually helpless.

Xie Jue hummed in agreement, but he didn't actually make any further moves. After serving Jiang Sese, Xie Jue got up, took the travel permit, put his arm around Jiang Sese, and handed the permit to her.

Despite having no strength left, Jiang Sese had no choice but to force herself to open her eyes and take a look.

The road sign read:

Li Xiaoming, a resident of Santu Village, Chongde Township, is 29 years old, 6 feet 6 inches tall, with a refined and otherworldly appearance, clear and bright eyes, a slight beard under his chin, and no knife scars or puncture marks on his body. He is a native of this county and is registered in the household register. His neighbors and the village head can all vouch for him.

Today, I am traveling alone to the capital for sightseeing, without servants or family members accompanying me. I only have a cloth bag, a change of clothes, and some loose change of money with me. I am not carrying any prohibited items such as swords, smuggled salt, etc.

It was agreed that the stay in Beijing would last for ten days, after which the journey would immediately depart for their hometown in Jiangdu. This document would be used to verify the traveler's identity at all checkpoints and inns along the way, and no one was allowed to overstay their visa without a valid reason.

Village head Li Tai and village elder Zhou Shan jointly vouch for the person, stating that he is not a runaway, a scoundrel, or an outlaw, and that his testimony is entirely true. Therefore, a travel permit is issued to facilitate unimpeded inspections along the way. This permit is hereby given to the citizen Li Xiaoming for safekeeping. Upon returning home, he must take the permit to the county government for verification and cancellation.

March 8th, the 26th year of Jingyuan.

Above the words "Magistrate of Jiangdu County" was half a vermilion official seal.

Half of the seal was stamped on this travel permit paper, while the other half, an identical seal, remained in the county government's archives.

Only by piecing the two together can a complete seal of the Jiangdu County government be made.

Below are the signatures of the village chief Feng San and the village elder He Qi.

To be honest, there's absolutely nothing wrong with this travel permit, the only problem is...

Jiang Sese: "...Isn't it Chen Duxiu? Why is it Li Xiaoming?"

Xie Jue nodded: "Yes, that's the problem. The invitation he brought was from Chen Duxiu, but his hotel pass is in Li Xiaoming's name. What do you think?"

Without hesitation, Jiang Sese replied, "Since the names on both sides don't match, then I'm afraid both the travel permit and the invitation are fake."

Xie Jue lowered his head and kissed Jiang Sese: "So smart."

Jiang Sese was powerless against Xie Jue's coaxing tone.

What's so smart about it? Just because you're smart doesn't mean you're smart.

Xie Jue: "Yes, I've already had Xie Ping send someone to Jiangdu in Yangzhou."

Jiang Sese paused for a moment, then looked down at the travel permit: "Is this person also from Yangzhou?"

What a coincidence.

They say coincidences are the essence of life, and it just so happens that this man, who appears to be a fellow traveler from another region, is also from Yangzhou. Or perhaps he simply obtained this travel permit by chance from a Li Xiaoming in Yangzhou?

But how do you explain the Crimson Gold Scroll?

Xie Jue shook his head: "Not necessarily. However, if this travel permit is genuine, then there must be another half left in Jiangdu. We'll find out soon enough."

Jiang Sese also gave Xie Jue a cheerful kiss on the cheek, returning to him exactly what he had just said to praise her: "So smart."

The soft touch on his cheek was fleeting. Xie Jue looked down at Jiang Sese in his arms, his cold and stern eyes softening instantly, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

Xie Jue reached out and gently pinched Jiang Sese's cheek, with a hint of indulgent helplessness.

"How has your mother treated you these past two days?"

Jiang Sese leaned against his chest and said, "Don't worry, my mother is actually very good to me."

"That's good." Xie Jue responded, his tone revealing no emotion.

He went through so much trouble to marry her, not so that she would have to put up with his mother's attitude.

He himself never acted according to his mother's wishes, and felt that he should not make his wife act according to her mother-in-law's wishes either.

The teachings of sages and worthies instruct people to serve their parents with respect, to have a heart full of reverence, to fulfill their duties as a son, to greet them morning and evening, to show filial piety according to the seasons, and to do what they should do. However, they would never force themselves to demand a meager bond of affection between mother and child.

Having a clear conscience is enough; there's no need to force each other to be intimately close.

Jiang Sese keenly noticed the subtle change in Xie Jue's emotions when Princess Anning was mentioned.

Jiang Sese hesitated for a moment, then said, "Actually... people's hearts are inevitably biased, just like you towards me, don't you always favor me? Mother is just an ordinary person too."

Xie Jue's gaze paused slightly.

If someone else had said these words, he would have considered it as speaking ill of one's elders.

Over the years, he had always been respectful but distant towards Princess Anning, with too many past events separating them. But these words came from Jiang Sese, and even though he felt somewhat displeased, he couldn't bear to go against her good intentions.

Xie Jue remained silent for a moment, the darkness concealing the fleeting emotion in his eyes.

Xie Jue nodded slightly and gave a soft "hmm" in response.

Jiang Sese secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The estrangement between mother and son cannot be eliminated overnight, just because of a few words from her. But as long as he is willing to listen, it is a good start.

Jiang Sese didn't say anything more, but obediently rested her head back in the crook of his neck.

Xie Jue: "...Does it still hurt?"

Jiang Sese was momentarily caught off guard: "What? Does it still hurt?"

Xie Jue's gaze was deep and unfathomable, settling heavily on her face in the dim candlelight.

Jiang Sese's heart skipped a beat under his gaze, and her cheeks began to flush. Just as she was about to say something, Xie Jue lowered his head and captured her lips precisely.