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

Jiang Sese was used to not thinking about things she couldn't figure out right away, so she quickly replied, "Yes, Sese has remembered."

Xie Jue glanced at Jiang Sese and said calmly, "Go back."

Jiang Sese looked extremely obedient, practically bowing and scraping to Xie Jue: "Yes, yes, cousin, Sese will take her leave now."

The girl's voice was soft and sweet.

Xie Jue looked at Jiang Sese and felt that her every word and action had nothing to do with her extremely beautiful face.

After Jiang Sese finished speaking, she got up and went to the corridor, taking Lü'e and Hongdou with her.

They hadn't gone far when Qing Shuang's gentle voice came from behind: "Miss, please wait."

Jiang Sese stopped and turned around.

"Sister Qing Shuang?" Jiang Sese asked, somewhat puzzled.

Qing Shuang stepped forward, took out an elegant indigo pouch from her sleeve, and handed it to Jiang Sese with both hands: "Miss, this is from the young master, please accept it."

Jiang Sese looked at the bulging purse, her heart skipped a beat, and she hesitated before taking it, asking, "What's this...?"

Why would you give me money again if we disagreed?

Last time, Xie Jue ate her zongzi and gave her fifty taels of silver.

This time, after eating the soufflé, they gave me another fifty taels of silver?

But Jiang Sese had just shamelessly asked Xie Jue for the money, so she felt a little embarrassed to accept it.

Xie Jue has helped her so much, it's only right that she cooks something for him.

Seeing that Jiang Sese was hesitant to accept the gift, Qing Shuang smiled and said, "Miss, there's no need to refuse. This was ordered by the young master; if you don't accept it, it will put me in a difficult position."

Qing Shuang paused, looking at Jiang Sese's still hesitant face, and softened her voice, with a hint of persuasion: "Miss, think about it, you'll be learning to ride horses tomorrow. Although the manor provides a stipend for riding boots, riding clothes, and protective gear, it might not meet your needs. Wouldn't it be more convenient if you had some extra money? Besides, there will always be times when you need to buy other things to learn."

Jiang Sese thought for a moment and then stopped refusing: "Alright, then I'll accept it without hesitation. Please thank my cousin for me, Sister Qingshuang."

Seeing that she accepted the gift, Qing Shuang's smile deepened, and she said respectfully, "You flatter me, Miss."

Jiang Sese carefully handed the purse to Lü'e for safekeeping, thanked Qing Shuang again, and then turned and left Tingsong Courtyard with Lü'e and Hongdou.

Stepping out of the courtyard, Jiang Sese felt her heartbeat gradually calm down.

Hongdou glanced at the sky, then frowned: "Miss, you've been in Tingsong Courtyard for almost two hours now, this..."

Jiang Sese was surprised to find that she had been in Tingsong Courtyard for so long without realizing it.

She met Wu Weizhen early in the morning, and then she came to Tingsong Courtyard.

Originally, he intended to have a brief conversation with Xie Jue, but his older cousin ended up teaching him to play two games of chess.

Jiang Sese thought for a moment, then pursed her lips and said, "Let's go back first; it's better to stay put than to move around."

Anyway, if the sky falls, there's always someone tall to hold it up. If it were any other man, it would be fine, but as for Xie Jue, no matter how crazy Wang Shi is, she wouldn't suspect that she's trying to seduce Xie Jue.

She wanted to, but who was Xie Jue? Did she think she could seduce him so easily?

……

As dusk settles and the city lights begin to twinkle.

Xie Yihua had just finished having dinner with Princess Anning.

Princess Anning leaned against the chaise longue covered with soft satin.

Xie Yihua held the teacup with a serene posture and a soft voice, as if she were just having a casual chat.

Xie Yihua lowered her eyes and said, "Mother, I heard that Cousin Jiang stayed in Tingsong Courtyard for a long time this afternoon."

Xie Yihua frowned slightly, her delicate brows furrowed in worry. "I wonder what Cousin Jiang is doing in the courtyard, she's been there for so long."

Princess Anning paused slightly in her teacup.

Cousin Jiang?

Princess Anning immediately recalled the young girl she had seen at the Dragon Boat Festival banquet. She was indeed as beautiful as a flower, radiant and captivating, with her hair like clouds that touched her snowy cheeks.

Princess Anning was momentarily dazed, thinking she had seen that person.

However, Tingsong Courtyard was Xie Jue's residence, and even she, as his mother, rarely bothered her son unless absolutely necessary.

Xie Jue was taciturn and aloof. He was indifferent to the women in the mansion, except for Xie Yihua, who occasionally received some patience from him. He was lukewarm to everyone else, including Yu Jiao from the second wife's family.

How could a woman who had only recently entered the manor stay in Tingsong Courtyard for so long?

Princess Anning felt a surge of displeasure.

"Is this really true?" Princess Anning's voice was unreadable.

But Xie Yihua, who knew her mother's temperament well, knew that her mother was displeased.

Xie Yihua pursed her lips, trying hard to suppress the urge to curl her lips upward, and said in a flustered manner, "I only found out from the servants' gossip. I thought that perhaps Cousin Jiang was new here, or perhaps she didn't know the rules, or perhaps she had some difficulties, which is why she rashly bothered my elder brother. But..."

Xie Yihua hesitated, then sighed softly, a hint of worry creeping into her eyes: "My elder brother is always busy with official duties, handling countless matters every day. Even my uncle says he's overworked, and even his daughter doesn't dare to bother him easily. Cousin Jiang... she's still a bit young, and her actions are sometimes a little thoughtless. I just hope she doesn't upset my elder brother."

Xie Yihua's words were impeccable, subtly implying that Jiang Sese was ignorant of etiquette and had ulterior motives, while also making it seem as if she was concerned about Xie Jue's health and official duties.

As expected, Princess Anning's face immediately darkened.

Born into royalty, she valued rules and etiquette above all else, and was well aware of her eldest son's status and temperament.

An orphaned girl living under someone else's roof actually stayed in her eldest son's courtyard for an entire morning?

Princess Anning lowered her eyes and thought for a moment, then suddenly looked up at Xie Yihua and said, "Yihua, you don't seem to like her very much?"