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

Jiang Sese lowered her gaze slightly. The Jiang family had offered such a generous gift, not asking for cash, but something more valuable than silver.

As expected, Jiang Mao bowed slightly and pleaded in a low voice, "Your Highness, please understand. I dare not ask Your Highness to make things difficult for me. I only wish to ask Your Highness to step in and put in a good word for me."

Jiang Sese: "What is it?"

A look of helplessness and frustration, typical of a merchant, appeared on Jiang Mao's face: "Princess, the waterways in Jiangnan are riddled with checkpoints and intricate networks. Most of the silks from my Jiang family are sold in the north, and they must be transported by water. However, the tax collectors along the way… alas!"

Jiang Mao sighed, remembering Jiang Qian's words.

Jiang Qian told him to just say what he had to say, without exaggerating or trying to play the victim.

Jiang Mao then honestly replied, "Tax officials along the way often use various excuses to charge extra fees for their hard work and inspections. These are numerous and are truly exorbitant taxes. Even worse, they detain goods without cause and deliberately delay the journey. Every time the delivery date is missed, the goods either become damp and moldy or are devalued due to the delay, resulting in huge losses."

Jiang Mao paused, observing Jiang Sese's expression. Seeing that she showed no displeasure, he continued, "The Jiang family has no intention of evading the imperial taxes. Every year, we pay our due taxes without fail. We only ask that Your Highness inform the officials along the canal route privately so that the Jiang family can pay taxes according to the imperial regulations in the future, thus avoiding the layers of exploitation and unreasonable harassment from the lower-level officials. This matter... this matter is merely to restrain local officials from acting in accordance with the rules, so that they dare not ask for extra money. It is not considered favoritism or bending the law, nor will it cause Your Highness any difficulty."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Sese was more surprised than understanding.

"Is someone making things difficult for the Jiang family?"

Jiang Sese frowned slightly, her expression clearly showing confusion.

Logically speaking, she was born into the Jiang family, a fact known throughout Yangzhou.

Why aren't the officials in Yangzhou vying to curry favor with them? Instead, they're making things difficult for them?

What's the logic behind this?

Upon hearing this, Jiang Mao's bitter smile almost spilled out. He remained silent for a few moments before finally letting out a heavy sigh: "Your Highness, you may not know this... When the news of your investiture as a princess first reached Yangzhou, the Jiang and Sun families were indeed... truly enjoying unparalleled prestige. The Yangzhou prefect, the salt commissioner, and even officials from the provincial administration commission personally visited us, and their words were full of consideration for the Jiang and Sun families."

Jiang Mao's voice lowered, tinged with bitterness: "But the good times didn't last long. Later, the Sun family... didn't the Sun family take advantage of last year's floods to lower grain prices and buy grain, and... and even mixed in some old, moldy grain, causing public resentment to boil over?"

Jiang Mao glanced quickly at Jiang Sese, and seeing that she looked normal, he continued, "This matter has caused quite a stir, and even the governor of Yangzhou has personally intervened to investigate it."

Jiang Mao sighed deeply again, full of helplessness: "Since then, the attitude of those officials who had previously come to curry favor with us has changed drastically. Although they didn't openly suppress us, they... but they were always trying to avoid suspicion. From that time on, the Jiang family's silk ships encountered particularly bad luck in the grain transport."

The Jiang family themselves were also puzzled.

Why did the Jiang family follow suit after the Sun family fell on hard times?

The Sun family took the opportunity to drive down grain prices, which they deserved. But the Jiang family runs a business honestly, and Princess Chenjia is surnamed Jiang. These people not only don't try to curry favor with the Jiang family, but they also dare to make things difficult for them.

Jiang Qian once sent someone to spend money to inquire about the reason, but although the money was spent, the reason was not found out.

But it's not their fault.

The Jiang family had no idea that it was Xie Jue who had ordered the investigation of the Sun family.

But everyone in the Yangzhou officialdom knew the truth, so some people went to find out about Jiang Sese's experiences before she became a princess. Oh wow, so she was all alone and had no one to rely on, which forced her to go to the capital alone.

Now, those who had previously tried to curry favor with the Jiang family have turned around and are kicking them while they're down.

Although Jiang Sese has no familial affection for the Jiang family, that's one thing and that's another.

Jiang Sese: "I understand. I will look into this matter. If it is indeed as you say, that the lower-level officials disregarded the law and imposed extra taxes and made things difficult for no reason, rather than the Jiang family itself violating any regulations, then someone will definitely step in and make them handle the matter officially."

Jiang Maoru breathed a sigh of relief and thanked him repeatedly.

Jiang Sese didn't say anything more, and only had someone escort Jiang Mao out.

There were no pleasantries, no attempts to persuade her to stay, and not a single unnecessary formality. She agreed readily and saw her off just as decisively, maintaining a completely businesslike demeanor, devoid of any personal sentiment.

At this moment, Jiang Mao finally sighed silently, just like Jiang Qian.

Adding flowers to brocade is never as good as providing charcoal in the snow.

The Jiang family did make the right choice in giving away this shop, but some things can't be exchanged for even the best shop.

That evening, Jiang Sese brought up the matter with Xie Jue.

Xie Jue lowered his head to look at Jiang Sese, who was half-lying beside him.

Jiang Sese removed her hairpins and jewelry, her long, dark blue hair falling loosely onto the soft pillow. She was only wearing a silk nightgown, and perhaps because she felt hot, she had loosened two of the hidden buttons at the neckline, revealing a small section of her fair collarbone.

Warm light filtered through the gauze curtains, falling on her face and making her eyes appear misty and hazy. Her face looked even more radiant under the lamplight.

After a while, Jiang Sese still hadn't heard Xie Jue's voice. She couldn't help but raise her eyes and glance at him, then pushed him away. Xie Jue grabbed her wrist to prevent her from pulling it back, and warm light flowed between her brows and eyes, making her look lazy yet vibrant.

Xie Jue reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, his fingertips brushing against her earlobe and gently stroking the edge of her chin. "What they asked for isn't unreasonable."

"However, from now on, let them submit these documents directly to the prefect. If you don't like them, you don't need to see them anymore. The more you see them, the more they'll think you're easy to talk to."

Jiang Sese felt a little lazy from the warmth of his fingertips, squinted her eyes, and like a cat whose fur had been stroked, mumbled an "Mmm".

Xie Jue sighed, "Now that I've found a shop, I'm relieved. Otherwise, if you continue like this, before Qingyufang even opens, your husband will have turned into a stone statue waiting for his wife."

Jiang Sese quickly grasped his hand in return, softening her tone: "I was wrong, I was wrong. I've been too busy these past few days and neglected you."

Xie Jue was clearly unconvinced: "Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow, how many tomorrows are there?"

Jiang Sese was taken aback by his recitation of the ancient poem, realizing that he was genuinely unhappy.

Jiang Sese leaned closer, lowered her voice, and her eyes were filled with affection that no man could refuse: "Then what do you suggest? I'll do whatever you say."

Then Xie Jue pinned him down.