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

Xie Yihua's heart skipped a beat, and a look of grievance and panic immediately appeared on her face.

Xie Yihua bit her lip and said, "Mother, you are wise. Cousin Jiang's background is pitiful, and I only feel sympathy for her. How could I not like her? It's just..."

Xie Yihua hesitated for a moment, as if she had made a great decision, before whispering, "My daughter is worried about her. Her mind is too active, which may easily cause trouble and tarnish our family's reputation."

Xie Yihua sighed, and said in a tone that was both embarrassed and ashamed, yet forced to speak, "Mother, do you still remember the time a few days ago when Cousin Jiang fell into the water in the back garden?"

Princess Anning frowned: "Wasn't it said that she accidentally fell into the water and was rescued by Prince Chu's maid?"

At the time, Wang suppressed the matter, saying it was just an accident.

"Accidentally fell into the water..."

Xie Yihua repeated it softly, a hint of disgust flashing in her lowered eyes. She raised her eyes with difficulty and said, "Mother, I saw what happened that day with my own eyes. Cousin Jiang did not fall by accident."

"My daughter saw it clearly. Just as Prince Chu and I were about to walk over, Cousin Jiang saw us from ahead and deliberately walked to the edge of the pond, pretending to fall in."

"Mother, you don't know how terrified I was. My second aunt forbade us to tell anyone afterward, as it concerned a woman's reputation and the name of Prince Chu. But I still feel horrified whenever I think about it. My cousin Jiang... she actually had such thoughts, trying to use falling into the water to frame Prince Chu!"

Xie Yihua didn't pay much attention to Jiang Sese originally. What cousin? She was just a relative of her aunt.

Therefore, Xie Yihua did not target Jiang Sese in the same way Xie Yujiao did at the beginning.

No matter who Jiang Sese marries, it won't get in her way, so why should she make things difficult for an orphan and ruin her own reputation?

But Xie Yihua never expected this.

Jiang Sese actually dared to make a move on Chu Shaoyuan!

She is utterly shameless. The Xie family kindly took her in, and not only is she ungrateful, but she also resorts to such despicable means to curry favor with Chu Shaoyuan.

It's only because Chu Shaoyuan and the Xie family have been on good terms for generations that things are different. If it were anyone else, they might not know how to explain it to outsiders. In that case, outsiders would only ridicule the Xie family's daughter.

It was because of this incident that Xie Yihua came to regard Jiang Sese as a thorn in his side.

Xie Yihua suppressed her anger and said with feigned concern, "Mother, Cousin Jiang went to Tingsong Courtyard again today and stayed for half a day. I'm really worried about her..."

Princess Anning glanced at Xie Yihua with a cold expression: "Enough, stop talking."

If we continue, we'll have to talk about Xie Jue.

Xie Yihua wisely kept quiet.

Princess Anning's face was grim; her well-maintained face was now covered in frost, and her eyes held undisguised anger and disgust.

Princess Anning sneered, "What a clever and cunning Miss Jiang! I originally thought she was an honest and upright person, but it turns out I was wrong about her."

Seeing her mother's anger, Xie Yihua quickly got up, knelt down, and said, "Mother, please calm down. It was my fault for being so talkative."

Seeing Princess Anning's signal, the nanny next to her quickly stepped forward and helped Xie Yihua up.

Princess Anning's tone softened as she addressed Xie Yihua: "Get up. You did the right thing. I should know about this. Someone with such impure intentions should never be allowed to remain in the household!"

Princess Anning lowered her eyes and thought for a moment, a sharp glint flashing in them: "I have my own plans for this matter. Hua'er, remember, stay away from her from now on. You become like those you associate with. Don't let her drag you down."

Xie Yihua stood up as instructed, her eyes slightly red, but she replied obediently, "Yes, daughter remembers."

Princess Anning glanced at Xie Yihua and said, "Alright, you must be tired too. Go back and rest."

"Yes, I'll take my leave." Xie Yihua bowed respectfully and withdrew.

Xie Yihua's concerns were like a raging fire ignited in Princess Anning's heart.

After her initial outrage, Princess Anning became increasingly convinced that Jiang Sese was a wicked person and that keeping her in the palace would only bring trouble.

The thought that she dared to set her sights on her most prized eldest son, Xie Jue, made Princess Anning feel even more resentful and impatient.

Princess Anning's voice was filled with suppressed anger as she ordered, "Granny Qian, immediately send someone to Tingsong Courtyard and tell them that I have urgent business and request that the eldest young master come to Rong'an Hall as soon as possible."

"Yes, madam."

Knowing that the princess was in a bad mood, Granny Qian dared not delay and immediately sent a maid to deliver the message.

The maidservant hurried away.

The Jin Hua Hall was brightly lit. Princess Anning unconsciously twirled the jade prayer beads on her wrist, her face somber. She was waiting for Xie Jue to arrive so she could have a good talk with this Miss Jiang and, preferably, get rid of her immediately!

The maid returned in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

The maidservant reported tremblingly, "Madam, I went to Tingsong Courtyard, but Sister Qingshuang said that the eldest young master is dealing with important matters and is temporarily... temporarily unable to come over."