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

In the book, Xie Yujiao married the second prince.

The second prince was the one who eventually ascended the throne.

However, Xie Yujiao did not rise in rank along with the Second Prince; instead, she was murdered.

Originally, the other party intended to harm Xie Yihua, but Xie Yihua escaped thanks to the protagonist's halo. Xie Yujiao was mistaken for Xie Yihua, captured, and humiliated.

After learning the true culprit, the eldest son of the Xie family devised a wicked plan that would wipe out the entire family.

Jiang Sese lowered her eyes and thought for a moment.

After a moment, Jiang Sese raised her eyes, her gaze clear yet carrying a perfectly measured hint of worry: "It's so kind of Aunt to think of everything for Sese. I will remember this kindness."

Then Jiang Sese changed the subject, saying, "But precisely because of this, Sese cannot harm you, Aunt."

Aunt Sun's enthusiastic smile froze instantly, her eyes filled with astonishment: "What do you mean by that?"

Jiang Sese sat up straight, met Aunt Sun's gaze frankly, and said slowly, "Aunt, the Xie family intends to marry their fourth or fifth daughter into the imperial family, but Sese's surname is Jiang, not Xie."

"If I were to marry into the prince's residence as part of the dowry, what would the Xie family think of me? How would they view you, Aunt? They would surely think that you had ulterior motives, trying to place me, an outsider, to compete with the Xie family's eldest daughter for favor, to dilute the Xie family's affections, and even..."

Jiang Sese pursed her lips and said softly, "They might think that Aunt wants to use me to benefit Aunt and Xun-ge'er."

Upon hearing Jiang Sese's words, Aunt Sun broke out in a cold sweat!

She originally thought this was a great way out for Jiang Sese, and it would also bring her honor. She was only worried that it would be difficult to bring it up with Xie Bo, but she never thought of it this way.

Yes!

What will the Xie family think?

What will they think of her, this concubine, a restless concubine who wants to use her niece to disrupt the Xie family's plans?

Madam Wang, the first wife, will be the first to not let her off!

No matter how much Xie Bo dotes on her, he would never tolerate a concubine overstepping her bounds like this!

The more Aunt Sun thought about it, the more frightened she became. Her fingers unconsciously clenched the handkerchief, and her fingertips turned slightly white.

This isn't helping Sese at all; it's practically sowing the seeds of her own downfall. If she's exploited by someone with ulterior motives, her already meager position in the Xie family could vanish in an instant.

A moment later, Aunt Sun's gaze towards Jiang Sese changed completely, filled with surprise and lingering fear, followed by a surge of deep gratitude and affection.

This child!

Although this child is a bit arrogant, I never expected him to be so perceptive and insightful.

What's even more remarkable is that she always puts her aunt first. I had previously misunderstood her as arrogant and unrealistic, which was really... I shouldn't have done that!

Aunt Sun, still shaken, quickly grabbed Jiang Sese's hand tightly, her voice filled with relief at escaping death: "Sese... my dear Sese, it was my foolishness that I didn't see through this! I almost... almost made a terrible mistake!"

Jiang Sese gently grasped Aunt Sun's hand in return, patted the back of her hand reassuringly, and said softly, "Aunt is only thinking of Sese, but this Xie family mansion is a deep and complicated place, and moving one hair can affect the whole situation. Sese does not want to implicate Aunt and Xun-ge'er because of her own selfish desires."

"Good child, your aunt has not spoiled you for nothing."

Aunt Sun nodded repeatedly, her gaze towards Jiang Sese filled with unprecedented affection: "Your aunt has misunderstood! Don't worry, we don't need this wealth. Your aunt will carefully plan for you from now on, and will definitely find you a truly reliable and respectable husband, someone you can be a proper and honorable wife. I will absolutely not let you suffer!"

Aunt Sun secretly vowed to find a good husband for her sensible and well-behaved niece.

Jiang Sese had been waiting for Aunt Sun to say these words. Upon hearing them, she lowered her head slightly, a shy blush rising on her cheeks: "Sese... will leave it all to Aunt's decision."

Back in her courtyard, after having dinner, Jiang Sese lay down and began to recall Xie Jue's preferences from the book.

Jiang Sese was initially hesitant about whether to get to know this older cousin.

After all, Xie Jue in the book is not a good person.

Xie Jue was ruthless to everyone, but he was fiercely protective of his own.

He's also a doting brother.

But Jiang Sese doesn't have the surname Xie, so it will probably be difficult for her to please Xie Jue.

But looking at the situation today, even if Xie Jue's maid says something casually, Wang Shi has to smile obsequiously, and Jiang Sese can't help but want to curry favor with him again.

Although it's not so easy to grab someone's thigh, she can give it a try.

……

At night, Xie Yihua tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep.

That stunningly beautiful face from the daytime kept replaying in her mind like a brand.

Those clear, timid yet undeniably alluring eyes; that porcelain-like skin; that unintentionally revealed fragile yet captivating expression…

Xie Yihua turned over in frustration again.

"Miss?" Zhixi's alert yet gentle voice immediately came from outside.

As the head maid on night duty, Zhixi slept on a simple couch separated from the inner room by only a heavy curtain, keeping a close eye on her master's movements.

Feeling agitated, Xie Yihua sat up and said to the outside of the curtain, "Zhixi, come in."

"Yes, Miss." Zhixi responded, quickly lit a small glass lamp, and lifted the curtain to come in.

The warm, dim light instantly dispelled the gloom in the room, and Zhixi also saw the melancholy and unease on Xie Yihua's face.

Zhi Xi quickly placed the lamp on the small table beside the bed and leaned down with concern to ask, "Miss, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Zhixi and Hongshao both grew up with Xie Yihua.

At this moment, Zhixi keenly sensed that something was wrong with her young lady's emotions.

Xie Yihua looked up at Zhixi.

Zhixi and Hongshao were the people she trusted most, and there were some things she could only say to them.

Xie Yihua was silent for a moment, then said softly, "...Zhixi, don't you think that Miss Biao is really beautiful?"

Zhi Xi was taken aback at first, but then immediately understood the reason why Xie Yihua was tossing and turning at night.

Zhi Xi's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly smiled and said, "Miss, are you talking about Miss Jiang? She is pretty, but so what? She's just a pretty face. With her background, orphaned and living under someone else's roof, even the best looks can't make her stand out."

"In my opinion, at best, she'll only ever be a scholar's wife. How can she compare to you, Miss? You are the true princess, with your elegance and grace, far beyond what mere physical beauty can match!"

Zhi Xi tried to belittle Jiang Sese in her words in an attempt to appease Xie Yihua.

Xie Yihua certainly understood this principle.

The insurmountable barrier of her social status is a chasm that Jiang Sese can never cross.

Xie Yihua lowered her eyes, rubbing the silk handkerchief in her hand with annoyance, and slowly said, "Yes, she can't be a wife, but precisely because of that, she's more likely to be uninhibited and become a concubine... What's the harm to her?"

Zhixi felt a chill run down her spine, instantly understanding what her mistress was truly worried about.

The young lady was afraid that Jiang Sese, who was single-mindedly trying to climb the social ladder, would shamelessly entangle herself with Prince Chu, even if it was just to become his concubine.

Thinking of Jiang Sese's past offense of faking an accident to implicate Prince Chu after falling into the water, Zhi Xi's eyes turned cold.

This Jiang Sese is indeed a troublesome and unruly person!

Zhixi thought for a moment, then said softly, "I understand Miss's concerns. Since she's so unrestrained, why don't we... give her another push?"

"Give her a push?" Xie Yihua's eyes flashed as she looked at Zhixi. "How would you push her?"