As for the Marquis's Estate, the Su sisters were still rejoicing over the pregnancy.
The two chatted until late into the night, and it was only after insisting that she stay the night that Su Jinhan finally let her Eldest Sister go.
The next morning, when Su Jin Ying walked into the Small Warm Pavilion and saw little Sui An still fast asleep, she couldn't help but sigh, "The family business is too busy, otherwise, Aunt would really like to stay for a few more days and keep you company, my Little Darling."
At this moment, Su Jinhan walked over and said, "Eldest Sister, I know you are strong-willed, but no matter what, you must prioritize your health this time. Do not overwork yourself when you return."
After the two held hands and walked out of the Small Warm Pavilion, Su Jin Ying nodded with a smile, "Don't worry. This pregnancy did not come easily; it was only with Sui An's help that I conceived. I will certainly cherish and protect it, and I will not let little Sui An down."
Fortunately, the Su family no longer required her to personally lead the merchant caravans, so she would not be too physically exhausted.
"By the way, sister." As she spoke, Su Jin Ying thought of something else, "This time, we owe much to Pu'an Temple; the rituals were truly effective. If you have time, please go there and make some offerings on my behalf to thank the Shi Fu."
Su Jinhan nodded in agreement, "Alright, I will handle it for Eldest Sister. As it happens, I also want to..."
She paused, as if stuck on something, and her voice lowered.
"...I also want to light an eternal lamp for Huai'er again, so I will take care of both at the same time."
As soon as the name Shen Jinghuai was mentioned, the smiles on the sisters' faces vanished, and both fell into a long silence.
Just then, Shen Jingzhao, who was coming in to find his sister, couldn't help but stop in his tracks, lowering his head and biting his lips.
For the Marquis's Estate, this name was like a sharp blade piercing the heart; mentioning it caused unbearable pain.
Little Sui An had already woken up. Having heard half the conversation, she rubbed her eyes and tugged at her Second Brother's sleeve, asking, "Second Brother, who are Mother and Aunt talking about? Why do they both look so sad?"
Shen Jingzhao pretended to be strong and said, "Mother is talking about our Eldest Brother."
"Eldest Brother?"
"Yes. Little sister, did you know? Eldest Brother could recite dozens of poems at just three years old and paint landscapes at five. Even the Emperor praised him and granted him special permission to enter the Imperial Academy to study." Whenever he thought of his Eldest Brother, he remained the greatest source of pride in Jing Zhao's heart!
Little Sui An opened her eyes wide, "He was so amazing! Then where is Eldest Brother? Why have I never seen him?"
Shen Jingzhao finally couldn't hold it in anymore; he lowered his head with a choked sob, "Eldest Brother... he is gone... we will never be able to see him again."
Half a year ago, a fire broke out in the library of the Imperial Academy due to a fallen candle.
When the fire was extinguished, they only found a charred corpse and that jade pendant of Shen Jinghuai's—the one with the exquisite texture that he never left behind.
A genius who had been famous throughout the Capital City ended up with not even a complete body when he was buried, leaving behind only a pile of charred bones.
A few days after that, Shen Jingzhao also fell ill and could not get up. The "Twin Stars" of the Marquis's Estate had nearly both fallen!
Hearing that her Eldest Brother was gone and had been burned by fire, little Sui An's eyes turned red in shock. Large, bean-sized tears welled up and kept falling down her little face.
Eldest Brother was so miserable; it must have been so painful to be burned by fire. Little Sui An didn't even dare to think about it; her heart felt extremely heavy.
"Little sister, please don't cry." Seeing this, Shen Jingzhao forgot about his own grief and hurriedly wiped his sister's tears, "From now on, Second Brother will take good care of you just like Eldest Brother took care of me. If Eldest Brother knows from the afterlife, he will surely be comforted."
Little Sui An sniffled and said in a milky voice, "Second Brother, although I never met Eldest Brother, I really want to remember him. Can you take me to see his old room?"
As long as they were her family, she wanted to remember them well and treasure them in her heart.
Shen Jingzhao wiped away his tears, "Of course I can. Eldest Brother's room is right next to mine. Come, I'll take you to see it now!"
After tidying her clothes and leaving the room, the siblings walked hand in hand along the small path until they reached Tingxiang Pavilion, which connected to the backyard.
In Shen Jinghuai's room, everything was exactly as it had been.
Since he left, Su Jinhan had forbidden the servants from entering, only coming in herself to dust, and each time, she could not help but weep for half the day.
Pushing open the carved wooden door, little Sui An walked in and was the first to smell a pleasant scent of ink.
Although the room was not large, it was decorated very elegantly.
On the bed, there were moon-white bed curtains paired with beaded curtains made of purple chalcedony.
On the desk, there was a sheet of Chengxin Tang paper with half a poem that Shen Jinghuai had left unfinished while at home.
Shen Jingzhao's eyes grew sore as he looked at it, his longing spreading like wildfire.
Little Sui An walked over to the desk. Although she could not read, she could see that the handwriting was powerful yet unrestrained, and she felt even more regret in her heart.
Just then, she lightly touched the paper and suddenly realized that something was hidden underneath it.
"Huh?"
Picking it up to look, she saw it was a green jade pendant with its string burned away.
Shen Jingzhao recognized it at a glance and shouted in surprise, "This jade pendant is the one that went into the sea of fire with Eldest Brother! Strange, after the Imperial Academy sent it back, Mother put his belongings into a brocade box. Why is it appearing under Eldest Brother's poems now?"
Little Sui An was curious and subconsciously held it.
To her surprise, as soon as the jade pendant entered her palm, it began to shake violently as if it had gone mad!
The jade pendant was restless and even tried to lead little Sui An toward the outside.
Little Sui An was startled, "Second Brother, this jade pendant seems to want to go somewhere. It keeps struggling to get out; I can barely hold onto it!"
Shen Jingzhao looked down, but he saw nothing. Rubbing his eyes didn't help either.
"It's not moving at all. The jade pendant hasn't budged. Little sister, did you see wrong?"
Little Sui An suddenly understood. It seemed that the jade pendant had been with its master for so long that it had gained a spirit, and only she could sense it, which was why it was asking her for help.
Thus, the little one immediately became serious and stroked the green jade, "Don't be anxious. Since you are Eldest Brother's jade pendant, I will help you with whatever place you want to go or whatever wish you have."
As soon as she said this, the jade pendant seemed to understand and stopped shaking.
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