The brows, eyes, and voice of the child before her...
Madam Su’s eyes were nearly splitting, and hot tears rolled down; it was her eldest son, Shen Jinghuai!
Hearing this, Xiao Sui An looked over in shock, "Mother, what did you say? You mean this is Eldest Brother?!"
Madam Su pulled the beggar into her arms, her shoulders trembling, almost unable to make a sound.
Tears, mixed with the shock of his return from the dead and an unbelievable joy, were all choked in her throat.
"Yes... this is your eldest brother... he is actually still alive, he is actually still alive..."
Shen Jingzhao’s mouth hung open, and he hurriedly rushed over to look closely.
The face of the person before him was covered in burn scars, familiar yet strange...
It was not until he held his hand and felt the thick calluses on his fingertips from long-term use of a brush that he was finally certain this was indeed his eldest brother!
Shen Jingzhao stood stunned for a long while before he let out a wail and began to cry bitterly, "Eldest Brother, it really is you! Wuwuwu, it’s so good that you’re still alive. Look at me, I’m Jingzhao!"
"Where have you been for the past six months? I missed you so much, Eldest Brother, wuwuwu." Shen Jingzhao cried so hard he couldn't even lift his head.
Xiao Sui An’s eyes also turned sour, and tears and snot bubbles emerged together.
She never imagined that Eldest Brother was still in this world, and that he was found today; this was truly the best news!
"It’s all thanks to the Jade Pendant recognizing its master and guiding the way. Eldest Brother, we can go home together in a little while," Xiao Sui An said, crying and laughing at the same time.
Yet, no matter what they said or did.
Shen Jinghuai never replied. His gaze was vacant, and a silly smile hung on his face. He only chuckled twice before going back to playing with the corner of his clothes on his own.
Seeing him like this, Madam Su was both happy and sad. It seemed Huai'er had lost his wits; no wonder he had never returned home. The poor child.
Just then, the Daoist Priest guarding the temple heard the noise and came over, feeling very gratified at the sight.
"That is wonderful. It seems you have found the family of this simple-minded child."
Madam Su wiped her eyes and hurriedly stood up to ask, "Did you take Huai'er in, Daoist Priest? Please inform me, what has happened to my Huai'er?"
The Daoist Priest recalled, "It was about half a year ago. The simple-minded child was being bullied outside my temple. After I chased the others away, I discovered that not only did he have burn scars on his face, but his speech and behavior were like those of a child. He couldn't even speak a coherent sentence, so I let him stay in the temple to survive."
"As for his experiences before that, I could not ask, but it is a joyous occasion that you have reunited with your family. Please, take him home," the Daoist Priest nodded.
Thinking of the past six months, Madam Su’s heart felt as if it were being pierced by a knife.
So her Huai'er had not died in the fire that day?
But he had been disfigured and lost his wits, wandering outside. She truly did not know how he had endured it...
"Many thanks for your great kindness, Daoist Priest." Madam Su endured her heartache and bowed deeply.
After the Daoist Priest left, she took out two large gold ingots and placed them in the donation box, then turned to help Shen Jinghuai up, "Huai'er, let’s go. Mother, your younger brother, and your younger sister have come to take you back to the mansion!"
The road from Orchid Alley to the Marquis's Estate was usually very short.
But today, it felt like a chasm, agonizingly long.
Inside the carriage, the sound of sobbing was constant.
Xiao Sui An hugged Shen Jinghuai and handed the Jade Pendant back into his palm, "Eldest Brother, keep this safe yourself. You will get better slowly in the future; Sui An will always be by your side."
Shen Jinghuai did not respond, but when he felt Xiao Sui An’s small palm, he lowered his head to look and curiously touched it back.
Such soft, such cute little hands...
Finally, they arrived back at the Marquis's Estate.
Once they returned to Yingyue Courtyard, the first thing Madam Su did was have the small kitchen prepare some hot food immediately.
There were also clean clothes, a comfortable bed, and a quiet environment.
These were what Jinghuai needed most right now.
After settling Shen Jinghuai in, Madam Su held him and cried for a long while before remembering to instruct Bai Zhi to go and invite Divine Doctor Xu.
Having wandered for so long, Shen Jinghuai was much thinner than before.
His old clothes were two sizes too big on him now.
As for what exactly happened on the day of the fire, he could not say, and it would take some time to figure it out.
Madam Su was not in a hurry to press him. At this moment, she cared more about her son’s health. Since her Huai'er had returned, nothing else could happen to him.
Bai Zhi went out quickly and returned, saying, "Madam, it seems Divine Doctor Xu has gone out for a house call, but I had the family servant leave a message asking the Divine Doctor to come to our mansion as soon as he returns."
By evening, Divine Doctor Xu finally arrived.
After checking Shen Jinghuai’s pulse, he pondered slightly and said, "Hmm, he is overly thin and needs plenty of nourishment, but fortunately, his body is generally in no serious trouble."
Madam Su let out a long sigh of relief, "Then may I ask, Divine Doctor Xu, he currently appears like a child and his mind is incomplete. Do you know if he will be able to recover?"
Divine Doctor Xu could not help but shake his head, "Forgive my bluntness, but this child’s brain meridians have suffered severe damage. He is currently no different from an infant in swaddling clothes. To recover would be as difficult as ascending to heaven."
When these words were spoken, Madam Su’s heart was gripped and crushed to pieces.
Could it be that her most intelligent Huai'er, who was once famous throughout the Capital City, would really have to be a simple-minded child for the rest of his life?
However, the fact that Jinghuai could "return from the dead" was already an unexpectedly joyous event.
As a mother, Madam Su wanted her child to be safe even more, so she was not too disappointed, "Thank you, Divine Doctor. I will see you out myself."
As they reached the mansion gate, Divine Doctor Xu remembered to explain, saying apologetically, "I am late today, and it was not my intention to be negligent. I hope the Marchioness will forgive me."
"It is because there was an order from the palace to send me to treat the Old Imperial Concubine who returned from the Northern Lands, which caused the delay."
Hearing that the Old Imperial Concubine had returned to the palace, Madam Su was surprised, "You mean the adoptive mother of His Majesty, the one who has been recuperating outside?"
Divine Doctor Xu nodded.
"That is correct, it is her. However, the old lady’s chronic illness is quite severe." After sighing, he said his goodbyes and left.
After the Divine Doctor left, Chaoyan could not help but ask, "Madam, your expression is off. Do you know that Old Imperial Concubine?"
Madam Su was forced to recall, her brows knitting together.
Back when she and the Marquis had just married, she had entered the palace and met her.
At that time, the Old Imperial Concubine suffered from a disability, and her temperament was very irritable; her attitude toward the Marquis was even more extremely hostile.
Madam Su pondered, "I heard that when the Old Imperial Concubine was young, she received favors from the one at Pine and Crane Hall, so she had quite a lot of contact with the Shen Family."
"However, for some reason, she seems to dislike the Marquis very much, but treats Shen Ruohai with great affection. She even summoned him into the palace for meals several times in the past."
"Now that this Imperial Concubine has returned to the Capital City, the Eldest Branch has found a backer. I expect they will be restless again, coveting the Marquis's title." The more Madam Su thought about it, the more she shook her head.
However, she had no time to worry about these things, because right now, nothing was more important than taking good care of Jinghuai.
Recalling today, Madam Su felt nothing but gratitude.
Gratitude that she had taken Xiao Sui An out with her.
And even more gratitude that she had listened to Sui An and stopped the carriage to enter the temple, which allowed her to meet Jinghuai!
The return of her eldest son left Madam Su unable to calm down for a long time. She had to become cautious, "By the way, Chaoyan, do not spread the news of Huai'er’s return for now. Wait until I have clarified the situation."
Chaoyan nodded and was about to agree, but when she looked up, she saw a small black shadow flash by.
Looking closer, it was Xiao Sui An, who was running under the large Begonia tree in the courtyard, scratching her head and pacing, wondering what she was thinking about.
"Madam, what is this?" Chaoyan asked, puzzled.
Madam Su looked over and said softly with gratification, "Never mind her. Sui An must have her reasons. This little treasure is the great hero who found Huai'er; even if she wanted to tear down the Marquis's Estate, I would let her!"
Mother and daughter had a tacit understanding; in fact, Xiao Sui An really did have a plan!
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