By the time everyone reacted, the ink had already been splashed completely!
All the Palace Attendants were so shocked that their eyes widened.
"This is..."
The Old Imperial Concubine was even more furious; disregarding her own disability, she suddenly stood up and shouted.
"I was just about to praise you, but what are you doing? How dare you destroy a treasure I cherish! Who gave you the nerve!"
Xiao Sui An shook her head. She was not afraid, only explaining in a milky voice, "Sui An is not being naughty. I wanted to help you, Old Imperial Concubine, and the people in this painting."
The Old Imperial Concubine found it ridiculous and was so angry that she took a few more steps forward.
"You call destroying a painting helping? Helping me with what? It seems your paternal grandfather was right; you mother and daughter are truly lacking in discipline!"
However, just as these words fell, the Old Imperial Concubine suddenly felt something was wrong.
She lowered her head to look at her lower body, only to be shocked... she could actually stand up?!
"Wait..." As if unable to believe it, the Old Imperial Concubine hurriedly reached out to touch her back and waist.
Having been paralyzed for so long, many parts of her body had long since gone numb.
Yet at this moment, she felt a warm current flowing through her entire body—a sign that her blood and energy were flowing freely!
The Palace Attendants of Huaze Palace, seeing this, knelt and kowtowed one after another.
"Congratulations to the Old Imperial Concubine! May you be blessed with good fortune and live for a thousand years!"
The Old Imperial Concubine suppressed the wild joy in her heart, slowly raised her eyes, and looked at Xiao Sui An, "What exactly did you do to me?"
Xiao Sui An shrugged with a smile and pointed at the painting, showing a naive and adorable expression.
In truth, she hadn't done much; she had just done a small favor for the immortals in the painting.
The "Night Banquet of a Thousand Autumns" in the main hall had been passed down for hundreds of years, and the people in the painting had been nourished by spiritual energy, long since becoming immortals within the canvas.
It was just that others could not perceive it, so they treated it as an ordinary famous painting kept in the room.
Just now, when Xiao Sui An discovered them, they had spoken up to beg her.
"For hundreds of years, it has been rare for anyone to hear us. Please, pick up the ink nearby and destroy the gate in the painting to set us free."
"If our wish can be fulfilled, we can use our spiritual energy to heal the paralyzed patient in this hall."
"I wonder if this fair exchange is possible?"
Xiao Sui An was, of course, happy to help, so she destroyed the painting to release the immortals, which in turn brought the Old Imperial Concubine back to health.
The Old Imperial Concubine looked at the painting and realized something; she hurriedly walked over to the Night Banquet painting.
She was astonished to find that all the figures in the painting had disappeared! In their original positions, only a pile of empty scenery remained...
In that case, was the little girl's heaven-defying act just now actually saving her?
The Old Imperial Concubine was absolutely incredulous!
She turned around again, picked up Xiao Sui An, and held her tightly in her arms.
"After all these years, I am finally able to... stand up, and I can even walk! The knot in my heart that has depressed me for years has finally been healed!" the Old Imperial Concubine said, tears streaming down her face.
This was simply her benefactor.
Thinking that Xiao Sui An was also the daughter of Ruoyuan, the Old Imperial Concubine smiled with relief, "It seems everything is fate. Someone, quickly offer a seat to the Marchioness!"
"You have raised this daughter very well; she is very much to my liking." The Old Imperial Concubine wiped her tears and returned to the main seat, holding Xiao Sui An.
Su Jinhan was inexplicably praised and felt a bit dazed.
It wasn't until she met eyes with her daughter that she suddenly realized: had this little one tinkered with something again, causing the Old Imperial Concubine to recover from her long illness??
After the Old Imperial Concubine finally calmed down, she looked at Xiao Sui An affectionately, "Grand Consort Grandmother likes you. You must come into the palace often to keep me company in the future."
In this Imperial Palace, there were still many of Xiao Sui An's "friends."
So the little one was naturally happy. She hugged the Old Imperial Concubine's neck and said familiarly, "Really? If I really come then, you mustn't find me annoying, or I will be very sad."
The Old Imperial Concubine was amused and laughed out loud, "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. Next time, even if you were to flip the roof off this palace, I wouldn't dare say a single word of objection."
Hearing this, the Palace Attendants could hardly believe it.
They had served the Old Imperial Concubine for so long, and this was the first time they had seen her so kind and amiable.
At this moment, the Old Imperial Concubine thought of something, cleared her throat, and gave a serious order.
"Someone, prepare a heavy reward and send it to that Divine Doctor who entered the palace a few days ago."
"It is thanks to his miraculous hands that my body has been able to recover. It is all his credit, do you hear me!" the Old Imperial Concubine emphasized heavily.
In this vast Imperial Palace, there were too many rights and wrongs, too many schemes.
Even if it was Xiao Sui An who healed her, it must never be spoken aloud, or it would surely bring endless trouble to this child.
Xiao Sui An understood her intention and accepted this "protection," smiling, "Yes, that Divine Doctor Xu is very amazing. Grand Consort Grandmother is wise."
The Old Imperial Concubine made a face and secretly leaned close to her ear.
"Rest assured, I will not forget my true little benefactor. Tell me, what reward do you want? Grand Consort Grandmother will give you everything."
Xiao Sui An tilted her little head and thought seriously.
She had no concept of gold, silver, or jewelry, "I want to walk around the palace~" and then go find the antique desk grandmother, the crooked-neck tree grandfather, the Black Wolf Demon, and the flower and grass spirits in the cold palace to catch up.
The Old Imperial Concubine couldn't help but sigh at what a naive child she was, so she arranged for Granny Zhou to accompany her.
"Granny Zhou, whatever Sui An wants to do, accommodate her. But pay attention to the time; remember to bring her back before lunch. Without her, I won't be able to eat my midday meal."
Granny Zhou hurriedly curtsied, "This servant obeys."
"Jinhan, stay for lunch and have a meal with me before you go back." The Old Imperial Concubine spoke again, her face now gentle.
Thus, after Xiao Sui An waved her little hand at Su Jinhan, she ran out of Huaze Palace with Granny Zhou.
The Imperial Palace was truly too large.
Xiao Sui An could only try to find her way according to the directions she was familiar with in her memory.
From the time she could remember, she had grown up in the cold palace.
But occasionally, when the night was quiet, the Black Wolf Demon from the Royal Hunting Ground would come to carry her on his back, jump over the high walls of the cold palace, and secretly take her around the palace.
So at this moment, Xiao Sui An walked with her short legs, feeling amazed at everything she saw, "Wow, so the palace looks even prettier during the day than at night."
Granny Zhou didn't quite understand and bent down to ask, "Miss Sui An, the palace gates are locked at night. Have you ever been inside before?"
Xiao Sui An waved her little hand, "Ahem... how could that be? I was just talking nonsense, Granny, don't mind it."
Just then, a luxurious figure flashed by in front, interrupting their conversation.
"Be careful, everyone! This afternoon, I am taking the Princess to see the Emperor and the Grand Academicians. These are gifts prepared for the Grand Academicians; if you break them, watch out for your skins!"
Xiao Sui An looked at the woman in front and couldn't help but ask, "Granny, who is that? She looks so fierce."
Granny Zhou didn't bother to look up; she knew the identity just by the voice.
She replied gently, "Miss Sui An, that is Noble Consort Shen. We are about to reach her Azure Heavens Palace. This person is not easy to deal with. Shall this old servant take you to play elsewhere?"
Xiao Sui An saw it was inconvenient and nodded, just about to agree.
However, at this moment, she suddenly heard a sound of wailing coming from the Begonia tree outside the Azure Heavens Palace.
"So uncomfortable... this damn Talisman Token will sooner or later suck dry the essence of my old tree..."
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