Xiao Sui An paused in her tracks, looking around in a hurry, thinking she had misheard.
But immediately after, the mournful cries continued intermittently, reaching her ears without stop... it was truly, undeniably real!
"Can someone come and save me..."
With that, Xiao Sui An could not care about anything else and quickly followed the sound, searching outside the Azure Heavens Palace.
Granny Zhou saw this and hurried to catch up.
"What is wrong, Miss Sui An? This is not a convenient place to play. Let this old servant take you to a better place to have fun."
Xiao Sui An shook her head. "No, Granny, I am not playing. I have something important to do. Please do not stop me."
Soon, after searching for a few more steps, she finally saw the tree that was crying.
Xiao Sui An looked up, and at the very first glance, her eyes widened in shock!
She saw that this begonia tree outside the Azure Heavens Palace was exactly like the one at the mansion, both drooping and in a withered state.
It was already warm spring, yet the tree did not have a single green leaf left. It was clear that its life force had been damaged, and it was hanging on by only half a breath.
Could it be...
Xiao Sui An's heart pounded wildly. Could the thing hidden beneath this be what is harming Eldest Brother?!
Without time to think, the little one said something shocking, "Quick, Granny Zhou, I want to dig up what is under this big tree!"
What? Granny Zhou was dumbfounded.
"Little ancestor, this is the Imperial Palace. You cannot touch a single brick or a patch of soil without permission," she said, shaking her head subconsciously.
Xiao Sui An was determined; if Granny Zhou would not help, she would do it herself.
After rolling up her pale yellow sleeves, the little one stretched out her hands, pressed them into the mud, and squatted down to start digging.
It was just that it had not rained here for a long time, and the ground was too hard.
"If I cannot dig it out, I will go back in a while and beg Grand Consort Grandmother to help me!" Xiao Sui An did not give up.
Seeing that the little one was insistent, her chubby little face had turned red from anxiety.
Granny Zhou was confused and troubled. She looked around to see that no one was there, so she decided to just go for it.
"What are you looking for? Do not do it yourself, you might hurt yourself. Just leave it to this old servant."
As soon as she finished speaking, Xiao Sui An was lifted up.
Granny Zhou then took out a dagger and began to probe a few inches into the ground under the tree.
Fortunately, she was very methodical.
In a few moments, she determined that there was indeed a hard object buried to the south of the tree.
"Keep watch for me, and call out if anyone comes." Taking advantage of the fact that no palace attendants were passing by, Granny Zhou used the knife to pry open the soil layer and quickly dug out a cloth bundle from below.
Although she hesitated, she opened it anyway.
Once the rotten cloth was lifted, what was revealed inside was a wooden plaque covered in incantations!
The same material, the same incantations... it was exactly the same as the previous one!
Xiao Sui An quickly took it, so excited she almost fell over.
"Yes, this is it. I found it! Thank you, Granny Zhou!"
Eldest Brother's strange illness can be saved!!
As an old servant in the palace, Granny Zhou could not help but frown and sigh. It seemed that someone in this palace was using vile methods again?
But how did the Little Miss figure it out? This is truly strange.
Xiao Sui An was anxious to go back and save her brother and did not want to play anymore, so she pulled Granny Zhou and ran back like a gust of wind.
After returning to Huaze Palace and finishing lunch with the Old Imperial Concubine, Xiao Sui An was eager to return home.
Before leaving, the Old Imperial Concubine held her little hand and did not forget to instruct her.
"Come to the palace often in the future. If anyone dares to bully you, Grand Consort Grandmother will back you up, do you understand?"
Xiao Sui An's eyes curved into smiles. As she waved, she said, "You must also take care of your health. Eat lots of delicious food. When Sui An comes to see you next time, I promise not to ruin your paintings anymore."
"You little troublemaker, still teasing me." The Old Imperial Concubine sighed with reluctance.
Not until Xiao Sui An disappeared from her sight did she turn around and walk toward the inner hall.
Once they left the Imperial Palace and returned to the carriage, Su Jinhan felt as if today had been a dream.
"You little one, you really know how to give your mother a fright, especially when you splashed ink on the painting. My heart almost jumped out." Su Jinhan flicked her daughter's nose.
Little did she know, something even more shocking was yet to come.
At this moment, she saw Xiao Sui An reach out and mysteriously take out the talisman token.
"Mother, let me show you something."
Su Jinhan looked down, and upon seeing the object, she exclaimed, "Ah! This is..."
Xiao Sui An nodded vigorously. "That is right, it looks exactly like the dirty thing that harmed Second Brother. I suspect this might be what was used to harm Eldest Brother."
Su Jinhan was deeply shaken, her eyes staring fixedly at the evil object.
A small piece of wood with a few incantations written on it could actually control a person's fate like this?
Who could be so jealous of her Huai'er and Zhao'er!
Suppressing her heaving chest, she forced herself to calm down. "Alright, Sui An, tell Mother, how can we break this now?"
Xiao Sui An said in a milky voice, "Destroy it, leave nothing behind. Mother, it is best to burn it with fire, then the curse on it will no longer be effective."
Su Jinhan nodded immediately. As it happened, there was a small charcoal brazier in the carriage, originally used for warmth in the cold weather.
She asked the coachman for a fire starter, immediately lit the charcoal brazier, and threw the vile talisman token into it.
Amidst the flames, the wooden talisman token first cracked from the heat and then slowly turned into ashes.
After doing this, the carriage creaked to a stop in front of the Marquis's Estate.
Su Jinhan led Xiao Sui An back inside. As soon as she entered the room, she asked with a trembling voice, "How is Huai'er? How is Huai'er doing? Has he gotten any better?"
Today, the Yingyue Courtyard was exceptionally quiet.
It was like the surface of a lake without a single ripple.
Chaoyan was doing needlework; she put down her things and stood up. "Madam is back. Did your trip to the palace go smoothly?"
Shen Jingzhao also came over. He had just finished practicing his sword and was feeling refreshed. "Sister, Mother! Were you just asking about Eldest Brother?"
"He went to sleep after eating. Eldest Brother is still the same as yesterday." Shen Jingzhao did not quite understand and shook his head.
Su Jinhan's breathing quickened. Seeing them so normal, the spark of hope that had just been ignited was extinguished by the two people in front of her.
"Has Huai'er not improved at all?"
Xiao Sui An also scratched her head.
What? The talisman token was clearly burned, but Eldest Brother had no reaction? How could this be?
"Clang!"
Just at this moment, the sound of a water basin falling came from the backyard.
"Eldest... Eldest Young Master... what are you doing?" Immediately after, came Bai Zhi's cry.
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