Xiao Sui An took a step with her short legs and rushed out like an arrow, "What happened? What happened to Eldest Brother?"
At this moment, Bai Zhi was seen running over, stumbling as she went.
"Our Young Master seems to be different. He just woke up from his nap and is actually... actually writing poetry." Bai Zhi pointed toward Tingxiang Pavilion, her face full of disbelief.
Hearing this, everyone hurried over to see.
In the room filled with the scent of ink, a slender figure was standing before the table.
Shen Jinghuai held a wolf-hair brush, pondered for a moment, and added a few strokes to the poem he had left unfinished when he departed home half a year ago.
"The continuous rain makes one unaware that spring has departed; one awakening reveals that summer has deepened."
Seeing his family enter, Shen Jinghuai put down the brush. A glimmer of longing tears flashed in his eyes, which finally transformed into a smile.
"Mother, I have returned," he said in a gentle voice.
Xiao Sui An widened her eyes.
The Eldest Brother before her had clear eyes, a firm expression, and his speech was distinct and forceful.
It was completely different from the day he first returned.
So, burning that Evil Object was not in vain; Eldest Brother's mind has recovered!
Su Jinhan's face turned pale, and she stepped forward, tears falling with every step, "Huai'er, let Mother see. Are you... are you really better?"
Shen Jinghuai nodded, "Yes, Mother. I feel as if I have had a very long dream. In the dream, everything was chaotic, but I don't know how, I was suddenly awakened by you and Little Sister."
After speaking, he looked at his mother and then cast his gaze upon the Little Milk Ball beside her.
Xiao Sui An was overjoyed. She tugged at his sleeve, about to introduce herself.
At this moment, Shen Jinghuai smiled and gently touched her little hair bun.
"I know, you are Xiao Sui An, my little sister. Yesterday, you came to my room eight hundred times and kept repeating this in my ear. Eldest Brother's ears have grown calluses from it; I wouldn't dare not remember."
Xiao Sui An beamed with joy, opened her arms, and pounced on him, "Haha, Eldest Brother, that's great! Sui An wants a hug. Quick, you haven't hugged me yet."
"Sui An likes you so much, and I have so many, many things to tell you. Don't even think about those calluses on your ears falling off today~"
This sweet voice made Shen Jinghuai lift the corners of his lips as he pulled her into his embrace.
Although he did not know this little sister before.
But for some reason, the moment he heard her speak, his heart felt very joyful.
Soon, another little head squeezed in forcefully.
"Eldest Brother, I want a hug too!" Shen Jingzhao mimicked his sister's actions and acted spoiled as well.
The brothers were reunited after a long time; a single look and a pat on the shoulder said everything that needed to be said.
Su Jinhan was overjoyed. She wiped her teary eyes and said, "Alright, don't tire your Eldest Brother out. Quick, Mother still has many things to ask. Let's go to the luohan bed to talk."
Now that Jinghuai and Jingzhao had gone from "one dead and one ill" to being so safe and healthy.
Su Jinhan's heart was finally at peace; as a mother, she had no other requests.
From now on, their family must never be separated again!
Shen Jinghuai had been drifting outside for a long time. After listening to his mother and younger brother for a while, he realized that many things had happened at the mansion while he was away.
"So, Jingzhao was once like me and nearly lost his life, and the Eldest Branch coveted the title so much. Mother, you have suffered alone," Shen Jinghuai said with a pained heart.
Su Jinhan shook her head with a smile, "Mother has traveled far and wide; how could I be so fragile? Besides, after your little sister came to the mansion, life became much easier."
"By the way, Huai'er, what about you? What exactly happened that day when the Imperial Academy caught fire? And whose charred remains were those?" Su Jinhan's heart was filled with doubts, and she could finally ask now.
Shen Jinghuai recalled, "That day, there was also a young servant doing odd jobs in the library with me."
"He had no parents and no one cared about him, so the authorities must have mistaken his remains for mine."
Shen Jinghuai's gaze drifted into the distance, carrying a hint of pain, "Actually, when the fire started that day, I was very close to the door. I could have escaped safely and not been harmed by the fire."
"But unexpectedly, just before I pushed the door, I don't know why, my mind suddenly went blank, and then I couldn't do anything. I could only roll in the sea of fire like a swaddled infant, and only then did I barely manage to save my life."
After speaking, Shen Jinghuai reached out and touched the scar on his face, unable to hide the disappointment in his eyes.
His mind had recovered, but his appearance had... ended up like this.
Xiao Sui An guessed that it must have been when the talisman began to take effect, causing Eldest Brother to become confused and helpless. It was truly detestable.
Su Jinhan pondered slightly, hugged her son again, and told him to continue resting.
After leaving the room, Su Jinhan's gaze turned cold inch by inch, as if a sharp thorn had pierced her heart.
Who could be so vicious as to attack both of her sons at the same time?
They nearly took their lives!
Thinking of the Talisman Token that harmed Jinghuai, which was found in the Imperial Palace.
Su Jinhan narrowed her eyes and said to Chaoyan, "It seems this matter definitely has something to do with people in the palace."
Chaoyan closed the door, listening to the laughter of the three siblings continuing inside.
She lowered her voice and said, "Madam, should we continue to hide the news that the Young Master is still alive?"
Su Jinhan shook her head.
"No, since I have already clarified the process of Huai'er's displacement, I can rest easy."
"As for the person behind the scenes, no matter who it is in the palace, we should give them a warning."
"No matter who they are, my Anxin Marquis Manor is not something to be trifled with!"
Su Jinhan ordered in a deep voice, "Spread the news that the eldest son of the Marquis's Estate has survived a great disaster and has now returned!"
...
On the other side, in the Imperial Palace, inside the Imperial Study.
At this time, more than a dozen scholars from the Hanlin Academy had gathered.
They did not come to discuss matters with the Emperor, but at the request of Noble Consort Shen, to arrange a palace examination for the little Princess.
Noble Consort Shen stepped forward gracefully and said with a smile, "I am disturbing you all today because I truly wish to better educate the Princess, but I am troubled by how to measure her talent in poetry, so I would like to ask you all to help test her a little."
This was, of course, untrue.
It was merely Noble Consort Shen wanting to make a name for the Princess, hoping to use the mouths of the scholars to promote her.
The people from the Hanlin Academy had long heard of the Princess's talent.
They said, "Noble Consort, you are too polite. We do not have great talent; it is just a small test. We hope you and the Princess will not laugh at us."
However, to everyone's surprise—
Just as the test questions were set, the Princess, who had been confident and radiant just a moment ago, suddenly let out a cry.
Immediately, after a flash of pain, Princess Gu Yuanxi looked as if her soul had been extracted; her eyes became panicked, and her face filled with unease.
Noble Consort Shen did not know what had happened and froze, "Xi'er?"
At this time, the head of the Hanlin Academy spoke, "There are twelve poetry questions in total. Please, Princess, provide your answers."
Princess Gu Yuanxi stared ahead. In normal times, she would have been able to answer fluently.
But at this moment, she was stumbling, sweating profusely, and could not utter a single word.
Noble Consort Shen became anxious and urged, "Xi'er, do not be arrogant with your talent. Hurry and answer."
Gu Yuanxi's face turned red from holding it in, and finally, she burst into ashamed tears.
"I can't, Imperial Mother, I can't answer. It's as if I've forgotten everything..."
In her mind, all her knowledge had vanished in that instant!
Noble Consort Shen was shocked. Could it be that the other Luck Stealing Curse had also failed? "Nonsense, how is this possible!"
The people from the Hanlin Academy shook their heads in disappointment.
So much for being talented; it seems it was just a false reputation to deceive people. The Goddess Princess is nothing more than this.
"We shall take our leave!"
The Emperor, sitting in the seat of honor, also frowned slightly and glanced at Noble Consort Shen, sighing inwardly.
Although he had personally conferred the title of Goddess of the Great Xi Dynasty upon Xi'er.
Why did he feel more and more that this child was sometimes clever and sometimes foolish, not at all like the prophecy in his dream?
However, he only had this one daughter. If Xi'er was not the chosen Goddess, then who else could it be...
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