The incident in the Imperial Study concerned the dignity of the Royal Family and was temporarily covered up.
However, the news that Shen Jinghuai had "returned from the dead" spread throughout the Capital City very quickly.
Pine and Crane Hall, being "close to the water," was the first to hear the news, and Shen Jingping jumped up in shock.
"What? Cousin Jinghuai is not dead!"
Shen Jingping grabbed his hair and cried out, "Grandfather, doesn't that mean the position of Heir Apparent you promised me is even more hopeless? Please, say something."
He was only one step away from being adopted to inherit the title; why did his cousins have to come out one by one to block his path!
Old Master Shen was also very shocked.
He calmed himself down and first reassured him, "Don't panic. It is just Jinghuai. As long as your second uncle cannot return, Grandfather has ways to fight for you. Besides, we still have the Old Imperial Concubine to back us up."
Just as they were speaking, someone from the palace happened to arrive.
It was the Old Imperial Concubine who had sent someone to deliver a reward.
Upon hearing this, Old Master Shen said confidently, "Look, Ping'er, Grandfather knew that the Old Imperial Concubine would not treat us poorly. Go and accept the reward quickly."
Who would have thought that when everyone went out to look, they saw Granny Zhou walking straight toward Xiao Sui An and presenting a very large brocade box.
Granny Zhou curtsied and said, "Miss Sui An, the Old Master missed you dearly the moment you left. She specifically ordered this old servant to deliver her regards. Do not forget to visit the palace in the future."
Shen Jingping's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"For... for that wild girl? How could this be..."
Xiao Sui An hugged Granny Zhou and accepted the gift, "Please thank Grand Consort Grandmother for me."
When she turned to return to her courtyard, she saw Shen Jingping behind her, his face pale with anger.
"Haha, Second Brother, it seems someone was daydreaming and chose the wrong person to rely on." Xiao Sui An laughed, shaking her head.
Shen Jingzhao curled his lips, not deigning to give him a look, "Let's go, Sister. It's just a toad trying to get a foothold; he still wants to sponge off our mansion. What a clown!"
"You..." Shen Jingping's eyes turned red with anger, and he secretly clenched his fists, "Just you wait."
He had long considered this Marquis's Estate to be his own; whoever dared to block his path would not have an easy time!
Back at Yingyue Courtyard.
Xiao Sui An opened the brocade box and nearly gasped in surprise.
"Wow, how beautiful."
It turned out that the gift from the Old Imperial Concubine was a three-tiered glazed tile palace lantern, exquisitely shaped and adorned with agate and pearls.
It shone brilliantly once the candle was lit; no child could resist it.
Seeing his sister happy, Shen Jingzhao had an idea, "It just so happens to be the fifteenth today, and there is a temple fair tonight. Mother, let me take my sister to join in the fun. We can bring this palace lantern along; it will surely look spectacular."
Xiao Sui An nodded repeatedly, grabbed her second brother's arm, and they both looked at Su Jinhan with eager eyes.
Su Jinhan helplessly agreed, "Very well. Let Bai Zhi and Chaoyan follow you. Do not cause trouble outside. I will stay home to keep your eldest brother company."
Thus, after dinner, Xiao Sui An happily took Shen Jingzhao's hand and went out.
The Great Xi Dynasty had an open culture, and there was no curfew in the Capital City.
Especially on the East and West streets, once night fell and the lanterns were lit, the area appeared even more prosperous and dazzling.
"Second Brother, look, it's so lively over there. Let's hurry over~"
The temple fair was held next to the entertainment district. As soon as Xiao Sui An stepped out of the carriage, she was deeply attracted by the scene ahead.
She carried the glazed lantern in one hand and held Shen Jingzhao's hand tightly with the other, wandering around happily.
Shen Jingzhao protected his sister closely, fearing she might trip or bump into something, and his gaze never left her.
Along the way, whenever Xiao Sui An liked something and looked at it twice, Shen Jingzhao would wave his hand and buy it all!
His sister deserved to be pampered.
After a round of shopping, even Xiao Sui An felt a pinch in her heart, "Oh, Second Brother, did you spend a lot of silver? Did you count it?"
Shen Jingzhao patted his chest, "It's fine, Second Brother still has plenty."
"Really? So much silver? Where did you get it?"
"Ahem, before we left, I dug into Daddy's little treasury. Daddy said he had been saving it for seven or eight years, but since it's for my sister, I'm sure Daddy would agree," Shen Jingzhao said brazenly.
Xiao Sui An let out a puff, nearly spitting out her saliva.
Her second brother was truly too "filial"!
She dared not imagine what would happen when the Marquis returned home... She felt a bit sorry for this father she had never met.
Bai Zhi and Chaoyan followed behind, their faces full of shock and gossip.
What? The Marquis has a little treasury!
Madam, Madam, they have important intelligence.
Just as they were laughing, they suddenly encountered a crowded area ahead.
In the center of the temple fair, at this very moment, hundreds of people were surrounding a large opera stage, constantly gasping, shouting, and jeering.
Seeing this, Shen Jingzhao hurriedly led his sister into the crowd, only to see that on the large opera stage, there was a "big guy" tied up, looking terrifying and beast-like!
That big guy was not human, but not entirely a beast either.
He was over ten feet tall, covered in black hair, with skin as hard as stone, and was tightly bound by a dozen iron chains.
The Persian merchant on the side finished his demonstration and shouted, "This is a wild hairy person captured by our nation, extremely strange and monstrous."
"If anyone off the stage can touch his limbs without being injured, they shall receive one thousand taels of silver. If anyone can touch his head or neck without drawing blood, they shall receive one thousand taels of gold!"
Upon hearing this, the crowd erupted.
Everyone was eager to try.
However, as soon as a few bold ones jumped onto the stage, they were directly knocked to the ground by the wild hairy person's roars and stomps.
A few others who didn't believe it bit the bullet and reached out to get closer.
But no matter who it was, as soon as their hands touched the wild hairy person, he would swipe his sharp claws, tearing their skin and flesh, and they would scream as blood splattered on the spot!
Such a scene gave the onlookers a feast for their eyes and made the Persian merchant a fortune.
"How about it? Is there anyone else who dares to come on stage?"
"This thousand taels of gold is right here on the stage; is there no one who dares to take it?" The merchant's eyes gleamed with greed.
Shen Jingzhao wrinkled his nose, "What a treacherous merchant. Using a monster for amusement on one hand and luring people to risk their lives on the other—truly inhumane."
Xiao Sui An nodded vigorously. She looked again, then suddenly moved her short legs and jumped onto the opera stage!
"Let me try~"
Shen Jingzhao was startled and hurriedly chased after her, "Sister, no! He will hurt you, come down quickly!"
But he was one step too late.
At this moment, Xiao Sui An had already walked up to the wild hairy person, stretched out her soft little hand, and reached toward the big guy...
"Ahhh!!"
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