After leaving the palace, Xiao Sui An was still thinking about the Old Imperial Concubine, and her spirits were not very high.
To coax her, Su Jinhan went to the street before returning to the mansion and bought a sugar figure larger than her face.
Only then did Xiao Sui An smile, holding it carefully and adorably, "Mother, after we go back, I want to share it with Eldest Brother and Second Brother."
At this moment, the carriage stopped, and neither of them noticed two servants from Pine and Crane Hall quietly running out of the side gate...
The two were acting suspiciously, and they were holding an ugly portrait in their hands.
"Hurry to the West Market; the more people who see it, the better."
"Young Master Ping said there is a reward if we do it well..."
...
Upon returning home, Xiao Sui An changed her clothes, stuck the sugar figure into a pile of Osmanthus Cake, and then grabbed a watering can to run to the backyard to look after the "fragrant herbs."
The flower bed was lush and green, almost full, with hundreds of plants by count; from afar, they shimmered with silver light, and the air was filled with fragrance.
In fact, Xiao Sui An did not know what these "fragrant herbs" were actually used for.
She reached out her little hand to touch them and muttered, "Since the Wild Hairy Person let me buy them, they must be good things. I'll just plant them well first."
"Right, Flower Spirits." After finishing her work, Xiao Sui An turned her head to look at the flowers filling the backyard, "Have you ever heard of what Silver Green Grass is?"
Before the Flower Spirits could answer, Shen Jingzhao's angry voice came from the front yard!
"This is simply outrageous! Who drew this thing and dared to spread rumors that my Eldest Brother is a monster? I am going out to settle the score with them!"
Hearing this, Xiao Sui An could not bother to ask more and hurried to the front.
"What happened, Second Brother?"
Shen Jingzhao was holding the portrait, trembling with anger. He was about to speak, but upon seeing his Eldest Brother approaching, he quickly hid it behind his back, "Nothing... nothing at all."
Shen Jinghuai walked out of the room, seemingly sensing something, and reached out his hand, calmly spitting out five words.
"Shen Jingzhao, bring it here."
Once called by his full name, Jingzhao felt as if he had been immobilized; he quickly deflated and obediently handed over the portrait.
Xiao Sui An quickly unfolded it to look, only to see that on a crumpled piece of white paper, there was a drawing of an ugly man with curled limbs, a ferocious face, and a body covered in earthworm-like scars!
Above the portrait, there were even large, striking characters written: The Ugly Monster of the Marquis's Estate.
Shen Jinghuai's eyes trembled, and his arm tightened slightly.
The scar on his face also stung.
Is this talking about him...
Xiao Sui An became anxious the moment she saw it, waving her little fists and saying, "My Eldest Brother doesn't look like this at all! Who did this evil deed!"
Although her Eldest Brother was burned by fire and his appearance was ruined, he was not as terrifying as the drawing.
Shen Jingzhao was also furious, "I don't know, but it has spread all over the street now, saying that Eldest Brother came back from the fire... uglier than a monster, and that Eldest Brother doesn't dare to go out..."
The more he spoke, the quieter his voice became, his face full of unbearable pity.
Hearing this, Su Jinhan felt extreme heartache and wished she could go out right now and tear the mouths of those spreading nonsense.
"Huai'er, it's fine. You just stay at home properly. People love to chase shadows and spread idle gossip; it will all dissipate in a few days." Su Jinhan suppressed her heartache and comforted her son first.
Shen Jinghuai's face was pale, but he quickly recovered and shook his head firmly.
"No, Mother. Since they say I am too ugly to be seen and dare not go out, then today I will go out and see."
Su Jinhan was surprised, "Huai'er, are you serious?"
Shen Jinghuai nodded, the self-esteem in his eyes impossible to ignore, "Father is not at the mansion, so I should be the pillar for Mother and my younger siblings. If I become weak because of a few rumors and let outsiders ruin my reputation, it will only be more detrimental to our Marquis's Estate."
The road is right under his feet.
Even with a disfigured face, for the sake of his family, he must hold everything up and walk well.
Xiao Sui An held her little face, her eyes sparkling after listening.
Eldest Brother said that so well.
She hugged him and looked up, saying firmly, "Eldest Brother, in my eyes, you are the most handsome; no one can compare to you."
Seeing this, tears shimmered in Su Jinhan's eyes; her Huai'er had truly grown up.
"Good, do whatever you want to do; Mother will listen to you."
Shen Jinghuai returned to his room and found a veil hat with a short curtain.
This type of veil hat was very popular among young masters and misses of noble families, often used for shading.
After Shen Jinghuai put it on, it could just cover the scars on his forehead and the middle of his face, "Alright, Sui An, Jingzhao, let's go out."
After hitching the carriage, the three siblings headed towards the West Market.
Shen Jingzhao had already had Rong Feng inquire about today's rumors.
They had spread from the most lively place in the West Market, the Elegant Abode.
The Elegant Abode was a restaurant, usually used by noble children for drinking tea, listening to music, or holding small gatherings.
At this time, in the Elegant Abode, the rumors had not yet dissipated.
"What is the use of being talented and handsome before? Now he has become a joke with a hunched body and an ugly face."
"If the future of the Marquis's Estate is handed over to him, haha, the reputation will be completely ruined."
Just as everyone was talking, suddenly, they heard the sound of jade rings at the door.
Following that, two clear and upright young figures entered the tea house side by side.
Accompanying them was a little girl with fair skin and eyes as round and cute as pearls.
"Waiter, bring a pot of Taiping Houkui, the best one, and another portion of Lotus Root Starch Cake for my sister." As soon as Shen Jingzhao entered, he deliberately raised his voice.
Everyone's eyes were instantly attracted.
They were truly a pair of clear and handsome youths.
Although one of them was covering his face, the exposed chin and lips were still so good-looking, not to mention the little girl.
At this moment, someone recognized the Marquis's Estate carriage and could not help but exclaim.
"It's people from the Anxin Marquis Manor!"
"So, these are Young Master Huai and Young Master Zhao?"
Once these words were spoken, everyone's gaze turned toward them all at once.
Some were surprised, others confused.
"Isn't it said that the eldest son of the Marquis's Estate was burned by fire, his limbs twisted, and his back hunched, and that he is an ugly monster? He clearly isn't."
"And his face, half of it is covered, so there must be scars, but the exposed part is still very good-looking," several young misses said to each other with blushing faces.
"Such a fine young master, even with some scars, shouldn't be called an ugly monster. Who is making this up?" someone else muttered.
Once the person himself appeared, the rumors were instantly debunked!
Xiao Sui An was very satisfied, took a bite of the Lotus Root Starch Cake, revealed squinting smiling eyes, and nodded her little head continuously.
Shen Jingzhao crossed his arms and raised the corners of his mouth; at least they had some conscience!
However, at this moment, not far away, a voice came over, spoiling the mood.
"I wondered who it was; so it's the 'dead man' from the Anxin Marquis Manor who has arrived."
Xiao Sui An hurriedly looked up and saw a youth in green robes walking up provocatively.
"I heard that dead people can come back to life, making it like a play script. But why not take off the veil hat? Is the face hidden underneath too shameful to be seen!" The youth curled his lips and laughed loudly.
When Shen Jingzhao saw the person in front of him, his eyes turned red and he clenched his fists, recognizing him, "Sun Zishao, why is it you? Don't forget, your sister and my Eldest Brother are engaged."
Mentioning the engagement made Sun Zishao even more unhappy.
He stepped on a stool and squinted his eyes, humming, "I will never let my sister marry a disfigured, unlucky ghost. Shen Jingzhao, today, your Eldest Brother must show his face, otherwise..."
Shen Jinghuai sat steadily without moving, pressed his brother's arm, and calmly asked in return, "Otherwise, what can you do?"
Sun Zishao still had some reservations and dared not make a move.
But he revealed a tyrannical face, suddenly pretending to touch his pocket, and then shouted, "Oh my, what's going on? I seem to have lost a gold ingot."
"Only you guys came in just now, so I suspect you took it. If you don't take off that veil hat, I will report it to the officials to investigate and let the constables take off your veil hat to see if it's hidden inside!" Sun Zishao said triumphantly.
Seeing that this playboy was going to act shamelessly.
Shen Jingzhao, protective of his brother, touched the saber at his waist, "Are you looking for a beating!"
At this time, Xiao Sui An puffed up her little cheeks and spoke first, "Want to find a gold ingot? Then I'll help you!"
"Have you ever heard of what it means to be true gold that fears no fire!" She lowered her voice and suddenly revealed a cunning look.
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