Xiao Sui An narrowed her eyes and snorted coldly, "The stolen goods are right inside, open it quickly and see!"
When the rotten cloth was pulled away, a wooden token covered in vermilion ink and written with talismans came into view!
The brushstrokes on it were terrifying, and black energy was faintly swirling around it.
The two maids were shocked and hurriedly threw the object onto the ground.
"What is this disgusting thing? It must be very strange!"
Seeing this, Xiao Sui An immediately focused her mind and continued to question the begonia tree.
Soon, following a sigh from the old tree, the words "Luck Stealing Curse" entered Xiao Sui An's ears.
"This object is extremely vicious; it has sucked away my essence as an old tree, cough, cough."
"Once targeted by this curse, one will either die or be crippled. It must be ground to dust and scattered to be dispelled. Little Miss, I can only help you this much."
Xiao Sui An nodded, knowing what to do.
She bent down to pick up the talisman token, tucked it into her little pocket, and looked up to ask.
"Sister Bai Zhi, where is the Pine and Crane Hall that my Mother went to?"
At this moment, inside the Pine and Crane Hall.
Thick incense mixed with the scent of charcoal fire, carrying a few traces of suffocating stuffiness.
Inside the hall, the atmosphere felt as if it had frozen.
Old Master Shen sat upright in the Grand Tutor chair, and beneath his full head of silver hair, a pair of black eyes were as sharp as an eagle's.
"The Marquis's Estate cannot be left without an heir, and this is an order passed down from the palace. The matter of adoption is not for you to dispute," he finally scolded.
Su Jinhan suppressed her emotions and retorted, "But the Marquis has only been missing for a few months, and Jing Zhao is still under the Marquis's name. Father, isn't it a bit too hasty to discuss adoption now?"
"Jing Zhao?" Zhou Yuncai coughed lightly from the side. "Sister-in-law, the Imperial Physician already said last time that the child only has a month of life left. Why do you insist on mentioning that short-lived one and causing Father unnecessary grief?"
Su Jinhan's eyes turned red, and she nearly broke her knuckles. "Sister-in-law, please watch your words!"
"As for my second brother, don't even mention him." At this time, the eldest son of the Shen family, Shen Ruohai, also gave a cold snort.
"If he were still alive, why wouldn't he have returned? You really are from a merchant family, only knowing how to calculate your own little gains, completely disregarding what is in the interest of the Shen family," he said pretentiously.
Su Jinhan felt as if her chest were about to explode; she was cold and furious inside!
How ridiculous, who exactly is the one calculating?
Right now, everyone in the capital knows that her husband is missing, and their two sons are one dead and one critically ill.
Before the new year, the old master's old leg injury flared up again, and Shen Ruohai's branch used the excuse of taking care of him to move into the back of the Pine and Crane Hall, and from then on, they lived in the Marquis's Estate.
Now they are singing in harmony, just to take advantage of the situation and swallow up the Marquis's Estate.
Seeing that Old Master Shen's mind was made up, Shen Ruohai and Zhou Yuncai looked at each other triumphantly, waiting to draft the adoption papers.
But just at this moment, the sound of "tap, tap, tap" footsteps arrived.
"Mother~"
Your cub is here to protect you~
A sweet little milky voice also drifted into the hall with the wind.
Old Master Shen frowned at the sound. "Where did this child come from? She doesn't know the rules, making noise in a senior's courtyard."
The crowd was also stunned and hurriedly looked up to see Xiao Sui An, wearing a round flower bud bun, hopping into the room from outside.
Xiao Sui An was born exquisite, her cheeks as soft and smooth as egg whites. When she smiled, her large, pearl-like eyes curved into crescent moons; she was incredibly delightful.
Even Zhou Yuncai and the others couldn't help but have their eyes light up.
Su Jinhan regained her composure, walked over to hold her daughter's little hand, and finally had a smile. "Sui An, you're fine. Why did you come here? Did you finish your breakfast?"
Xiao Sui An held her mother's large hand back, looking calm. "Mother, I missed you. I heard you were here, so I want to stay with you!"
While speaking, passing by the charcoal brazier in the hall, Xiao Sui An lightly tugged at her pocket with her little hand and took the opportunity to drop the talisman token into the charcoal fire.
"Father, Sui An is a child I adopted on the way. From now on, she will be the daughter of the Marquis and me," Su Jinhan said, looking up. "Sui An, greet your grandfather."
Xiao Sui An first examined the person in the seat of honor, then blinked her round eyes and spoke with a smile, "Are you Grandfather? I am called Xiao Sui An. Oh, right, is your right leg lame? Then hurry and kick your other good leg hard. Listen to Sui An, that way it will be cured."
"..." Everyone in the hall gasped.
Old Master Shen was suddenly furious and gripped his cane tightly. "What kind of nonsense is this? Su Jinhan, look at the good daughter you've brought back!"
Su Jinhan remained calm, only shielding her daughter behind her. "Father, please don't be angry. Children speak without thinking, children speak without thinking."
Xiao Sui An hid behind her mother and pouted.
What a pity, the illness in this old grandfather is indeed attached to his other good leg. She was being serious; who told him not to listen?
"Enough." Old Master Shen pulled a long face, knowing he couldn't argue with a child.
He intended to make the final decision. "Hmph, don't delay the adoption matter. Today is an auspicious day."
"Hurry and draft the documents, then go through the official government procedures. It will be a joyous occasion, just right to wash away the bad luck in this mansion," he glared fiercely at Xiao Sui An.
Su Jinhan widened her eyes and said urgently, "Father, you cannot! As long as Jing Zhao is still alive for one day, I will never allow anyone to bypass him and become the Heir Apparent of my Marquis's Estate!"
Old Master Shen snorted coldly, "Jing Zhao is only eight years old this year, and while he is skilled in riding and archery and is indeed a good seedling to support the Marquis's Estate, he is in a coma all day and only has a sip of breath left. Unless you can wake him up, what is the use?"
Su Jinhan's heart was extremely cold, her eyes staring fixedly at the seat of honor.
Feeling the chill from her mother's palm, Xiao Sui An frowned, her heart aching as well.
Daring to bully her mother?
Hmph, just wait and see.
At this moment, the last slight "crackling" sound in the charcoal brazier finally faded.
That talisman token was completely shattered and turned entirely into ashes.
Seeing that the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone had already been brought into the hall.
But at this very moment, a joyful scream came from not far away.
"Heaven truly protects us! Madam, come and look! Young Master Jing Zhao has woken up!"
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