No matter what Dongyuan did, Shen Miao still started to deliberately alienate the people of the second and third houses. She also no longer stuck to Shen Yue and Shen Qing like before. At first, everyone in the Shen household thought that she was just being a spoiled child because of the incident where she fell into the water, but when Shen Miao began to do things with her own ideas, everyone sensed that something was off.

  Madam Gui continued to advise Shen Miao not to quarrel with the East Wing, occasionally making some remarks about how Ding Wang was a rare and exceptional young man. However, Shen Miao seemed to have made up her mind, and every time Madam Gui mentioned this person, she would scold her severely, leaving Madam Gui at her wit's end. But nowadays, the West Wing was filled with people from the second and third branches of the family, all of whom were quite unruly. Gu Yu and a few others had thought that since Shen Miao had changed her ways, she should properly tidy up the back courtyard, but unexpectedly, Shen Miao didn't even bother to pay attention.

  Shen Miao naturally had her own plans.

  These days, she went to Guangwendang more diligently. Although the crowd's gaze at her was still at the bottom, she didn't mind, and just did her own things every day. The more she was so open-minded, people felt uninteresting, and surprisingly, they also spent some peaceful days.

  That morning after finishing his composition class, Shen Miao felt a bit stifled in the chest and casually strolled around the garden of Guangwen Hall.

  Guangwen Hall, although a school, occupies a vast area. Because of the three levels of Guo Yi, Guo Er, and Guo San, Shen Miao, at her age, was in Guo Er, but unknowingly walked to the front of Guo Yi.

  Just then, a little kid was seen sitting on the steps wiping away tears.

  This little kid looks about eight or nine years old, with a pale and chubby complexion. Perhaps his figure is a bit too plump, at first glance he seems like a chubby ball. He wears a light blue silk jacket with silver threads, small boots, and has a round collar around his neck. Looks like a doll from a New Year's painting.

  Shen Miao was taken aback for a moment, then walked over and asked softly, "Why are you crying?"

  That doll probably didn't expect someone to come suddenly, and was so scared that she tumbled down the stairs with a "thud". She didn't cry, but instead sat up with a grunt, staring blankly at Shen Miao.

  He was born with a white and chubby face, a pair of bright eyes, a small bun on his head, and tears still wet on his face. Shen Miao couldn't help but burst out laughing.

  The little kid called out in a milky voice "Sister".

  Shen Miao's heart was almost melted by this child, she had given birth to Yu and Fu Ming in her previous life, but before the age of five, they were both held as hostages in the state of Qin. After returning, both children had already learned to call her "mother" in a proper manner. Shen Miao herself didn't know what her two children looked like before the age of five. The child in front of her was eight or nine years old, but looked naive and innocent, making her unable to help but think of Yu and Fu Ming.

  Shen Miao slightly squatted down and touched his head: "What are you crying about?"

  "The teacher asked me a question and I couldn't answer, so he slapped my palm." The child stretched out his hand, revealing a red palm, and said pitifully: "It really hurts a lot."

  Shen Miao wanted to tease her, so she asked: "What question did the gentleman ask you?"

  "The teacher asked me to write 'tu si hu bei' (a Chinese idiom meaning 'to be so grief-stricken as to forget one's own troubles') but I couldn't come up with it." The child said, looking sad.

  If it were Guo Yi at this age, he couldn't even utter a word, and indeed, there's no excuse for that. Putting aside Shen Miao herself, Fu Ming had already started learning to handle court politics at this young age, although it was just pretend play, but he could still respond to some things. Although the royal family's children are often precocious, the kids who come to Guangwen Hall to study are all noble sons and shouldn't be so late in starting their education.

  That kid still wasn't satisfied with complaining, and continued to hum and mutter: "If I go back and Father finds out, he'll definitely scold me severely again. What's the point of my living anyway? It's better to just die by smashing into something."

  Shen Miao was startled by the child's pitiful tone, feeling both annoyed and amused. She wondered which family this little treasure belonged to and where he had learned such a dramatic way of speaking. "Whose child are you?" she asked.

  That child looked at Shen Miao, who was only fourteen years old now. Moreover, she had a very childish aura about her, and didn't look much older than the child. But for some reason, there was an inexplicable quality to her that seemed to have weathered many storms, and could calm people's hearts. Even this child, upon hearing her words, couldn't help but quiet down, speaking out his own story one word at a time.

  "I am the second young master of the Pingnan Duke's household in the capital, Su Minglang. My father is Pingnan Duke Su Wei, and my older brother is the heir to the Pingnan Duke title, Su Mingfeng."

  It was like a bamboo tube pouring out beans, clearly explaining his own worth and origin.

  Shen Miao was taken aback, Su family? Pingnan Bo?

  Whether it was the previous life or this life, the Su and Shen families had nothing to do with each other. Because they were opposing political views on the court. The Su family and the Xie family have a good relationship, Pingnan Bo Su Wei and Lin'an Hou Xie Ding are very good brothers, Su Ming Feng and Xie Jing Hang are also friends who played together since childhood, how good is their relationship? At that time, after Su Ming Feng died, only Xie Jing Hang dared to go and collect his body.

  Yes, Su Mingfen is dead. Or rather, the entire Su family has been destroyed. The former emperor uncovered evidence of the Su family's corruption and private sale of military horses, and once the matter of the military horses was involved, there was no room for maneuvering.

  The imperial edict was suddenly and swiftly executed, without any trial. The soldiers directly arrested the Su family members and beheaded them on the spot. Under the clear sky and bright sun, the blood of the entire Su family flowed from the east to the west of Dingjing City.

  Xie Jingxing didn't know the news until it was too late, and the entire Su family had perished. None of their acquaintances dared to show up, but Xie Jingxing personally went to collect the bodies for the Su family master. Afterwards, Xie Ding petitioned the former emperor for forgiveness, only saying that he requested a proper burial on account of the Su family's past contributions to Ming Qi.

  The former emperor agreed, and the aftermath of the Su family was handled by the Xie family. Shen Miao remembered it very clearly, during the New Year's festival, Shen Xin returned home and learned about this matter, and he also sighed for a while.

  The downfall of the Su family will be in two months, soon. This ignorant and innocent child in front of me will also die under that cold imperial edict.

  Her expression suddenly turned a bit cold, and her eyes faintly showed a stern look.

  The child couldn't help but shrink back a little, and when Shen Miao looked at the child again, her tone was once again as gentle as before: "Su Ming Feng? Is it not the young master of the Su family who has recently made great achievements and managed the military horses extremely well?"

  "Yes!" The child raised his head and replied: "Father said that Your Majesty will definitely reward Elder Brother with a title this time."

  Shen Miao smiled, she slightly bent down, leaned close to the child and whispered: "Didn't you say that if your father knew you couldn't answer Mr.'s question, he would punish you? I have a trick that can teach him not to punish you."

  "What is it?" The little boy blinked and said.

  "You have to promise me not to let him know it was I who told you, or I won't say."

  "Okay." The child thought for a moment and nodded.