Chapter 4 The "Uncle Tree God" that Sheng Sheng Encounters?

"Your Highness found me two years ago, when I was about two years old."

"Then you're younger than Shengsheng. Shengsheng is five years old. You have to call me 'older sister'."

"No, I'm the older brother."

"I am the older sister."

"elder brother."

"elder sister."

"..."

The two, a man and a dog, bickered as they walked to the edge of the Imperial Garden. Having walked so far, the little dumpling was a bit tired, so it simply found a large rock to sit down and rest for a while.

The little girl found everything fascinating, especially tonight's adventure, which she found thrilling and kept looking around with her head tilted back.

Yan Hu sat down next to her and used his paws to pull the small blanket around her a little tighter.

Yan Hu licked his fur and pointed to the big tree on the left: "Look, do you see that tree? I heard from a white cat in the Imperial Garden that a concubine in the previous dynasty once made a wish to that tree and was seen by the emperor, after which she became his favorite!"

"Make a wish?"

Sheng Sheng didn't know what being favored meant, but she understood the word "wish".

Sheng Sheng looked at the old locust tree in the corner of the Imperial Garden, walked over curiously, looked up at the canopy hidden by layers of leaves, and exclaimed silently, stretching out her arms to measure the tree: "It's so big, even ten Sheng Shengs couldn't hug it."

She wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but Sheng Sheng felt as if a very low chuckle came from the air after she said those words.

Sheng Sheng trembled with fright and nervously took half a step closer to the locust tree. Her round eyes widened slightly, and she raised the small oil lamp a little, tilting her head back to look up at the tree.

The branches and leaves are lush and sway gently in the night breeze.

The night wind rustled through the thick leaves.

Sheng Sheng breathed a sigh of relief: "It was just the sound of leaves."

She looked up at the big tree again.

Shall we make a wish?

Sheng Sheng clasped her hands together and closed her eyes devoutly: "Locust tree, locust tree, Sheng Sheng hopes, hopes to be able to eat her fill, Sheng Sheng's stomach is always empty and it hurts so much. Hmm... Sheng Sheng also really wants, really wants to have a home."

"Is this your wish?"

The sudden sound startled Sheng Sheng again. Sheng Sheng opened her eyes and saw a tall man standing in front of her, looking down at her with an inscrutable expression.

The man had sharp eyes and a tall stature. He looked to be in his early thirties, and even his simple blue robe couldn't hide his charisma.

With sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, he exuded an imposing aura without anger, possessing an innate nobility. Although he tried to hide it, one could still feel his extraordinary pressure.

"Ah..." Sheng Sheng took two steps back, dropping the small oil lamp in her hand to the ground. "You, are you the tree god?"

Xie Yuxiao squinted, finding the little dumpling's scared and nervous yet feigning bravery quite amusing, so he couldn't help but tease her: "Tree God? So what if it is, and so what if it isn't?"

"Woof! Woof woof woof!"

Yan Hu, who was leisurely licking his fur in the distance, noticed someone and immediately rushed over to protect Sheng Sheng, asking, "Are you alright?"

Sheng Sheng immediately reassured him softly, "I'm fine, Yan Hu. Look, this is Uncle Tree God!"

There are no gods in this world. Upon hearing this, Yan Hu realized that the little dumpling had indeed been deceived.

Yan Hu turned around and was about to bare his teeth at the man in front of him when he suddenly realized that the man looked familiar.

Upon closer inspection, the dog froze completely.

"Oh my god."

"What's wrong, Yan Hu? Are you going to make a wish to Uncle Tree God too?"

Yan Hu was drenched in sweat and dared not speak. He wanted to tell Sheng Sheng that this was her father, but when Xie Yuxiao glanced at him, he inexplicably received a signal from Xie Yuxiao telling him to shut up.

So Yan Hu didn't say a word and chose to quietly squat down to the side.

Xie Yuxiao watched the little dumpling and Yan Hu talking with a leisurely air, finding it rather amusing.

Yan Hu?

Isn't this the dog that the second son raises? Is this little dumpling from the second son's palace?

Xie Yuxiao frowned, glanced at the ordinary little oil lamp on the ground, picked it up and handed it to her.

Sheng Sheng took the oil lamp, and the light from it illuminated the little dumpling's face. The delicate and adorable little face made Xie Yuxiao pause in surprise, and the slightly pale and weak appearance made people feel sorry for her.

"Thank you, Uncle Tree God!"

The little dumpling smiled sweetly, its eyes sparkling with pure light.

Xie Yuxiao softened his voice and asked, "You look somewhat familiar. Which family's little girl are you? Where are your parents?"

"Father and mother?" Sheng Sheng tugged at the small blanket sadly. "Sheng Sheng has no father or mother."

In her memory, it seemed that everyone around her disliked her, except for one old nanny who would smile and hand her steamed buns.

Old nanny?

Who is this old nanny?

Sheng Sheng was puzzled and confused by the image that flashed through her mind.

Xie Yuxiao's expression turned cold. So that's what her wish meant?

After finishing his memorials tonight, he came to the Imperial Garden alone to relieve his boredom. He drank wine and admired the moon from a tree. The moment he saw this little girl, he felt that she was very cute and familiar, and he couldn't help but want to get close to her.

One second the little dumpling was sweetly thanking him for picking up the lamp for her, and the next second she looked aggrieved and sadly said that she had no parents. How could he not feel sorry for her?

Xie Yuxiao frowned, squatted down and asked her, "Are you a palace maid from Yuqing Palace?"

Sheng Sheng shook her head, then nodded: "Sheng Sheng doesn't know either."

How old are you?

"Sheng Sheng is five years old."

"Five years old."

Xie Yuxiao patted her head, thinking of his youngest daughter who had perished in the fire.

That was his daughter with Consort Rong. Before they could even name her, she died young in a fire.

Xie Yuxiao sighed. If that child were still alive, he would be about the same age as Shengsheng.

Thinking this way, Xie Yuxiao felt even more fond of and sorry for Shengsheng.

If his daughter were still alive, she would surely have been pampered and spoiled as she grew up.

"Uncle Tree God, why are you sighing?" Sheng Sheng asked with concern.

The little dumpling looked worried, its brows slightly furrowed.

Xie Yuxiao was taken aback. Normally, as the ruler of a country, he was full of majesty in every move and was used to showing his strong side. But now, under the little dumpling's sincere and innocent question, he showed a trace of fatigue.

Xie Yuxiao was extremely relieved. He also had a daughter, but the child was terrified of him and was always very cautious around him.

Everyone says that daughters are like little cotton-padded jackets, and he really wants to have a little cotton-padded jacket to keep him warm.

Xie Yuxiao picked up Shengsheng in his arms, his fatigue instantly healed by the adorable little dumpling: "Tell me, what is your wish? Uncle Tree God will grant it for you!"

"ah."

She let out a soft gasp; this was the first time she had ever been lifted up and hoisted high in the air—what a novel feeling!

"Really?" Sheng Sheng clapped her hands happily. "Sheng Sheng just made a wish! Sheng Sheng wants to be able to eat her fill every day! If, if only there were three big steamed buns a day, that would be great! Sheng Sheng doesn't eat much, one steamed bun is enough to fill her up at a meal!"