"These oleanders are all withered," Ah Xiang said, looking at the tree with a sense of regret.

"This tree is dead, why didn't you bury it?" Sun Huohuo looked up at Yun Beiming, her face full of confusion, as she looked at the withered branches and leaves.

"Look at them, they're shivering in this freezing weather!"

The oleanders in front of her were leaning and swaying, as if they were dead. Yun Duoduo knew that these large areas of seemingly dead oleanders were actually in a state of suspended animation due to the cold wave.

Or perhaps it's a way for oleander to protect itself.

Because oleander is a southern evergreen shrub, it cannot withstand the sudden onslaught of strong cold air. Therefore, its leaves are "frostbitten," giving it the appearance of being "dead." When the weather improves, the oleander leaves will turn green again.

Listening to Sun Huohuo's words, Yun Beiming felt that the child's thoughts were truly innocent and naive. He looked down at Sun Huohuo and said gently, "These oleanders didn't wither and die, but they drank too much in the winter and got drunk!"

Ah Xiang covered her mouth and laughed as she listened to Yun Beiming's explanation, and Yun Duoduo also grinned.

[What an apt personification! Third Imperial Uncle, Duoduo agrees, you're quite good at Chinese!]

"Drunk?" Sun Huohuo frowned.

“Dad always said that one shouldn’t be greedy for alcohol. How can you trees be so ignorant? How come you’ve gotten yourselves drunk?!” Sun Huohuo said with an air of superiority, pointing at the oleanders and criticizing the few withered trees in front of him.

"Hahaha!" Yun Beiming clapped his hands and laughed.

“Sanhuangsu, what are they, wake up?” Sun Huohuo’s speech was unclear, with both retroflex and alveolar consonants mixed up and somewhat incomplete.

Yun Duoduo was very puzzled. Are all children like this? Sometimes they speak in complete and clear sentences, and sometimes they stutter and are completely incomprehensible.

Yun Beiming guessed what he meant, "Huo Huo is asking, when will this tree awaken?"

Sun Huohuo nodded, frowned, looked at the tree, sighed, and looked very disappointed.

"They awaken when spring arrives."

"Then, Spring Breeze is hangover soup!" Sun Huohuo shouted happily.

"Hahaha, yes, yes, Spring Breeze is a hangover cure!" Yun Beiming was stunned for a moment, then clapped his hands and laughed.

Yun Duoduo was also quite surprised. [Erhuo, your metaphor is excellent. Duoduo agrees. Your Chinese language skills are pretty good too!]

"Spring, spring, come quickly!" Sun Huohuo ran around the oleander, looking very happy.

A palace maid came out of Linhua Palace. As she pushed open the door, snow slowly fell from the eaves.

Yun Beiming and the others quickly took a few steps back to avoid the snow falling on them.

The palace maid, seeing the person standing at the palace gate, seemed to have not seen anyone else for a long time. She was stunned for a moment before reacting and quickly bowed, "This servant greets Your Highness Prince Ning and the little princess."

"Get up," Yun Beiming said calmly.

"We were too noisy and disturbed the peace of the lady inside."

"Xiao Chan, who is it? Let them in quickly, don't let them catch a cold outside!" A weak female voice came from inside the palace.

"Yes, Your Highness! This servant will take the people inside. Your Highness, please don't come out; it's cold outside!" Xiao Chan called out as she turned around.

"Please come in." The palace maid, Xiao Chan, gestured for her to enter.

"Ah Xiang, you take the little ones inside. It's inconvenient for me to go in. It's getting late. I'll go see the little princess tomorrow."

"Duoduo, your royal uncle is leaving!" Yun Beiming put Yun Duoduo on the ground.

"Third Imperial Uncle, bye-bye!" Yun Duoduo waved her little hand, looking at Yun Beiming with reluctance.

"Sanhuang Su, bye-bye!" Sun Huohuo waved his hand as well. He was now preoccupied with how to get Chuntian to come over and help the drunken oleanders.

"Step by step." Jin Zhuangzhuang mumbled something, but he just waved his hand, mimicking the two of them. His eyes darted around as he looked into Linhua Palace through the open door.

Xiao Chan was the head maidservant of Consort Li. She led several people to Linhua Palace to rest.

"Your Majesty, it's the little princess and people from Fu Shuang Palace!"

The palace maid helped Consort Li out. Consort Li came out of the inner room, and the moment she looked up and saw Yun Duoduo, her mouth opened slightly, and a look of sorrow and grief seemed to appear in her eyes.

Yun Duoduo looked up at the beautiful woman and felt that the expression on her face was very strange, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what was strange about it.

"This servant greets Consort Li." Ah Xiang curtsied.

Consort Li came to her senses and said softly, "Get up. You must all be freezing outside."

"Quickly use the heater to warm yourself up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

As they were talking, a palace maid came over and placed a small, warm hand warmer in Yun Duoduo's hands, and took off the little hat from her head.

Consort Li looked at the other two children and asked, "Is this baby the legitimate daughter of General Jin?"

"Exactly."

"May I have a hug?" Consort Li reached out and hugged Jin Zhuangzhuang.

After teasing him for a while, Consort Li got tired and put Jin Zhuangzhuang back into A Xiang's arms.

"Who is this?" Consort Li noticed the boy sitting on the soft couch, fiddling with the black and white chess pieces on the table.

"This is Sun Huohuo, the only son of Sun Renjia, the Minister of War."

"Minister of War, Sun Ren?"

Ah Xiang nodded.

Consort Li looked surprised. "I heard that Lord Sun has dark skin, thick eyebrows, a full beard, and a rather rugged appearance. I never expected that his son would be so adorable."

"Xiao Chan, quickly go get those pastries and give them to the children."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Consort Li turned her head and looked at Yun Duoduo. She patted Yun Duoduo's head and said, "You and your mother really do look alike!"

【Mother!】

"Mother, Mother..."

"Your mother was an extremely gentle person." Consort Li sighed and straightened Yun Duoduo's clothes.

Consort Li's fingers were fair and slender, and her waist was graceful and charming. Even when she was wearing thick palace clothes, her beautiful figure could still be seen.

However, although Consort Li was not old, she looked very haggard and weak, and spoke in a weak voice.

"Your Majesty, it's time to take your medicine." Xiao Chan brought over a plate of red bean cakes and a bowl of herbal soup and placed them on the table.

"Has Your Highness's illness been examined by the imperial physician?" Ah Xiang asked hesitantly.

"These are all old ailments. My illness is only kept going by these herbal decoctions."

"Mother, your son..."

"Little sister?!" A boy who looked to be about six years old exclaimed in surprise as he looked at Yun Duoduo.

"Little sister, you're back?!"