Yi Zuo and Yi You stepped forward to help Liu Lanxue.
Liu Lanxue suddenly screamed and struggled desperately.
Her cries were filled with terror and a hint of urgency.
"No, let go of me, let go! A'yao, A'yao! Yu'er!"
"Mother Consort." Ye Jingyu strode forward.
A stone whizzed past his face.
Liu Lanxue, eyes closed, leaned against the wall, grabbing whatever she could and throwing it outwards.
Her fingernails were caked with dirt, and her fingers, touching sharp pebbles, were cut open.
Ye Jingyu exclaimed, "Don't touch Mother Consort, all of you, stay back."
Yi Zuo and Yi You dared not approach. They had already retreated three meters before Ye Jingyu even gave the order.
Liu Lanxue clutched the withered grass in her arms, trembling all over, her teeth chattering uncontrollably.
Su Yunmo was also startled, not expecting such a strong reaction.
Ye Jingyu looked at the little dumpling and rubbed his temples. "Find a way to coax Mother Consort into the house."
Su Yunmo's lips twitched. "Isn't that your Mother Consort? Why don't you figure it out yourself?"
Judging by Consort Liang's demeanor earlier, it was already a stroke of luck to be able to sit safely beside her.
Ye Jingyu glanced at her and said softly, "Didn't you also call her 'Mother Consort'?"
Those two words, 'Mother Consort,' weren't meant for her to say for free.
The little dumpling: "..."
You're trying to extort me!
"Mmmph~ It's broken, it's all gone." Liu Lanxue looked down at the mangled weeds in her hands, her eyes welling up with tears.
Su Yunmo pondered for a moment, then reached out and tugged at her sleeve. "Your Highness, the grass here isn't very pretty. Let me take you to the plum garden. There are flowers there, shall we weave flower crowns?"
Liu Lanxue's eyes lit up instantly. She threw the withered grass to the ground. "Okay!"
Ye Jingyu gritted his teeth. "Little girl, I asked you to take Mother Consort into the house."
The little dumpling smiled and shrugged. "What a shame, your Mother Consort doesn't listen to you, she listens to me. Why don't you ask her yourself?"
Ye Jingyu looked at Liu Lanxue.
Liu Lanxue: "Hmph!"
Ye Jingyu: "..."
The little dumpling stood up, brushed the dirt off her bottom, and extended her hand to Liu Lanxue. "Your Highness, let's go."
"Okay~" Liu Lanxue stood up and took her little hand.
The adult and child walked out of the cold palace.
Ye Jingyu followed.
Su Yunmo stopped and looked back at him with disdain. "You're not allowed to follow us. We're going to play by ourselves."
Liu Lanxue nodded repeatedly. "Don't follow, don't follow."
Ye Jingyu stood rooted to the spot, his headache worsening.
Yi Zuo stepped forward, looking worried. "Master, Consort is, after all, banished to the cold palace by His Majesty. Although the Empress Dowager pities her, it might not be proper to walk out of the cold palace so openly."
Ye Jingyu glanced back at the pile of withered grass by the wall, closed his eyes, and said, "It's fine. Even if it reaches Father Emperor's ears, he won't intervene."
Meanwhile, Su Yunmo led Liu Lanxue through a small path to the plum garden.
The plum blossoms in the plum garden were all in bloom, white plums swaying fragrantly in the cold wind.
Looking at the plum blossoms, Liu Lanxue became lively.
The little dumpling took out bandages from her glazed pouch and helped her wrap her cut finger. "Your Highness can pick flowers here freely, but be careful not to cut your hands."
The antidote for the Soul Devouring Soup had taken full effect, and the Consort would gradually regain her consciousness.
During this time, letting her do things that made her happy could accelerate her memory recovery. Conversely, keeping her confined in the room would be detrimental.
Liu Lanxue nodded obediently, her face full of eagerness.
Su Yunmo let her run freely in the garden, darting between the branches and plum blossoms, while she herself sat down in a nearby pavilion.
The thick cotton robe Ye Jingyu had given her belonged to Liu Lanxue. It was indeed heavy for a six-year-old cub, but it was also very warm.
The little dumpling placed a portion of it beneath her to sit on, and the rest she wrapped around herself like a blanket, curling up by a pillar.
Ye Yunshuang arrived from the other side, holding an exquisite vase. "The Empress's taste is indeed excellent. Such beautiful porcelain is rarely seen, even in the palace."
A servant followed her. "Your Highness is right. Such a fine vase is a perfect match for this year's white plums."
"Then let's pick some more." Ye Yunshuang walked towards the pavilion and looked up, spotting a 'rice dumpling' wrapped around a pillar.
She was startled. "What is that?"
The little dumpling poked her head out of her self-made cozy nest. "You're the thing."
Ye Yunshuang was shocked, then frowned severely. "It's you again, you little brat? How can you be everywhere!"
What did she think this imperial palace was?
Even if her Mother Empress favored her a little, and her imperial brother liked her somewhat, she should know her place. How could she be so shameless as to run into the palace every day?
The little dumpling yawned.
In the freezing weather, curled up in such a warm nest, she felt a bit sleepy.
Mmm, she seemed to have some peanuts in her pocket.
Her small hand fumbled at her chest, finding a small cloth bag. She tried her best to retrieve a peanut without letting the cold air in, and popped it into her mouth to chew.
Ye Yunshuang's expression immediately soured. She thrust the vase in her hand to her servant. "Su Yunmo, are you looking down on me?"
She was speaking to her, and she dared to have such an attitude!
"You're very noisy." The little dumpling said with annoyance. "Are you a chicken? Always looking for a fight?"
Ye Yunshuang: "You!"
"Momo~" Liu Lanxue ran up to the pavilion.
She held a blooming plum branch in her hand, a branch with carefully selected, very soft plum blossoms.
Ye Yunshuang looked Liu Lanxue up and down, finding her somewhat familiar but unable to recall who she was for a moment.
Liu Lanxue pushed the plum branch into the little dumpling's hand. "Momo, hold this for me. I'll weave a flower crown for you with it later."
"Okay~" Su Yunmo took the branch.
Ye Yunshuang's expression darkened. "How dare you! Who are you to casually pick flowers in the palace? These flowers belong to my imperial brother. Do you want to be beaten?"
Liu Lanxue looked at her strangely. "I don't know your imperial brother. Why would he beat me?"
Just for picking flowers, she would be beaten? This person's imperial brother was so violent.
If it were A'yao, he certainly wouldn't do such a thing.
"Nonsense, who in this world doesn't know my imperial brother?" Ye Yunshuang's eyes were filled with contempt and anger.
Was this woman pretending to be ignorant of her identity?
Even if she hadn't seen the Emperor, the words 'imperial brother' should have conveyed her status.
"Put down the flowers in your hand, or don't blame me for being impolite!" Ye Yunshuang reached out to snatch them.
Liu Lanxue quickly took the branch back and hugged it tightly. "These are mine, I won't give them to you."
Her tone was soft as she said this.
Ye Yunshuang's hand paused, and she finally understood the subtle incongruity. "Are you foolish?"
She turned to Su Yunmo. "You actually brought a fool into the palace?"