Mingxi kept begging and crying, tightly grasping the woman's clothes with her tattered hands. "Second Sister... I didn't steal... I didn't..."

The young woman might have been tired from fighting, and when she saw him kneeling beside her, she kicked him away with disgust on her face. "If I catch you, this monster, stealing again, I will tell your father and have him kick you out of Ming Prefecture...!"

After she finished speaking, she lifted her foot and crushed the osmanthus cake wrapped in greased paper, leaving behind the blood-stained bamboo stick as she swaggered away.

Mingxi was kicked down by her, already freezing stiff in the snowy ground. Now she couldn't even get up.

Shen Xiang hurriedly hobbled forward, embracing him in her arms. "Young master... my young master..."

As she gazed at his continuously bleeding wound, tears flowed down her face, and she took off her worn-out clothes to wrap around him.

Ming Xi felt dizzy and disoriented, as the swirling white snow seemed to dance before her eyes.

He endured the pain throughout his body and reached out his hand to Shen Xiang, saying, "Madam Xiang... Xier... Xier did not... steal and eat..."

"That is... Brother Ming... asking someone... to give it to me..."

Xiang Xiang listened to his delicate voice, tightly gripping his hand, and sobbing in his arms.

"I know... I know that young master didn't sneak a bite..."

She said, using all her strength to help Mingxi up, "It's too cold outside... This old body will take Young Master back to the room..."

"Does Madam Xiang feel any pain?"

Ming Xi tried her best to support her stiff legs, struggling to open her eyes wide and spoke in a gentle voice to comfort her: "Aunt Xiang, please don't cry... Xi Er is not in pain..."

His gentle voice caused tears to continually stream down Shen Xiang's face.

With great difficulty, Mingxi was helped to the side of the bed. Just as she was about to go and light the charcoal fire, she realized that the charcoal had already run out.

It was the midst of midwinter, and the crude grass hut was drafty in every corner. The dilapidated wooden table was covered with layers of frost, as cold as the outdoors.

Mingxi suffered injuries, with blood stains continuously seeping through her body, trembling from the cold. Shen Xiang was unable to help and could only limp towards the door.

"Mother Xiang... where are you going?"

Mingxi sat up from the damp bed, tears welling in her eyes, and said, "Don't leave Xiao Er all alone..."

Shen Xiang hastily turned around and said, "Young Master, don't worry. This old servant is just going to the courtyard to pick some branches from the plum tree to use as firewood for burning."

Mingxi is seriously injured. If she catches a cold without a fire to warm herself, and gets infected with a chill, even if she can survive, she might end up losing at least half of her life.

Thinking this way, Shen Xiang quickened his pace and went into the courtyard to snap off more than a dozen branches from the plum trees before hastily returning to the house.

Although they were just thin branches, they added a touch of warmth.

Shen Xiang picked up the charcoal basin, placed the branches inside, and ignited them. After a while, Ming Xi's face finally regained some color.

"Madam Xiang... in the future, can we please not cut down the plum tree... Xier... Xier enjoys watching plum blossoms..."

He gazed at the burning twigs and opened his mouth, "Ming gege... Ming gege also loved plum blossoms the most..."

Shen Xiang looked at his hollow, teary-eyed gaze and replied repeatedly, "Okay, okay... from now on, we won't break the branches of the plum tree... we won't break them anymore..."

Mingxi felt dizzy and her head throbbed. Her vision blackened due to excessive blood loss. Upon hearing these words, however, a smile appeared on her face.

Xiang PoPo... when will Ming gege be back... Xi'er... I miss him so much...

Upon seeing his inquiry, Shen Xiang's hand, which was wiping away tears, stopped in midair. "General Zhong... he... is still stationed at the border... he may not be able to return this year..."

"Is that so?" Mingxi asked softly, "Will he come back next year when the plum blossoms bloom?"

Listening to his words, tears filled Shen Xiang's face.

The person referred to as "Ming Gege" by Ming Xi is the only one in this world who cares about him and treats him like a person. He is Zhong Junming, the young master of the Zhong family.

The two of them have known each other since childhood. Even though Mingxi may be like a foolish child at the age of five, Zhong Junming still treats him like a younger brother, caring for him deeply.

But a year ago, Zhong Junming died at the edge of a cliff while fighting the barbarians and sacrificing himself for the country due to his post stationed at the border.

The entire imperial city, only Mingxi remained unaware.

His innocent inquiry made Shen Xiang heartbroken, but also felt a trace of relief. Luckily, Ming Xi's intellectual capacity was lacking, allowing her to conceal many things.

For example, there's Zhong Junming who died on the battlefield.

For example, the broken pastry that Lady Fu stepped on, Mingxi claimed was a osmanthus cake sent to him by his older brother, Ming.

Another example is the plum tree in the courtyard that has been frozen to death and will never bloom again.