Hearing this, Sheng Lengshuang ordered the carriage driver to stop. She listened carefully to the discussions of the surrounding people and the constables, only to learn that Zhou Wenxing and Tao Li had escaped again, and no one knew where they were hiding. A search was underway for the two of them.
These two were truly good at hiding and escaping, having gotten away time and time again.
"Lengshuang, don't worry, Zhou Wenxing and Tao Li will be caught," Madam Sheng comforted her.
If she had known this would happen, she shouldn't have let Tao Li go back then. That woman was truly malicious. After all her family had raised her for many years, Tao Li had repeatedly tried to kill Lengshuang.
Sheng Lengshuang shook her head, indicating she wasn't worried. If someone hadn't been helping Zhou Wenxing and Tao Li, these two wouldn't have survived until now.
"Mother, you need to be careful. Zhou Wenxing is determined to snatch you away, and he's capable of unpredictable actions," she was most worried about this.
Madam Sheng wasn't as concerned. She took Sheng Lengshuang's hand and patted it. "Silly girl, the more Zhou Wenxing wants me, the less he'll harm me. Moreover, to get me, he'll prevent others from killing me."
Sheng Lengshuang didn't think so. "Mother, don't forget that Zhou Wenxing previously used Tao Li to try and kill you and Father. Someone with Zhou Wenxing's warped psychology only cares about possessing you; whether you live or die has no impact on him."
Madam Sheng suddenly said, "Lengshuang, you remember these things, but why don't you remember anything about Prince Mingrui? This is too strange. If memories were tampered with, would only this much be altered?"
Sheng Lengshuang hadn't considered this. "It's hard to say. I haven't fully researched the poison I was given. Coupled with the fact that I was once controlled by flute music, I suspect the mastermind did something else to me when I was kidnapped."
Madam Sheng became even more worried. "It's my fault for not protecting you again."
Sheng Lengshuang gently comforted her. "Mother, this isn't your fault. Let's not talk about it anymore."
Madam Sheng sighed, wishing she could trade her own life for Lengshuang's safety.
General Sheng, who was riding a horse, asked a few questions. After confirming everything was fine, the family continued home.
Unexpectedly, the family then stumbled upon envoys from three countries who were on the verge of a fight.
Sheng Lengshuang craned her neck to look at the surrounded envoys from the three countries. From the discussions of the onlookers, she learned that the envoys from the Southern Jin Dynasty had once again approached the Northern Yuan Dynasty and the Western Yue Dynasty, and a dispute had broken out when words failed.
"Are you Southern Jin envoys always this annoying? Our Western Yue Dynasty has already stated that we will not cooperate with your Southern Jin Dynasty again. Give up on that idea and stop bothering us."
"Our Northern Yuan Dynasty feels the same. Please, Southern Jin Dynasty, behave yourselves and don't treat this place as your territory. Also, sweet potatoes are not exclusive to your Southern Jin Dynasty. Please stop framing the Eastern Jin Dynasty for stealing your sweet potatoes, have some decency."
The surrounding citizens were enraged and began throwing various objects at the Southern Jin envoys.
"You scoundrels, how dare you frame our Eastern Jin Dynasty? I think you're tired of living!"
"Sweet potatoes were bestowed upon our Eastern Jin Dynasty by the Mountain God. They have absolutely nothing to do with your Southern Jin Dynasty. Your Southern Jin Dynasty dares to covet the treasures bestowed by the Mountain God? You truly don't want to live."
"Beat them to death!"
The Southern Jin envoys dodged frantically, trying to escape in all directions. Sweet potatoes were indeed unique to their Southern Jin Dynasty, and the Eastern Jin Dynasty had never had sweet potatoes. Where did this Mountain God's blessing come from? It was clear the Eastern Jin Dynasty had stolen their sweet potatoes.
However, the citizens wouldn't let the Southern Jin envoys escape. Groups of people surrounded and beat one Southern Jin envoy.
They beat the Southern Jin envoy until he cried for mercy, promising never to covet sweet potatoes again.
The envoys from the Northern Yuan Dynasty and the Western Yue Dynasty watched, swallowing hard. The citizens of the Eastern Jin Dynasty were too fierce.
By the time the enraged citizens finished beating the Southern Jin envoys, several of the envoys were barely breathing.
"You scoundrels, if you dare do such things again, we'll really beat you to death."
"Keep an eye on these scoundrels in the future, lest they do anything to harm our Eastern Jin Dynasty."
The citizens dispersed in small groups, and the blocked carriages could finally move.
Sheng Lengshuang glanced at the crestfallen Southern Jin envoys and then at the envoys from the Western Yue and Northern Yuan Dynasties. She thought to herself that it truly lived up to the saying: there are no eternal friends, nor eternal enemies, only eternal interests.
However, the deliberate public escalation of this incident by the Western Yue and Northern Yuan envoys likely had ulterior motives.
She didn't need to worry about these matters; His Majesty and the others would handle them.
When Sheng Lengshuang and the other two returned home, they were surprised to see someone darting around the mansion.
Their eyes met.
The atmosphere was awkward.
"...Grandfather, Grandmother, Mother, why are you back?" Xiao Feng tried to hide the kite behind his back, smiling obsequiously.
Sheng Lengshuang's forehead throbbed.
Seeing Xiao Feng's flushed face from running, she knew he had been playing in the mansion for a long time.
"Xiao Feng, I recall you should be studying in the Imperial Study at this hour. Tell your mother why you are playing in the mansion and how you left the palace?" she asked, her smile not reaching her eyes.
Xiao Feng shrunk his neck, pleadingly seeking protection from his grandparents.
Madam Sheng and General Sheng were very fond of him, but they would not interfere in his education. After all, they had made a mistake in their own upbringing and didn't want Xiao Feng to become that kind of child.
Seeing his plea fail, Xiao Feng tugged at his mother's hand and acted spoiled. "Mother, please don't be angry. Xiao Feng knows he was wrong."
Sheng Lengshuang narrowed her dangerous eyes and her tone rose slightly. "Hmm?"
Xiao Feng froze. "Mother, Xiao Feng knows he was wrong."
Seeing that the child was unrepentant and was trying to deflect, Sheng Lengshuang's expression turned grim. "Xiao Feng, Mother is very disappointed in you."
Xiao Feng's expression trembled, and his large eyes began to fill with tears. "Mother..."
Sheng Lengshuang said sternly, "You've made such a big mistake, yet you don't properly admit it and try to cover it up. When you can't cover it up, you still don't admit it, only saying you know you're wrong."
"Now, I sentence you to an hour of horse stance. Think carefully about where you went wrong. Once you've figured it out, write me a 500-character self-criticism."
Xiao Feng dared not disobey. He didn't want to anger his mother further.
He obediently went to the side and squatted in a horse stance, contemplating his mistakes.
Sheng Lengshuang ignored him and summoned the hidden guards protecting Xiao Feng to inquire how the child had left the palace and returned.
The hidden guard: "...The young master never went to the Imperial Study. He slipped away on the way to the Imperial Study. Because of the young master's status, everyone in the palace doted on him, so it was very easy for him to leave the palace and return to the mansion."
He added at the end, "Except for the first day, the young master never went to the Imperial Study again. This is the second day the young master has returned to the mansion to play."
Sheng Lengshuang was overwhelmed. "Why didn't you report this?"