Sheng Lengshuang gave a knowing "oh" and asked, "So that's how it is. I wonder what business Miss Sima has with Prince Mingrui?"
Before Sima Min could answer, she added, "My apologies, my apologies, I shouldn't have been so nosy. I'm just very curious why Miss Sima is looking for Prince Mingrui."
Sima Min bit her lip and smiled gently, saying it was nothing. "It's a private matter. Does Miss Sheng also have business with Prince Mingrui?"
Sheng Lengshuang replied, "Yes, I do. I have other matters to attend to, so I won't chat with Miss Sima any longer. If we have time, we can continue our conversation later."
She nodded and gracefully entered Prince Mingrui's mansion, with the servants showing no intention of stopping or questioning her.
This made Sima Min feel embarrassed and resentful. Why could Sheng Lengshuang enter and leave Prince Mingrui's mansion so freely, while she had to wait here? She was truly unwilling to accept this.
Sheng Lengshuang, unaware of Sima Min's thoughts, was led by the servants to the study.
Seeing Mo Lingxi approach, she teased, "Prince Mingrui really doesn't know how to cherish a lady. Look at Miss Sima, waiting all alone outside, and you haven't even met her."
Mo Lingxi: "...Can I take that as you being jealous?"
Sheng Lengshuang rolled her eyes at him and said impatiently, "You're thinking too much."
Mo Lingxi also said, "In your current situation, you'd be glad if I didn't bother you, so why would you be jealous?"
Hearing this, Sheng Lengshuang really wanted to turn and leave, but considering the purpose of her visit, she sat down.
"Last night, that woman came to find me..." She recounted the events in detail.
Mo Lingxi's handsome face darkened slightly. "From this, it seems the matter is not that simple. However, it's very strange to think why they would target you repeatedly."
Sheng Lengshuang couldn't understand this either. "According to what you said, I've always lived in Shilipopo Village and knew limited people. After I returned, due to your relationship with the Sheng family, no one would have schemed against me like this."
"More importantly, how could a young lady from a noble family have such great capabilities?"
Mo Lingxi had considered these points. "Perhaps we are overcomplicating things."
Sheng Lengshuang asked him what he meant with her eyes.
Mo Lingxi: "I can't figure this out for now. Let's not rush this matter, nor overthink it. Let's see what the mastermind does next, and perhaps we can find out."
Sheng Lengshuang pondered for a moment and felt that waiting and observing was the best approach. "Let's do as you say."
Mo Lingxi smiled. "Don't worry too much, just relax."
Sheng Lengshuang stood up. "Now that we've discussed matters, I should be going back, otherwise my parents will worry."
Mo Lingxi stopped her. "Your parents-in-law won't worry if they know you're here with me. I'll have the chef prepare your favorite dishes for lunch. Stay a while longer."
Sheng Lengshuang chuckled. "They are not your parents-in-law, so please don't call them that."
Mo Lingxi rubbed his nose. "What's our relationship? If they're not my parents-in-law, then who else could they be?"
Sheng Lengshuang had witnessed his shamelessness before. "May I ask Prince Mingrui, what is our relationship?"
"Marital relationship!" Mo Lingxi said without hesitation.
Sheng Lengshuang once again witnessed the shamelessness of a certain prince, and she laughed in exasperation. "I say, Mo Lingxi, can you have some dignity? I have not a single copper coin's relationship with you."
Mo Lingxi held her, refusing to let go. "Look, we even have a son this old. It's useless for you to deny it anymore."
Sheng Lengshuang forcefully tugged at his face. "Pick up your face."
Mo Lingxi hissed in pain. "I can't pick it up anymore. Compared to my wife, what is face?"
"...Mo Lingxi, do you dare let people outside know you're so shameless?"
"Why wouldn't I dare? If I cared about face while chasing my wife, I'd be a fool."
The dignified Sheng Lengshuang couldn't argue with the shameless Mo Lingxi, so she gave up the topic and continued walking towards the exit.
Mo Lingxi stopped her again. "Alright, don't be angry anymore. It's all my fault. Stay for dinner."
Sheng Lengshuang didn't want to stay, but the persistent prince used all sorts of means to persuade her to stay.
Thus, when Xiao Feng returned, he saw his father coaxing his mother to eat.
"...Dad, Mom, have you forgotten you have a son?"
Sheng Lengshuang was surprised. "Xiao Feng, didn't you have lunch at the palace this noon?"
Mo Lingxi merely glanced at his son and continued to serve his wife.
Xiao Feng wiped away a tear of grievance. "I didn't have classes this afternoon, so I came back. Mom, don't you and Dad care about me at all?"
He had originally intended to go back to the Sheng family first, but thinking of his father's situation, he came to see. He never expected to witness this scene.
It was too much for his young heart.
Sheng Lengshuang beckoned to him. "We didn't know you'd be back. Come and eat."
Xiao Feng pouted and sat down, feeling like a pitiful little cabbage. "Mom, you and Dad must have forgotten you have a son."
Sheng Lengshuang stroked his head and said with a laugh, "How could Mom forget you?"
Xiao Feng didn't believe a word of it. He had just seen his mother and father eating happily, their expressions clearly indicating they had completely forgotten about their son.
"By the way, Mom, I saw Sima Min at the main gate."
He showed displeasure. "I heard from the servants that Sima Min has been standing at the main gate all this time. What does she mean? Is she trying to gain Dad's sympathy by playing the victim, hoping to become my stepmother?"
Sheng Lengshuang was somewhat surprised that Sima Min hadn't left yet. She looked at Mo Lingxi.
Mo Lingxi quickly assured her, "Wife, I've been with you the whole time. Besides, why would I care about Sima Min?"
Sheng Lengshuang knew Mo Lingxi wouldn't care about Sima Min. "I'm just wondering, she's been standing there all morning, what is she trying to do?"
Mo Lingxi shrugged. "Who knows? She came to find me last night, saying she knew Zhou Wenxing's whereabouts and wanted to talk to me today. I didn't believe a word of it."
Sheng Lengshuang had a premonition that Sima Min had ill intentions. "Prince Rui only left not long ago. She's not staying put in Prince Rui's mansion, constantly looking for you or me. It seems she has ulterior motives."
Mo Lingxi: "Perhaps it's for her own future. Without Prince Rui, Prince Rui's mansion isn't even considered an outsider."
Sheng Lengshuang guessed this might be the case. "Sima Min is not a simple person. Stay away from her."
Normally, after such a major incident in the family, one would stay at home and not have the energy for such schemes. Yet, Sima Min still had the mind to scheme.
Mo Lingxi and Xiao Feng agreed. Both father and son ignored Sima Min.
After the three of them finished their meal, Xiao Feng pulled Sheng Lengshuang for a walk to aid digestion, even telling Mo Lingxi not to follow them.
Mo Lingxi had no intention of not following. "Xiao Feng, do you have any unfinished homework?"
Xiao Feng replied that he had finished it long ago. "Dad wants to spend time alone with Mom, but that's absolutely impossible. I won't allow it!"