Upon arriving at their destination, Tao Lengshuang and the other two realized the spectacle Mo Lingxi had brought them to witness.
"Mother, look quickly, it's that bad guy Zhou Wenxing!" Xiao Feng exclaimed, his large eyes pointing towards Zhou Wenxing in the distance as he spoke in a low voice.
Tao Lengshuang patted his head and squinted at Zhou Wenxing, who was dressed simply and walking away with a bundle on his back. She immediately understood where he was going.
"Where is Lord Zhou heading?" she asked with feigned surprise.
Zhou Wenxing's steps faltered. His confident gaze swept over Madam Sheng, then shifted to Tao Lengshuang and Mo Lingxi with a dark look. "Would the Mingrui Princess Royal not know where I am going?"
Tao Lengshuang spread her hands, her expression unchanged. "How would I know where you're going? You're not mine, so I have no reason to bother caring about your whereabouts."
"It's just that, seeing Lord Zhou looking so haggard and alone, are you perhaps going out on official business? But if you are, why aren't you bringing any servants? What if something unexpected happens? What would you do then?"
Her string of demeaning and sarcastic remarks made Zhou Wenxing's chest ache with anger, yet he could do nothing to her. "Speaking of which, I am going out on official business, and I have Prince Mingrui to thank for it."
Tao Lengshuang gasped, her surprise undisguised. "Prince Mingrui has truly done a great deed! It's just a shame that Lord Zhou is still alive and has the chance to return. How wonderful it would be if you could never return, or if you died somewhere."
Zhou Wenxing coughed up a mouthful of blood, his face as unpleasant as if he had swallowed a fly. "Princess Mingrui, aren't you going too far?"
Tao Lengshuang put on an innocent face. "How am I going too far? Please, which of my words is not the truth?"
She sighed softly. "It's like this these days; telling the truth often displeases people. But I just speak the truth. I really can't do those hypocritical things, nor am I like Lord Zhou, who can deceive others for so long with a false facade."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Wenxing no longer wished to stay. He feared he might do something he shouldn't if he lingered. "Farewell!"
Before his words had even finished, he had already quickened his pace and walked away.
Tao Lengshuang waved. "Lord Zhou, please take care of yourself. I heard the imperial mausoleum is dark and damp, with many snakes, insects, rats, and ants."
Zhou Wenxing walked even faster, his eyes filled with malice. Once he reclaimed the Qi family, he would have plenty of ways to deal with Tao Lengshuang slowly.
Tao Lengshuang let out a soft chuckle and asked Mo Lingxi, "Are there no one from the Zhou family to see Zhou Wenxing off? Looking at him, I almost thought he was from an ordinary family, not a noble lord."
Mo Lingxi escorted Tao Lengshuang and the other two to a private room in the restaurant and ordered a table full of delicious dishes. "The Zhou family is now completely under Luo Yang's control. Since Luo Yang doesn't favor Zhou Wenxing, she naturally won't let him have an easy time."
Tao Lengshuang scoffed, "If you ask me, Luo Yang has done something foolish. A truly intelligent person would not only control the Zhou family but also make Zhou Wenxing treat her differently."
"After all, Zhou Wenxing is the reliance of the Zhou family. If things truly escalate, the entire Zhou family will have ways to deal with Luo Yang."
That was a prominent family, not an ordinary small household.
Mo Lingxi served Tao Lengshuang and Xiao Feng, and asked Madam Sheng to eat more before talking about Luo Yang. "I've investigated Luo Yang. It's true that someone is secretly helping her."
"Originally, when Zhou Wenxing was in the palace, all the household affairs were managed by a concubine he favored. But this concubine suddenly fell ill. It was at this time that Luo Yang took over the Zhou family with lightning speed and killed several who opposed her."
Tao Lengshuang thought, "As expected." "Have you found out who is helping Luo Yang?"
Mo Lingxi replied that he was still investigating. "What puzzles me is why the other party is helping Luo Yang. Could it be that they are targeting you and me?"
Tao Lengshuang also had this suspicion. "It's hard to say for sure if they are targeting us for now, but with Luo Yang as a lead, we can follow the trail."
"Wouldn't it be enough to disrupt the Zhou family?" Madam Sheng interjected.
Tao Lengshuang and Mo Lingxi exchanged a glance; they both thought it was a good idea. Ostensibly, Luo Yang controlled the Zhou family, but in reality, she hadn't truly gained control.
If the Zhou family fell into chaos, Luo Yang, in order to continue enjoying a good life, would ask for help from those in the shadows, and then they could follow the clues.
"Mother-in-law is still the most capable," Tao Lengshuang said, flattering her with a smile.
Madam Sheng chuckled at her. "Luo Yang is a menace. Once this matter is resolved, we will deal with her."
Tao Lengshuang had such thoughts. Luo Yang was too selfish and wicked. She and Sheng Li were of the same ilk and needed to be dealt with.
"Speaking of which, Mo Lingxi, have you found the whereabouts of Sheng Li and the others?"
The Jingzhao Prefecture yamen had been searching everywhere for Sheng Li and the others, but they seemed to have vanished into thin air, and couldn't be found.
Mo Lingxi: "No. Given Sheng Li's character, they should be making a move soon. We might as well wait a bit longer."
Tao Lengshuang knew that was all they could do for now.
As the family was eating and chatting, several constables arrived, specifically looking for Tao Lengshuang.
"Princess Mingrui, a murder case has occurred, and we have some questions for you," the constable said, bowing.
Tao Lengshuang was surprised. "What kind of murder case? Does it have anything to do with me?"
The constable said it was a serial murder case.
The victims were all poisoned, but their deaths were all tragic, and most of them were young women.
Beside each victim, the name "Tao Lengshuang" was written in blood.
They had investigated Tao Lengshuang and found no motive, nor did she know these people, nor did she have the opportunity to commit the crimes. Therefore, she was ruled out as the perpetrator, but the matter was still linked to her.
Tao Lengshuang listened, bewildered. "My name was written? Are they trying to frame me?"
The constable said that was the most likely scenario. "Another possibility is that it's a revenge killing. The murderer harbors deep hatred for Princess Mingrui and is using this method to threaten you, to make you uneasy day and night."
Hearing this, Tao Lengshuang thought of several people. "Those who hate me like this include Luo Yang, Sheng Li, the Tao family, and Zhou Wenxing. I don't know if there are others."
The constable had investigated these individuals. "In Princess Mingrui's opinion, who has the ability to do these things in secret?"
Tao Lengshuang said it was hard to say. "Poison isn't difficult to obtain. These people all have helpers, so I can't say for sure who did it."
"Do these victims have anything in common?" Mo Lingxi asked.
The constable replied that they hadn't found anything yet.
Mo Lingxi: "You might as well investigate if these victims had any dealings or grudges with Luo Yang and the others."
Madam Sheng: "Who are these victims?"
The constables listed the victims one by one.
Madam Sheng was surprised. "These victims all had grievances with Sheng Li. Could it be that Sheng Li did it?"
The constable's expression jolted. "Madam Sheng, is this true?"