The disturbance was caused by someone, and it was indeed Sheng Li leading a dozen ruffians who were trying to force their way into the manor, but they were stopped by the guards.
As for the servant who delivered the message, he had long since disappeared. Moreover, there were still seven or eight people armed with clubs guarding the backyard. If Madam Sheng truly left the backyard, she would fall into a trap.
Madam Sheng thought how dangerous it was. Fortunately, she discovered the problem, otherwise she would have fallen into someone else's trap. But how could Sheng Li, who committed murder, be released for no reason?
She asked the wet nurse to inquire about the matter and sent a message into the palace. Then, she returned to her courtyard with Xiao Feng, ordering the hidden guards and household guards to protect the courtyard to prevent any further incidents.
When Tao Lengshuang learned of this, she happened to see Mo Lingxi return and told him about it: "You investigate how Zhou Wenxing managed to send messages out of the palace. He must have many people in the palace."
Mo Lingxi ordered people to investigate the matter and then asked about the situation of Madam Sheng and Xiao Feng.
Tao Lengshuang said that Madam Sheng and Xiao Feng were unharmed, but they were frightened. "As long as Zhou Wenxing is not removed, he will always be a hidden danger."
Mo Lingxi's eyes were filled with coldness, and his voice was chilling: "I think it is very suitable for Zhou Wenxing to guard the imperial mausoleum for His Majesty."
Tao Lengshuang felt that this was good. Guarding the imperial mausoleum would at least prevent Zhou Wenxing's influence from extending so far. Moreover, if anyone went to find Zhou Wenxing, it would be easy to track them.
"Have Zhou Wenxing's trump cards all been investigated?"
Mo Lingxi said that the investigation was almost complete. Once the national mourning was properly handled, Zhou Wenxing would be arranged to go there, and then he could be dealt with with any excuse.
Tao Lengshuang was somewhat relieved and then spoke about Princess Nan Ning coming to see her: "Looking at Princess Nan Ning, I'm afraid she is here for a marriage alliance on the surface, but in reality, she has her own plans."
"It's a good time to tell you what I've found about Princess Nan Ning." Mo Lingxi picked up his teacup and took a sip of tea before elaborating on Princess Nan Ning.
This Princess Nan Ning was a legendary figure in the Northern Yuan Dynasty. She was not born to a principal consort but was the daughter of the Emperor of Northern Yuan who, after drinking, favored a palace maid. This palace maid was only given the rank of Da Ying.
Later, this Da Ying died in difficult childbirth after giving birth to Princess Nan Ning. The newborn Princess Nan Ning was then adopted by a principal consort who had no children, and her life was passable.
It wasn't until Princess Nan Ning was seven years old that she encountered the Emperor of Northern Yuan by chance and solved a difficult problem for him, thus catching his eye.
Subsequently, Princess Nan Ning solved many problems for the Emperor of Northern Yuan and offered many useful suggestions, gaining his increasing favor. She even overshadowed all the princes and grandsons.
"Originally, the Emperor of Northern Yuan did not agree to Princess Nan Ning's marriage alliance, but I don't know what Princess Nan Ning said to him. The next day, the Emperor of Northern Yuan agreed to her marriage alliance." Kuai Shu Ge
Tao Lengshuang sighed after listening: "This is truly a legendary life. At such a young age, she possesses such intelligence and strategy, and can help the Emperor of Northern Yuan solve so many problems. It's no wonder the Emperor of Northern Yuan was reluctant to let Princess Nan Ning come for a marriage alliance."
"However, judging by the current situation, Princess Nan Ning has ulterior motives. It's just that we don't know what she is after."
Just as Mo Lingxi was about to say something, he saw a palace maid walk in out of the corner of his eye.
"Reporting to His Royal Highness Prince Rui, and Her Royal Highness the Consort of Prince Rui, Princess Nan Ning requests an audience." The palace maid bowed.
Tao Lengshuang and Mo Lingxi knew very well the purpose of Princess Nan Ning's visit. Tao Lengshuang asked the palace maid to lead Princess Nan Ning in.
Not long after, the palace maid led Princess Nan Ning in.
They exchanged courtesies.
Princess Nan Ning glanced at the attending palace staff.
Tao Lengshuang waved her hand to dismiss the palace staff and said lightly, "Can Princess Nan Ning speak now?"
Princess Nan Ning's eyes were filled with sorrow, and her gaze was dim: "I want to leave the royal family of Northern Yuan."
Tao Lengshuang and Mo Lingxi exchanged glances. Neither of them had expected Princess Nan Ning to make such a request. They thought Princess Nan Ning would take the opportunity to seek benefits for herself and Northern Yuan.
"Is Princess Nan Ning serious?" Tao Lengshuang looked at Princess Nan Ning with an unchanged expression: "You know best that as someone who has been a golden branch and jade leaf since childhood, once you leave the royal family of Northern Yuan, what kind of life will you have? Perhaps your life will be precarious."
Princess Nan Ning had considered all this and understood the consequences of leaving the Northern Yuan royal family: "It's better than being used by the royal family until death."
Her mouth was full of bitterness: "Outsiders all say I am infinitely glorious and deeply favored by my father, but who knows that I suffer from insomnia every night, live in constant fear, and even read all sorts of books and ponder day and night to avoid losing favor."
When she was young, she longed for her father's attention and favor, and for this, she desperately learned all sorts of things, hoping to gain his favor.
After she gained her father's favor, she realized that this favor was not so easily obtained.
Ever since she caught her father's eye, those who had previously ignored her and paid no attention to her became nervous. Many people around her began to flatter, calculate, and scheme, and even those who had treated her sincerely began to harbor calculations.
In such a palace, she had almost lost her life several times.
Tao Lengshuang found it ridiculous and ironic: "Does Princess Nan Ning know how many people wish for a life like yours?"
"You have come to my Eastern Jin Dynasty, and you must have seen the corpses and refugees along the way. Not to mention my Eastern Jin Dynasty, even in your Northern Yuan Dynasty, countless people cannot get enough to eat. Some people sell their children to fill their stomachs. Yet you are blessed and do not know your fortune.
The suffering you speak of is also self-inflicted. Since you want the favor of the Emperor of Northern Yuan, you must pay a price and endure those hardships. Otherwise, does favor come for nothing?"
She truly couldn't stand people like this. Just because she didn't want to live the life she didn't want, she wanted to be an ordinary person. Did Princess Nan Ning really think that ordinary people's lives were so comfortable and carefree?
It was simply ridiculous!
Princess Nan Ning also knew that her actions were not good, but she was truly tired and no longer wanted to stay in the royal family of Northern Yuan. Every day there was painful for her.
"Consort of Prince Rui, after I lose my identity as Princess Nan Ning and am abandoned by the Northern Yuan royal family, no matter what kind of life I live, I will not have any complaints."
Tao Lengshuang rolled her eyes dramatically and said unpleasantly: "That's because you haven't experienced the life of an ordinary person. I think princesses like you are just too idle and think that the life of an ordinary person is very comfortable and carefree."
"Don't be angry, it's not worth it." Mo Lingxi put his arm around her shoulder and gently comforted her, "We won't interfere with her affairs. Let her cause trouble."
This was exactly what Tao Lengshuang meant. She clearly told Princess Nan Ning that she would not help her with this matter.
Princess Nan Ning also knew how unreasonable her request was: "However, if I cannot leave the Northern Yuan royal family, then I must go through with the marriage alliance."