A heavy rain happened to fall, drenching her until she shivered. If the main gate hadn't finally opened, she might have frozen to death.
Tao Lengshuang learned of this when she and Mo Lingxi were making hot pot in the kitchen, a suggestion from Tao Lengshuang.
In the past, when life was hard, being able to eat meat was already a good life. How could they afford things like hot pot? Now that life was much better, Tao Lengshuang suggested the family have a warm hot pot meal.
As the hot pot was almost ready, a eunuch arrived from the palace, requesting Mo Lingxi to enter the palace immediately as the Crown Prince had important matters to discuss.
Helplessly, Mo Lingxi gave Tao Lengshuang a few instructions and followed the eunuch into the palace.
Tao Lengshuang didn't think much of it. She finished preparing the hot pot and asked the servants to deliver the hot pot and its ingredients to Madam Sheng's courtyard, while she went ahead.
Upon entering the room, she saw Madam Sheng and Xiao Feng playing a game, the grandmother and grandson laughing non-stop.
"Xiao Feng is really attached to his maternal grandmother. You used to be the most attached to your mother," she teased.
Xiao Feng, a master of playing favorites, said in his milky voice, "Xiao Feng is also attached to Mommy, but Xiao Feng knows Mommy is very busy and doesn't want Mommy to work too hard, so I have to trouble my maternal grandmother."
"Clever little thing." Tao Lengshuang lightly tapped his forehead and glanced at the approaching嬷嬷.
The嬷嬷 waved for the maids to withdraw, bowed, and lowered her voice, "Madam, there is news of the second young lady."
The second young lady was Madam Sheng's biological daughter.
Madam Sheng's spirits rose upon hearing this, and she asked urgently, "Where?"
"Please do not worry, adoptive mother," Tao Lengshuang advised. "It is still uncertain whether this is true or false. It is best that we send people to investigate the situation to prevent falling into someone else's trap."
Madam Sheng knew this, but every time she thought of her own daughter possibly suffering, she couldn't calm down.
"嬷嬷, tell me quickly."
The嬷嬷 replied, "We have found that the second young lady is in Zhujia Village, but... I have investigated carefully, and due to the disaster, most of the villagers in Zhujia Village have fled. Those remaining are all elderly and solitary."
"If you want to find out about the second young lady, it might not be so easy."
Madam Sheng also understood this. She tightly clutched the embroidery handkerchief in her hand, "I... I want to go to Zhujia Village."
Tao Lengshuang disagreed, persuading her kindly, "Adoptive mother, this matter is not about whether it's true or false, and it's unclear if it's someone else's scheme. If adoptive mother goes rashly, it will easily lead to trouble."
How could Madam Sheng not know this? But the moment she thought of possibly finding her daughter, she couldn't sit still.
"Lengshuang, I want to go and see. I will bring more people."
Tao Lengshuang knew she couldn't stop her. If it were her, and Xiao Feng disappeared one day, upon hearing a clue, she would also be eager to go and see.
"Adoptive mother, it's too late today. I'll accompany you tomorrow, alright?"
Madam Sheng really wanted to go today, but she also knew it was too late, and returning at night would be even more unsafe, so she agreed.
Tao Lengshuang could see her absentmindedness. She asked Xiao Feng to accompany Madam Sheng more and arranged for people to watch her, preventing Madam Sheng from sneaking out alone.
When Mo Lingxi returned from the palace that evening, Tao Lengshuang told him about it, "I suspect this is a scheme by Zhou Wenxing or someone with ulterior motives. Everyone knows that Sheng Li is not adoptive mother's biological daughter."
Mo Lingxi embraced her shoulder and comforted her, "I understand your worries. Tomorrow, when you accompany adoptive mother, bring more people and prepare more medicinal powder. The problem should not be too big."
"You're not going with us?" Tao Lengshuang asked in surprise.
A layer of coldness glinted in Mo Lingxi's eyes, and his voice grew a bit colder, "There's been a slight problem with His Majesty, and I need to keep an eye on it. I won't be able to accompany you tomorrow."
Seeing him like this, Tao Lengshuang knew the matter was not simple, "Is someone trying to rescue His Majesty?"
Mo Lingxi didn't hide it from her, "If it were that simple, it would be good. From what we've found so far, it seems someone is secretly contacting His Majesty, and with those princes also restless, I have to keep a close watch."
Tao Lengshuang knew that after the current emperor was confined, apart from the attendants, only Mo Lingxi and Zi Cheng could see him. Now that someone could communicate with the emperor silently, it showed that the other party was quite capable.
"Whose people could it be?"
Mo Lingxi shook his head, indicating he didn't know yet, "All sides are stirring. Regardless, His Majesty is still on the throne, and there's much that can be done by supporting him."
Tao Lengshuang understood this and knew she couldn't help with this matter. She could only urge Mo Lingxi to be careful. Looking at it this way, the situation was becoming even more unfavorable.
"By the way, try to keep Xiao Feng from interacting with Zi Cheng in the future," Mo Lingxi said out of the blue, making Tao Lengshuang confused.
"What's wrong? The Crown Prince has always been very good to Xiao Feng, why would you say that?"
Mo Lingxi let out a cold laugh, "That brat wants to pass the throne to Xiao Feng."
Tao Lengshuang: "...The thing that others fight tooth and nail for, you two uncles and nephews actually dislike it so much."
Mo Lingxi hugged her and said gently, "I just want to be with you. What's so good about the throne? It's nothing but coldness and loneliness. I don't want to become like that. I just want to roll in bed with my wife."
Tao Lengshuang was both amused and exasperated, "Prince Mingrui, can you think of anything else?"
"No!" Mo Lingxi said righteously, "As a normal man, holding my wife, I naturally think of these things."
Tao Lengshuang rolled her eyes several times, "Alright, go to sleep quickly. If you're not tired, I am."
"I'm really not tired!" Mo Lingxi pounced on her on the bed and kissed her twice, "Tell me, when can I have a life of nightly revelry?"
Tao Lengshuang reached out to push him away but couldn't, "Don't think about the beautiful dream of nightly revelry... No, go back to your Prince Mingrui's mansion, and I guarantee you can have nightly revelry."
"But I only want nightly revelry with you," Mo Lingxi stared at her with burning eyes.
Tao Lengshuang sensed danger and was about to run when Mo Lingxi already pinned her down.
"Where does the Princess Consort want to go? It's late at night, we should have a good chat."
"...Scram!"
"Alright, I'll scramble now, I guarantee I'll scramble to the Princess Consort's satisfaction, and scramble her comfortably."
Tao Lengshuang wouldn't be foolish enough to be a fish on a chopping board, but she was no match for Mo Lingxi. Moreover, her body was more honest, and after a while, she stopped running.
Mo Lingxi naturally seized this opportunity and went all out.
...
The next day.
In the carriage.
Tao Lengshuang yawned repeatedly, making Madam Sheng laugh. Xiao Feng, however, was utterly confused.
"Maternal grandmother, why are you laughing? Clearly, Mommy didn't sleep well last night."
Madam Sheng patted his head and explained, "Perhaps soon, Xiao Feng will have a younger brother or sister. This is also why your mommy didn't sleep well."
Xiao Feng suddenly looked at Tao Lengshuang's belly, his eyes wide with surprise, "Mommy, is my little brother or sister already in your tummy?"