Tao Lengshuang repeatedly declined, saying it would be too early to discuss such matters until everything was thoroughly investigated.
Madam Sheng, however, was insistent. She stated that if Tao Lengshuang refused, she would give the items to Xiao Feng instead, as it didn't matter who among them accepted.
"Xiao Feng cannot accept so many things from his maternal grandmother," Xiao Feng said sensibly. "Grandmother should keep these things to give to Mother later. Mother is in a difficult position right now."
Upon hearing this, Madam Sheng no longer pressed the issue. However, she began to consider her family's assets and how she could best provide for Tao Lengshuang.
As she pondered, she thought of Tao Lengshuang's surname. "Lengshuang, can you… change your surname?"
Seeing her cautious demeanor, Tao Lengshuang indicated that she could change her surname, but now was not the right time. "At least, I must have concrete evidence before I change my surname."
Madam Sheng understood this, and a hint of disappointment flickered across her face. "Alright, then you can change your surname once we have conclusive proof."
She then rallied herself. "I must write to your father about this good news."
Before her words had even finished, she was already seated at the writing desk with Xiao Feng, writing a letter to General Sheng and asking Xiao Feng if he had anything to say to his maternal grandfather.
Watching this, Tao Lengshuang couldn't help but smile, feeling a warmth and happiness in her heart. Her godmother truly cared for her.
"Now that you've told your godmother about this, when can we discuss our own matters?" Mo Lingxi suddenly asked.
Tao Lengshuang propped her chin on her hand, smiling faintly at him. "Prince Mingrui, I have decided to focus on my career. As for our relationship, let fate decide."
Mo Lingxi's face darkened like ink, yet he couldn't bring himself to get angry with her. "Why this sudden decision?"
Tao Lengshuang replied that it wasn't a sudden thought, her gaze drifting thoughtfully towards the outdoors. "Before, I was struggling to make ends meet, thinking only of a better life. I couldn't consider anything else. Now that life is better, I want to pursue my dreams."
In her past life, her dream was to research and develop more medicines to benefit humanity. Now, she could continue that dream.
Mo Lingxi, upon hearing this, found himself unable to object or ask Tao Lengshuang to think more about their relationship. "Since you have made your decision, I will support you. I only wish for your happiness."
Tao Lengshuang turned her head to look at him. "Don't worry, I will give you an answer sooner or later."
Mo Lingxi, however, smiled. "Have you forgotten we are husband and wife? The agreement was made long ago."
This time, it was Tao Lengshuang's turn to have a dark expression. "You are so cunning!"
"If I weren't a bit cunning, what if my wife ran away? Unless you compensate me with yourself."
"...May I ask, Prince Mingrui, what's the difference?"
Mo Lingxi explained that the difference was huge: one scenario meant losing his wife, while the other meant having a wife to warm his bed.
His twisted logic astonished Tao Lengshuang, and she shook her head, truly impressed by the current Prince Mingrui.
Mo Lingxi took her hand and spoke of their future. "I've thought it all through. Once everything is settled, I'll be a leisurely prince, and we can go wherever we please."
Tao Lengshuang, however, didn't think it would be that simple. "It's too early to talk about this. No one can be sure how long it will take to resolve these matters, and your position is inherently a vortex."
Mo Lingxi: "It will take at most three months to sort everything out. I've made all the arrangements."
Tao Lengshuang, knowing a bit of his capabilities, didn't respond. There were too many variables in these matters; guarantees were useless.
Mo Lingxi glanced at her belly twice, his eyes narrowing. He had worked so hard last night; there should be, or might be, something.
If it didn't work out, he'd try harder for a few more nights, aiming to give Xiao Feng a younger sibling sooner, so Tao Lengshuang wouldn't be running around all day or playing her hiding games again.
He still had lingering fear from the last time she had hidden.
Tao Lengshuang hadn't noticed his gaze. Seeing Madam Sheng and Xiao Feng approaching with smiles, she asked, "What did Godmother write in her letter to Godfather?"
From now on, Zhou Wenxing would no longer be able to use his biological daughter to scheme against her godmother, but she still needed to be cautious.
Madam Sheng's smile faded slightly as she replied, "I've written about everything that's happened recently. Your godfather is like that; whenever he's not by my side, he needs to know about every little thing. Sometimes I find him so bothersome."
Tao Lengshuang felt envious and chatted idly with Madam Sheng.
As they were talking, a wet nurse hurried in and curtsied. "Madam, Madam Zhou accidentally killed the eldest son of the Tao family. She has been taken to the Jingzhao Prefecture yamen. I heard Lord Zhou reported the case."
Madam Sheng's smile faded a bit. "What was the cause?"
Wet nurse: "It seems the Tao family was making demands for an official position. Madam Zhou, in a fit of anger, accidentally killed the eldest son of the Tao family. The matter is now causing quite a stir."
Madam Sheng instructed the wet nurse to keep an eye on things and not to worry about Sheng Li's fate. Just thinking about Sheng Li occupying her daughter's position and possessions for so many years, and how she had treated her and her husband, filled Madam Sheng with disgust for Sheng Li.
Although Zhou Wenxing had swapped Sheng Li, Sheng Li had never shown any gratitude and had even attempted to poison her and her husband.
"Speaking of Sheng Li, there's something that puzzles me," Tao Lengshuang said, frowning. "It's been so many years since the daughter swap. Zhou Wenxing had many opportunities to do something, but he not only did nothing, but he only acted when I started having problems."
"I discussed this with Mo Lingxi before. At that time, we didn't know Zhou Wenxing was the mastermind, nor did we know he was doing these things out of admiration for Godmother."
Madam Sheng pondered for a moment. "Could it be that Zhou Wenxing deliberately did nothing?"
Tao Lengshuang: "Godmother means...?"
Madam Sheng expressed her conjecture: "I suspect Zhou Wenxing had two goals: one was to forcibly possess me, and the other was to kill me so that I couldn't be with your father after our deaths. Before we died, he would tell us everything to provoke us."
Tao Lengshuang still felt that many aspects didn't add up. "If that were the case, Zhou Wenxing could have easily used the daughter swap to blackmail Godmother, but he didn't."
Madam Sheng agreed with a hum. "That's true, there are many suspicious points. How about this: tomorrow, I'll take you to see Zhou Wenxing and deliberately mention finding your whereabouts to see how he reacts."
Tao Lengshuang thought this was a good idea and then asked Mo Lingxi if he had investigated all of Zhou Wenxing's affairs.
Just as Mo Lingxi was about to answer, a dark guard landed before them.
"Your Highness, we've just investigated some matters concerning Zhou Wenxing." The dark guard handed the documents to Mo Lingxi with both hands and then retreated.
After Mo Lingxi finished reading the documents, he handed them to Tao Lengshuang. "We've found some strange matters and places here. You two take a look first, and then we'll discuss it."
Tao Lengshuang and Madam Sheng finished reading the documents and exchanged glances. This...