Sheng Lengshuang patted Mo Lingxi’s shoulder and said with a smile, "Prince Mingrui’s words are so true. Therefore, I want to cherish my parents and Xiao Feng, and treat them even better in the future."
Mo Lingxi’s smiling face fell. "Wife, you can't mock me like this."
Sheng Lengshuang put on an innocent face. "Look at what Prince Mingrui is saying. How dare I mock you? I'm just telling the truth. The people around me are my parents and Xiao Feng. Who else should I cherish if not them?"
"Cherish me," Mo Lingxi said, pulling her hand and speaking with a pained expression. "Wife, look at me, how thin I've become without your care."
Sheng Lengshuang: "... I'm not your mother, why should I take care of you? If you want someone to take care of you, go find those who are willing to."
Mo Lingxi quickly explained, "Wife, that's not what I meant. I just want to get back together."
Sheng Lengshuang dropped a "No way" and leisurely walked towards the back mountain. Thinking about it now, she had earned some money from this mountain back then.
Time really flies.
Mo Lingxi followed her. "Wife, what do I need to do for you to agree to get back together with me?"
"Once the troubles are resolved, we'll talk," Sheng Lengshuang emphasized the word "talk."
Mo Lingxi understood. The crux of the problem was still those few countries. "Wife, don't worry, I will definitely resolve these troubles and will never let you worry again."
Sheng Lengshuang casually said "oh" and wandered with Mo Lingxi.
When the two returned to the Sheng family, Sheng Lengshuang learned from the butler that the princesses from the various countries who were there for marriage alliances had been waiting for a long time.
Sheng Lengshuang narrowed her eyes, told Mo Lingxi to attend to his own matters, and then went to the main hall.
As soon as she entered the main hall, she saw several princesses with different charms, dressed elegantly and nobly.
They exchanged courtesies.
Sheng Lengshuang crossed her legs and leaned back against the chair, saying lazily, "May I ask why the princesses have come to find me?"
The first to speak was Princess Wen Ya of Southern Jin. She said somewhat timidly, "Miss Sheng, could you please intercede with Prince Mingrui on our behalf and release our Southern Jin envoys?"
Sheng Lengshuang: "I cannot help with this matter. If Princess Wen Ya truly wishes to save those people, perhaps you should ask His Majesty. That might work."
Princess Wen Ya bit her lip timidly. "But I have already asked. His Majesty Wen Zong did not agree, so I had no choice but to come and ask you."
Sheng Lengshuang understood. "Princess Wen Ya, I truly cannot help with this matter. Don't worry too much. As the saying goes, envoys are not beheaded. I expect the Southern Jin envoys will be released soon."
Princess Wen Ya held back her tears. As the most neglected and unfavored princess of Southern Jin for a long time, if she couldn't handle this matter well, those people would definitely not let her off easily.
However, Miss Sheng had said as much as she could. If she pleaded further, it would displease Miss Sheng and bring trouble to Southern Jin.
"Thank you, Miss Sheng."
Sheng Lengshuang acted as if she hadn't seen it, showing no sympathy. "If the princesses have no other matters, please excuse me as I have things to attend to. If the princesses have matters, I, a mere daughter of a subject, cannot help."
She didn't want to meddle in the affairs between countries. She would rather manage her own fields if she had the time.
"Princess Wen Ya, why doesn't your Southern Jin dynasty gift some sweet potatoes to the Eastern Jin dynasty?" Princess An Ning of Western Yue said with a light laugh, covering her mouth. "I'm sure His Majesty Wen Zong will forgive your Southern Jin envoys."
Princess Wen Ya shook her head like a rattle drum. "No, no, no, I cannot make decisions on this matter."
Sweet potatoes were a national treasure of Southern Jin, and it was impossible to gift them to the Eastern Jin dynasty.
Princess An Ning's smile remained unchanged. "Princess Wen Ya, I'm not trying to criticize you, but your Southern Jin dynasty has committed such a mistake. Do you expect to receive forgiveness from the Eastern Jin dynasty without giving anything in return?"
Princess Wen Ya: "This... Princess An Ning, I understand your good intentions, but I am only a princess married for alliance. Such major matters are not for me to decide."
Princess An Ning: "That is true. Why doesn't Princess Wen Ya think of another way? Perhaps you can save those envoys."
Princess Wen Ya, who had already thought of many ways, could only sigh. She knew why her father sought to marry Miss Sheng, but her father didn't consider the situation.
Now, what should she do?
Sheng Lengshuang, who had been watching the show for a long time, glanced at Princess Zhi Ya, who had remained silent. This was also a princess of Southern Jin, but unlike Princess Wen Ya, Princess Zhi Ya was somewhat favored, and her mother concubine was still alive.
"You three princesses, please sit comfortably. I have other matters to attend to, so I will not accompany you. If you wish to tour the Sheng family, the servants will guide you."
She curtsied and left the main hall.
"Princess Zhi Ya is so quiet," Princess An Ning laughed, covering her mouth. "It's difficult for Princess Wen Ya to plead, but Princess Zhi Ya doesn't say a word."
Princess Zhi Ya slightly raised her head, looking down at her, her words full of arrogance. "This kind of matter is for Wen Ya to handle. It's not my place to step forward. Princess An Ning, if you have the time to worry about our Southern Jin affairs, you might as well pay more attention to yourself."
"I heard that Western Yue wants you to marry Prince Mingrui, but unfortunately, Prince Mingrui is fond of Miss Sheng and will not marry anyone else."
Princess An Ning's expression remained unchanged. "Princess Zhi Ya knows quite a lot. But I also heard that Southern Jin intends for one of you two to marry Prince Mingrui, and the other to enter the palace as a concubine. I must say, Southern Jin really knows how to play their cards."
Princess Zhi Ya snorted coldly and looked at her as if she were an ant. "Princess An Ning's mouth is truly sharp."
Princess An Ning smiled lightly. "Thank you for the compliment, Princess Zhi Ya. I am indeed sharp-tongued and never suffer losses."
Princess Zhi Ya looked at her with annoyance, then got up and left.
Princess Wen Ya quickly followed, cautiously not daring to speak, afraid that Princess Zhi Ya would find trouble with her.
Princess An Ning picked up her teacup and took a sip. Did Princess Zhi Ya think she was still in Southern Jin? How dare she act so arrogant? She would have to face consequences later.
However, Princess Zhi Ya causing a scene was a good thing for Western Yue.
Unaware of this, Princess Zhi Ya took Princess Wen Ya to the academy. She looked at the surging crowd with disgust, unable to understand why Eastern Jin was doing such a thing. This was undoubtedly lowering the status of the royal family and nobility.
Only the royal family and nobility were qualified to learn so many things. The lowly commoners were not qualified to learn these.
"Zhi Ya, should we go in and take a look?" Princess Wen Ya asked weakly.
Princess Zhi Ya slapped her ear back, impatiently. "Shut up! Seeing you like this makes me sick. I warned you, speak less to me. Your status doesn't qualify you to talk to me."
Princess Wen Ya covered her face, tears welling up in her eyes, and lowered her head, not daring to resist in the slightest.