When Mo Lingxi learned from his hidden guard that Sheng Li had been abducted, he immediately informed Tao Lengshuang and shared his thoughts: "She wasn't abducted. It's likely a staged event, intended to worry General Sheng and his wife."
He then mentioned General Sheng and his family, and how they were affected by Sheng Li's dismissal.
Tao Lengshuang frowned upon hearing this, saying worriedly, "It's clear His Majesty is showing no leniency. If this continues, greater unrest may occur, which would be terrible for us common folk."
General Sheng was a pillar of support and faith for countless citizens. Now that their idol had been stripped of his official post, the people were even more disillusioned with the current regime.
Coupled with natural disasters and man-made calamities, the situation would only worsen.
Mo Lingxi understood all of this. A fierce aura gathered in his dark, deep eyes, yet his voice remained calm: "I have a plan for this. Give me some more time."
Tao Lengshuang could roughly guess what he intended to do and couldn't help but caution him, "You must not act recklessly."
"You know better than I do how much it will cost to change the current situation, how dangerous it is, and that a single misstep could cost you your life."
Her concern relaxed Mo Lingxi's expression, and he looked at her with gentle eyes: "Don't worry, I won't act recklessly."
"For you and Xiao Feng, I won't act recklessly."
Hearing this, Tao Lengshuang distanced herself from him, giving him a strange look. "Don't say it's for anyone. What you're doing has nothing to do with me or Xiao Feng."
Mo Lingxi was both amused and exasperated. "Didn't you just tell me not to act recklessly? I promised not to, and yet you're acting like this."
Tao Lengshuang rolled her eyes and chuckled. "As a friend, it's normal for me to caution you, isn't it?"
She pointed at Mo Lingxi's head. "Please don't let your imagination run wild, and don't misinterpret my words."
Mo Lingxi: "...Would it kill you to say something nice?"
Tao Lengshuang felt that while it wouldn't kill her, it would make her uncomfortable and lead to a host of inexplicable troubles, which was why she couldn't say anything pleasant to Mo Lingxi.
Mo Lingxi's eye twitched, unsure whether to be angry or resigned. "Be careful lately. I have to go out again, and I might not be back for a while."
Tao Lengshuang knew what he was going to do. She wanted to say a few more words but feared Mo Lingxi might overthink it, so she simply hummed in acknowledgment.
Seeing Mo Lingxi's handsome face darken, she gave him various medicinal powders, explaining their uses one by one. She watched as the man's expression softened.
"..." Hmph, men!
Mo Lingxi carefully put away all the powders, his eyes shining as he looked at her. "If I have time, I'll come back to see you and Xiao Feng."
As he spoke, he took out a jade pendant made of warm jade and placed it in Tao Lengshuang's hand. "Keep this safe."
Tao Lengshuang didn't even look at it and handed it back. "This jade pendant is too precious. I can't accept it."
This was likely some kind of token, and she couldn't accept it casually.
Mo Lingxi, understanding her nature to some extent, said, "I can give it to Xiao Feng, then."
He truly gave it to Xiao Feng.
"Daddy, are those mandarin ducks on this jade pendant?" Xiao Feng held the pendant, exclaiming in wonder. "This jade pendant is so beautiful! It must be very valuable. Xiao Feng wants to sell it so Mommy doesn't have to work so hard."
Tao Lengshuang smiled warmly.
Mo Lingxi lightly tapped Xiao Feng's head and instructed, "This is Daddy's token. If you need anything, bring it to Qingfeng Restaurant. Take good care of it, understand?"
Xiao Feng knew of the largest restaurant, Qingfeng Restaurant. Upon hearing this, he looked at his father in utter shock, as if he didn't recognize him.
Qingfeng Restaurant belonged to Daddy? Impossible. Daddy was so poor; how could Qingfeng Restaurant be his?
"Xiao Feng, return the jade pendant to your Daddy. We can't accept such a precious item." Tao Lengshuang's eyelids twitched fiercely, and her gaze towards Mo Lingxi changed.
Xiao Feng obediently returned the jade pendant to Mo Lingxi and stood beside Tao Lengshuang. "Daddy, Mommy said we can't accept it, so Xiao Feng can't accept it."
Mo Lingxi understood why Tao Lengshuang refused. He sat on the bench and looked at her. "I was wrong before. It won't happen again."
Tao Lengshuang listened and slowly shook her head. "No, you did nothing wrong in this matter."
She patted Xiao Feng and told him to go play in the main hall. "Don't play in the snow in the courtyard. It's getting colder, and you might catch a cold."
Xiao Feng knew his parents had something to discuss and obediently agreed, then went to the main hall to play with his friends.
Tao Lengshuang looked at Mo Lingxi. "The original Tao Lengshuang and the Tao family were that kind of people. It was right for you to hide your identity and not let them know your background."
"If they had found out, they would have tried to drain you dry. And now, me not accepting your jade pendant is because, firstly, it's too precious, and secondly, it's easy for complications to arise if I keep it."
Mo Lingxi understood her polite refusal and frowned slightly. "Even if it were lost..."
"That's not appropriate," Tao Lengshuang interrupted him, speaking very seriously. "Mo Lingxi, you don't need to do these things. It's fine as it is now."
"Sometimes, doing too much, or doing things like this, is not good for either of us."
Mo Lingxi understood her concerns and thoughts all too well, and precisely because he understood, he felt a little uncomfortable. "You and I are husband and wife; why must we be so distant?"
Tao Lengshuang smiled. "Even as husband and wife, there are boundaries. Besides, you and I are not truly husband and wife."
"Alright, you don't need to say anything more. I understand your good intentions. If I truly need your help, I will ask you."
She wasn't foolish; she wouldn't hesitate to ask Mo Lingxi for help when encountering trouble or danger.
With the matter settled, Mo Lingxi no longer insisted and put the jade pendant away. "If you need anything, tell the hidden guards. Don't worry about causing trouble."
Tao Lengshuang hummed in acknowledgment, then turned to the matter of Sheng Li's abduction. "You said, is the Black Hand trying to use Sheng Li to escalate the situation and get rid of General Sheng?"
Mo Lingxi thought that wasn't the case. "If the Black Hand truly wanted to eliminate General Sheng, they could have used Sheng Li to cause trouble long ago."
"From what I see, it seems more like the Black Hand is deliberately tormenting General Sheng."
Tao Lengshuang's expression changed, and she sat up straighter. "You mean, the Black Hand's purpose in doing all this is not to eliminate General Sheng, but to make General Sheng suffer?"
Mo Lingxi couldn't say for sure. "From the current situation, it seems so."
"Now that the Black Hand has abducted Sheng Li, given Sheng Li's personality, she won't hesitate to cause a scene until everything goes her way."
Upon hearing this, Tao Lengshuang recalled something. "General Sheng has served in the military for many years. Even though he's been dismissed, he still has certain connections and influence within the army, right?"