Tao Lengshuang and Mo Lingxi exchanged a look, eagerly anticipating the scene of the Black Hand sect coming to rescue Luo Yang.
After parading around, the group headed towards the Ministry of Justice.
When they reached a place where no one could see them, a dozen masked figures suddenly appeared and, without a word, split into two groups.
One group was responsible for seizing Luo Yang and Madam Sheng, while the other attacked Tao Lengshuang and Mo Lingxi.
"Quick, save me, save me!" Luo Yang commanded with immense joy.
Mo Lingxi shielded Madam Sheng and Tao Lengshuang behind him and ordered, "Kill!"
Several hidden guards appeared, splitting into two groups. One group was tasked with protecting the three of them, while the other engaged the masked assailants.
Tao Lengshuang crossed her arms and smiled faintly, "It seems Luo Yang is quite important to your master. Indeed, there aren't many fools like Luo Yang who are so obedient and capable of any wicked deed."
"Tao Lengshuang, don't get cocky!" Luo Yang stared at her with bloodshot eyes, "Next time, next time I will surely deal with you and marry Prince Mingrui."
Tao Lengshuang looked at Mo Lingxi with pity, "I truly pity you for having such an arrogant pursuer, who always thinks she has a chance to marry you."
Mo Lingxi's brow twitched fiercely, and he gave her a cold, dismissive glance, "Princess Mingrui, are you implying that because I am your husband?"
Tao Lengshuang spread her hands, indicating she hadn't forgotten, "You are not my husband alone. It won't be long before you take concubines and consorts. I saw clearly at yesterday's banquet, all those young ladies wanted to marry you."
Mo Lingxi's face darkened like ink, and he gritted his teeth, "In your heart, am I that kind of person?"
Tao Lengshuang didn't want to get into this topic with him. She dropped a sentence, "If it were for the sake of the country and its people, would you dare not marry?" and continued to watch the spectacle.
Mo Lingxi was speechless, his eyes filled with a hint of confusion. For the sake of the country and its people, would he take concubines and consorts?
His silence made Tao Lengshuang's heart sink by half. She had known this all along, so why be sad and hurt?
Perhaps, she really should leave.
Seeing the remaining masked figures flee without rescuing Luo Yang, she scoffed. She instructed the hidden guards to escort Luo Yang to the Ministry of Justice prison, preparing to help Madam Sheng onto the carriage, when someone suddenly lunged out.
"Tao! Leng! Shuang!" Sheng Li glared at her with hatred, "It's you, you snatched everything from me, making me an object of ridicule. I won't let you go."
Tao Lengshuang lazily drawled, "Oh, so you won't let me go. It's not a big deal, why are you shouting about it here?"
Her attitude was like hitting cotton with a fist. Sheng Li suddenly glared at Madam Sheng, "It's all your fault..."
"Enough!" Madam Sheng impatiently interrupted her, "You ruined your own life with your own hands. Don't blame anyone else. Also, please stay far away from us. I don't want to see you."
For some reason, she felt no pity when she saw Sheng Li now, only annoyance.
Perhaps, her heart had been completely broken.
Sheng Li's expression froze, then she began to wail on the ground like a shrew, regardless of anything, "You're scolding me, you're actually scolding me!"
"You scold me for an outsider, but I am your own daughter."
Seeing her like this, Madam Sheng became even more annoyed. She frowned, and the scene of the Tao family causing trouble that day came to mind, making her feel that Sheng Li was exactly like the troublemaking Tao family.
The more she looked, the more she felt the illusion that Sheng Li was not her biological daughter, yet she also felt this thought was correct.
"Look at yourself now, how are you like a lady of a prominent family? You are like a shrew from the marketplace."
Tao Lengshuang chimed in, "Foster mother, perhaps she is indeed a shrew from the marketplace. The Sheng family is a noble lineage, and she was raised with all sorts of teachings since childhood. If she weren't a marketplace shrew, how could she do such uncivilized things?"
Sheng Li shivered at these words and quickly stood up, no longer daring to throw a tantrum. "Mother, don't listen to Tao Lengshuang's nonsense. I am your daughter, how could I be a marketplace shrew?"
She had seen the Tao family use this tactic to achieve their goals, so she wanted to use it to achieve hers, but it didn't work at all.
Madam Sheng genuinely didn't want to see Sheng Li anymore and turned to get into the carriage, only to hear Sheng Li's sharp, piercing cry.
"Mother, you can't abandon me, you can't abandon me. If you truly abandon me, I will cry myself to death in front of you and let everyone know what a cruel and heartless mother you are."
"Foster mother, let's go back to the manor." Tao Lengshuang helped Madam Sheng into the carriage, not paying any further attention to Sheng Li.
"Lengshuang, find an opportunity." Madam Sheng gently patted Tao Lengshuang. Just as Lengshuang had said, if Prince Mingrui had to take a concubine or consort for the sake of the country and its people one day, what would Lengshuang do?
As for Sheng Li, she would eventually bring about her own downfall. Madam Sheng didn't want to worry about her anymore.
Tao Lengshuang pursed her lips and hummed, her eyes unfocused as she looked outside. How had life come to this?
Upon returning to the Sheng residence, Tao Lengshuang used the excuse of being tired and wanting to rest in her courtyard, only to learn that Princess Anning had visited, claiming to offer an apology.
Tao Lengshuang did not welcome Princess Anning but knew she could not refuse, so she had someone invite Princess Anning in.
Madam Sheng, feeling tired, returned to her courtyard. Mo Lingxi had to go to the palace for official matters. He gave Tao Lengshuang a few instructions before leaving for the palace.
In the main hall.
Tao Lengshuang picked up her teacup and took a sip, then looked at Princess Anning, "May I ask the reason for Princess Anning's visit today?"
Princess Anning took a wooden box from her maid and handed it to Tao Lengshuang, "This is some silver notes prepared by our family. The rest, such as grain, is in the warehouse. Please accept it, Princess Mingrui."
Tao Lengshuang's eyelids twitched, and she did not accept, "For no reason, why would Princess Anning send me these?"
Princess Anning placed the wooden box on a small table beside Tao Lengshuang and explained, "Times are difficult now, and our family wishes to help the court. However, if it were sent directly to His Highness the Crown Prince, it is inevitable that someone with ill intentions would overthink it. Therefore, we wish to ask Princess Mingrui to act as an intermediary."
Tao Lengshuang suddenly said, "I'm sorry, I cannot help Princess Anning with this. This is a great matter. If there's nothing wrong, I would say no. It would be best for Princess Anning to personally deliver this to the Crown Prince."
Princess Anning waved her hands and repeatedly said, "To be frank with Princess Mingrui, I offended His Highness the Crown Prince earlier due to the arranged marriage. If I were to present these now, I fear His Highness the Crown Prince would overthink it."
Tao Lengshuang still stated that she could not help convey the message. This was a hot potato, and she was not so foolish as to help with such a matter.
"If Princess Anning has any concerns, why not ask your father to go to the palace and speak with His Highness the Crown Prince? I believe His Highness the Crown Prince will understand."
She stood up, "Does Princess Anning have any other matters? I need to go prepare medicine."