Madam Sheng understood Tao Lengshuang's concerns and worries, and smiled, "Then you can stay in a courtyard under my name."
"I have a courtyard, a single-entry one, in a rather secluded place. I'll feel at ease if you and your son live there."
As Tao Lengshuang was about to refuse again, she saw General Sheng with a stern face, looking displeased. "Lengshuang, we are your adoptive parents. No one would dare say anything even if you lived in the Sheng family's residence."
"Listen to your adoptive mother and stay in the courtyard under her name. If you don't like it, we can change it."
Tao Lengshuang knew she couldn't refuse any longer and reluctantly agreed, "For now, Xiao Feng and I will stay there. Once things calm down, I'll find a place."
Madam Sheng nodded with satisfaction, "Why be polite with your own parents? Tell us if you need anything, and bring Xiao Feng back to stay often."
Speaking of which, she added, "I think you should stay at home today so that Xiao Feng can spend more time with me and your adoptive father."
Tao Lengshuang thought for a moment and then agreed, "General Sheng and Madam Sheng, please don't be too good to Xiao Feng, and don't spoil him too much with things. Children can easily get carried away."
Madam Sheng gave her a playful glare, "With our Sheng family's vast fortune, are we afraid Xiao Feng will cause trouble? Besides, Xiao Feng is so well-behaved and sensible, he wouldn't do anything he shouldn't."
Xiao Feng nodded repeatedly, patting his chest to guarantee, "Xiao Feng won't do anything he shouldn't, okay? If I do, Mommy won't talk to me, and Xiao Feng doesn't want that."
Tao Lengshuang and the others laughed, teasing Xiao Feng.
After everyone had a good time, Madam Sheng and General Sheng kept Xiao Feng, saying they wanted the child to sleep with them that night.
Seeing her son acting spoiled in Madam Sheng's arms, Tao Lengshuang didn't know what expression to wear. Her son was truly not shy, having gotten so familiar with the Sheng couple so quickly.
She shook her head with a smile and, along with Mo Lingxi, left the room and was led by a servant towards the guest rooms.
"Miss, Madam has already instructed us servants to clean the adjacent courtyard. You and the young master can move in tomorrow."
The maid's address of "Miss" took Tao Lengshuang a moment to register that she was being called: "Thank you for your trouble."
The maid repeatedly said it was no trouble and led Tao Lengshuang and Mo Lingxi to the guest courtyard before retreating.
Tao Lengshuang sat in a chair, feeling a bit tired, thinking about how to investigate the matter of the swapped daughters, as definitive evidence was currently lacking.
Without concrete proof, even if she revealed the swapped daughters, it would be difficult to convince people, and it might even give Sheng Li an opportunity to turn the tables.
"Thinking about how to get concrete evidence of the swapped daughters?" Mo Lingxi handed her a teacup.
Tao Lengshuang softly hummed in agreement, "With concrete evidence, this matter can be resolved, and General and Madam Sheng will no longer show leniency towards Sheng Li."
Mo Lingxi: "I have an idea that might help find evidence, but..."
Tao Lengshuang placed the teacup down and looked up at him, "Tell me your thoughts."
Mo Lingxi: "A Jin! A Jin knows about the swapped daughters. The problem is, if we move A Jin, this pawn, it will be harder for us to follow the clues."
Tao Lengshuang had also considered getting the truth out of A Jin to resolve the swapped daughters issue.
Hearing Mo Lingxi mention it now, she was tempted again, using A Jin to resolve the swapped daughters issue...
She first considered the entire situation, then pondered whether moving A Jin could help find the mastermind.
As she thought, she recalled the middle-aged man and her eyes lit up, "Move A Jin!"
"No, what about the middle-aged man and the butler? Compared to these two, A Jin's usefulness is already quite limited."
Mo Lingxi's eyes widened as if struck by a revelation, "You're right. If we capture A Jin, we might even provoke the mastermind, thus finding useful clues."
With that, he went to make arrangements.
Tao Lengshuang paced back and forth, thinking about how to lure out the mastermind. They had investigated for so long and used so many methods, yet they couldn't find out the mastermind's identity, which showed how deeply hidden they were.
"Tao Lengshuang, I was just about to talk to you about the mastermind."
Mo Lingxi, who had returned, helped Tao Lengshuang sit down, "General Sheng has found some useful clues. He suspects that all these matters might be related to Madam Sheng."
A question mark slowly appeared on Tao Lengshuang's forehead, "Why do you say that?"
Mo Lingxi explained, "If it were political enemies, or targeting General Sheng, they would have killed General and Madam Sheng long ago. Why would they resort to such tricks?"
Tao Lengshuang thought about it carefully, frowned, and slowly nodded, "Indeed, nothing is more reassuring than a dead person. But it's not impossible that they want to torment General and Madam Sheng."
Mo Lingxi: "General Sheng has also considered this, so he is investigating from multiple angles, focusing on Madam Sheng's situation."
"Madam Sheng was the most beautiful woman in her youth, with countless admirers, including some who were quite fanatical."
Tao Lengshuang knew what those fanatical admirers were capable of, "Are there still any now?"
Mo Lingxi indicated there were, saying that two or three obsessed admirers had refused to marry but had taken many concubines who bore some resemblance to Madam Sheng in appearance.
Tao Lengshuang showed a look of disgust, "How disgusting."
Mo Lingxi agreed, "I'm following this lead, but it might not lead to the mastermind."
Tao Lengshuang understood, and she hummed, "Let's not rule out other possibilities, such as grudges."
Mo Lingxi said they were investigating all possibilities, "I've found some leads and still need evidence to prove whether what I've found is true."
He detailed what he had found to Tao Lengshuang.
Tao Lengshuang listened, astonished but not surprised. The scope had narrowed, and there were now suspicious individuals. The next step was to identify the mastermind.
That evening.
A Jin was brought before Tao Lengshuang and Mo Lingxi by hidden guards. Gagged, he struggled to make muffled sounds.
He had been recovering from his injuries in bed when suddenly his vision went black, he was stuffed into a sack, and then he saw these two.
Tao Lengshuang squatted in front of him, smiling as she pulled the cloth from his mouth, "The grievances between us will be settled slowly today."
A Jin's eyes darted away, and he said with a trembling voice, "I don't know you. Did you catch the wrong person?"
Tao Lengshuang was not in a hurry. She crossed her legs and sat in a chair, looking at him with slightly cold eyes, "It's no use pretending to be foolish. More importantly, no one can save you."
A Jin knew this very well and deeply regretted not arranging for someone to protect him, "I don't know what you're talking about."
Just as Tao Lengshuang was about to speak, she saw Mo Lingxi fiercely stomp on A Jin's wound. She stopped speaking for the moment.
"You're talking too much nonsense," Mo Lingxi said coldly, ignoring A Jin's screams.
A Jin's vision went black from the pain, and he writhed in agony, "I, I truly don't know what you want to do. Please spare my life."
Upon hearing this, Mo Lingxi ordered the hidden guards to drag A Jin away for interrogation and torture.