Tao Lengshuang reacted swiftly, shaking off the man's hand and shielding Xiao Feng.
Noticing a crowd gathering, she gave Xiao Feng some powder and held some herself.
"What stealing? I didn't steal your things." She eyed her surroundings warily, suspecting she had been set up.
But she and Xiao Feng were disguised... Could someone have recognized them and used it to target them?
"You stole the silver I was going to use to buy land."
The middle-aged man pointed at Tao Lengshuang, his face filled with rage, slapping his thighs. "I'd saved up some money with great difficulty, intending to buy some land for security today, but I didn't expect you mother and son to steal it."
"I can't believe that you, a woman with a child, would do such a thing."
The onlookers pointed and whispered.
"Too wicked, actually stealing people's money. Such people deserve to be beaten to death."
"What's most hateful is that she stole money with her child. This is to corrupt the child."
"I think she stole this child too. The mother and son don't look alike at all. We should help check; it might be someone's lost child."
Seeing someone reach for Xiao Feng, Tao Lengshuang's eyes sharpened, and she kicked the person away.
However, more people reached out to grab Xiao Feng. While shielding him, she flung a handful of powder.
"Who ordered you to harm us, mother and son?"
If she still couldn't see that something was wrong, she was blind.
Xiao Feng hugged his mother obediently, his gaze fixed on the surroundings. All these people were bad guys.
As the powder dispersed, the people around them paused. They looked at each other, unsure what Tao Lengshuang had thrown, and dared not approach easily.
"Your babbling is useless."
The middle-aged man waved his hand angrily. "You stole my silver, and you must return it today, or I will report you to the authorities."
"Alright, I was just about to see an official. I'll ask the county magistrate to investigate you thoroughly." As soon as she finished speaking, Tao Lengshuang saw the people who had inhaled the powder writhing on the ground in pain.
"It hurts so much, it hurts all over. Hurry and give me the antidote!"
"It itches, it hurts and itches, I can't stand it, I can't stand it!"
Seeing this, the surrounding people quickly retreated, fearing they would be the next to inhale the powder.
The middle-aged man also retreated, looking at Tao Lengshuang with fear. "You actually harmed people, you are so vicious!"
He bowed to the people around him and pleaded, "Please help me, let's deal with her together. Once we get the silver back, I'll treat everyone to a meal."
"You say I stole your silver, then tell me, how much silver did I steal from you?" Tao Lengshuang sneered.
"Ten taels... no, you stole fifty taels from me... no, no, you stole a hundred taels of silver from me!" The middle-aged man's eyes were filled with greed.
Tao Lengshuang raised an eyebrow mockingly. "Are you sure I stole a hundred taels from you?"
The middle-aged man wasn't entirely sure. He didn't know how much silver Tao Lengshuang had, but that person had said this woman had a lot of silver, and whatever he could get would be his.
"It was a hundred taels!"
If there was more, he would just snatch it all.
Tao Lengshuang glanced at the ordinarily dressed middle-aged man and exclaimed, "Looking at your attire, you don't seem like a rich person. How can you have such a large sum of money at once? Could it be... stolen?"
The middle-aged man said angrily, "Nonsense! I am a clear and honest person, and I would never do such a thing."
"You quickly return my silver, or I will make you pay."
Tao Lengshuang patted Xiao Feng twice and said to the middle-aged man with a stern look, "Then tell me, when and how did I steal your silver?"
The middle-aged man couldn't explain and shouted, "You stole my silver, stop delaying here."
Turning, he again asked the surrounding people for help. "Please help me, I will reward you handsomely after this is done!"
The surrounding people had already been tempted when they heard about the hundred taels of silver, but they were wary of the powder in Tao Lengshuang's hand, so no one moved for a while.
But they were all vigilant towards each other, unwilling for anyone else to get such a large sum of money.
"Attack!" someone shouted, like a signal, instantly igniting the situation.
A crowd of people rushed towards Tao Lengshuang and Xiao Feng like madmen, their appearance more terrifying than midnight demons.
Tao Lengshuang's heart tightened. While scattering powder, she called out to her hidden guards, "To the rooftop."
The five hidden guards divided their tasks. Two were responsible for taking Tao Lengshuang and Xiao Feng to the rooftop, while the remaining guards were responsible for holding off the crowd.
As Tao Lengshuang was lifted by the hidden guards, she saw a group of people engulfing a few guards, who were then flung away. Her heart eased; thankfully, they had escaped quickly.
Standing on the rooftop, she quickly scanned the surroundings. She didn't see anyone suspicious, but she couldn't completely relax.
This incident showed that even in disguise, the shadowy figure could recognize her.
The only possibility was that the shadowy figure was watching the pharmacy... or rather, watching her every move from the shadows.
This was not good for her.
In the future, she intended to leave Mo Lingxi. If she was constantly watched by the shadowy figure, she wouldn't be able to open the pharmacy and would face numerous troubles and dangers.
She had to find a way to stop the shadowy figure from watching her.
But what method could she find?
As Tao Lengshuang was thinking of a solution, three hidden guards had already dealt with the crowd and received information.
"Madam."
One of the hidden guards bowed. "A man wearing a veiled hat paid one tael of silver to have them falsely accuse you of stealing silver."
"In addition, the other party wanted them to capture the young master. As for what the other party intended to do, these people did not know."
Tao Lengshuang had already guessed it, her eyes turning colder. "Let's go back first."
When the mother and son returned to the pharmacy, they saw Mo Lingxi standing inside.
"Are you alright?" Mo Lingxi, having received the news, checked Tao Lengshuang and her son.
Tao Lengshuang shook her head, indicating she was fine. She sent Xiao Feng back to his room to rest before discussing important matters with Mo Lingxi. "Our every move is being watched by the shadowy figure."
"Disguise is useless. The problem is, how can we find out how the shadowy figure is watching us, and ideally, how can we stop them from constantly watching us?"
She truly hated this feeling of being constantly watched.
Mo Lingxi had already considered this. "I have already arranged for hidden guards to search in secret. I believe we will find out soon."
"If you don't want to be constantly watched, moving back to the Prince's mansion is the most secure option."
Tao Lengshuang made a stop gesture. "Didn't we agree not to mention this again? Besides, even moving to Prince Mingrui's mansion wouldn't be secure."
"In that case, I don't want to hear about it again."