Mo Lingxi was aware of the family's situation. Every day, his hidden guards would report on the household's affairs. "I will handle the matters concerning outsiders. You need not worry."
Hearing this, Tao Lengshuang felt a lot more at ease, her brow unfurrowing slightly. "With your words, I am reassured."
"However, this situation cannot continue. When food becomes scarce everywhere, more people will target our home."
The words "our home" pleased Mo Lingxi, and the corners of his thin lips curved upwards. "There is no solution in the short term. His Majesty is not acting."
His Majesty was not unaware of these matters. Either he was indifferent, or he would casually dispatch people to suppress them, without putting much thought into it.
If it concerned matters of pleasure, His Majesty was willing to expend considerable effort.
Tao Lengshuang understood and grew even more resentful of the current emperor. "If it truly comes to it, Xiao Feng and I will hide in the mountains. It's better than staying here as targets."
Mo Lingxi suggested Tao Lengshuang move to Lotus Town. With him there, no one would be able to trace any clues.
Tao Lengshuang felt this was not feasible. She and Xiao Feng would inevitably go out in Lotus Town, and no matter how careful they were, they would be discovered.
"We'll discuss this later. It's not time for that yet."
Mo Lingxi did not insist, merely cautioning her and Xiao Feng to be more careful. If they encountered danger, they should let the hidden guards handle it, or hand it over to him.
Tao Lengshuang thought to herself, you are already in so much danger, how could I possibly bother you with everything? Relying on oneself is the best.
Outwardly, she agreed and then urged Mo Lingxi to pay attention to his own safety.
Mo Lingxi sat leisurely, exuding an aura of relaxation and ease.
Here, he did not need to be constantly on guard, nor did he need to be vigilant against enemies from all directions. He did not have to worry about his plans going awry.
Here, he could be himself.
"You've worked hard these past few days," he said, gently patting Tao Lengshuang's hand.
Tao Lengshuang was astonished and instinctively glanced at the spatial medicinal garden.
As expected, the area of the spatial medicinal garden had expanded by about twenty square feet. Her eyelids twitched.
What in the world!
Why was Mo Lingxi being so kind to her for no reason, and saying such words?
"It's not hard," she replied, her smile stiffening slightly. She felt something was amiss.
Mo Lingxi, with half-closed eyes, did not notice her abnormality. "I will stay here for the time being. I will go out once my injuries have healed a bit."
Tao Lengshuang was taken aback. She looked at him again. Was Mo Lingxi informing her of his whereabouts?
This was too strange.
"You should indeed rest and recover."
She shook her head, discarding her outlandish thoughts. She must be overthinking it.
This was a distinguished young master standing at the pinnacle of society. It was impossible for him to take a liking to a village girl like her. He was probably asking for her help in taking care of him.
Completely unaware that she had misunderstood, Mo Lingxi's smile deepened. "Do you want to open a pharmacy?"
Tao Lengshuang jolted, her sixth sense ringing like a bell. "Why are you asking me this out of the blue?"
Mo Lingxi looked at her. "I believe, with your excellent medical skills, you would want to open a pharmacy."
Tao Lengshuang automatically translated his words as: I will help you open a pharmacy, and you will work for me in the future.
"I do have such an idea, but I don't have that much silver for now. We'll talk about it later."
"I can help you."
"No, no."
It was a joke. If she accepted his help, wouldn't she essentially be selling herself?
She would never agree to such an unfavorable deal.
Mo Lingxi assumed Tao Lengshuang did not want to owe favors, or perhaps thought he had ulterior motives for refusing. "You won't owe me a favor, nor am I asking for your help."
Tao Lengshuang was even less inclined to accept. She smiled. "I cannot accept."
"If I were to open a pharmacy, I would want to do so through my own efforts, not by relying on others."
She truly did not want to owe Mo Lingxi anything, lest he hold it over her in the future, preventing her from living a comfortable, idle life.
Mo Lingxi, understanding a bit of her personality, said no more. He planned to send her the deed for a pharmacy at a later date.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. It was Madam Liu, coming to deliver hot water.
Madam Liu looked at Tao Lengshuang with a teasing smile and whispered, "You two should keep your movements down. It's daytime, and the children are all here."
Tao Lengshuang was about to explain when she saw Madam Liu quickly walk away. "..."
It really wasn't what Madam Liu was thinking. She was here to treat Mo Lingxi's injuries.
The weary doctor returned to the room with the hot water and placed it on the table. "You can wipe yourself with this."
Mo Lingxi looked at her strangely, picked up the towel, and began to wipe. "What's wrong?"
Tao Lengshuang waved her hand, indicating she was fine. She did not want to explain this matter.
Mo Lingxi did not press further.
Just as she finished bandaging, a sound resembling a bird's call reached his ears. He opened the window.
A hidden guard flipped through the window and entered, kneeling on one knee. "Master, Apo has been killed. The steward has investigated something."
Tao Lengshuang was shocked. Apo had been killed!?
This meant the mastermind knew about Apo's betrayal.
Would the mastermind then arrange for someone else to come?
Mo Lingxi was not surprised. He narrowed his eyes slightly. "Speak."
"Yes."
According to the hidden guard, the person the steward had contacted was the steward of a powerful family. Which family it was, was still being investigated.
However, Mo Lingxi sensed a problem.
"It seems someone is deliberately guiding this."
Mo Lingxi agreed with Tao Lengshuang's words. "Yes, this should not have been discovered, yet it was."
This was precisely Tao Lengshuang's point. She had heard Mo Lingxi mention this before. By all rights, this little steward should not have been able to contact anyone from the main family.
"Could it be that they want to frame you to sow discord?"
Mo Lingxi stated that this was possible. "If the struggles in the imperial court become more intense, anything could happen at any time."
"Under such circumstances, if anything were to happen, it would have a significant impact on the situation."
Furthermore, the mastermind had already sensed that he was investigating him, hence this move.
Tao Lengshuang realized the gravity of the situation. "Will the mastermind send more people?"
Mo Lingxi believed not for the time being. "If a major incident were to occur here, it would be of no benefit to this person. He needs to resolve all matters silently."
Tao Lengshuang also thought it made sense. She discussed the opponent's intentions and objectives with Mo Lingxi.
After talking for a long time, they still did not know why the other party was so fixated on Tao Lengshuang.
"How about we stir up some trouble?" Tao Lengshuang suggested.
Mo Lingxi, however, said that his side could not do that. Many matters had to be handled in secret and could not be made public.
Tao Lengshuang pondered for a moment. "What if we let the other party know that we know everything?"
Mo Lingxi thought about it. "We can try."
"I will arrange this matter. You should be more careful recently. The mastermind might attack you again at any time."
Tao Lengshuang stated that she would be more careful and mentioned that she would basically not go out. With Aunt Shen Er and the others, she wouldn't need to go out to gather information.
Mo Lingxi was still uneasy and was determined to arrange for more hidden guards.
Suddenly, his gaze sharpened, and he flung open the door.
"Ouch!"
Xiao Feng and his friends fell to the ground, grimacing in pain.