Mo Lingxi truly hadn't expected that the usually just and upright General Sheng would have such a daughter: "Do General and Madam Sheng know about these things?"
The hidden guard shook his head: "General and Madam Sheng are unaware."
"Miss Sheng is very good at putting on a show, and she hired others to do it. If not for careful investigation, it would never have been traced back to her."
Mo Lingxi pondered for a moment and already had an idea: "Warn Miss Sheng that if there's a next time, she'll have to present her head."
"Yes." The hidden guard bowed and retreated.
Mo Lingxi narrowed his eyes, roamed around the mountains for a few laps, and turned back home.
Upon arriving home, he was met with Tao Lengshuang, whose smile revealed a fleshy face. He averted his eyes, finding it jarring: "What is it?"
This woman seemed to have lost some weight; the flesh on her chin was not as prominent.
Tao Lengshuang paid no mind to his attitude, her smile widening: "I was just thinking of easing the tension between us."
Upon hearing this, Mo Lingxi scanned her up and down with suspicion, then suddenly remarked: "You seem to have actually lost weight."
"Have I really lost weight?"
Tao Lengshuang lowered her head and looked at her stomach: "It seems so. My stomach isn't as big as before. It looks like my efforts at slimming down are paying off."
"No, don't change the subject."
She puffed out her cheeks and stood with her hands on her hips, looking at him: "You promised me you'd ease our relationship."
Just as Mo Lingxi was about to ask when he had promised her, he remembered that he had previously agreed to consider any reasonable request she made.
He pinched his throbbing brow, his handsome face darkening slightly: "If you behave yourself and don't do anything you shouldn't, I naturally won't do anything to you."
Tao Lengshuang patted her chest in agreement, her beautiful eyes sparkling. Even her gaze towards Mo Lingxi softened considerably.
These clear and bright eyes stunned Mo Lingxi. He never would have thought that someone like Tao Lengshuang, a woman with so many schemes and poor character, would possess such beautiful eyes.
"Hey, hey, hey, be a little nicer to me from now on, okay?" Tao Lengshuang leaned in with a grin: "Not in a marital way, just like friends."
This way, she could quickly expand the area of her spatial medicine garden and obtain more medicinal herbs.
Mo Lingxi neither agreed nor refused, wanting to see what this woman was up to.
Tao Lengshuang took his non-committal response as agreement and began discussing winter preparations: "This winter won't be easy. My idea is, before it gets too cold, you hunt more in the mountains, and I'll sell more things in town."
"Perhaps, I can help people with illnesses and earn some money. With money, we can buy more supplies."
Whether it was to get through the harsh winter or for the future, the more supplies, the better.
Mo Lingxi's eyes darkened at her words, and he gave a faint hum. He then shifted the topic to the people behind the Luo family.
"Miss Sheng?"
Tao Lengshuang's memory was good, and she instantly recalled who Miss Sheng was: "Because we exposed the true nature of her grain store, she's been causing trouble for me everywhere?"
To think she was the daughter of a prominent family, yet so petty.
Moreover, it was clearly the grain store's fault, yet Miss Sheng blamed her. It was simply laughable.
Mo Lingxi stared at her for two seconds.
This made Tao Lengshuang's skin crawl, and she retreated several steps: "What?"
"You don't think I did something to anger that Miss Sheng, do you?"
Mo Lingxi shook his head, indicating no: "For now, she won't bother you again."
Tao Lengshuang understood. Her cold eyes were like an unfathomable abyss: "Noble ladies care greatly about their reputation and appearance, don't they?"
"Yes."
"I understand."
Seeing Tao Lengshuang's fierce expression, Mo Lingxi knew she had a plan to deal with Sheng Li.
Whether she would succeed, however, was another matter.
Tao Lengshuang knew very well that with her current capabilities, dealing with Sheng Li would be like a moth to a flame, but it wasn't impossible.
For instance, through the Sheng family's pharmacy, or through word-of-mouth rumors, or by making a big fuss about the matter.
"Mo family, are you there?"
At this moment, Aunt Wang San's slightly anxious voice called out.
Tao Lengshuang turned her head and saw Aunt Wang San standing at the main entrance, holding a basket of eggs, looking at her expectantly.
She invited Aunt Wang San in to sit and chat and asked what was the matter.
Mo Lingxi returned to his own room.
Aunt Wang San hesitated, appearing conflicted and anxious, but she forcefully pushed the basket of eggs into Tao Lengshuang's arms.
Tao Lengshuang refused to accept it, her voice gentle as she inquired about the reason, though she had a suspicion.
Aunt Wang San hesitated for a long while before finally making up her mind: "Mo family, could you please take a look at my husband? I assure you, I won't ask you to treat him for free. Whatever the cost, I will pay, even if I have to sell everything I own."
Looking at Aunt Wang San's grief mixed with a glimmer of hope, Tao Lengshuang agreed: "How about I go with Aunt Wang San to your home now and see Uncle Wang San's condition?"
"Yes, yes, yes."
Aunt Wang San wiped away tears from her eyes and quickly led Tao Lengshuang to her home.
Tao Lengshuang took in the surroundings.
Aunt Wang San's house was a typical adobe structure. In one corner of the yard was a vegetable patch, while the other side housed chickens, ducks, and pigs, emitting a faint, unpleasant odor.
Apart from Uncle Wang San, who was bedridden and being cared for by Aunt Wang San, the other family members were either in the fields or foraging in the mountains.
Aunt Wang San led Tao Lengshuang to the main house.
The moment she stepped into the main house, Tao Lengshuang smelled an unpleasant odor and saw a stuffy, dark room. Following that, she saw Uncle Wang San, emaciated to the bone.
"The Mo family is here. Cough, cough, cough." Uncle Wang San coughed forcefully, as if he might break apart.
Aunt Wang San immediately stepped forward, skillfully and with concern, patting his back and giving him warm water: "Are you feeling better? Didn't I tell you to sleep more?"
Uncle Wang San smiled weakly, saying he couldn't sleep and felt uncomfortable lying down, so he wanted to sit up and look out the window.
Aunt Wang San felt even more heartbroken, secretly wiping away tears as she supported him.
"Aunt Wang San, Uncle Wang San, the room needs ventilation. You can't keep the doors and windows closed like this."
Tao Lengshuang opened the window, and the room suddenly brightened, even the air began to circulate.
That ray of light, like hope, shone upon Uncle Wang San.
He greedily and longingly gazed out the window, his eyes meticulously taking in the long-unseen scenery, breathing in the fresh air with all his might.
"It's so beautiful." How long had it been since he last saw the scenery outside with his own eyes? How long had it been since he last breathed such fresh air?
His words brought Aunt Wang San to tears, further strengthening her resolve to cure her husband.
She hoped that one day, her husband would be healthy and happy again, just like before.
"Mo family, please help my husband. No matter how much it costs, we will pay for the treatment."
Uncle Wang San tried to stop her, but Aunt Wang San spoke first: "My dear husband, just consider it as spending more time with me. You wouldn't bear to leave me all alone, would you?"