Sheng Lengshuang knew his capabilities and warned him, "Be careful. Sima Min is a madwoman now. She'll do anything to scheme against me and achieve her goals."
Mo Lingxi's thin lips curved into a bloodthirsty arc. "The crazier, the better."
Sheng Lengshuang, understanding his implication, fell silent. As she saw several puppets about to be killed by the hidden guards, she prepared to return to her courtyard with Xiao Feng when she heard Sima Min's voice, sometimes near, sometimes far.
"Sheng Lengshuang, I'll give you two choices. One, you obediently come to the place I designate, alone. Two, I'll kill all your family members and make Ni Tu suffer forever, hahaha~~"
Sheng Lengshuang shielded Xiao Feng and said indifferently, "Sima Min, if you truly had the ability, would you be dragging this on until now? You're incompetent, yet you're still babbling here, which is truly annoying."
After a few seconds of silence, Sheng Lengshuang didn't hear Sima Min's voice, suspecting she was angered. She continued, "Look at you, what do you even have now? Nothing. You're still a wanted criminal, cursed by everyone."
Sima Min truly hated her current life, which made her hatred for Sheng Lengshuang even more intense. "Sheng Lengshuang, don't get smug. Your fate will soon be worse than mine, and I will become someone admired by all."
Sheng Lengshuang rolled her eyes dramatically, speechless. "Do you think His Majesty and Prince Ming Rui are mere mortals, or that they will do as you wish? You're putting yourself on too high a pedestal."
"Alright, if you have the ability, then act quickly. Don't just babble here. If you don't have the ability, then hide well and I hope we don't find you."
Mo Lingxi's eyes were filled with indulgence and affection, and Xiao Feng covered his mouth, giggling.
Sima Min was furious, but at this moment, she couldn't do anything to Sheng Lengshuang. "Sheng Lengshuang, you can protect yourself, but can you protect your family? I'll wait to see you suffer."
Sheng Lengshuang became more vigilant. She knew Sima Min was serious. This woman, in order to scheme against her, had targeted her family. "Then go ahead and make your move. Let's see if you suffer or if my family is harmed."
In that brief moment, the puppets were already killed by the hidden guards.
The bodies of those puppets sparked an idea in Sheng Lengshuang's mind. She narrowed her eyes. "Take these puppet bodies down. I'll need them later."
A hidden guard took the puppet bodies away.
Suddenly, Sima Min's scream was heard, causing Sheng Lengshuang to look in the direction of the sound.
On a hidden rooftop diagonally to her left, Sima Min was being pursued by several hidden guards. The masked man helping her escape had excellent Qinggong, while other masked men blocked the pursuing guards.
"Sima Min, you talk such a big game. If you have the guts, don't run! Why are you running?" Sheng Lengshuang taunted. "I'm standing right here, come and kill me."
Sima Min glared at her hatefully, truly wanting to tear her to pieces with her own hands. "Sheng Lengshuang, enjoy your momentary triumph. It won't be long before I kill you myself."
Sheng Lengshuang chuckled, her laughter full of mockery. "How many times have I heard your arrogant boasts? Have you ever succeeded even once? Not only did you fail, but you've also ended up in this state. It's truly self-inflicted."
Sima Min forcefully spat out a mouthful of blood, but she could no longer afford to say anything, as several hidden guards were getting closer. "Take me away quickly, quickly!"
If she had known it would be like this again, she would never have come to watch the show. It was all Sheng Lengshuang's cursed hard luck that had led her to this.
Sheng Lengshuang couldn't see Sima Min's figure even by standing on tiptoe, so she returned to the courtyard with Mo Lingxi and their son, repeatedly reminding Xiao Feng to be careful.
"Xiao Feng, absolutely do not wander around alone, understand?"
Xiao Feng nodded repeatedly. "Mother, seeing how dangerous it is now, why don't I just study at home? That way, even if Sima Min tries to scheme against me, she won't be able to."
Sheng Lengshuang smiled kindly. "I think it's better this way. I'll exempt you from your studies for now. Once the danger passes, you can continue your learning, how about that?"
Xiao Feng shivered and stood up straight. "No, no need! Mother, don't worry. I'll protect myself, I won't mess around, and I'll study hard."
Another day of not escaping studies!
Sheng Lengshuang knew her son's little thoughts too well. She shot a glance at a certain prince. "If the beam above is crooked, the one below will be crooked too."
Mo Lingxi felt more wronged than Dou E. "Wife, this really has nothing to do with me. I was smart and studious since childhood and never did anything like that."
Sheng Lengshuang's eyes turned cold. "Are you implying that I am the crooked beam above?"
Even with a hundred times the courage, Mo Lingxi wouldn't dare to speak the truth. "No, no, I misspoke. The crooked beam above is me. Wife, don't worry, I promise to supervise Xiao Feng well and not give him any chance to skip school."
Sheng Lengshuang gave him a look that said, 'You know better.' "You'll tutor Xiao Feng properly later. Make sure he doesn't slack off on his studies."
Mo Lingxi patted his chest in agreement and secretly exchanged glances with Xiao Feng. [Son, for both our sakes, you'd better give up on the idea of skipping school. Otherwise, you'll suffer, and I'll be in trouble.]
Xiao Feng drooped dejectedly. [Father, can't you show some backbone as a husband?]
Mo Lingxi: [...Excuse me, which is more important: being a backbone husband or having a wife? The consequence of being a backbone husband is losing my wife. I would never do something so foolish.]
Xiao Feng drooped even more. [Father, you're really useless.]
Mo Lingxi snorted inwardly. He didn't want this kind of usefulness. After all, his wife was the most important.
Sheng Lengshuang pretended not to see the exchange of glances between father and son.
...
On the day of the banquet.
Weiyang Palace.
Zi Cheng sat in the high seat, smiling as he surveyed the crowd. He raised his wine cup. "Today is a banquet to welcome the envoys from the Southern Jin Dynasty, and also a banquet to celebrate the successful peace talks between our Eastern Jin Dynasty and the Southern Jin Dynasty."
Everyone present raised their wine cups, showering him with compliments.
"His Majesty is wise! With His Majesty's leadership, our Eastern Jin Dynasty will become even stronger!"
"His Majesty is mighty! Your subjects congratulate Your Majesty and wish Your Majesty eternal reign!"
Zi Cheng's smile remained unchanged. "The Eastern Jin Dynasty has reached this point thanks to all of you. I hope you will continue to assist me in the future, and together we will create brilliance."
The court officials responded with "Yes," each harboring their own hidden agendas.
Zi Cheng didn't care about their schemes as long as they didn't harm him or the Eastern Jin Dynasty.
He glanced at the chief eunuch.
The chief eunuch announced loudly, "Let the music and dance begin!"
The music started, and the dancers entered, beginning their graceful performance.
Everything was so beautiful, so peaceful.
But—
"Your Majesty, this humble subject has something to request Your Majesty's decision on." A young and beautiful daughter of a court official knelt before Zi Cheng.