Mo Lingxi was even more displeased with Tao Lengshuang upon hearing her words: "I don't believe you can detoxify me."
"Don't try to provoke me with a challenge; I won't fall for it."
Tao Lengshuang held up three fingers: "You have three days to consider. You can also ask a doctor to help you detoxify."
"I believe perhaps only I in this world can help you detoxify."
She truly wasn't in a hurry.
Mo Lingxi didn't quite believe Tao Lengshuang could detoxify him. He was more worried that this woman would take the opportunity to poison him to death: "You are quite confident."
Tao Lengshuang heard the sarcasm and casually replied, "Oh, is that so? I'll be waiting for you to beg me."
Glancing sideways, she saw Xiao Feng struggling to carry a basin as he walked in. She didn't step forward to help, but instead encouraged him, "Xiao Feng, you're doing great!"
Xiao Feng placed the basin on the ground and, using a cloth made from old clothes, prepared to wipe Mo Lingxi: "Daddy, I'll help you wipe."
"No need, Daddy can do it himself." Mo Lingxi took the cloth, not wanting Xiao Feng to see his injuries.
Tao Lengshuang understood. She left Xiao Feng to care for Mo Lingxi and went to the Shen family alone to check on Zhuzi's condition.
Xiao Feng lay by the edge of the kang, looking at Mo Lingxi with concern: "Is Daddy very badly injured? Mommy's medical skills are very, very good."
"Zhuzi was so seriously ill, and Mommy just gave him a few needles, and Zhuzi got better."
Mo Lingxi's eyes flickered: "Xiao Feng, Daddy wants to sleep for a while. Can you be good and stay in your own room?"
He glanced at the empty main hall. Tao Lengshuang indeed had considerable skill. In a short time, she had sold all the furniture in the Tao family home and occupied their house.
Xiao Feng obediently returned to his room.
As soon as he left, a hidden guard landed in front of Mo Lingxi.
The hidden guard bowed respectfully and then took Mo Lingxi's pulse.
The symptoms were exactly as Tao Lengshuang had described, but the hidden guard couldn't detoxify him. He could only temporarily suppress the poison in Mo Lingxi's body.
Mo Lingxi narrowed his eyes. This Tao Lengshuang was quite capable: "Go find a doctor and get a prescription."
His current condition made it unsuitable for him to appear in public.
The hidden guard acknowledged the order and went to Dongdu to find a doctor for a prescription.
However, no doctor could help with such a poison. The disguised hidden guard couldn't approach an imperial physician, so he had to return to Shili Slope Village and report the matter to Mo Lingxi.
Mo Lingxi knew that his only option now was Tao Lengshuang. He propped himself up and walked into the courtyard.
He saw Tao Lengshuang playing a game with Xiao Feng. The mother and son were laughing heartily.
Their joyful laughter infected Mo Lingxi, and the corners of his thin lips curved upwards: "Tao Lengshuang, let's talk."
Tao Lengshuang glanced at him triumphantly, said she'd be right there, and then continued playing with Xiao Feng.
After they finished playing, she told Xiao Feng to go back to his room. She then entered the main hall with Mo Lingxi.
"What are your conditions?" Mo Lingxi asked directly.
Tao Lengshuang stood there calmly, very composed: "It depends on what conditions you can offer."
Mo Lingxi's eyes turned cold: "Besides Xiao Feng, I can agree to any of your conditions."
"I'm truly sorry, but Xiao Feng is one of my conditions. I'm not in a hurry, really. After all, it's not me who will die from the poison."
"Is that so?"
Mo Lingxi suddenly appeared in front of Tao Lengshuang and, with one hand around her neck, his eyes filled with murderous intent: "If anything happens to me, do you think you'll have a good life?"
Tao Lengshuang coughed twice from being choked and kicked at him.
But Mo Lingxi easily subdued her with an acupoint strike: "I advise you not to do anything you shouldn't. Just detoxify me properly."
Tao Lengshuang knew best how ruthless this man was: "If anything happens to me, you will be buried with me, and Xiao Feng will become an orphan."
Mo Lingxi released her neck and coldly stated, "I have already made arrangements for Xiao Feng."
Sometimes he wondered if Xiao Feng could live a happier and more stable life without him as his father.
Tao Lengshuang didn't want to waste any more time on pointless talk and stated her conditions: "First, if we divorce in the future, Xiao Feng will be raised by me."
"Second, you are not to harm me again. We will coexist peacefully and communicate when there are issues. Third, whatever you do, you are not to involve me or Xiao Feng. Fourth, no matter what happens in the future, you must let me and Xiao Feng leave."
"The second and third conditions can be agreed to, but the first and fourth are impossible," Mo Lingxi said with a hint of threat: "You'd better be sensible."
Tao Lengshuang was amused to the point of laughter. She glared at him with narrowed eyes: "Mo Lingxi, you are the one begging me to detoxify you now, not the other way around."
"If I don't help you detoxify, you'll be dead and gone before long."
Mo Lingxi, however, curled his lips and called out loudly, "Xiao Feng."
Upon hearing this, Tao Lengshuang had a bad premonition.
Just as she was about to tell Xiao Feng to stay in his room, she saw her son running quickly towards Mo Lingxi.
"Daddy, are you looking for Xiao Feng to help?" Xiao Feng lay on the kang, looking obediently at Mo Lingxi.
Mo Lingxi looked at the scowling Tao Lengshuang and patted Xiao Feng's head: "Xiao Feng, your mother refuses to help Daddy with his illness. What should we do?"
Xiao Feng tilted his head in confusion: "Why? Mommy is very, very good. Did Daddy make Mommy angry?"
"Yes, that's why your mother is unwilling to help Daddy with his illness. Can you help Daddy persuade your mother?"
"Okay."
Xiao Feng ran over, hugged Tao Lengshuang's leg, and looked at her pleadingly: "Mommy, Daddy looks like he's in a lot of pain. Please help Daddy get treated, okay?"
Tao Lengshuang glared at Mo Lingxi, grinding her teeth: "Shameless!"
This man was too shameless, actually using Xiao Feng to beg her.
Mo Lingxi raised an eyebrow and indifferently replied, "Thank you for the compliment."
Tao Lengshuang was choked with anger.
Yet, Xiao Feng continued to act spoiled, calling out in a soft, sweet voice, "Mommy, Mommy, the best and most wonderful Mommy, please just take a look at Daddy, okay?"
Tao Lengshuang truly couldn't stand her son's coquettish behavior, but she was unwilling to compromise: "Xiao Feng, your Daddy is tricking you. You can't help him."
Xiao Feng didn't understand: "But Mommy should help Daddy get treated. You are husband and wife."
Tao Lengshuang was stumped and immediately rendered speechless.
"Mommy!"
Xiao Feng tried to drag Tao Lengshuang to the edge of the kang, but her weight was too much. The child couldn't budge her at all: "Mommy, hurry up and help Daddy get treated. Daddy is very uncomfortable."
Under her son's relentless barrage of affectionate pleas, Tao Lengshuang 'yielded' and had no choice but to help Mo Lingxi detoxify.
"I need a set of silver needles and these medicinal ingredients."
She listed the ingredients she needed, many of which were what she wanted, also to confuse matters and avoid losing her leverage with Mo Lingxi.
Mo Lingxi ignored her icy, dagger-like gaze and gave Xiao Feng a thumbs-up: "Xiao Feng, you did very well."
"Alright, you go back to your room and rest. Daddy will call you later."