"Prince Ming Rui, we can discuss the terms further. I know you want Sheng Lengshuang, and I can help you achieve that, as well as meet your other conditions."
Mo Lingxi's thin lips curved into a wider, sarcastic arc. "Zhou Wenxing, now that I've finally caught you, do you really think I would let you go?"
Zhou Wenxing was silent for a moment, then retorted fiercely, "Prince Ming Rui, I am negotiating terms with you, not asking you to release me for nothing."
Mo Lingxi let out a cold snort and stopped wasting words on Zhou Wenxing.
He noticed the masked men showing signs of retreating and ordered his hidden guards not to pursue. "Beware of any trickery. Also, investigate the situation in the royal manor; do not overlook even the smallest detail."
The servants quickly began a thorough search of the entire manor.
Mo Lingxi ignored Zhou Wenxing's pleading and roaring, contemplating the incident. While it would have been more advantageous to rescue someone on the road, the masked men had chosen to act within the royal manor.
If his suspicions were correct, that their actions were both to rescue Zhou Wenxing and to scheme against him, something still felt amiss.
Perhaps there was something he was unaware of.
He would wait for the results of the manor's investigation.
After the entire manor had been searched, Mo Lingxi finally understood the black hand's true scheme.
He looked at the voodoo doll in his hand with eyes as cold as ice, then at the birth dates written on its back. He let out a cold scoff, "It was found under my bed?"
The birth dates were not his; they belonged to his wife.
The black hand had deliberately played this card, not just to scheme against his wife, but also against him.
If it were discovered that a voodoo doll was found under his bed, regardless of whether he had anything to do with it, it would have a significant impact on him.
For example, court officials and the populace might misunderstand him, the Emperor might become estranged from him, and his wife's family would surely overthink things.
The steward lowered his head respectfully. "Reporting to Your Highness, it was found in a very concealed spot under your bed. If you hadn't ordered a thorough search, the servants might have missed it."
Mo Lingxi crushed the voodoo doll in his hand. "Was anything else found?"
The steward replied, "Several holes were discovered in some secluded corners of the manor. We don't know their purpose yet."
Holes?
Mo Lingxi instinctively felt that the holes were not good, but he couldn't quite figure it out. If the black hand hadn't made this move, he wouldn't have searched the manor so thoroughly, nor would he have found these.
So why would the black hand do this?
Mo Lingxi was puzzled. He suspected the entire matter was not that simple. The black hand had planned so much; they couldn't have failed to anticipate that such an action would lead him to search the manor.
It was highly likely that the black hand deliberately wanted him to discover these things.
Why would the black hand intentionally let him find these?
"Dig up those holes."
The steward took his leave, leading the servants to excavate the holes.
Mo Lingxi continued to ponder the entire affair, the more he thought, the more it felt wrong, yet he couldn't grasp the black hand's intentions.
He turned to look at Zhou Wenxing, who looked as if he had lost his parents, "In your opinion, why would your master want me to know about these actions of his?"
Zhou Wenxing's spirit instantly revived, his eyes filled with calculation. "Prince Ming Rui, I can tell you the reason, but you must release me."
Upon hearing this, Mo Lingxi had his hidden guards escort Zhou Wenxing to the dungeon, and then he proceeded to the palace.
Yangxin Hall.
Zi Cheng, seeing Mo Lingxi arrive, was somewhat surprised. "Uncle, why have you come at this hour? Didn't you say you would be spending less time at the palace recently to appease Aunt? And you added, "Are you worried about Xiao Feng acting up again? Xiao Feng is very well-behaved now; he hasn't caused any trouble, and even his tutor praises him."
Mo Lingxi waved his hand, dismissing the palace attendants, and lowered his voice to recount his encounter. "I've been racking my brain over this matter, unable to understand why the black hand would do this. I don't want to trouble my wife, so I've come to the palace to seek the Emperor."
Zi Cheng let out a forced laugh. "I knew it. I wondered why Uncle would come to find me at this hour. So, you didn't want to bother Aunt."
He knew that Uncle's visit to the palace was definitely not for innocent reasons.
Mo Lingxi felt nothing amiss. It was a joke; if he didn't seek out the Emperor, would he let his wife worry? That made no sense.
"What does Your Majesty think of this matter?" he asked, his expression unchanged.
Zi Cheng's face instantly turned serious. "Uncle, is it possible that the black hand did it intentionally?"
Mo Lingxi narrowed his eyes. "You mean, as a form of intimidation?"
Zi Cheng felt it wasn't that simple. "It's probably more than that. From the black hand's actions, this person doesn't seem to be targeting you, but rather Xiao Sheng. Didn't Tao Li say before that the black hand might be a woman?"
Seeing Mo Lingxi nod, he continued, "Is it possible that the black hand is a woman, an admirer of yours... no, that's not right. She's after your status and position, which is why she's repeatedly targeting Aunt."
Mo Lingxi hadn't dismissed this possibility. After hearing it, he considered it thoroughly. "If that's the case, there are still things that don't add up and are quite strange."
Zi Cheng nodded solemnly. "Indeed. If she were truly after your status and position, why no activity before this? And no one has proposed to you or anything like that."
"Uncle, we shouldn't rule out this possibility. Perhaps this person doesn't want to reveal herself, which is why she hasn't done anything."
Mo Lingxi: "Hmm, that's possible. Do you think the black hand deliberately let me know these things, perhaps to make me distance myself from my wife?"
Zi Cheng chimed in, "Perhaps. To make Uncle wary. With the appearance of voodoo, for the safety of his wife, Uncle might choose to temporarily avoid her, giving the other party an opportunity to exploit."
At this point, Mo Lingxi finally understood the black hand's true intention and let out a soft scoff. "I'm afraid my wife already knows about the voodoo by now."
Zi Cheng stroked his chin. "Uncle, I must say, the black hand's move is truly ruthless. Everyone is wary of voodoo, especially when it involves oneself."
"I'm going to find my wife." Before he finished speaking, Mo Lingxi was already striding out.
Zi Cheng called out a few times, "Uncle, remember to bring Xiao Feng back. He's finished his lessons for today. General Sheng and his wife must be missing Xiao Feng. With Xiao Feng around, everything is much easier to handle."
Mo Lingxi's steps turned, preparing to head towards the imperial study, when he saw a demure palace maid carrying a bowl of medicine into the hall.
His gaze fell on the palace maid's gait, and he suddenly called out, "Stop."
The palace maid halted and curtsied. "This servant greets His Highness Prince Ming Rui."
Mo Lingxi said indifferently, "Lift your head."
The palace maid's hands, holding the medicine bowl, tightened unconsciously. She slowly raised her head, revealing a beautiful face.
"May I know what Your Highness Prince Ming Rui requires?"
Mo Lingxi stood with his hands behind his back, his handsome face betraying no emotion. "Why have I never seen you before? When did you come to serve in Yangxin Hall?"