The guard: "The young lord forbade it. The young lord threatened us, saying if we dared report you to the young lady, he would disappear."
Sheng Lengshuang was almost furious. She looked coldly at Xiao Feng, "You've learned to threaten the guards now, how brave of you."
She truly hadn't expected that Xiao Feng would turn into this.
Xiao Feng looked scared and tearfully said, "Mother, I know I was wrong. I promise I won't do this again."
Sheng Lengshuang: "Your credit with me is too low. You've promised before, but not only did you fail, you even got worse."
She pondered for a moment, "Father, can you send Xiao Feng to the military camp? Or somewhere more arduous, let this child suffer a bit, lest he become a good-for-nothing in the future."
Even though General Sheng was reluctant to see his grandson suffer, he understood that this was the best for Xiao Feng. "Xiao Feng is too young, not suitable for the military camp. I think it's better to send him to the Sìnóng."
"Isn't the Sìnóng incredibly busy lately? And with the Emperor's assigned people, sending Xiao Feng there is the most stable option."
Sheng Lengshuang felt this was acceptable.
Thus, Xiao Feng was sent to the Sìnóng, and began a life of working from sunrise to sunset, with no rest.
When Mo Lingxi learned of this, his first reaction was to comfort Sheng Lengshuang, "It's my fault for not managing Xiao Feng well. Don't blame yourself."
Sheng Lengshuang propped her head with one hand, unsure how to face this man. Her memories and what she knew were vastly different.
"We can't entirely blame you for Xiao Feng's actions. I also have responsibility. I've neglected Xiao Feng during this period. This child is too daring, running back from the palace alone. If something were to happen..."
Fortunately, nothing did.
Mo Lingxi said softly, "Actually, it's better for boys to be a bit bolder. Xiao Feng will inherit my title in the future. If he doesn't have enough courage, it will always be disadvantageous for him."
Sheng Lengshuang wasn't unaware of this. "Xiao Feng is still young... Never mind, what's the point of discussing this with you? Whether Xiao Feng inherits your title in the future should be decided by Xiao Feng, not by you."
Mo Lingxi knew she was upset and needed to be appeased. "Yes, you're absolutely right."
Sheng Lengshuang was a little annoyed. "Did Prince Mingrui come to see me for any other reason?"
Mo Lingxi worried about her. "Don't be too troubled. Think about things optimistically. If it's really necessary, leave Xiao Feng to me. I guarantee I can manage him well."
Sheng Lengshuang glared at him. "You'd be delighted to take Xiao Feng. I'm telling you, no way!"
"...You've misunderstood. I never thought of taking Xiao Feng away from you. Think about it, if I really wanted to snatch Xiao Feng or snatch you, could the Sheng family stop me?" Mo Lingxi said.
Sheng Lengshuang was speechless. She knew this very well. If Mo Lingxi truly wanted to take her and Xiao Feng, the Sheng family would not be able to resist, and would have nowhere to turn even if they cried.
The current Emperor was biased towards Mo Lingxi.
Mo Lingxi's gaze softened. "Sheng Lengshuang, you must know that you are acting this way towards me because of the poison you ingested."
He paused and added, "It's also possible that you inherently have issues with me. Perhaps you don't want to be with me, and this poisoning just happened to reveal your true thoughts."
Sheng Lengshuang didn't know if this was true. Without an antidote, nothing could be said for sure.
"What does Prince Mingrui want to say?"
Mo Lingxi looked directly at her. "I want to say, can we get along peacefully?"
Sheng Lengshuang didn't answer him immediately. Instead, after careful consideration, she agreed. "I have two conditions. First, I hope Prince Mingrui will maintain a certain distance from me. Second, I hope you won't do things you shouldn't."
Mo Lingxi's thin lips curved upwards, and his tone was cheerful. "Everything as you say. I promise I won't do anything I shouldn't."
His demeanor gave Sheng Lengshuang the feeling of falling into a trap. "You're not plotting against me, are you?"
Mo Lingxi repeatedly denied it. "Even if I had a hundred times the courage, I wouldn't dare plot against you, unless I never wanted to step into the Sheng family again."
Sheng Lengshuang was still a little suspicious, but she didn't dwell on it. "Regarding Xiao Feng, please keep an eye on him, Prince Mingrui. If this child isn't disciplined properly, he will surely become a good-for-nothing in the future."
Mo Lingxi had plenty of ways to educate Xiao Feng. "As long as you don't feel sorry for him, I guarantee I can teach Xiao Feng well."
This was the first time he had spoken properly with his wife since she was rescued.
Thinking about it, he felt truly pitiful.
Sheng Lengshuang considered it for a moment and then entrusted the task of educating Xiao Feng to Mo Lingxi. "Don't be polite with Xiao Feng. That child is too good at manipulating people's hearts."
Mo Lingxi said he wouldn't, and sighed, "Back in Shili Po Village, Xiao Feng wouldn't dare do these things. The environment really can change a person."
Sheng Lengshuang was eager to learn about Shili Po Village, so she asked Mo Lingxi.
Mo Lingxi didn't hide anything and explained everything, focusing on the events between him and Sheng Lengshuang.
Hearing this, Sheng Lengshuang's eyebrows twitched. Her heart felt heavy. Why could this poison only alter her memories of Mo Lingxi and Shili Po Village?
"What are you thinking about?" Hearing Mo Lingxi's voice, Sheng Lengshuang shook her head, not revealing her thoughts.
Mo Lingxi knew she didn't want to talk about it, so he changed the subject. "Actually, you've always wanted to return to Shili Po Village... It's not that you want to return to Shili Po Village, but you want a simple life, not this life filled with schemes and conflicts."
Sheng Lengshuang lowered her eyes and touched the rim of the teacup. "A life filled with conflicts and schemes is too tiring."
Mo Lingxi nodded in agreement. "I once promised you that once everything was resolved, we would go live the life you wanted."
Sheng Lengshuang looked at him twice. "Did I tell you many things?"
Mo Lingxi smiled. "You said many things, but never about your feelings for me. You said you needed to consider it, and you would tell me your answer once you'd figured it out, but then this happened."
Sheng Lengshuang was astonished. She had said such things to Mo Lingxi? It was simply unbelievable.
Her reaction made Mo Lingxi chuckle. For his wife now, these facts were indeed a bit difficult to accept.
"Miss!" At this moment, a maid entered and handed a letter to Sheng Lengshuang. "The gatekeeper just received it. We don't know who left it at the door. The gatekeeper didn't see anyone."
Sheng Lengshuang opened the letter to read it.
The contents of the letter made her eyes darken.
She handed the letter to Mo Lingxi. "It's from Zhou Wenxing. He said if I don't hand my mother over to him, he will destroy the former Emperor's remains and let everyone know the royal family's incompetence."
Mo Lingxi finished reading the letter and tapped the armrest of the chair twice. "We had already discussed a method to lure Zhou Wenxing out. Perhaps this time, we can use his plan to our advantage."