Tao Lengshuang's words made Sheng Li think of her current predicament. Her mind buzzed, unable to comprehend how things had become this way. She, as the sole child of the Sheng family, had enjoyed the adoration of countless people and possessed an abundance of good things, yet now she found herself in such a state.
"Why did it turn out like this?" she roared, lost and disbelieving.
Tao Lengshuang spoke slowly, "Because you trusted that person who helped you too much. If it weren't for his advice, how could you have ended up like this?"
"Yes, yes, that's right." Before she even finished speaking, Sheng Li had already run quite far. "I'm going to settle the score with Ah Jin. I'll settle it with him properly. I won't let him off easy."
Seeing her run off, Tao Lengshuang helped Madam Sheng and Xiao Feng into the manor. "Madam Sheng, don't worry. As long as Sheng Li is still useful, the Black Hand won't take her life."
Madam Sheng sighed, shaking her head. "I'm not worried about her. To be honest, she has already broken my heart. I won't care about her life or death anymore."
How could Tao Lengshuang not know that Madam Sheng was just saying that? For now, Sheng Li was still Madam Sheng's only child, so Madam Sheng would naturally worry about her. She gave Xiao Feng a look.
Xiao Feng patted Madam Sheng's face with his chubby hands, tilting his head adorably. "Grandma, don't be sad. You have Xiao Feng and Mommy."
Madam Sheng's mood immediately brightened. She kissed Xiao Feng. "You are truly Grandma's good grandson. Come, Grandma will take you to see all the good things. Tell Grandma what you want."
Xiao Feng waved his hands, indicating he didn't want anything. "Mommy gives Xiao Feng enough to eat and wear. Xiao Feng lacks nothing."
Madam Sheng chided, "That's what your mommy gives you, and this is what Grandma gives you. They are different."
Xiao Feng was confused. "What's different? They are both elders giving to Xiao Feng, and Xiao Feng doesn't lack anything."
Madam Sheng grew fonder of Xiao Feng, coaxing him as she walked towards the private treasury.
Tao Lengshuang, walking behind them, smiled faintly. She thought that if she couldn't find out about the daughter swap, this situation would be quite good. At least Xiao Feng could enjoy the company of General Sheng and his wife.
Meanwhile.
Sheng Li returned to the courtyard at her fastest speed. Grabbing a cleaver, she found Ah Jin and, without a word, slashed at him.
"It's all your fault, you bastard. It's all your fault for ruining me."
Ah Jin cried out in pain. Seeing Sheng Li raise the cleaver again, his pupils contracted violently. He scrambled on the ground, dodging her strike.
"What madness is this?" He clutched his bleeding wound, trying to escape.
Sheng Li lunged at him ferociously, muttering, "It was you. If it weren't for you, how could I have become like this?"
"You deserve to die! You deserve to die! You made me lose everything and become a laughingstock. I'm going to kill you."
Ah Jin seemed to understand what was happening. He tried to placate her, "Sheng Li, don't listen to others. I did all this to help you." If he had known Sheng Li would go mad, he would never have stayed here.
Sheng Li couldn't listen. At this moment, she was convinced Ah Jin had harmed her and chased him with the cleaver. Ah Jin hurriedly called for his servants to come and save him.
By the time the servants, armed with sticks, managed to subdue Sheng Li, Ah Jin had already been wounded twice.
"Throw her out!" Ah Jin roared viciously. "See who will help her without me. I'm afraid she won't even be able to afford a meal."
The servants threw Sheng Li out, cursing. "What a joke. Does she really think she's still Miss Sheng?" "If it weren't for Ah Jin's orders, she would have been kicked out long ago. It's good that she's finally getting what she deserves, and we don't have to worry about this ugly monster anymore."
Sheng Li yelled, trying to rush back in, but the gate remained shut. Her voice grew hoarse from shouting, and no one came out to attend to her. Looking at the empty road, and seeing no one by her side, she realized with chilling clarity that she truly had nothing left, not even a single person to stay with her.
"Why did it become like this?" She collapsed onto the ground, utterly dejected, still unable to comprehend how things had reached this point. She had only dealt with those she disliked and who had schemed against her, yet she was the one who had lost everything. Even her parents had been snatched away by that bitch Tao Lengshuang. Why was heaven so unfair to her?
Meanwhile.
When Tao Lengshuang learned of Sheng Li's situation from the secret guards, she nodded without surprise. Ah Jin would take Sheng Li back. The Black Hand would not give up on Sheng Li, such a valuable pawn, until her usefulness was completely depleted. She glanced at Madam Sheng, who was picking out various nice things with Xiao Feng, and decided not to tell her about this for now. It would be useless to tell her and would only make Madam Sheng sad and worried.
At this moment, she saw Mo Lingxi and General Sheng walk in. She smiled and teased, "Have the two of you finished your important discussion?"
General Sheng laughed heartily, "Finished, finished. I am very satisfied with Prince Mingrui's attitude and words."
Tao Lengshuang was curious about what Mo Lingxi and General Sheng had discussed but didn't ask at that moment. "General Sheng, Madam Sheng, we have overstayed our welcome. It's time for us to take our leave."
"I'm afraid we can't go back." A coldness tinged Mo Lingxi's eyes. He said gravely, "The pharmacy is being surrounded by refugees and commoners, and some are even angrily smashing it." "If we go back now, we'll be beaten to death by those refugees and commoners."
Upon hearing this, Tao Lengshuang knew it was the Black Hand's scheme. She was so angry her teeth itched. "The Black Hand is truly hateful, targeting and scheming against me again and again."
"Actually, I have a question." Madam Sheng sat in a chair, holding Xiao Feng, and said in confusion, "The Black Hand targets and schemes against our family, which I can understand. But why does the Black Hand repeatedly target and scheme against Leng Shuang?" "Leng Shuang has always lived in Shilipo Village and hasn't offended any high officials or nobles. Logically, the Black Hand has no reason to do this."
General Sheng also had this question. "If they wanted to scheme against Prince Mingrui, that doesn't make sense either. Could it be that the Tao family has a grudge against the Black Hand? That also doesn't make sense."
Tao Lengshuang used her eyes to stop Mo Lingxi and calmly explained to General Sheng and his wife, "I am still investigating this matter. Once I have thoroughly investigated it and obtained conclusive evidence, I will tell you both."
Hearing this, General Sheng and his wife asked no further questions.
"Leng Shuang, the pharmacy has been smashed. You and Xiao Feng should stay at our home. That way, you can spend more time with me and your adoptive father," Madam Sheng said.
Tao Lengshuang was reluctant to stay at the Sheng residence, mainly because she didn't want to attract gossip and bring negative influence to Xiao Feng. "Madam Sheng, it's not appropriate for Xiao Feng and me to stay at the Sheng residence for now. Let's discuss it after the family reunion banquet."