Under severe torture, A Jin could not endure it for even fifteen minutes and cried out loudly, saying he was willing to confess.
Thus, wounded all over, he was dragged in by the secret guards and thrown onto the ground.
"A Jin, Mo Lingxi and I have limited patience. You'd better not do anything you shouldn't," Tao Lengshuang said coldly.
A Jin stammered, "I'll tell you everything. I'm willing to confess all I know."
Tao Lengshuang gestured for him to speak quickly.
A Jin stuttered out everything. In fact, he didn't know who his master was, only that the person was a high-ranking official with real power.
Originally, A Jin had been down on his luck and short of money. Disliked by his wife and her family, he was worried when a middle-aged man approached him.
"He called himself A Wu and said he was someone who could help people achieve their wishes, in exchange for him doing some things for him."
At that time, A Wu was generous. Not only did he help A Jin pay off his debts, but he also provided him with a large house and servants.
After enjoying a good life for a while, A Wu asked A Jin if he was willing to work for him. A Jin readily agreed, thinking he could improve his life further.
He thought it would be simple tasks then, but it turned out he was to monitor Tao Lengshuang in Shilipo Village, preventing her from leaving the village, and secretly corrupting Sheng Li.
"How many years ago was that?" Tao Lengshuang asked.
A Jin thought for a long time before recalling, "It was about ten years ago. I can't remember the specifics. You and Sheng Li were just a few years old then."
Tao Lengshuang nodded and asked A Jin to continue.
A Jin continued speaking while lying on the ground. He didn't understand why A Wu wanted him to do these things. He had asked a few times, but each time he was either scolded by A Wu or told not to ask too many questions.
It wasn't until one time, when he accidentally overheard a drunken A Wu talking about switching daughters, that he learned something.
"Focus on the matter of switching daughters and A Wu drinking," Tao Lengshuang said.
A Jin didn't know much. "I only know that our master designed to switch you and Sheng Li when you were just born."
"I don't know why you were raised in a peasant family, nor why Sheng Li was corrupted."
Tao Lengshuang could guess. Her gaze turned icy. It was the mastermind's deliberate act, likely to inflict pain on General Sheng and his wife, and then slowly destroy the Sheng family.
A Jin also said that A Wu used to like drinking very much, often being drunk. This led him to mess up a few tasks, and he was severely punished by his master several times.
From then on, he abstained from alcohol, fearing he would make mistakes. Even if someone invited him for a drink, he wouldn't touch a drop.
"I've been working for A Wu all along... Oh, I also have a companion named A Qing. He's been monitoring you in Shilipo Village all these years. After he was discovered, A Wu killed him."
Tao Lengshuang: "Were all the people serving Sheng Li arranged by your master?"
A Jin said yes. "I don't know how my master managed it. Even when Madam Sheng chose new servants for Sheng Li, those servants would obey my master."
"If they didn't obey, they would be dealt with by my master. For example, Sheng Li's former wet nurse was dealt with by the master because she had ambitions she shouldn't have had."
Tao Lengshuang then asked A Jin if he had any evidence to prove that she was the biological daughter of General Sheng and his wife.
A Jin said there was no conclusive evidence. It was said that the master had destroyed all the evidence to prevent any mishaps. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
"You can try a blood-dripping recognition test."
Tao Lengshuang knew very well that the blood-dripping recognition test was inaccurate, and without conclusive evidence, speaking out would be useless.
She asked A Jin if he knew anything about the mastermind's subordinates or strongholds. After getting the information, she had the secret guards take A Jin away to be dealt with.
Meanwhile, Mo Lingxi arranged for people to monitor the mastermind's subordinates and deal with his strongholds.
When he finished, he squatted in front of Tao Lengshuang and comforted her, "There will be evidence. No matter how well the mastermind hides, he will leave traces."
Tao Lengshuang was not worried about that. She sighed, "I've confirmed my identity, but some... how should I say it? I don't know how to put it."
Although the original host was detestable, she was maliciously raised that way by the mastermind. Originally, she should have been the pampered legitimate daughter of the General's mansion.
But the original host's happy and beautiful life was ruined by the mastermind at birth, and she died that way, with no one to mourn her.
Mo Lingxi hugged her and said softly, "I understand. I understand everything. I know you're not feeling well."
Tao Lengshuang leaned against him and said in a low voice, "Do you think, if none of this had happened, would that Tao Lengshuang have lived happily under her biological parents?"
Mo Lingxi could not be sure. "When we have investigated everything, we will erect a cenotaph for her."
Tao Lengshuang hummed softly and leaned against Mo Lingxi like that.
Neither of them spoke further.
After an unknown amount of time, Mo Lingxi stroked Tao Lengshuang's head. "Are you hungry? I'll have someone get you something to eat. You need to eat something to maintain your health so you have the energy to deal with the mastermind."
Tao Lengshuang was not hungry and had no appetite. She leaned on the small table, her eyes unfocused, gazing outside. "After learning about the switched daughters, I've been thinking about one thing. How much hatred would it take to do something so insane?"
Mo Lingxi sat beside her and patiently comforted her. "Perhaps it wasn't much hatred, but a trivial matter that could lead to malice."
Tao Lengshuang understood this and sighed, "Human nature is truly wicked."
Seeing this, Mo Lingxi brought up related matters to cheer Tao Lengshuang up. "We should let Sheng Li know that she is not the biological daughter of General Sheng and his wife."
Upon hearing this, Tao Lengshuang's eyes focused. "You want to provoke Sheng Li?"
Mo Lingxi nodded, confirming. "Someone as arrogant and self-important as Sheng Li, if she learns that she is the child of peasants and not the daughter of the prestigious Sheng family, what do you think she will do?"
Tao Lengshuang pondered for a moment and felt it was a viable method. "The question is, how do we let Sheng Li know?"
"Tell her directly. The more direct the method, the more effective it will be."
"Alright, then we'll go find Sheng Li tomorrow."
Seeing that Tao Lengshuang's spirits had slightly recovered, Mo Lingxi felt relieved and continued to discuss with her how to deal with the mastermind.
The next morning.
Tao Lengshuang and Mo Lingxi found Sheng Li.
When Tao Lengshuang saw Sheng Li curled up at the entrance of a courtyard, her face purplish from the cold, she walked over with a smile.
"After just one day apart, how did you end up like this?" she looked down at Sheng Li.
Sheng Li, dizzy from hunger, struggled to pounce on Tao Lengshuang but fell to the ground. "Tao Lengshuang, don't be smug. I'll deal with you soon enough."