Tao Lengshuang understood this, but she was hesitant to treat General and Madam Sheng this way. She wanted to investigate the entire matter thoroughly before speaking to them properly.
"I'll consider this further."
Mo Lingxi could understand her feelings and advised, "From a broader perspective, the sooner the whole matter is clarified, the better it will be for both you and General and Madam Sheng."
Tao Lengshuang understood these principles, but every time she thought about treating General and Madam Sheng like this, she felt uneasy.
"Tao Lengshuang, how about this: we talk to General and Madam Sheng. Perhaps they would like to use this method to clarify everything sooner."
Tao Lengshuang took Mo Lingxi's suggestion to heart. After some thought, she decided to talk to General and Madam Sheng. As Mo Lingxi said, the sooner this matter was clarified, the better.
Thus, in the afternoon, Tao Lengshuang and Mo Lingxi, father and son, visited the Sheng residence.
General and Madam Sheng had already moved back to their home, their property had been returned, and the imperial guards were no longer watching over them.
General and Madam Sheng were overjoyed to see Tao Lengshuang and Xiao Feng, and they repeatedly ordered their servants to prepare various pastries and delicacies.
"Xiao Feng has grown so much," Madam Sheng said with a loving smile, holding Xiao Feng and reluctant to let go.
Xiao Feng smiled shyly and sat obediently in Madam Sheng's arms, his adorable appearance captivating everyone.
General Sheng played with Xiao Feng for a while before asking about the purpose of Tao Lengshuang and Mo Lingxi's visit.
Tao Lengshuang hesitated for a moment before clearly stating her purpose, without mentioning the exchange of daughters: "What do you think, General Sheng and Madam Sheng?"
"My intention, and that of Prince Mingrui, is to provoke Sheng Li and the Black Hand, to see if we can uncover any useful information."
Before she finished speaking, Madam Sheng happily agreed, "That's wonderful! It's a great idea, I'm all for it."
She gently pinched Xiao Feng's cheek and said to Tao Lengshuang, "To be honest, I truly adore you and Xiao Feng, especially Xiao Feng. I've never met such a well-behaved and sensible child."
"If I could recognize you as my goddaughter, then Xiao Feng would be my grandson. How wonderful would that be?"
General Sheng nodded enthusiastically, "That's excellent, excellent. I also really like Xiao Feng. My wife and I had already discussed wanting to recognize Xiao Feng, but we were afraid you and your husband wouldn't agree."
"Now it's perfect, everyone is happy."
Tao Lengshuang: "...General Sheng, Madam Sheng, that's not what I meant."
General Sheng waved his hand, indicating that the meaning was not important. "My wife and I love Xiao Feng. Having him as our grandson is a joyous occasion. The cause and the process are truly not important."
Now Tao Lengshuang was truly speechless. She looked at Mo Lingxi.
Mo Lingxi gestured with his eyes for her to remain calm and said softly to General and Madam Sheng, "General Sheng, Madam Sheng, my wife means that she hopes you two can consider this carefully."
"Firstly, my wife and children will not use your help for anything. Secondly, there are some matters involved that cannot be explained for now."
General Sheng readily agreed that these were not issues, and the most important thing was having Xiao Feng as their grandson.
Madam Sheng felt the same way, "My husband and I truly love Xiao Feng. Moreover, we have no children of our own. With Xiao Feng as our grandson, our later years will be more joyful."
Tao Lengshuang's heart ached upon hearing this, and her hatred for the Black Hand intensified. If not for the Black Hand's many wicked deeds, none of this would have happened.
"What does Xiao Feng think? Do you want to have a maternal grandfather and grandmother like General and Madam Sheng?" she gently asked Xiao Feng.
General Sheng and Madam Sheng looked at Xiao Feng with nervous anticipation.
Xiao Feng blinked his eyes, tilted his head, and asked softly and endearingly, "Then... if General and Madam Sheng become Xiao Feng's maternal grandparents, will they treat Xiao Feng, Daddy, and Mommy badly like the Tao family did?"
Before Tao Lengshuang could say anything, General and Madam Sheng repeatedly assured him they would not.
"Grandmother will not be like those troublesome people who treated Xiao Feng that way. Xiao Feng is so good, so sensible. Grandmother dotes on him, how could she treat him badly?"
"Xiao Feng, your grandmother is right. In the future, your maternal grandfather and grandmother will both dote on you. If anyone dares to bully you, tell your maternal grandfather, and he will deal with them for you."
Xiao Feng quite liked General and Madam Sheng. Hearing this, he nodded heavily at Tao Lengshuang, "Mommy, Xiao Feng thinks it's very good. This way, there will be someone to protect Mommy in the future."
Tao Lengshuang's heart ached as she stroked Xiao Feng's head. "With Xiao Feng protecting Mommy, Mommy fears nothing."
Xiao Feng adorably waved his fists and grinned, "Xiao Feng will protect Mommy well for a lifetime and won't let anyone bully Mommy."
Tao Lengshuang praised him, "Our Xiao Feng is so great!"
Mo Lingxi felt a pang of unease listening to the mother and son's conversation. At that moment, he truly realized why Tao Lengshuang had always refused to accept him.
It was because he hadn't done enough, hadn't protected her well enough.
Tao Lengshuang didn't notice his emotional change and smiled at General and Madam Sheng, "Let's not make a big fuss about this, lest some people take the opportunity to cause trouble."
"Besides, my and Xiao Feng's identities could become a handle for those people to insult the child."
She didn't feel ashamed of her identity as a village woman, but some people looked down on those considered low-born. She didn't want little Xiao Feng to endure such treatment.
General and Madam Sheng, having experienced more, understood this even better. They also didn't want Xiao Feng to suffer this.
Madam Sheng looked at Tao Lengshuang and then at Mo Lingxi with concern. If the doctor's identity as Prince Mingrui's wife were to be revealed one day, she didn't know what would happen.
"Invite only those who are on good terms. We will be vigilant and try our best not to let anyone discover the doctor's and Xiao Feng's identities to avoid unnecessary trouble."
This was precisely Tao Lengshuang's intention. Their main goal was to provoke the Black Hand and Sheng Li, thereby clarifying all matters. Therefore, there was no need to create side issues.
Madam Sheng gave General Sheng a meaningful look.
General Sheng nodded in understanding and invited Mo Lingxi to the study for a talk.
"Lengshuang, what are your plans for the future?" Madam Sheng lowered her voice. "Prince Mingrui's identity... I'm worried about you and Xiao Feng. Even if you recognize me and your adoptive father, Prince Mingrui's identity is a factor. He is a close confidant of the Crown Prince, and many people will gossip and scheme against you."
Tao Lengshuang had considered all of this. "Most likely, I won't be with him in the future. I don't like being confined, nor do I want to deal with schemes all day long."
Having experienced such matters since childhood, Madam Sheng knew all too well how detestable they were. "And the child...?"
"Xiao Feng will stay with Mommy," Xiao Feng said obediently. "Daddy has many, many people around him, but Mommy only has Xiao Feng. Xiao Feng wants to stay and protect Mommy."