Luo Yang nodded frantically, seeing Luo Laotou’s miserable state, "It was my father's idea. If you're looking for someone, settle the score with him, not me."
After they were rescued, they recuperated for a few days before wanting to seek revenge on Tao Lengshuang. Because they were fugitives, their father came up with the idea of finding someone to use the Tao family to deal with Tao Lengshuang, but it failed. Then came today's events. As soon as they learned that Tao Lengshuang would be going to town with Mo Lingxi to buy things, they immediately brought people over, only to find it was a trap.
Tao Lengshuang narrowed her eyes, thinking quickly, "Did your master say what help he wanted you to provide?" Luo Yang stated that he never had; his master always said they could do anything they pleased and spend money freely. She only experienced true wealth and status after being rescued. At this point, Tao Lengshuang was completely certain that the other party's goal was to use the Luo family to scheme against her. Just as she was about to ask more, Mo Lingxi held her waist and pulled her back. Before she could ask what was happening, she saw a group of masked men in black appear before the Luo family members. Without a word, they engaged with the guards, and one group was responsible for rescuing Luo Yang and the other two.
"Tao Lengshuang, I will repay this debt today. Just you wait." With that harsh threat, Luo Yang was rescued by the masked men. Tao Lengshuang frowned and, under Mo Lingxi's protection, retreated to the side, watching the masked men also retreat. "Are the Luo family members still useful?" she wondered, confused. Mo Lingxi, however, understood. "What could be more useful than someone greedy and who hates you to the core?"
"The best scapegoat." Tao Lengshuang understood and worried, "It seems the other party is determined to kill me." What kind of deep-seated hatred and resentment would drive someone to such lengths to kill her. Kuai Shu Ge. Mo Lingxi was also contemplating this. Generally, to want someone dead, there had to be a great enmity, but Tao Lengshuang hadn't offended anyone to such a degree.
"Master," a guard approached and bowed, "We found something useful." He handed a token to Mo Lingxi with both hands. Mo Lingxi took it and looked. The token bore the character "Sheng."
"Such obvious framing," Tao Lengshuang said, taking the token and examining it. "Is it related to the Sheng family?" "Could it be that the mastermind has some grievances with the Sheng family?" Mo Lingxi let out a soft hum. "A clue." Tao Lengshuang understood and smiled. "Indeed, it's a clue, delivered right to our doorstep." "It's estimated that the mastermind wants to use you to deal with the Sheng family, but didn't expect to deliver the clue to us."
Mo Lingxi: "He deliberately sent the clue to us." Tao Lengshuang suddenly realized, "He wants us to follow his plan and thus be manipulated." Mo Lingxi handed the token back to the guard and instructed him to investigate the Sheng family's grievances, focusing on anyone who had a grudge against the Sheng family, and not to overlook any minor details. He then protected Tao Lengshuang as they walked towards the carriage. "The more we want to clarify the whole matter, the easier it is to fall into the mastermind's schemes."
Tao Lengshuang understood this and said with a grim expression, "I must admit, the mastermind's calculations are truly excellent." "He's not afraid that we'll guess his plan because he knows we will investigate." The mastermind had accurately gauged her and Mo Lingxi's desire to uncover everything, deliberately setting this trap to lure them in. Mo Lingxi nodded and spoke to her about the Sheng family. The Sheng family had always been a family of upright conduct, highly regarded and in charge of a hundred thousand troops before the current emperor's reign of corruption. Moreover, General Sheng was a righteous man who never did anything wrong, thus offending many. After the Sheng family fell out of favor, many people kicked them while they were down, and those who were previously friendly largely distanced themselves. However, given the Sheng family's foundation and deterrent power, the current emperor was not foolish enough to truly kill General Sheng.
"Simply put, it's not easy to find out who harmed the Sheng family." Tao Lengshuang listened and nodded. "This is also why the mastermind isn't afraid of us investigating." "The Sheng family has made many enemies, making it difficult to investigate, and it's easy to be manipulated during the investigation." This was precisely Mo Lingxi's point. "Furthermore, the Sheng family is currently facing many troubles. If someone investigates the Sheng family, it provides an opportunity for others to target them."
Now Tao Lengshuang fully understood the mastermind's scheme and couldn't help but shiver. "It's truly a chain of one link after another." "But there's one thing I still don't understand: if the mastermind wants to scheme against the Sheng family, what does it have to do with me, a village girl?" Mo Lingxi also couldn't figure this out. If the mastermind wanted to scheme against the Sheng family, there was no need to go through Tao Lengshuang. Unless there was some connection between the two. But what connection could there be between them? One was a general's mansion, the other a village girl; they were worlds apart.
"This matter cannot be understood for now. Let me investigate first." Tao Lengshuang knew this as well and exhaled cold air. "Let's follow the mastermind's wishes and investigate the Sheng family. Perhaps we can find some useful clues." Mo Lingxi signaled her not to worry too much. "We've already investigated this far; I believe we'll uncover the whole story soon." Tao Lengshuang was still worried; she had a bad premonition. "Let's leave it at that for now."
Mo Lingxi softly comforted her. This, however, frightened Tao Lengshuang. She quickly moved away from him, her eyes wary and defensive. Could this person have gone mad again? Her behavior made the veins on Mo Lingxi's forehead throb. Can't he be nice to this woman! With a flick of his sleeve, he strode forward in anger. Tao Lengshuang shrugged indifferently. She wished Mo Lingxi wouldn't be nice to her, lest something untoward happen.
At the same time. Xiao Feng and a few friends were sweeping snow at the doorstep, expending their excess energy. Aunt Shen Er and Aunt Wang San sat by the main entrance, sewing shoe soles and chatting, also keeping an eye on the children. The children were playing and laughing, seemingly unaffected by the cold, nor did they notice someone lurking suspiciously. Just as Xiao Feng turned to throw a snowball at a friend, he was suddenly lifted into the air. He froze for a moment, then struggled, "Let me go, let me go!" The person carrying him ran off with him at great speed.
"Tao Fangfang!" Aunt Shen Er was the first to react, dropping her things and chasing after Tao Fangfang. "Tao Fangfang, put Xiao Feng down..." Before she finished speaking, she saw Tao Fangfang fall face-first. She immediately rushed over and pinned Tao Fangfang down. Before Tao Fangfang could struggle, Aunt Wang San, who had also arrived, pinned her down. "We'll wait for the Mo family to return. Tie her up first." Aunt Wang San slapped Tao Fangfang several times. The scoundrel, daring to snatch Xiao Feng in broad daylight.
Meanwhile, Tao Lengshuang and Mo Lingxi returned home by carriage to a secluded spot outside the village. However, halfway there, Mo Lingxi stopped and signaled Tao Lengshuang to be aware of their rear. "Someone is following us," he said quietly.