Mo Lingxi cast her a look of unknown meaning, changing the subject: "Just now, you told the Tao family that you would never divorce me. I took that to heart."
Tao Lengshuang didn't understand why he brought this up. Her peripheral vision caught Xiao Feng running into the house, staring at Mo Lingxi in disbelief.
"No... Mo Lingxi, you and I both know that was just to deal with the Tao family. Why are you taking it seriously?"
Mo Lingxi said righteously, "A person without credibility cannot stand."
"Since you publicly said you wouldn't divorce me and would live well with me, you must follow through."
Tao Lengshuang couldn't believe what she was hearing. She tugged his face with a little force: "How can you be so shameless?"
"My words to deal with the Tao family, and you deliberately took them seriously. Mo Lingxi, what exactly do you want to do?"
Mo Lingxi paused, a hint of confusion flashing in his dark eyes. Yes, he didn't want a divorce anymore. What did he want to do?
"I just don't want a divorce."
Tao Lengshuang was furious: "Just because you don't want a divorce makes it reasonable? There's no such logic in this world."
Mo Lingxi moved his lips, his mouth pressing downwards: "We're doing quite well like this. Why must we divorce?"
Tao Lengshuang still couldn't quite understand Mo Lingxi: "You said we're like this now."
"We're getting along quite well now, but what about after a while, when you've regained your status? There are too many things between us. More importantly, I have no romantic feelings for you."
Mo Lingxi's handsome face sank at her words, and he looked at her with displeasure: "Then who do you have romantic feelings for?"
Tao Lengshuang was extremely speechless: "How is your brain wired? I just spoke a simple truth, and you've thought of all these things."
"Mo Lingxi, I'll say it one last time. Please don't force me to do anything, and don't make me do what you think is right."
Mo Lingxi could see that she was truly angry and softened his tone: "I know your concerns."
"I can resolve all your concerns."
"You still don't understand," Tao Lengshuang sighed, speaking slowly: "What I want is not a life of luxury and nobility."
"For me, I want a free and comfortable life.
Furthermore, there is a vast gap between us, and your attitude towards me is unclear; it might be out of temporary interest.
For your temporary interest, I would have to conform to etiquette and rules, restrain myself, wait for your favor, and wait for the day you grow tired of me and abandon me."
She raised her hand to stop Mo Lingxi: "Don't say it's impossible. Firstly, the future is uncertain. Secondly, men have three wives and concubines and can have many beautiful women. There are many unknowns."
"It's better to part on good terms. We can still be friends when we meet in the future."
Mo Lingxi felt a闷闷的不舒服 in his heart hearing this. His dark, deep eyes were like a bottomless abyss.
"In all aspects, what you say is very right. What if I don't have many beautiful women?"
Tao Lengshuang smiled at his words: "You said 'what if'."
"With your status and position, you will not have only one wife in the future. Besides, are you willing for me and Xiao Feng to live our lives under countless people's mockery, ridicule, and schemes?"
Mo Lingxi fell silent.
Tao Lengshuang said calmly: "This isn't even the worst part."
"You come from that place, so you know how terrifying open and secret struggles are. Living in fear every day. Do you want to see me and Xiao Feng's cold corpses one day?"
"Never!" Mo Lingxi's eyes were stern: "I will protect you and the child, and I won't let anyone harm you."
Tao Lengshuang, however, shook her head: "How many times can you defend? Even you were forced to come here, let alone us."
"Mo Lingxi, you don't truly want to be with me. You feel comfortable with me because there are no schemes and no need for vigilance. That makes you feel very comfortable."
Mo Lingxi felt it wasn't like that, but he couldn't deny it either, because being with Tao Lengshuang was indeed like that.
"Let me think about it."
Tao Lengshuang hummed: "Think about it properly."
"I hope you can think it through and don't do similar things again. I think we're fine getting along like this now."
Mo Lingxi felt a bit displeased, but he couldn't pinpoint why: "Let's go, we should go back. Your cold hasn't fully recovered."
Tao Lengshuang stomped her foot and followed Mo Lingxi into the house, seeing Xiao Feng and his little friends squatting by the main hall door playing in the snow.
"Xiao Feng, you kids be careful with your bodies," she cautioned, worried.
Xiao Feng responded with a "Good" and played happily with his friends, not feeling the cold at all.
Tao Lengshuang found it quite amusing. She entered the main hall and chatted with Shen Ershen and the others.
Seeing Mo Lingxi return to the room, she pursed her lips, her expression revealing nothing.
At the same time.
In the Eastern Capital, outside the Ministry of Justice prison.
Sheng Li, who had been locked up for a day, cried and ran towards Sheng General and his wife standing at the entrance.
"Father, Mother, these people are too much. You must help me deal with them."
*Pa!*
Sheng General, his face ashen, slapped Sheng Li to the ground: "Sheng Li, do you really want to doom the entire Sheng family?"
Sheng Li, lying on the ground, was stunned by the blow, not understanding what had happened: "Father, why did you hit me again? It was those people who humiliated me."
"Do you know what kind of hardship I endured in prison for a day and a night? You didn't even show a shred of concern. Are you still my parents?"
Sheng General thought of the message conveyed to him by someone and looked at Sheng Li with more guilt: "Do you know that because of your actions, I have been dismissed by His Majesty? Even all Sheng family members serving in the court have been dismissed."
"What!?" Sheng Li was astonished: "Father, are you joking? You are the Grand General of Suiyuan, a minister relied upon by His Majesty. How could you be dismissed?"
Sheng General no longer wanted to say anything more. He ordered his servants to take Sheng Li to a villa for supervision, to prevent her from causing further trouble.
"Sheng Li, go and find out what your father has gone through. Don't just focus on your own trivial matters all day," Madam Sheng sighed, filled with disappointment.
"What do you mean my trivial matters? My matters are the most important."
Sheng Li said angrily: "To put it bluntly, it's because Father is useless that he was dismissed. You can't even help me with a small favor, yet you have the nerve to scold me."
Upon hearing this, Sheng General and his wife felt even more disappointed in Sheng Li and a bit more guilty.
If they had paid more attention, Sheng Li wouldn't have been taught to be this way.
"Take her away, take her away," Sheng General waved his hand wearily.
The servants immediately took the screaming Sheng Li away by force.
However, Sheng Li was intercepted and abducted halfway!