Sheng Lengshuang had just said "Okay" when she saw the hidden guards leave with Xiao Feng, followed by the lowering of the carriage curtains.
"Mo Lingxi!" she yelled, hands on her hips, glaring at the prince.
Mo Lingxi massaged her shoulders, coaxing, "Wife, don't be angry, it's all my fault."
"It's not your fault, so is it mine?" Sheng Lengshuang was furious. "That's your son, your only biological son. If anything were to happen to him, you wouldn't even have a place to cry."
Mo Lingxi: "Wife, I have a sense of proportion. He is the crystallization of your and my love..."
"Stop!" Sheng Lengshuang made a stopping gesture. "Don't say such cheesy things, they give me goosebumps all over."
Mo Lingxi was speechless. "Can you show a little bit of emotion?"
Sheng Lengshuang's feet itched. "I really want to kick you out of the carriage right now."
"Dad agrees!" Suddenly, Sheng Tianchun appeared in the carriage.
"Dad!" Sheng Lengshuang was overjoyed. "Dad, when did you get back? Did you go back to the mansion to see Mom first?"
Sheng Tianchun snorted heavily at Mo Lingxi, then turned to his daughter with as much warmth as possible. "I went back to the mansion to see your mother immediately."
"Your mother told me you were still out, and I was worried about you and Xiao Feng, afraid you'd be deceived."
He glanced at Mo Lingxi several times as he said this.
Mo Lingxi: "..." The direction of his father-in-law's gaze was too obvious.
Sheng Lengshuang covered her mouth and chuckled. "Dad, Xiao Feng and I are fine."
"I think something is wrong," Sheng Tianchun pulled his daughter out of the carriage. "Dad will take you back, lest any ill-intentioned wolves be eyeing you."
Sheng Lengshuang agreed and followed Sheng Tianchun, not paying Mo Lingxi any further attention.
Mo Lingxi, left alone, sighed. His wife was already reluctant to reconcile with him, and now he had a father-in-law who disliked him. How was he supposed to live?
He needed to find a way to appease his wife, win over his in-laws, and prevent his son from causing trouble.
Unaware of this, Sheng Lengshuang returned to the Sheng family with Sheng Tianchun and saw Xiao Feng running towards them.
To complain!
"Mom, Dad is so mean. He treated me like this, and I'm his only child."
Sheng Lengshuang was amused and exasperated. "Then will you forgive your dad?"
Xiao Feng's eyes rolled. "If Mom doesn't forgive Dad, then Xiao Feng won't forgive Dad."
Sheng Lengshuang flicked his forehead. "You little rascal."
She saw Sheng Tianchun carrying Xiao Feng on his shoulders and said helplessly, "Dad."
"I didn't carry you when you were little, so carrying Xiao Feng is the same," Sheng Tianchun patted her head, feeling guilty. "It's my fault, I didn't protect you well enough, and you've suffered so much."
Sheng Lengshuang slowly shook her head. "It's not your fault, Dad. No one expected recovery to happen like this. Besides, our family is reunited, so let's not talk about it anymore."
Sheng Tianchun still felt guilty and self-reproachful. Just thinking about the grievances and pain Lengshuang had endured over the years made him want to tear Zhou Wenxing, that scumbag, to shreds.
...
The next day.
It was the day of the new emperor's enthronement, so preparations had been underway in and around the palace since the day before. Even Lian Zicheng was busy before dawn, not even having time to eat.
After the elaborate enthronement ceremony came the officials' audience with the new emperor, followed by a banquet.
Sheng Lengshuang, who had been standing for most of the day, followed Madam Sheng with Xiao Feng and chatted with a group of ladies. The new emperor's enthronement ceremony was indeed very tedious. Fortunately, nothing had gone wrong, otherwise, it would have caused a major incident.
"Miss Sheng."
Hearing Sima Min's voice, Sheng Lengshuang forced a smile and looked at Sima Min. "Miss Sima."
Sima Min scanned the ladies surrounding Sheng Lengshuang, feeling jealous. "The matter I discussed with you last time, Miss Sheng, have you considered it?"
Sheng Lengshuang looked puzzled and only remembered what Sima Min had said after a while. "Oh, that matter. Miss Sima, I'm truly sorry, I had completely forgotten about it. I didn't expect Miss Sima to still remember."
Sima Min's expression stiffened for a moment, as she hadn't expected Sheng Lengshuang to say that.
Feeling the mocking and contemptuous gazes around her, she felt so embarrassed that she wanted to find a hole to crawl into, and her hatred for Sheng Lengshuang grew even more.
"It's my fault, I thought I could help Miss Sheng."
How dare Sheng Lengshuang embarrass her like this in public!
She would remember this!
Sheng Lengshuang asked doubtfully, "Miss Sima, I don't understand what you're saying. Why would you want to help me out of the blue? I recall our relationship... isn't that great?"
Some ladies around them laughed scornfully.
"I don't know what Miss Sima is thinking, to say such a thing in public. Doesn't everyone know about the issues between her and Miss Sheng?"
"If you ask me, Sima Min is two-faced. Remember how resistant she was to the arranged marriage? She even tried to break it off. But once it was dissolved, she was unhappy and used it to negotiate with Prince Mingrui, hoping to marry him."
"Don't you know she approached Miss Sheng several times? It's said that each time she brought up the arranged marriage and asked Miss Sheng to stay away from Prince Mingrui."
The ladies around them looked at her with disdain and disgust. "I can't believe Sima Min is that kind of person."
Sima Min's face turned red and her neck was thick with anger. She almost tore the embroidered handkerchief in her hand. "Miss Sheng, I meant no harm. Why are you treating me like this?"
Sheng Lengshuang looked confused. "Miss Sima, please tell me, which of the ladies present is saying something untrue? Have you never used the past arranged marriage to threaten me, or have you never harbored the idea of marrying Prince Mingrui?"
Sima Min was speechless. She still didn't think she had done anything wrong. Anyone would seek to avoid harm and pursue benefits. What she did was for the entire family and for herself.
"I know Miss Sheng dislikes me..."
"I indeed dislike you," Sheng Lengshuang interrupted her. "Before I divorced Prince Mingrui, you tried every means to sow discord between me and Prince Mingrui, thinking of snatching him away. Do you think I could possibly like you?"
If Sima Min hadn't constantly appeared before her, saying this and that, she wouldn't have done anything. But this woman always loved to appear before her, as if nothing had happened.
This public humiliation truly made Sima Min lose face and become a laughingstock.
"Miss Sheng..." As soon as she spoke, Sheng Lengshuang interrupted her.
"Miss Sima, you don't need to try to get close to me, nor do you need to say things like you have something to tell me about myself. Our relationship is not good to begin with, and I don't trust you."