Madam Sheng was aware of the ordeals Tao Lengshuang and Xiao Feng had suffered. She looked at the Tao family with displeasure. "What are you here for? If you want money, we have none. If you dare to do anything, I won't let you off lightly."
The Tao family had grown accustomed to a life of wealth and sought even greater riches. However, Sheng Li had disappeared, and A Wu refused to help them, which led the Tao family to approach Madam Sheng.
Upon hearing her words, the family began to clamor noisily.
"Madam Sheng, you can't say that. If I hadn't painstakingly raised my daughter, you wouldn't have such a good adopted daughter. For all intents and purposes, you should give us some money."
"Mother, don't you have any foresight? Why ask for money? Madam Sheng, we don't want money. Look, Lengshuang is your adopted daughter, but we are commoners. How bad would that sound if it got out? Could you arrange an official position for us?"
"Yes, yes, we want an official position, at least fifth rank or higher. Anything lower wouldn't be fitting for our status."
Looking at the ugly, greedy faces of this group, Madam Sheng felt both angry and heartbroken for Tao Lengshuang. She thought of how Tao Lengshuang had endured such a difficult and miserable life in such a family for so many years, and even Xiao Feng had never had a good day.
"I've lived half my life and have truly seen it all."
She protected Xiao Feng and said with a cold sneer, "For you to think of becoming an official of fifth rank or higher when you don't even recognize a single character is utterly laughable."
The onlookers burst into laughter.
"My heavens, I've truly witnessed shamelessness. If they had literary talent, it would be one thing, but to think of becoming an official without even knowing how to read a word, what a pipe dream."
"Look at their greedy and disgusting appearances, and their lewd demeanor. It's clear they're not good people. If such people became officials, they would surely be corrupt."
"To dare to demand an official position from Madam Sheng in public, how brainless must one be to do such a thing? Perhaps they aren't asking for an official position, but seeking death."
Hearing the surrounding mockery and scolding, the Tao family realized how foolish and dangerous their actions were. They no longer dared to demand an official position in public but refused to let Madam Sheng and Xiao Feng leave.
"Madam Sheng, we raised Tao Lengshuang for so many years, you must help us no matter what. Our two families are relatives."
"Exactly, you have such a good daughter like Tao Lengshuang thanks to our family raising her. You must give us satisfactory benefits."
Just as Madam Sheng was about to reprimand the Tao family again, she heard Tao Lengshuang's slightly cold voice.
"What satisfactory benefits do you want?"
Tao Lengshuang walked over quickly, shielding Madam Sheng and Xiao Feng behind her, and cast a cold glance at the Tao family.
Upon seeing Tao Lengshuang, the Tao family cowered like mice seeing a cat. "Yes, yes..."
"Lengshuang," Tao Fangfang, who was pushed forward, said ingratiatingly, "Lengshuang, look, we are family. Besides, you have the good life you have now thanks to our family's upbringing and guidance, don't you?"
Tao Lengshuang looked at the Tao family with hatred in her eyes. "Is that all you have to say?"
Tao Fangfang dared not oppose Tao Lengshuang. Without Tao Lengshuang's prescription, she would die at any moment.
"Lengshuang, how about this: you help us with two favors, and I promise our family will never bother you again."
Seeing the Tao family nod in agreement, Tao Lengshuang found it ironic and laughable. "Tao Fangfang, do you believe what you're saying?"
Tao Fangfang knew her words were part of a plan, but she also knew that appeasing Tao Lengshuang was the only way she could live the life of a noble lady she had always dreamed of.
"Lengshuang, you can't just focus on your good life and ignore your parents and us. If you do this, it's unfilial and bad for both you and your husband."
"Are you threatening me?" Tao Lengshuang gestured with her eyes for Madam Sheng not to intervene and sneered at Tao Fangfang. "Your whole family truly forgets the pain once the wound has healed."
She walked towards the Tao family, who quickly retreated, as if afraid Tao Lengshuang would do something to them.
"Lengshuang, this is in public. You are a person of status, you can't do anything foolish," Tao Fangfang said, her face pale, trying to persuade her.
Tao Lengshuang suddenly stopped, a sarcastic smile playing on her lips. "Actually, if you hadn't come to trouble our family and lived your lives peacefully, perhaps you would be better off."
Tao Fangfang didn't understand and asked with a dry laugh, "Lengshuang, what do you mean by that?"
Before Tao Lengshuang could answer, she hurriedly added, "Lengshuang, we have only two conditions. If you agree, we'll leave immediately and promise not to bother you again."
"Alright, I'll agree to two reasonable conditions, but..." Tao Lengshuang said slowly, "don't expect to get the prescription from me."
"I see your spirits aren't very good. You probably won't live much longer. At that time, even if you had immense wealth, you..."
Before she could finish speaking, she saw Old Master Tao suddenly spit out a mouthful of blood and fall straight to the ground.
Seeing this, Tao Lengshuang merely raised an eyebrow slightly, showing no intention of going to help Old Master Tao.
Tao Fangfang and the others were stunned, their eyes wide with horror as they looked at the pool of blood.
The onlookers were so frightened they stumbled backward, afraid of being implicated.
"Are they sick? Their spirits don't seem right."
"Whether they are sick or not, look at their listless appearances, it's terrifying. The whole family is like this, yet they're still scheming against Madam Sheng's family every day."
Tao Fangfang and the others snapped back to reality, screaming and kneeling before Tao Lengshuang, crying and begging her to save them. "We don't want anything anymore, we don't want anything, please give us the prescription, we don't want to die."
Tao Lengshuang avoided them and stood aside, saying coldly, "Do you think I would give you the prescription?"
"Think about how you've schemed against and used me all these years? You even bribed bandits to kill our family for money."
She heard the crowd gasp, and added, "The time before last, last time, and many other times, you begged me like this. But what was the result? After getting benefits, you continued to scheme against and use me, and even wanted my life."
"I'm not a fool to help you again and again."
The onlookers were full of contempt for the Tao family, and some even spat at them. Everyone agreed with Tao Lengshuang's words, stating that this wicked family had cut off their own retreat.
Tao Fangfang and the others repeatedly shook their heads and denied it, promising not to bother them again and only begging Tao Lengshuang for the prescription.
Tao Lengshuang, too lazy to pay attention to the Tao family, was about to leave with Madam Sheng and Xiao Feng when she heard Zhou Wenxing's voice.
"Please wait a moment."
Zhou Wenxing walked out with a smile and asked in surprise, "What happened here? If Madam Sheng is in any trouble, I can help resolve it."