The palace maid’s hand holding the medicine bowl tightened again.
Mo Lingxi noticed this and clenched his fists. “You still haven’t answered my question.”
The palace maid, unsure of what had gone wrong, quickly tried to think of a solution. Her expression remained calm. “This servant has been serving in the Hall of Mental Cultivation for the past two days. Due to my low status, I rarely get to serve before His Majesty. Today, the palace maid who usually delivers medicine was unwell, so I was sent instead.”
Mo Lingxi took the bowl from her and sniffed it. “I recall that His Majesty’s medicine has always been handled by his personal eunuchs. How did it end up being delivered by a palace maid?”
At this point, the palace maid realized she had been exposed at some point. Her eyes hardened, and she drew a dagger hidden in her sleeve, lunging at Mo Lingxi.
But—
Mo Lingxi was faster. The moment the palace maid drew her dagger, he struck her acupoints and dislocated her jaw.
In an instant, the palace maid was immobilized, unable to bite the poison sac in her teeth to end her life.
She looked at Mo Lingxi with fear, regretting once again not coming in later. As expected, Prince Mingrui was as terrifying as the rumors said.
Mo Lingxi ordered the imperial guards to drag her away for severe interrogation and sent for an imperial physician.
“Uncle, is everything handled?” Zicheng walked out and glanced at the palace maid being dragged away.
Mo Lingxi grunted. “The Black Hand has made a move. Your Majesty should be more careful recently.”
Zicheng replied, “I will be very careful. This medicine…”
Mo Lingxi was unsure of its effects. “We’ll know after the imperial physician arrives.”
When the imperial physician arrived and examined the bowl of medicine, Mo Lingxi and Zicheng learned that its purpose was to make the current Emperor fall into a deep sleep.
Mo Lingxi and Zicheng thought for a moment and understood the Black Hand’s intention. If the Emperor had fallen asleep when Prince Mingrui arrived, things could have become complicated, possibly escalating into chaos.
“Uncle, it seems you are truly being targeted,” Zicheng said.
Mo Lingxi stated indifferently, “It’s not me they are targeting, but the interests behind me.”
Zicheng agreed. “That’s true. The true purpose of targeting you, Uncle, is to scheme for the benefits you can bring. Actually, I’ve always wondered what kind of benefits the Black Hand wants to obtain.”
Mo Lingxi replied, “Your Majesty, why think so much? We only need to capture these individuals one by one, and we will know the Black Hand’s objective.”
Zicheng chuckled. “Uncle, you’re still the same. It’s good this way; it’s best that we, uncle and nephew, remain unchanged.”
Mo Lingxi understood. “I have changed quite a bit.”
Zicheng knew what those changes were and sighed. “Back then, I never would have dared to imagine you, Uncle, would undergo such changes. Perhaps it’s because you haven’t met the right person.”
Mo Lingxi glanced at him and then got up to leave.
Zicheng laughed, shaking his head. His uncle was destined to be dominated by his aunt in this life, and yet, his uncle seemed to enjoy it.
…
Mo Lingxi found Sheng Lengshuang just as she was leaving the academy.
Sheng Lengshuang had a general idea why he was looking for her. She glanced at the sun. “Where is Xiao Feng?”
Mo Lingxi: “…” It was over; he had forgotten to pick up Xiao Feng from the palace.
Seeing his expression, Sheng Lengshuang understood immediately. She crossed her arms and sneered, “Prince Mingrui, you are truly something. You can even forget your own son. Is there anything you *can’t* forget?”
Mo Lingxi coughed twice. “I won’t forget about reuniting.”
Sheng Lengshuang was amused to the point of anger. She kicked his leg. “Do you want me to give you a few acupuncture treatments? I guarantee your illness will be cured instantly.”
Mo Lingxi quickly bowed his head, trying to placate her. “I was wrong. I was just too eager to see you, which is why I forgot to pick up Xiao Feng. Someone will send Xiao Feng back to the manor later.”
Sheng Lengshuang said word by word, “Someone will send Xiao Feng back to the manor later?”
“I’ll go pick up Xiao Feng right now.” Before he finished speaking, Mo Lingxi had already darted away.
Sheng Lengshuang pinched her temples, feeling quite exasperated and speechless. He could even forget his own child, which showed Xiao Feng’s status in Mo Lingxi’s heart.
Meanwhile, Sheng Lengshuang returned home by carriage, while Mo Lingxi swiftly picked up Xiao Feng at the palace gate.
Seeing his father’s demeanor, Xiao Feng guessed, “Father, did Mother scold you again?”
Mo Lingxi’s face remained unblushing. “No. Come, let’s go to your maternal grandfather’s house and spend some good time with your mother.”
Xiao Feng looked as if he had seen through everything. “Father, lying is not good. I know Mother scolded you again, and I won’t laugh at you.”
Mo Lingxi flicked his forehead. “You’re too worldly for your age. Alright, let’s hurry to the Sheng family, lest your mother waits too long.”
When the father and son arrived at the Sheng family, they saw Sheng Lengshuang standing at the main entrance.
“Wife, I’ve brought Xiao Feng back,” Mo Lingxi said with a sudden smile.
Sheng Lengshuang waved for Xiao Feng, who was watching the scene unfold, to go find his maternal grandparents.
As much as Xiao Feng wanted to see the show, he dared not disobey his mother and was obediently led away by a servant.
Sheng Lengshuang gave Mo Lingxi a cold glare. “Tell me, how should I punish you this time?”
Mo Lingxi stepped forward and massaged her shoulders. “Wife, it’s my fault this time. I promise there won’t be a next time. Will you forgive me?”
Sheng Lengshuang glanced at him sideways. “You expect me to forgive you just by saying a few nice words? You know best how dangerous it is right now, yet you left Xiao Feng alone in the palace. What kind of father are you?”
Mo Lingxi lowered his head, not daring to speak. Actually, it wasn’t as dangerous as his wife made it out to be. He had arranged sufficient guards for Xiao Feng, so there wouldn’t be any mishaps.
Sheng Lengshuang knew what he was thinking without needing to guess. “Mo Lingxi, I don’t think you truly value Xiao Feng. Perhaps you think that since Xiao Feng is a boy and your only heir, he shouldn’t be pampered but should be trained well, and not be allowed to develop a prodigal temper.”
Mo Lingxi quickly explained, “Wife, I truly don’t think that way now. Those were my old thoughts. Besides, I do care about Xiao Feng. Sometimes, it’s actually safer in the palace.”
“To you, the palace might be a dangerous place, but it is precisely this danger that can sometimes protect a person better.”
Sheng Lengshuang didn’t want to argue about these useless matters with him. “Mo Lingxi, I hope you remember one thing: Xiao Feng is your son, not your subordinate. You cannot demand him according to your requirements for training subordinates.”
Mo Lingxi replied, “Wife, I’m really not doing that anymore. I won’t deny that I did before.”
Sheng Lengshuang stated, “I don’t want to hear your explanation; I’m discussing this matter with you. Xiao Feng is still young, and I don’t want him to experience those things.”
Mo Lingxi understood. “He won’t.”
Sheng Lengshuang rubbed her forehead. “Mo Lingxi, have you noticed that our views and thoughts differ greatly?”
Mo Lingxi straightened up and repeatedly stated that he hadn’t. “Wife, everyone has different opinions sometimes. You can’t negate me because of this.”