Tao Lengshuang's eyes flickered slightly upon hearing this. It seemed someone had spread the news that the princess brought ten thousand catties of grain, intending to use the disaster victims to force her to voluntarily step down.
It was unclear whether Zhou Wenxing was behind this, or if it was someone else, or even the Northern Yuan Dynasty.
She calmly swept her gaze over the disaster victims and asked, "You want me to voluntarily step down. If I do, where would a woman who voluntarily steps down go? Should I commit suicide for you?"
She understood the feelings and plight of these disaster victims, but they were now forcing her to step down. What was this?
The disaster victims had been starving for a long time. Seeing that they could receive ten thousand catties of grain, they cared little for Tao Lengshuang's life and begged her frantically.
Some disaster victims, with bloodshot eyes, even rushed forward to hit her.
"You voluntarily step down! You disaster star! It's all your fault! You're the reason Prince Mingrui can't have a political marriage, the reason we can't get food! You deserve to die! You deserve to die!"
"Bitch, go die! Just die! Only when you die can we get food!"
Tao Lengshuang raised her eyelids without a ripple, then flung a handful of medicinal powder. Immediately, secret guards appeared and sent the disaster victims who had rushed to the front flying.
"Insulting the current Prince Mingrui's consort is a capital offense!" one of the secret guards shouted. "If anyone dares to come closer, I will take their life!"
The chaotic disaster victims screamed upon seeing the dead bodies lying on the ground and retreated to the side, no longer daring to rush forward and hit Tao Lengshuang.
"Princess Mingrui, please voluntarily step down. We are starving to death and only want a bite to eat. Now that there's an opportunity, why aren't you concerned about our lives?"
"You are a wicked woman! You are a wicked woman! The lives of so many disaster victims are in your hands, yet you are indifferent to our plight. You are too vicious."
Tao Lengshuang was never one to be morally blackmailed. Upon hearing this, she sneered, "When you were forcing me to die, didn't you think you were being vicious?"
"It's simply laughable! If my secret guards hadn't helped just now, I would be the one dead. You murderers!"
She had no intention of saying more. "Originally, I planned to step down voluntarily someday. But since you insist on treating me this way, then I simply won't step down. What can you do to me?"
The disaster victims never expected Tao Lengshuang to act like this. The scene instantly became as quiet as a chicken. This...
"Greetings, Princess Mingrui." At this moment, Luo Yang, dressed in understated luxury, walked over with her maidservant and curtsied. "Princess Mingrui, where are you going? Judging by your appearance, Princess Mingrui, have you encountered some trouble?"
Tao Lengshuang did not believe Luo Yang would happen to appear here. She said indifferently, "I have encountered some trouble, but what does that have to do with you, a concubine?"
The word "concubine" almost made Luo Yang lose her composure. She clutched her embroidered handkerchief tightly. "Princess Mingrui, you misunderstand. I saw that it was chaotic here and was worried something might go wrong."
Originally, she had wanted to become a concubine in a wealthy family, thinking she could live a good life. Only after becoming a concubine did she realize that those who could truly live a good life were the principal wives.
She hated her status as a concubine.
Tao Lengshuang saw that Luo Yang detested her status as a concubine and scoffed, "I find it strange that you, as a concubine, can go out so freely. The Zhou family truly has no rules."
Luo Yang did not want to continue this topic that she detested. She turned to the matter of the disaster victims' request. "Princess Mingrui, this... do you think you should do something? So many disaster victims are waiting for your decision."
Tao Lengshuang deserved it!
This bitch had caused her to become like this. She deserved to be forced to step down by the disaster victims now.
After Tao Lengshuang was divorced, she would have plenty of ways to deal with this bitch.
Tao Lengshuang raised her eyelids and looked down at her from a high position. "Luo Yang, instead of meddling in my affairs, you might as well think about how to help Lord Zhou have a son or daughter. You are not the principal wife. If you, as a concubine, cannot bear a child, your future days will be difficult."
Luo Yang was not unwilling to have a child, but Zhou Wenxing never visited her courtyard. Even if she went to him, he would be extremely impatient and even forbid her from approaching him.
"You don't need to worry about this, Princess Mingrui. Princess Mingrui, if you have this much free time, you might as well help these disaster victims properly."
Upon hearing this, Tao Lengshuang left after saying, "You, Luo Yang, have always been kind-hearted. Why don't you help these disaster victims properly and gain a good reputation?" and had her secret guards clear the way.
Luo Yang intended to use the disaster victims to gain a good reputation for herself and find a way to win over Zhou Wenxing. However, she did not expect the number of disaster victims to be so large.
She did not have much money to begin with. If she used it all to help the disaster victims, she would have to live a hard life.
She absolutely did not want to live a hard life.
However, she was also unwilling to miss this good opportunity to improve her reputation.
What should she do?
After thinking for a long time, Luo Yang finally thought of seeking Zhou Wenxing's help. Thus, she hurried back to the Zhou family to discuss the matter of helping the disaster victims with him.
"My lord, if you are willing to help the disaster victims, it will not only greatly enhance your reputation but also earn you the appreciation of His Highness the Crown Prince. This will make it very convenient for you to achieve whatever you wish."
Zhou Wenxing was fully aware of Luo Yang's intentions and calculations and said impatiently, "Scram!"
If it weren't for the fact that Prince Mingrui and his wife were granted a marriage, he wouldn't even glance at a woman like Luo Yang. She couldn't even compare to a single strand of hair of Madam Qi.
Luo Yang would not give up easily and spoke of countless benefits.
However, Zhou Wenxing still refused and ordered his servants to expel Luo Yang from his study, forbidding her from approaching it again.
Luo Yang stomped her foot in extreme unwillingness, then turned to find Mo Lingxi, who had just emerged from the palace. She acted as if she was thinking of him in every way and analyzed the pros and cons of the situation.
"Your Highness Prince Mingrui, in the current situation, divorcing Princess Mingrui is the best decision."
Speaking of this, she sighed with concern. "Just now, I accidentally saw a group of disaster victims surrounding Princess Mingrui on the street, forcing her to voluntarily step down. If this continues, what will happen? I am truly worried that Princess Mingrui will be in danger."
She stole a shy glance at Mo Lingxi. The more she looked at Prince Mingrui, the more handsome he seemed, and the more she felt he was worthy of her.
After dealing with Tao Lengshuang, she would find a way to marry Prince Mingrui and fulfill his long-held wish.
Mo Lingxi already disliked Luo Yang immensely, and upon hearing her hypocritical words, he disliked her even more. "Scram!"
Luo Yang looked hurt and took a few steps back, her eyes filled with tears. "Your Highness Prince Mingrui, why are you treating me like this? I came with good intentions to tell you these things, yet you treat me like this. You are too much."
Mo Lingxi did not want to pay her any more attention and was about to walk past her to see Tao Lengshuang, but Luo Yang blocked him.