Tao Lengshuang had a feeling that this incident was related to Luo Yang, but she had no evidence to act against Luo Yang. More importantly, she had many enemies, and it wasn't necessarily Luo Yang's doing.
She covered her mouth and whispered instructions to a maid. Since she didn't know who was responsible, she would investigate Luo Yang thoroughly, perhaps uncovering the culprit.
Just as she finished giving orders to the maid, she overheard people around her discussing her alleged massacre of the Tao family.
"Did you hear? The Princess of Mingrui massacred her own family. But who can blame her? She's the Princess of Mingrui, and even the Jingzhao Prefecture yamen can't do anything to her. They have to let her get away with it. Poor Tao family, to have such a daughter, they must have had terrible luck for eight lifetimes."
"Is it true? The Princess of Mingrui is worse than an animal! That was her own family. It's one thing if she doesn't help us disaster victims, but she even massacred her own kin. Calling her an animal is an insult to animals."
Hearing this, Tao Lengshuang showed no emotional reaction. She indifferently raised her eyelids, knowing this was a calculated move by someone who would go to any lengths to ruin her.
She was too lazy to listen to their gossip any longer and told the coachman to return to her residence, thinking about how she would settle scores with everyone once she figured things out.
However, halfway there, she was summoned to the palace by a eunuch sent by Zi Cheng.
Yangxin Hall, Side Hall.
Tao Lengshuang glanced at Zi Cheng and Mo Lingxi, who were seated at the head of the table, and then at a strange woman seated in the first position on the left.
This was a young woman dressed in a resplendent red palace gown, with a dignified face and an elegant, noble demeanor. Judging by her attire, she was likely the Nan Ning Princess who had come for a political marriage.
She had arrived earlier than expected, indicating that the Northern Yuan Dynasty was eager to swallow the Eastern Jin Dynasty, a piece of fat meat.
"Is there something?" Tao Lengshuang sat calmly in her chair, propping her head with one hand as she looked at Zi Cheng.
Princess Nan Ning sized up the woman seated opposite her.
This woman was wearing a simple and elegant dress, with not even a single jade hairpin in her hair. Her style was extremely simple and unadorned, and her face was bare of makeup. Yet, this only accentuated her peerless beauty, making her appear even more exquisite.
Moreover, her temperament was clear and lively, exuding a subtle elegance and comfort that immediately drew attention.
Could this be the rumored Princess of Mingrui, who had risen from the status of a village girl?
This was no village girl; she was clearly a noble lady of a prominent family!
"Little aunt," Zi Cheng coughed lightly, pointed at Princess Nan Ning, and said to Tao Lengshuang with a fawning expression, "Little aunt, look, Princess Nan Ning has arrived. We need to discuss the matter of the political marriage."
Tao Lengshuang tilted her chin towards Mo Lingxi and said indifferently, "What's the use of discussing this with me? You need to ask your little uncle. As long as he agrees to a divorce, I promise to pack up and leave with the children immediately, without staying an extra moment."
Mo Lingxi feigned anger, "You're talking nonsense again! If you dare to talk nonsense again, do you believe I'll discipline you?"
Tao Lengshuang scoffed, glancing at him sideways, "If you have the guts, try disciplining me?"
Mo Lingxi: "...There's an outsider present. You should at least save me some face."
Tao Lengshuang snorted, "I'm not saving you face? It's you who doesn't want face. Are you blaming me?"
Mo Lingxi dared not retort. With his survival instincts in overdrive, he repeatedly said, "It's my fault, it's my fault," not daring to say anything more.
Princess Nan Ning watched this with amazement. Rumor had it that the God of War, the Prince of Mingrui, was a cold and stern figure who never showed favor to others. This was indeed true, but he was truly good to his wife, even saving her face in front of outsiders.
"What are Princess Nan Ning's thoughts?" Tao Lengshuang asked her with a faint smile. "Does Princess Nan Ning intend to follow your Northern Yuan Emperor's wishes and have a political marriage with our Eastern Jin Dynasty?"
Princess Nan Ning sat upright in her chair, her every move displaying the demeanor of a princess of a nation. "Yes, this is my father's wish. As his daughter, I must obey. I implore the Princess of Mingrui to fulfill my wish."
She paused and then added, "This time, our Northern Yuan Dynasty has shown great sincerity in this political marriage. Besides ten thousand catties of grain, we also have a considerable number of livestock. I believe the Eastern Jin Dynasty will agree."
Tao Lengshuang's peripheral vision caught Mo Lingxi's handsome face turning several degrees colder, and Zi Cheng's expression became slightly somber. His smile remained unchanged as he asked, "Princess Nan Ning, must the object of the political marriage from the Northern Yuan Dynasty be the Prince of Mingrui?"
Princess Nan Ning stated that the object of the political marriage must be the Prince of Mingrui; otherwise, the marriage could not proceed.
Tao Lengshuang understood. Her expression remained unchanged as she looked at Mo Lingxi, "Do you give me a letter of divorce, or do I give you a letter of divorce? You choose one."
Mo Lingxi's face turned as black as ink, "You won't get either!"
Tao Lengshuang was not in a hurry. "You've heard it too. Princess Nan Ning's intention is very clear. Can you really refuse the terms offered by the Northern Yuan Dynasty?"
Mo Lingxi unhesitatingly stated that even if they refused the political marriage from the Northern Yuan Dynasty, he would never divorce. It was impossible for him to divorce in this lifetime.
Tao Lengshuang glanced at Zi Cheng.
Zi Cheng, who understood immediately, feigned a cough. "Little uncle, we need to discuss this matter. After all, it concerns the nation's stability and so many disaster victims. You cannot act rashly."
Mo Lingxi pursed his thin lips and remained silent, his frosty expression indicating his stance.
Zi Cheng rubbed his temples and turned to the Princess Nan Ning with a gentle smile. "Princess Nan Ning has just arrived in our Eastern Capital, and you must be tired from your journey. Perhaps you should rest well first. Regarding the political marriage, our Eastern Jin Dynasty will give you a satisfactory answer."
Princess Nan Ning also knew that the matter would not be easily resolved. She nodded elegantly, "In that case, I will trouble Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Zi Cheng arranged for palace attendants to escort Princess Nan Ning to a palace for rest.
After Princess Nan Ning left, Zi Cheng sighed, "Little uncle, little aunt, we agreed on this at the beginning. Now that things have reached this point, we can only go with the political marriage."
Tao Lengshuang was very calm. She tightened her fist slightly, "My attitude is very clear. I can divorce at any time, and you can divorce me. It all depends on Mo Lingxi's attitude."
Mo Lingxi reiterated his refusal to divorce. "The ambitions of the Northern Yuan Dynasty are very obvious. If we agree to this political marriage, the Northern Yuan Dynasty will become more aggressive."
Zi Cheng: "Little uncle, how can little aunt and I not know this? But we are facing the problem of countless disaster victims starving to death. If this cannot be resolved, riots will occur at any time, and at that point, the Northern Yuan Dynasty will still be able to send troops to attack our Eastern Jin Dynasty."
Mo Lingxi understood all of this. His eyes deepened. "Let me think of another way. I will definitely find a way to resolve these matters."
He had already raised a considerable amount of money. As long as he could buy enough grain, there would be no need for a political marriage.
Zi Cheng secretly winked at Tao Lengshuang, urging her to persuade Mo Lingxi properly. In the current situation, a political marriage was a temporary compromise that could also relax the Northern Yuan Dynasty's vigilance, which would be very beneficial to them.
Just as Tao Lengshuang was about to persuade Mo Lingxi, she suddenly heard an arrogant and angry male voice.