Xiao Feng heard this and scurried into Tao Lengshuang's embrace, sticking out his tongue at Mo Lingxi. "I don't want to help Daddy. Xiao Feng is on Mommy's side. If I help anyone, it'll be Mommy. How could I help a stinky Daddy?"
Mo Lingxi: "..." This was truly his biological son.
Tao Lengshuang and Madam Sheng burst into laughter.
The atmosphere immediately improved.
Tao Lengshuang stroked Xiao Feng's head and said gently, "Xiao Feng is truly Mommy's little warm cotton-padded jacket. From now on, Mommy will rely on Xiao Feng for protection."
Xiao Feng patted his chest and promised, "Please don't worry, Mommy. Xiao Feng will definitely protect you and not give Daddy a chance to get close to you."
Tao Lengshuang gave Xiao Feng a thumbs-up, praising him. She acted as if she hadn't seen Mo Lingxi's sulking face, truly worthy of being her precious son, so good to her.
The mother and son's playful banter softened Mo Lingxi's gaze. His eyes were fixed on the mother and son, ignoring the screams from outside.
About fifteen minutes later, a hidden guard came to report that the remaining masked men had escaped.
Mo Lingxi ordered a return to the city, leaving the rest to the hidden guards and soldiers.
Upon returning to the residence, Madam Sheng eagerly inquired about her biological daughter.
Tao Lengshuang knew she could no longer hide it. She dismissed the maids and servants, sighing, "Does adoptive mother ever wonder why the Tao family has been pestering Sheng Li? Sheng Li, as she is, should have driven the Tao family away, but she didn't."
Madam Sheng stood up abruptly at this, looking at Tao Lengshuang with surprise and joy. "Lengshuang, you, you are my...?"
Tao Lengshuang indicated she wasn't sure. "There's no conclusive evidence, but based on the information gathered so far, I am very likely adoptive mother's biological daughter. Back then, Zhou Wenxing swapped me to the Tao family, intending to torment adoptive mother and adoptive father in the future."
She hadn't spoken up because there was no conclusive evidence. Without proof, how could others believe her words? And even if they did, how could it be proven?
Madam Sheng covered her mouth and began to cry, filled with guilt and apology. "Lengshuang, I'm sorry. It was my fault for not protecting you. It was my fault that you suffered so much."
Just thinking of Lengshuang's experiences in the Tao family made her want to slap herself.
Why hadn't she paid more attention back then? She had noticed that the child was thin and dark right after birth, which was very unusual. But she had blamed herself for not eating well during pregnancy and had completely failed to realize the child had been swapped, causing Lengshuang to suffer so much.
Tao Lengshuang used her embroidered handkerchief to wipe away her tears and said softly, "Adoptive mother, I've never blamed you. If anyone is to blame, it's Zhou Wenxing. He did these wicked things, causing our mother and daughter to be separated for so many years."
Madam Sheng felt even more self-reproach, collapsing onto Tao Lengshuang's lap and crying, "Lengshuang, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."
Tao Lengshuang knew Madam Sheng needed to vent, so she didn't stop her, gently patting her back.
"Daddy, what are Grandma and Mommy talking about?" Xiao Feng asked his father in a small voice, his eyes wide with confusion.
Mo Lingxi didn't brush him off. He explained in a low voice, "Your Mommy is not the Tao family's real daughter. Sheng Li is. Your Grandma and Mommy are talking about this."
Xiao Feng's eyes lit up, and he excitedly exclaimed, "Really? Really, really, really? Then I'm not the Tao family's grandson either?"
Before Mo Lingxi could answer, he clapped his hands joyfully. "That's great! That's great! Xiao Feng is not the Tao family's grandson, and has nothing to do with the Tao family. The Tao family can't use this to say anything anymore."
At the end, he wrinkled his nose and snorted.
Mo Lingxi knew very well how much his son disliked the Tao family. He took the opportunity to teach him, "Xiao Feng, you must remember one thing: you are a royal descendant. The Tao family must salute you respectfully when they see you. You don't need to bother with them too much."
"If they disrespect you, you can discipline them as you please. Do you understand?"
Xiao Feng nodded obediently, his eyes rolling. He could discipline the Tao family as he pleased...
Seeing his expression, Mo Lingxi knew what mischievous thoughts were brewing in his mind, but he didn't stop him. Tao Lengshuang had said that children should be allowed to develop freely, as long as they didn't do bad things and didn't go astray.
Tao Lengshuang saw that Madam Sheng had cried enough and asked a maid to bring water for Madam Sheng to wash her face, allowing her to calm down slowly.
After washing her face, Madam Sheng finally calmed down a little, but she held onto Tao Lengshuang tightly. "No wonder I felt so close to you the first time I met you, and I always thought how wonderful it would be if you were my own daughter. Now, my wish has finally come true."
Tao Lengshuang gently patted her hand and reminded her, "Adoptive mother, there's no conclusive evidence to prove that I am your biological daughter. We shouldn't spread this matter around."
Madam Sheng chided, "I can tell at a glance that you are my biological daughter. You look exactly like your father and me. Besides, the connection between a mother and daughter is never wrong."
Tao Lengshuang put her hand to her forehead, unsure how to persuade Madam Sheng.
"Grandma."
Xiao Feng rested on Madam Sheng's lap and said in a milky voice, "Grandma, Mommy is worried about mistaking you, and also doesn't want to make you sad. So, it's best to have evidence to prove Mommy is Grandma's daughter."
Madam Sheng picked him up and sat him on her lap, kissing his cheek. "Our Xiao Feng is the smartest. This time, Grandma won't mistake you. Xiao Feng, from now on, you are Grandma's real grandson. Are you happy?"
Xiao Feng nodded heavily. "I'm very happy. Xiao Feng really, really hates the Tao family. They are so bad."
Madam Sheng's eyes showed a cold glint as she planned how to punish the Tao family. She would not let go of the suffering Lengshuang endured in the Tao family. She would definitely settle accounts with the Tao family and Zhou Wenxing.
"Lengshuang, tell me about your life from childhood to adulthood. I want to hear everything."
Tao Lengshuang could understand and softly recounted her life from childhood to adulthood. Thinking back, the original owner's vicious and lazy personality was entirely the work of Zhou Wenxing.
She just didn't understand why Zhou Wenxing hadn't revealed the matter of swapping daughters for so many years, nor why he hadn't done anything else. This didn't fit his personality or his schemes.
Madam Sheng listened, her heart breaking. Her daughter had suffered from lack of food and clothing since childhood and had to do so much work. It was all her fault.
Tao Lengshuang calmly finished recounting the original owner's life and some of her own experiences. "Adoptive mother, you don't need to feel sad for me. Actually, thinking back, it's precisely because of these experiences that I can sit here better, instead of being schemed against like Sheng Li."
Madam Sheng knew she was trying to comfort her and felt even more heartbroken. "I wish you weren't so sensible, then I could compensate you."
Tao Lengshuang had never thought of any compensation. "Adoptive mother, as long as we are happy, compensation is truly not important."
Madam Sheng knew too well that she was not a child who cared about these things. "Just because you don't care doesn't mean I won't give you anything. Originally, everything in the Sheng family belonged to you, and now I'm just giving it to you in advance."