Since Mo Lingxi had returned to his rightful position, she no longer had to worry about supplies. No matter what, he could procure various resources; it was only a matter of quantity.
Mo Lingxi: "The supplies are still not sufficient, but with the ill-gotten gains and hidden provisions from those corrupt officials, we can barely get by."
"However, we won't have new grain harvests until at least the second half of the year, and who knows how much we'll yield."
Tao Lengshuang knew nothing about farming. She was capable of treating illnesses and saving lives, but managing agriculture was beyond her. She understood too little in this area.
"What about buying from other countries?"
Mo Lingxi stated that it was not feasible. If other countries were waiting for the Eastern Jin Dynasty to descend into greater chaos, they would seize the opportunity to take a share.
"Don't worry, I will handle these matters properly and will not give other countries any opportunities to exploit."
Tao Lengshuang remained worried: "It would be great if there were a way to buy sufficient supplies."
But what method could there be to purchase sufficient supplies from other countries?
Mo Lingxi shook his head helplessly and didn't try to persuade Tao Lengshuang further. He knew he couldn't change her mind.
The two returned to the residence, preparing to visit Madam Sheng, but were intercepted by Princess Anning… or rather, Sima Min.
"Greetings to His Highness Prince Mingrui and Princess Consort Mingrui."
Sima Min, a far cry from her usual composed elegance, was now extremely haggard: "I have come today to apologize to Princess Consort Mingrui."
Prince Mingrui was truly heartless. On that very day, he had petitioned for the revocation of her title as princess, reducing her to a commoner.
She thought of her title as princess, bestowed upon her by the late emperor at birth. It represented not just status, but more importantly, honor.
Now, all of it was gone!
Tao Lengshuang gave a cold "Mm," while Mo Lingxi didn't even spare Sima Min a glance.
No matter how resentful and unwilling Sima Min was, she understood clearly that she could no longer offend this couple, or her life would become even more miserable.
"Princess Consort Mingrui, it was my fault before. Please forgive me. I promise I will not do these things again in the future."
Tao Lengshuang didn't believe she would change so easily but didn't expose her: "It is good that Miss Sima has this intention. I will forgive you this time."
Sima Min forcefully pinched her palm, forcing herself to calm down: "Thank you, Princess Consort Mingrui. I will never make such a mistake again."
Tao Lengshuang nodded, then quickly entered the residence with Mo Lingxi, both eager to check on Madam Sheng's condition.
Sima Min stared gloomily at Tao Lengshuang's retreating back, unable to accept that a village girl had stepped all over her.
She recalled growing up pampered, enjoying the highest nobility among the daughters of noble families, all thanks to her title as princess.
But all of this had been ruined by Tao Lengshuang.
She had now become a laughingstock in their circles, with everyone mocking her for deserving to lose her title as princess.
But the truth was not so. It was Tao Lengshuang who had designed to snatch her Prince Mingrui, monopolized everything that belonged to her, and instigated Prince Mingrui to revoke her title.
She would settle all these scores with Tao Lengshuang.
Meanwhile, Tao Lengshuang and Mo Lingxi arrived at Madam Sheng's courtyard. From a maid, they learned that Madam Sheng had just finished crying and was in a very low mood.
"Mother, please don't be sad." Tao Lengshuang knew exactly why Madam Sheng was sad: "Perhaps we can think of it positively. Zhou Wenxing doing all this might not just be to obtain Mother, but more to inflict pain on Father and Mother."
Madam Sheng dabbed the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, lamenting sadly: "I understand all of this, but whenever I think of my daughter, whether she is alive or dead, perhaps living precariously, I feel immense self-reproach."
"You say, if I had been more careful, more vigilant back then, none of this would have happened."
Tao Lengshuang massaged her, patiently comforting her, and asked Xiao Feng to amuse his grandmother.
Finally, they managed to lift Madam Sheng's spirits a bit: "Lengshuang, sometimes I think, how wonderful it would be if you were my own daughter."
She sighed: "To be honest, even if I found my biological daughter, we might not be able to acknowledge each other. First, I'd have to see how she's living, and second, I'd have to prove she is my biological daughter. There are still so many things to handle afterward."
Not to mention, finding her biological daughter would not be an easy task.
It was precisely because Tao Lengshuang understood these things that she didn't mention that she might be Madam Sheng's biological daughter. Without concrete evidence, it was highly possible that Zhou Wenxing and others would exploit and scheme against her.
"Mother, I think Zhou Wenxing will tell you. After the significant events of today, he will want to obtain you as soon as possible. Let's wait and see."
Hearing this, Madam Sheng's eyes turned red with hatred: "When my biological daughter is found and all matters are clarified, I will slowly settle this score with Zhou Wenxing."
If not for Zhou Wenxing, none of this would have happened. That man had ruined her family, ruined her life, and harmed her daughter.
Tao Lengshuang took the opportunity to talk about dealing with Zhou Wenxing, wanting to divert Madam Sheng's attention and prevent her from dwelling on her daughter's matters.
About an hour later, Tao Lengshuang remembered the farming: "Mother, do you have any fertile land? I want to transplant the sweet potatoes in my room into the ground to see if they can survive."
Madam Sheng, having come from a prominent family, had a dowry of "ten miles of red dowry" back then. Moreover, General Sheng had entrusted the entire Sheng family to her management, so she possessed quite a few valuable assets.
"I have quite a bit, all for you."
Tao Lengshuang waved her hand, indicating she didn't need that much, and asked for just one plot: "I only have a small amount of sweet potatoes; having more land would be useless."
Madam Sheng gave her the land deeds: "It's of no use to me. Take it for your own security. A woman should always have some assets to rely on."
"Mother, my family's wealth belongs to Tao Lengshuang. Is she afraid of not having anything to rely on?" Mo Lingxi, unable to remain silent any longer, said.
Madam Sheng chided him: "How is that the same? To put it bluntly, even if you give all of yours to Lengshuang, if you were to divorce in the future, she wouldn't be able to take these assets with her."
Tao Lengshuang nodded in agreement: "I do need to have some assets of my own."
Once the pharmacy had surplus funds, she would gradually acquire some properties, so she wouldn't have to fear anything in the future.
No matter how unwilling Mo Lingxi was to hear this, he understood Tao Lengshuang's concerns: "My assets are given to you. Even if something happens in the future, I won't take them back. You can accept them with peace of mind."
Tao Lengshuang politely declined: "I cannot accept this; it is not mine after all."
Seeing Madam Sheng shake her head at him, Mo Lingxi didn't force Tao Lengshuang: "Then let it be kept with you; you will have to manage it anyway."
Tao Lengshuang truly didn't want to manage these assets. Firstly, it was too tiring and time-consuming; secondly, once she took over, she wouldn't be able to let go.
"Besides, I am busy with the pharmacy matters now and don't have much time to manage your assets."
Mo Lingxi: "…This is also your property, meant to be left to Xiao Feng in the future."
Xiao Feng: "!!" I don't want it!