Both the Xiyue Dynasty and the Southern Jin Dynasty were not fools; neither would fall for Lord Zhao's trick. Envoys from both sides remained silent, either drinking tea or looking around.
Lord Zhao was somewhat annoyed that the envoys from both sides were not giving him face, but he knew what was most important: "Everyone, this is a great opportunity. Won't you try it?"
The old man waved his hand and said with a smile, "Lord Zhao, please do not count our Xiyue Dynasty in such a good thing. Our Xiyue Dynasty has never intended to do anything it shouldn't, nor to be enemies with the Eastern Jin Dynasty."
The envoy from the Southern Jin Dynasty felt the same way. He turned and started chatting with the old man, showing no intention of paying any more attention to Lord Zhao.
Lord Zhao snorted heavily, "The Southern Jin Dynasty should not forget that the Eastern Jin Dynasty has already obtained sweet potatoes. If the Southern Jin Dynasty does nothing, these sweet potatoes will not be exclusive to the Southern Jin Dynasty."
The envoy from the Southern Jin Dynasty chuckled, "This is not for Lord Zhao to worry about. My Emperor will make his own decision on this matter."
Lord Zhao knew it wouldn't be that simple to make the Xiyue and Southern Jin Dynasties serve him. He continued to instigate the envoys of the two countries. Only when these two countries made a move could the Northern Yuan Dynasty act as the hunter and gain the greatest benefit.
How could the Xiyue and Southern Jin Dynasties not know Lord Zhao's intentions and schemes? The envoys of both countries also wanted to use each other to achieve their goals, and they even planned to use each other to deal with Mo Lingxi, thus creating an opportunity to attack the Eastern Jin Dynasty.
At the same time.
The Ministry of Justice Prison.
Mo Lingxi sat in a chair, his gaze coldly sweeping over Sima Min on the rack, "You still refuse to confess?"
Sima Min had endured torture for several days, with no part of her body intact. She said weakly, "Your Highness Prince Mingrui, I truly do not know where Miss Sheng has gone, and that day's events have nothing to do with me."
Mo Lingxi raised an eyelid.
A jailer stepped forward with a branding iron and fiercely pressed it onto Sima Min's face.
"Ah!" The heart-wrenching pain caused Sima Min to faint.
But she was awakened by a basin of cold water.
"Sima Min, my patience is limited," Mo Lingxi said coldly.
Sima Min was extremely weak, "Your Highness Prince Mingrui, I, I really don't know, what do you want me to say?"
Upon hearing this, Mo Lingxi glanced at the jailer.
Following this, more torture ensued.
But Sima Min repeated the same words, insisting that the kidnapping of Sheng Lengshuang had nothing to do with her.
Seeing this, Mo Lingxi ordered the jailer to take good care of Sima Min and then left the Ministry of Justice.
As soon as he exited the Ministry of Justice, a constable approached him.
"Reporting to Your Highness Prince Mingrui, Sima Min's maid has confessed."
Mo Lingxi went to another cell and met Sima Min's maid.
"What did Sima Min do?" he asked.
The maid hurriedly said, "My lady, she, my lady was jealous that Miss Sheng snatched the position of Princess Mingrui that should have belonged to her. She has been secretly targeting and plotting against Miss Sheng, and spreading bad rumors about her everywhere."
"In order to deal with Miss Sheng, my lady sought out Lord Cheng, stating that as long as Lord Cheng agreed to be engaged to her, she would do her utmost to help Lord Cheng."
Upon hearing this, Mo Lingxi thought of a crucial question, "Why seek Cheng Han's help?"
The maid trembled, "The maid does not know the specifics, but she only heard my lady say once that Lord Cheng was once the son-in-law of the Sheng family."
Mo Lingxi understood. At that time, Cheng Han, as the son-in-law of the Sheng family, had received no small amount of care from the Sheng family. Now, the Sheng family not only enjoyed imperial favor but also lived increasingly better lives, yet Cheng Han could not enjoy it. Perhaps he felt unbalanced.
Therefore, when Sima Min approached Cheng Han, Cheng Han agreed to be engaged to her.
The maid continued to confess that Sima Min originally intended to scheme against Sheng Lengshuang at her engagement banquet, making her appear promiscuous. Only then would she be abandoned by Mo Lingxi.
Originally, Sima Min planned to tamper with the food and drinks. Who knew that Sheng Lengshuang would not play by the rules and wanted to leave shortly after arriving.
To ensure the plan proceeded smoothly, Sima Min used the excuse of leading the way, intending to scheme against Sheng Lengshuang halfway.
To save her own life, the maid also confessed how Sima Min had schemed against the Prince's concubines and illegitimate children over the years, as well as how Sima Min had plotted against other young ladies.
Each and every deed was detestable.
Mo Lingxi asked, "Is Sima Min involved in the kidnapping of Sheng Lengshuang?"
The maid was unsure, "My lady does not tell me many things. My lady fears that I might betray her, so most matters are handled by secret guards, or she handles them herself."
Mo Lingxi still suspected that the kidnapping was related to Sima Min. The appearance of Zhou Wenxing and others was too coincidental. The key was that Zhou Wenxing and others could so smoothly kidnap Sheng Lengshuang. It seemed suspicious no matter how one looked at it.
He ordered the jailer to continue interrogating the maid and then left the prison.
Looking up at the overcast sky, Mo Lingxi couldn't help but sigh, his eyes filled with worry and anxiety. He didn't know how Sheng Lengshuang was doing now, or if she was suffering.
...
In a certain village, Sheng Lengshuang had been in a deep sleep due to the effects of the medicine.
Unbeknownst to her, Zhou Wenxing and others gathered by her bedside again.
"I want to take Sheng Lengshuang away," Zhou Wenxing said impatiently. "I can't wait any longer. I must quickly get Madam Qi back and not let her suffer any more."
The woman in the veiled hat stopped him, displeased, "Zhou Wenxing, you'd better understand one thing. Without our master's help, your desire to get Madam Qi back is simply wishful thinking."
"Now, if you dare to disobey, do you think you can achieve your wish without our master?"
Zhou Wenxing clenched his fists, making cracking sounds, and said sinisterly, "I can't wait any longer!"
The woman in the veiled hat softened her tone, "Wait a little longer. Soon, you will not only get Madam Qi back, but you will also deal with General Sheng and his daughter, and even gain great fame."
Zhou Wenxing was not a fool and did not easily believe this person's words. However, he knew too well that if he truly opposed them, the consequences would be severe.
"Then tell me, what should we do now?"
The woman in the veiled hat glanced at the unconscious Sheng Lengshuang, "Originally, I thought of controlling Sheng Lengshuang with medicine, making her a villager here. That would have been a great blow to General Sheng and Prince Mingrui."
"But I didn't expect that Sheng Lengshuang would not be completely affected by this pill, and these complications would arise."
If she hadn't discovered it in time and used medicine to knock Sheng Lengshuang unconscious, it might have ruined the master's great plan.
Zhou Wenxing was impatient to hear this, "Just tell me what to do?"
"Oh, I think it would be better to give Sheng Lengshuang to a few of us to play with!" a burly, lewd man said, reaching out towards Sheng Lengshuang.
He was kicked flying by the woman in the veiled hat, who said angrily, "Our master has not given the order. If you dare to act recklessly, do you believe our master will kill you?"
The burly man thought of the master's methods and retreated to the side with a pale face. How could he dare to touch the master's Sheng Lengshuang? In the face of his own life, beauty was too unimportant.