Mo Lingxi shook her head, indicating she didn't recognize him, assuming it wasn't someone she knew.
Tao Lengshuang stared at the man in the veiled hat, wanting to see what he would do and if he was connected to the Black Hand.
The veiled man, unaware of Tao Lengshuang and Mo Lingxi standing in the alley, squatted before Luo Yang with an arrogant demeanor. "Luo Yang, how can I even speak of you?"
"Master arranged everything for you, and you successfully gained control of the Zhou family as you wished, yet you still failed. You are truly a useless piece of trash!"
Luo Yang felt both hatred and anger, but she dared not show it, instead pleading with the man before her. "Please, help me again. Please."
"It's those people in the Zhou family who are too detestable. They joined forces to drive me out. It's really not my fault."
The veiled man sneered with disgust in his eyes. "How many of the tasks Master assigned you have you completed? You were too busy enjoying yourself and even dared to disobey Master's orders. This is the consequence."
He stood up and stepped on Luo Yang's face with his foot. "Luo Yang, you need to understand one thing: without Master helping you, you are nothing but a lowly, unsophisticated creature. Don't even think about having a good life one day."
After this incident, Luo Yang deeply realized this point. Without that person's help, let alone controlling the Zhou family, she wouldn't even be able to establish a foothold in the Zhou family, much less live a life of honor and prosperity.
"I was wrong, I was wrong. I truly know I was wrong. I promise it won't happen again. Please help me again."
At that time, she thought that once she controlled the Zhou family, she wouldn't have to obey that person's orders anymore and could enjoy a lifetime of honor and prosperity. But reality had slapped her hard.
The veiled man was satisfied with her attitude, his posture as arrogant as could be. "Luo Yang, this is your last chance. If you make another mistake, Master will not help you again. You know what your fate will be then, I don't need to tell you."
Luo Yang nodded repeatedly, indicating she wouldn't dare. Before becoming the Princess Consort of Mingrui, she wouldn't dare do anything else.
"Can you help me return to the Zhou family now? I want to reclaim everything that is mine."
The veiled man told her not to rush. "Stay outside for a few days. I have something to arrange for you during these days. Once you complete this task, I will let you return to the Zhou family. If you fail to do it well..."
Luo Yang repeatedly assured him that she would complete the task. Once it was done, she could return to the Zhou family, and then she would see how she would deal with all those bitches.
The veiled man leaned close to her ear and whispered the instructions. "This must be done quickly, understand?"
Luo Yang replied, "I will handle it, don't worry."
After a few more instructions, the veiled man left.
Seeing him leave, Mo Lingxi immediately ordered his hidden guards to follow him stealthily. He also instructed them to keep a close watch on Luo Yang before returning to the residence with Tao Lengshuang.
"I don't understand why the Black Hand would help Luo Yang repeatedly," Tao Lengshuang pondered, unable to figure it out. "The Black Hand even went to such lengths to help Luo Yang gain control of the Zhou family. With that much effort and energy, couldn't they find many more subordinates?"
Mo Lingxi was also thinking about it, and he couldn't understand it either. "Yes, the Black Hand's actions are very strange. If they wanted to use Luo Yang to deal with us, it doesn't quite make sense."
"Luo Yang's abilities are not great, so it's basically impossible for her to deal with us. Yet, the Black Hand went to great lengths to help Luo Yang, as if Luo Yang has significant value to this person."
After discussing for a long time, they couldn't figure out why the Black Hand was helping Luo Yang, only that the Black Hand was helping Luo Yang with a purpose.
"Now, we can only follow the clues of Luo Yang and the veiled man and see if we can find any useful leads," Tao Lengshuang said with a frown.
Mo Lingxi nodded. "Since the Black Hand has assigned tasks to Luo Yang, we just need to keep an eye on her."
Tao Lengshuang rubbed her chin, continuing to ponder the matter, feeling that she had overlooked something.
As she was thinking, she heard Mo Lingxi's words and looked at him with surprise and joy.
"In a few days, Princess Nanning will become Zicheng's secondary consort."
Mo Lingxi's shoulders relaxed, and a faint smile curved his lips. "After all my planning, I can finally resolve this matter."
Tao Lengshuang wasn't entirely surprised, but rather delighted. Her slightly raised voice carried joy. "Have you truly arranged it? Wouldn't it be a bit unfair to push it onto Zicheng?"
Mo Lingxi replied that it was fine. "As a princess married for political alliance, if she were to be given to another prince, the Northern Yuan dynasty would be displeased. However, Zicheng is about to ascend the throne, and Princess Nanning will at least be one of the four consorts in the future, which is much more advantageous than being my primary wife."
"Moreover, as the ruler of a nation, Zicheng should balance the various situations."
Tao Lengshuang's mouth twitched upon hearing this. For a moment, she didn't know whether to pity Zicheng or call Mo Lingxi shameless. "...He's your nephew, after all. You should be a little gentler when you scheme against him. If you anger him and he retaliates, what will you do?"
Mo Lingxi said indifferently, "He wouldn't dare."
Tao Lengshuang fell silent upon hearing this. That was true; Zicheng greatly feared his uncle, Mo Lingxi, a respectful kind of fear.
Mo Lingxi continued, "In the future, if there are any more princesses for political alliances, or if anyone suggests I take concubines, let Zicheng handle all of them. As the Emperor, he must have a harem of three thousand."
Tao Lengshuang felt even more pity for Zicheng, looking at Mo Lingxi speechlessly. "Zicheng has an uncle like you; he's truly had eight lifetimes of bad luck. I'm telling you, scheme against Zicheng less. Be careful he doesn't turn around and scheme against Xiao Feng."
Mo Lingxi shrugged. "That's a matter between brothers. We elders don't interfere. Besides, if Xiao Feng is truly tricked by Zicheng, it only means Xiao Feng isn't shrewd enough."
Tao Lengshuang put her hand to her forehead, feeling that Mo Lingxi was a very irresponsible father and elder. Looking at what he had done, it was enough to drive someone mad.
"Lengshuang, Prince Mingrui, you are both here," Madam Sheng said, walking over with a smile. She said to Tao Lengshuang, "Tomorrow is the banquet. Come with me quickly to try on those clothes and jewelry. Let's see if there's anything else we need to prepare."
Tao Lengshuang said goodbye to Mo Lingxi and followed Madam Sheng.
Upon entering the room, she saw Xiao Feng looking at the piles of jewelry with great interest, appearing like a little money-grubber, which was incredibly cute.
"Mother!" Xiao Feng hugged Tao Lengshuang's leg and looked up at her with a giggle. "Mother, there are so many pieces of jewelry here. They can be sold for so much silver."
There were so many that he couldn't even count them.
Tao Lengshuang found it both amusing and helpless. She lightly tapped Xiao Feng's forehead. "You child, why are you so focused on money?"
Xiao Feng retorted righteously, humming. "With lots and lots of silver, I can support Mother and Grandmother."
"Not Father?" Mo Lingxi asked teasingly, entering with a wooden box.
Xiao Feng shook his head. "Father has his own large restaurants, so he doesn't need me to support him. I only hope Father doesn't take other women."