"Wife, what's wrong with you?" Mo Lingxi's heart filled with panic and unease. "Did I do something wrong? Tell me."
Sheng Lengshuang took a deep breath, as if to exhale all the anger in her heart. "Mo Lingxi, have you ever realized how scummy you are? You're eating from your own bowl while eyeing what's in others', even what's in strangers' bowls."
A question mark slowly appeared above Mo Lingxi's head. "Wife, what do you mean by that?"
Sheng Lengshuang felt utterly exhausted, weariness and fatigue etched in her eyes. "I'm tired, I'm truly tired."
She disliked this life. She longed for a simple existence, free from the daily dealings with schemes, plots, and deceit.
Mo Lingxi could see her exhaustion. He crouched before her. "Wife, I will handle all these matters. You don't need to worry anymore."
Sheng Lengshuang looked at this man, whose sincerity touched her heart, and a sense of powerlessness washed over her. Her eyes began to sting.
In that moment, she desperately wanted to burst into tears.
But she held back.
She tilted her head back for a moment, forcing back her tears and heartache.
"Mo Lingxi."
She looked at Mo Lingxi seriously, trying her best to remain calm. "A true divorce is the only solution. Don't talk to me about a fake divorce, using your position as Princess to incite conflict between nations."
"You know better than I do that this isn't guaranteed to succeed. It's possible the nations might join forces, and the fake divorce could be exposed."
It wasn't that she was being overly sensitive; it was that she couldn't place her family in danger, turning them into targets.
Mo Lingxi had considered all the possibilities and potential problems. "Wife, trust me. I will resolve this properly this time."
Sheng Lengshuang smiled again, but it was a smile tinged with bitterness and pain. "Forget it, forget it. Why am I even telling you this? You'll never understand."
Mo Lingxi's bad premonition grew stronger. "Wife, let's talk about whatever it is. Don't be like this."
Sheng Lengshuang wanted to lose her temper, but she restrained herself. "Talk about it? Mo Lingxi, I'll ask you one thing: when you and the Crown Prince thought of the fake divorce plan, where did you place me? What do you consider me to be?"
"My wife, the only wife in this lifetime!" Mo Lingxi replied without hesitation.
The word "wife" struck Sheng Lengshuang as deeply ironic. "Wife? Do you even treat me as your wife? Mo Lingxi, I don't understand if you truly like me, or if you're just interested in me out of novelty."
"Are you truly not understanding, or are you pretending to be confused? A fake divorce, using your position as Princess to stir up conflict between nations. After the nations are in conflict, what then? Will Dong Jin seize the opportunity to eliminate them one by one? Or will the nations regroup and attack Dong Jin together?
If war truly breaks out, what will my position be? And will you marry princesses from other nations to protect Dong Jin?"
Now Mo Lingxi understood the crux of the problem. He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word. Yes, just as his wife said, he had no absolute certainty that he could alienate the nations, nor could he cope with them joining forces.
If war were to break out, to protect Dong Jin and the peace of its people, he might indeed have to marry princesses from other countries. In that case, where would that leave his wife?
Realizing this, Mo Lingxi also understood why Zicheng had told him that this plan would cause Sheng Lengshuang great harm, that she would definitely not agree, and that he should consider it more carefully.
He had only focused on not divorcing her, not separating from his wife, without truly thinking through these consequences, nor truly considering her. He had even said such hurtful words to her.
"I'm sorry, wife. I shouldn't have said these things to you."
Sheng Lengshuang's reply was a second divorce letter. "Prince Mingrui, please take this. No matter what you do, when faced with the calculations of several nations, there is only one path for us: divorce.
Mo Lingxi did not take it, looking at the divorce letter with intense hatred. "Wife, can you give me some more time? If I can resolve this matter, we won't divorce. If I can't..."
Sheng Lengshuang shoved the divorce letter into his arms, her calmness terrifying. "If it were you, would you give up the opportunity to annex other countries? You know better than I do how difficult this is to resolve, so why give me false hope?"
Mo Lingxi lowered his eyes, gazing at the divorce letter, his heart aching with every beat. He knew better than anyone that with Dong Jin surrounded by enemies, the other nations would not let go of this prize.
The nations pressuring him for a marriage alliance was the gentlest method. Once the alliance faltered, the nations would have an excuse to wage war.
If war broke out, and he was still entangled with his wife, she would become the target of everyone's attacks.
Sheng Lengshuang's heart also felt heavy. She forced a smile. "Mo Lingxi, let's part amicably."
As she said this, she gave a self-deprecating laugh. "I was the one who forced you to marry me back then. Now, being forced to divorce you, I suppose it's my own doing."
Recalling the past, it truly felt like a lifetime ago.
Mo Lingxi clutched the divorce letter tightly, his gaze filled with pain as he looked at her. "Wife, if I resolve these matters, can we be together again?"
Sheng Lengshuang couldn't answer this. She sat back in her chair, powerless. "I don't know. I really don't know. Please don't ask me anymore."
Mo Lingxi couldn't bear to pressure her, nor could he bear to truly part with her. "Wife, I hope you can trust me one more time. I will definitely resolve everything."
Sheng Lengshuang slowly shook her head and sighed. "Do you have confidence in defeating the other nations?"
Mo Lingxi fell silent once more.
Sheng Lengshuang's mouth was filled with bitterness. She pinched her tired brow and instructed the maids and servants to help Mo Lingxi pack his belongings.
"Prince Mingrui, your focus should be on dealing with the other nations now. It's not too late to discuss other matters after the nations are dealt with."
Mo Lingxi knew this as well. He took Sheng Lengshuang's hand and said softly, "Can you promise me you'll wait for me?"
Sheng Lengshuang was rational and calm. She shook her head and refused. "I'm sorry, I won't stay put for you. This sounds selfish, but you are even more selfish."
"If one day, for the sake of Dong Jin or to stop the war, you marry a princess from another nation, what position will I be in?"
Mo Lingxi knew he was selfish, but the mere thought of his wife marrying another man made him want to go mad.
"I..."
Sheng Lengshuang covered his mouth. "Prince Mingrui, you should return to your princely manor soon. You have more important matters to attend to. Don't let romantic entanglements delay important affairs. Think more about the country and the common people."
With that, she returned to the inner chambers.
Mo Lingxi wanted to follow her, but he stood rooted to the spot, his eyes sadly watching Sheng Lengshuang's retreating figure. He was the one who had hurt his wife.
Just as Mo Lingxi left, Madam Sheng arrived with Xiao Feng.
"Lengshuang..."
Upon seeing Sheng Lengshuang's slightly pale face and tired appearance, Madam Sheng understood everything. "Lengshuang, let's go find your father."