On the surface, the Tao family appeared healthy, but in reality, their health was precarious, with lives hanging by a thread at any moment.
Upon hearing this, the Tao family members, some kneeling, some prostrating themselves, begged Tao Lengshuang to save their lives.
Tao Lengshuang directly closed the main door, then returned indoors with Mo Lingxi to continue discussing how to deal with the Black Hand.
After their discussion concluded and they were about to rest, Tao Lengshuang finally discovered something amiss, staring at Mo Lingxi with disbelief.
"You're so despicable!" She hadn't even realized when she had been brought here. Originally, she had been sleeping with Xiao Feng.
Mo Lingxi, without a blush or a skipped heartbeat, calmly replied, "Look at how you're speaking. You were the one who pulled me back, so how can you blame me?"
Tao Lengshuang didn't want to say more to him and moved to return to Xiao Feng's room.
However, Mo Lingxi stopped her, stating righteously, "At this hour, Xiao Feng is already asleep. And it's the dead of winter. You're carrying a chill, which could easily give Xiao Feng a cold."
Looking at his expression, Tao Lengshuang's worldview was shaken, and she gained a new understanding of him: "You truly have the nerve to say such things. I'm embarrassed just hearing you."
Mo Lingxi, unfazed, made the bed and patted it. "You sleep inside, and I'll sleep outside. I promise I won't do anything I shouldn't."
Tao Lengshuang swiftly produced a large handful of medicinal powder and smiled coldly, "If you dare to do anything you shouldn't, you know the consequences."
With that, she only took off her outer garment, wrapped herself in a quilt, and slept on the inside, her back facing Mo Lingxi.
Mo Lingxi sighed inwardly and took out another quilt. At least they were sleeping on the same bed, which he considered progress.
He glanced at Tao Lengshuang, who remained still, guessing she wasn't asleep. He wasn't sure what else to say.
He understood and accepted Tao Lengshuang's concerns and choices, but he truly didn't want to let go.
He hadn't figured out why he didn't want to let go, but he believed he would eventually.
He looked at the half-palm distance between them. It was such a small space, yet he couldn't get closer.
This distance was like a chasm, constantly reminding him of the obstacles between him and Tao Lengshuang.
This feeling was quite unpleasant.
Tao Lengshuang could feel Mo Lingxi's gaze and tried her best to ignore it, forcing herself to sleep. However, her mind was a mess.
Even though they had shared a bed before, her state of mind this time was very different. She couldn't quite articulate how she felt, but she couldn't fall asleep peacefully.
It was ridiculous!
Both of them had their own thoughts, and neither fell asleep quickly.
It wasn't until close to dawn that they both finally drifted off to sleep, consequently waking up late the next day.
Tao Lengshuang saw the teasing smiles of Aunt Shen Er and the others, her lips twitching. She had to admit that human nature was gossipy, regardless of the era.
Nothing had happened between her and Mo Lingxi last night, yet Aunt Shen Er and the others had already concocted so many scenarios. If something had actually happened, it would have been unimaginable.
"Aunt Shen Er, did you take a walk around the village?" Seeing Xiao Feng and his friends playing at the entrance of the main hall, her gaze softened.
Aunt Shen Er and the others said they had gone for a walk in the village early that morning.
"There are fewer and fewer people in the village now, but many have come from other villages, some from the neighboring ones. It's said they were robbed of their belongings and food by refugees and couldn't survive."
"Oh, and I heard from people who drifted over from other villages that ordinary people can no longer enter Dongdu or Hehua Town, nor can they buy anything. Even people from Dongdu and Hehua Town can't buy anything."
"Fortunately, we've stocked up on some food and drink, so we won't starve to death this winter. I'm just worried that with so many outsiders coming, there might be trouble again."
Tao Lengshuang frowned as she listened, her heart feeling heavy. Before, she could still buy some supplies, but now, not even a single item could be purchased.
Although she had stocked up on plenty of supplies, the situation was so dire, and she didn't know how long it would last. Her current supplies might not be enough.
She needed to stock up on more supplies.
"Tao Lengshuang."
Hearing Mo Lingxi call her, Tao Lengshuang walked over, exhaling wisps of cold air. "What is it?"
Mo Lingxi said he was going out and asked Tao Lengshuang to keep a close watch on herself and Xiao Feng at home, and to have the hidden guards inform him if anything happened.
"I've prepared some things for you. They should arrive this afternoon. See if you like them."
Tao Lengshuang was somewhat surprised and delighted. "Why are you giving me things out of the blue?"
Mo Lingxi gazed at her with gentle eyes. "I promised to do things to show my intentions. Alright, I'm in a hurry and need to leave now."
He then lowered his voice, "If you plan to visit General Sheng and his wife, bring more hidden guards and inform me beforehand, understand?"
Tao Lengshuang knew the gravity of the situation and agreed, her heart filled with anticipation for the things Mo Lingxi had prepared.
She gave Mo Lingxi some instructions and watched him leave with Xiao Feng. Then, she was about to help Aunt Shen Er and the others tidy up for the New Year when she saw a hidden guard land before her.
Tao Lengshuang told Xiao Feng to go play while she spoke with the hidden guard in the kitchen.
"Doctor, that maid went straight to the Sheng residence. She entered the Sheng residence through the back door..."
According to the hidden guard, after the Tao family left, the maid immediately took a carriage to Dongdu, went directly through the back door of the Sheng residence, then proceeded to Sheng Li's courtyard and never came out again.
Tao Lengshuang said, "You've worked hard." Her eyes flickered with coldness. She had to admit that the Black Hand was very capable, even managing to place spies in General Sheng's new home.
It was also possible that this matter was indeed inseparable from Sheng Li.
She wandered around the kitchen, contemplating how to teach the Black Hand a lesson through Sheng Li. Sheng Li should be meeting with the Black Hand or its subordinates from time to time.
So, how could she teach the Black Hand a lesson through Sheng Li?
After thinking for a long time, she couldn't come up with a good plan. She decided to go to the main hall, then suddenly remembered she hadn't checked on her spatial medicine garden for two days.
"Perhaps the area of the spatial medicine garden has increased again."
Muttering to herself, she checked the status of the spatial medicine garden and prepared to harvest some medicinal herbs, planning to ask Mo Lingxi to help sell them when he returned, and then buy more supplies.
However, she unexpectedly discovered something. Her eyes widened in astonishment and ecstatic joy.
My goodness, there was an entire plot of sweet potatoes in the spatial medicine garden!
She rubbed her eyes, rubbed them again, even took out a sweet potato, squeezed it hard, and even took a small bite. She was certain it was a sweet potato and felt incredibly excited.
Sweet potatoes!
So, the spatial medicine garden not only produced various medicinal herbs but also farm crops!
Heaven itself was helping her!
With the sweet potato seeds and this plot of sweet potatoes, she no longer had to worry about food and drink.
After the ecstatic joy came worry, and the worry gradually calmed her down, and she placed the sweet potatoes back into the spatial medicine garden.