Mo Lingxi carefully wrapped the remaining sweet potatoes, intending to show them to Zicheng and discuss how to plant them. They needed to find a suitable and secure location.
"Alright, you handle this as you see fit," Mo Lingxi said.
Seeing his troubled expression, Tao Lengshuang guessed his thoughts. "Why don't you plant these sweet potatoes in the mountains? Preferably in a place rarely visited by people, or perhaps in one of your secluded villas. In these times, it's not safe to plant anywhere."
The outside world was chaotic. Without self-protection or sufficient means, not only would the crops be stolen, but even household belongings and family members could be plundered by refugees.
Mo Lingxi pondered for a moment. "I'll discuss it with Zicheng and then decide where to plant them."
He gently stroked Tao Lengshuang's hair, his eyes warm. "You've made a great contribution this time. Is there anything you desire?"
Tao Lengshuang shook her head, indicating she had no specific desires. What she longed for was a stable life, free from the constant worry of her life being in peril.
Mo Lingxi understood what Tao Lengshuang wanted most, but he couldn't make any promises. He had no idea when life would improve.
"Let's not talk about that. By the way, have you found out where Old Man Luo and his family are hiding? And what about the Sheng family's affairs, do you have any leads?" Tao Lengshuang asked.
Mo Lingxi hadn't found anything yet and apologized. "I'm sorry, I haven't found any useful clues."
Tao Lengshuang knew it wouldn't be easy to investigate these matters. In such a vast area with no definite direction, how could they find where Old Man Luo and his family were hiding?
The Sheng family's affairs were even more difficult to investigate. Even if she could prove she was indeed a daughter of the Sheng family, how would she prove it? Blood relation tests were not permitted.
"However, I have found something useful regarding Sheng Li and the Black Hand," Mo Lingxi said.
Tao Lengshuang's interest was piqued. "Tell me about it."
Mo Lingxi elaborated, "I've found clues about Ajin's subordinates. I discovered they were hired by two different people at different times, but most of them were trained assassins."
Tao Lengshuang understood. "You mean someone... perhaps the Black Hand, or someone else, trained these assassins and then deliberately hired them through a proxy, to avoid detection?"
Mo Lingxi nodded in agreement. He mentioned that he had already arranged for people to follow these two leads and investigate further. He also said that Sheng Li was investigating the Black Hand and seeking a doctor to detoxify herself, but she intended to use the Black Hand to scheme against General Sheng and his wife.
Tao Lengshuang was not surprised by Sheng Li's actions, knowing very well that this woman was extremely selfish.
"General Sheng and his wife are recuperating at the villa, and the Emperor has assigned guards to watch over them. Sheng Li shouldn't be able to succeed so easily, right?"
Mo Lingxi knew her concerns and reassured her, "Don't worry, I've arranged for people to protect General Sheng and his wife. There won't be any problems."
Tao Lengshuang was still worried and rubbed her temples in frustration. "I wish all these matters could be resolved sooner. I wonder who it is that keeps scheming against General Sheng."
Seeing her in a bad mood, Mo Lingxi spent a long time comforting her until her spirits lifted slightly.
Afterward, the two of them busied themselves with preparations for the New Year.
Time flew by, and it was the day before the New Year.
On New Year's Eve.
Two tables were set up in the main hall: one for those who drank alcohol and one for those who didn't. The tables were not divided by gender, and the dishes on both were the same.
Looking at the two meat dishes on the table, Aunt Shen and the others could only swallow their saliva. However, they were determined to eat only a small portion. This was meat from the Mo family, and they couldn't eat too much.
"It's New Year's Eve. I wish us peace and safety in the coming year, enough to eat and wear, and no worries," Tao Lengshuang raised her wine glass, smiling.
Mo Lingxi and the others raised their wine glasses or soup bowls, all in high spirits.
"We don't ask for prosperity in the coming year, only for peace and safety, and enough to eat and wear."
"As for me, I pray for my son's safe return. I wonder when the royal villa will be completed."
"It should be soon. As long as our children can return safely, I expect nothing else."
Tao Lengshuang said, "Yes, yes. On New Year's Eve, we must say good things and not bad things, as they will carry over into the new year."
Aunt Shen and the others quickly spat outside, repeatedly calling it nonsense and refusing to say anything unpleasant.
"Eat up. If we eat our fill tonight, we will have enough to eat every meal next year," Tao Lengshuang picked up her chopsticks, and only then did the others begin to eat.
The children quickly grabbed pieces of meat, wanting to take more, but they were stopped by Aunt Shen and the others. Only Xiao Feng could eat more.
Tao Lengshuang smiled upon seeing this. "Aunt Shen, you all eat. I've prepared plenty. It's the New Year, and we must eat well and be full."
Aunt Shen and the others were still reluctant to take meat dishes, repeatedly saying they had enough. Even in better times, eating meat was a luxury, let alone in the current difficult circumstances.
Tao Lengshuang, helpless, used serving chopsticks to put plenty of meat on Aunt Shen and the others' plates. "Don't be so reserved. This meat is meant to be eaten. Let's have a good New Year, and the days will be better next year."
Aunt Shen and the others couldn't refuse and thanked her with tears of gratitude, their gratitude for Tao Lengshuang's family deepening.
The group happily ate the sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner, unaware that someone was rushing towards them.
After Tao Lengshuang and the others finished their meal and cleared the table, they sat in the main hall, chatting and staying up to welcome the New Year.
"In previous years, the village was very lively during the New Year. This year, it's so quiet, it doesn't feel like the New Year at all."
"Yes, there were no firecrackers at all this year. In previous years, the sound of firecrackers was continuous from morning until the next day, and many children were playing."
"Now, I just hope for better days next year, and that the world will no longer be so chaotic."
Just as Tao Lengshuang was about to speak, she heard a knock on the door. She opened it to see a dark guard and asked, "Is something wrong?"
The dark guard glanced at Mo Lingxi and said to Tao Lengshuang, "Doctor, we are looking for our master."
Tao Lengshuang said, "Oh," and let Mo Lingxi go attend to his matters while she returned to her seat to continue chatting.
Mo Lingxi returned to his room with the dark guard, and another dust-covered dark guard entered.
"Master."
The dark guard knelt on one knee, lowering his head slightly. "Reporting to Master, His Majesty... has decreed a marriage!"
Mo Lingxi's eyes narrowed, his voice betraying no emotion. "With whom is the marriage decreed for me?"
"The marriage is decreed for you and Princess Anning, and you are ordered to complete the wedding within a month."
"Did something happen on Prince Rui's side?"
Princess Anning was Prince Rui's only legitimate daughter. She had grown up pampered and had been favored by the late Emperor in her childhood.
However, after His Majesty ascended the throne, Prince Rui's lineage was suppressed, and they became marginalized figures. Even the marriages of Prince Rui's children had been repeatedly delayed.