Tao Lengshuang softly explained to Xiao Feng that the construction of the royal villa would take a long time and that such projects were a waste of resources and manpower.
Meanwhile.
Mo Lingxi arranged for hidden guards to handle the matter of the villagers and refugees being sent to the royal villa for construction, and also had them spread the news.
That night, most of the villagers, excluding the Tao family, along with the troublemaking refugees, were all sent to the royal villa.
When everyone woke up, they found themselves in an unfamiliar environment, all looking bewildered.
Around them were countless men and women, old and young, all doing work. They were all gaunt, and there were many fierce imperial guards.
If anyone was disobedient, the imperial guards would whip them severely, causing them to cry out in pain, which made many tremble.
How did they end up here?
"Haven't you slept enough?"
A fierce imperial guard, holding a whip, struck one of them hard, "Hurry up and build the royal villa for me. If you don't build it well, you won't have an easy time."
Upon hearing that this was the royal villa, this group became even more confused.
"We were sleeping at home, how did we end up here?"
"Sir, we paid our silver, we shouldn't be here building the royal villa."
"I don't want to stay here, I want to go back. People will die if we stay here."
Many people did not want to stay and ran out as if they were crazy.
However, there were countless imperial guards present. Before these people could run far, they were surrounded by the imperial guards.
"Dare to run? Beat them to death!" As the captain gave the order, the imperial guards beat these people to death.
The group curled up on the ground, protecting their heads with their hands, and kept begging for mercy.
"Don't hit us, please don't hit us, people will really die."
"We won't run anymore, please, sirs, don't hit us anymore, don't hit us anymore."
Seeing these people being beaten, those who had not had time to run, and those who were already working there, all looked terrified. No one dared to think of escaping anymore.
After this group of people were beaten black and blue, they were let go and then forced to start building the royal villa.
They all had no idea how they had arrived here, and they could not escape from here, so they were extremely anxious.
"Did you offend someone? I think you were all sent here," a young man asked in a low voice.
This group looked at each other. Who did they offend? They hadn't offended anyone.
Suddenly, a few quick-thinking individuals had a thought.
"Could it be Tao Lengshuang and them? I heard that Tao Lengshuang's husband is capable."
"I think that's mostly the case. If I had known, I wouldn't have offended Tao Lengshuang's family. Building a royal villa in the middle of winter is simply killing people."
Those who were sent regretted offending Tao Lengshuang. More than that, they resented her. Tao Lengshuang's family was truly vicious, sending them to build the royal villa with just a little bit of connection.
When they had the chance to return, they would definitely make Tao Lengshuang pay.
Meanwhile, Tao Lengshuang had learned of this from Mo Lingxi and, upon learning that he had spread the news, took him and Xiao Feng to wander around the village.
As soon as they arrived in the village, they could hardly see any refugees.
The refugees who remained in the village were all well-behaved and had no problems.
The three walked and stopped, as if they were strolling through the village, paying attention to the conversations between the refugees and the villagers.
"Did you notice, it seems like many people are missing from our village."
"I heard they were arrested to build the royal villa. They say whoever causes trouble will be arrested to build the royal villa. Your family must not do anything foolish."
"Really!? Fortunately, my family has always been well-behaved. No matter how hungry we were, we didn't do anything we shouldn't have done. Otherwise, if we were arrested to build the royal villa, how miserable would that be."
"Exactly. My husband hasn't returned yet. I don't know what the situation is. The weather is getting colder and colder, and I'm really worried he won't make it."
"Even many people from outside the village are gone. I think this is quite good. We don't cause trouble, we don't do anything, and with fewer people, the village is more peaceful, and those things won't happen again."
"Who says not. Alas~~ So many things happened before, and many families suffered, especially women and children. If my family didn't have three sons, my family might have suffered too."
Hearing this, Tao Lengshuang suddenly felt that sending all those who caused trouble to build the royal villa was a good deed.
Without these troublemakers, the village would no longer be in a state of panic.
As the three were walking, they were stopped by the Tao family.
Tao Lengshuang looked at the Tao family, who appeared rosy-cheeked and well-dressed, and couldn't help but sneer. The Black Hand had spent a lot of money to support the Tao family to deal with her.
"Lengshuang, you must divorce Mo Lingxi immediately."
Madam Yu put on a commanding air, "I have found a better family for you, and you will live a life of luxury there."
Tao Lengshuang stopped Mo Lingxi from getting angry and looked at Madam Yu with a fake smile, "Such a good marriage, why don't you send your granddaughters there?"
"As a married woman, I am very self-aware."
Madam Yu's eyes were full of calculation and greed, and she snorted heavily, "My granddaughters have better families."
"If it weren't for the fact that you are my daughter, such a good thing would not have come to you."
Tao Lengshuang exclaimed, and said sarcastically, "Look at what you're saying. I'm not your daughter."
"Eight hundred years ago, I broke off relations with the Tao family. Please don't call yourself my mother, it disgusts me."
Madam Yu was furious, "Tao Lengshuang, do you have any filial piety?"
Tao Lengshuang spread her hands with an innocent look, "No, I'm not your family, why should I be filial to you?"
Seeing this, Madam Yu was about to rush over and hit her, "You unfilial wretch, let me teach you a lesson today."
But Mo Lingxi stepped forward.
Madam Yu was so scared that she retreated step by step, and even the other members of the Tao family hid far away, afraid that Mo Lingxi would get angry and deal with them.
Mo Lingxi's eyes were filled with blade-like coldness, "Forcing my wife to divorce me and find another man for her?"
Hearing his slightly angry voice, the Tao family members all shook their heads in unison, and then pointed at Madam Yu, "It was all her idea, it has nothing to do with us. If you want to settle scores, go find her."
Madam Yu was furious and said with a trembling voice, "What nonsense are you talking about? We discussed this together, but now you're pushing all the blame onto me."
The Tao family members all distanced themselves.
"Grandmother, that's not right. When did we say such a thing? You clearly wanted to scheme against Auntie."
"Exactly, Mother. You take responsibility for your own actions and don't involve us. We don't know anything."
Madam Yu understood everything. These people were afraid of Mo Lingxi, so they pushed her forward as a scapegoat.
"You are all very good! I'm telling you, if I'm not well, you won't be well either. What don't I know about you?"