Madam Sheng covered her mouth and chuckled, "Little Feng, your mother isn't refusing to go to the palace because of this. However, your father needs to coax your mother a bit more."
Little Feng, as if understanding but not quite, let out an "Oh." "It's definitely Dad's fault. Mom is so good, so good, and Dad doesn't know how to cherish her, and even made Mom angry."
Mo Lingxi pinched his brow, feeling quite helpless. "You truly are your father's good son."
"Alright, you stay with your grandparents. I'll go find your mother."
When Mo Lingxi returned to the courtyard, he saw Tao Lengshuang counting silver. He asked strangely, "Why are you counting silver out of the blue?"
Tao Lengshuang ignored him. After finishing counting, she divided the silver into three portions and packed them accordingly. Then, she asked, "What do you want when you come to find me?"
Mo Lingxi: "...Can't I come to find you if I have nothing else to do? Your words, they sound so unpleasant to my ears."
Tao Lengshuang raised her eyelids slightly. "If you find it unpleasant, then don't listen. I'm not forcing you to listen."
Mo Lingxi was speechless. After a long pause, he said, "Are you really unwilling to enter the palace? You must understand that if you don't enter the palace now, you'll still have to enter it later to be registered on the imperial jade slips."
Tao Lengshuang said they would talk about it later. "Later" was a matter for the future. Besides, who knew if she would still be here later.
Mo Lingxi frowned, feeling that something was amiss but couldn't quite pinpoint it. "In the future, take more people with you when you go out."
"The Black Hands were so blatant today; they'll be even bolder in the future."
Tao Lengshuang hummed. "The only pity is that Sheng Li was rescued. But it doesn't matter. With Sheng Li's character and the Black Hands' schemes, she'll pop out again before long."
Mo Lingxi: "You need to be careful that Sheng Li doesn't act recklessly."
Tao Lengshuang, however, wasn't too worried. "Sheng Li is someone who fears death. Unless she's manipulated by the Black Hands, she wouldn't do something like that."
"I'm tired today. I plan to rest early. We can discuss anything tomorrow."
She planned to visit the pharmacies and houses the next day or the day after, aiming to finalize them as soon as possible.
Therefore, the next day, Sheng Li, who had some free time, went to Lotus Town with her hidden guards, without even bringing Little Feng.
If Mo Lingxi, who was handling affairs in the palace, had known, he would have come to apprehend her.
Tao Lengshuang, disguised, used various methods to ensure she wasn't followed. She then went to Lotus Town and found the previous broker.
"Sister, you're finally here."
The broker smiled warmly. "I've looked at a few pharmacies and houses in different locations. Which ones do you like? Shall we go take a look now?"
Tao Lengshuang had the same intention. Seeing them in person would put her mind at ease. She didn't want to buy without even looking.
The broker led Tao Lengshuang to view several pharmacies and houses.
One of the pharmacies was located on the most prosperous street in Lotus Town. It had two floors and a backyard. The pharmacy had also been renovated two years ago. The only drawback was its high price.
The broker held up five fingers. "The owner said five hundred and twenty taels, not a penny less. This pharmacy is the best among the ones I've seen, good in every aspect, just a bit pricey."
Tao Lengshuang nodded and followed the broker to the next pharmacy. "Why is the owner of this pharmacy selling? I see their business is quite good. Pharmacy businesses are the easiest to do these days."
The broker sighed and lowered his voice. "They're afraid of trouble. With all this chaos, the owner fears getting involved in something, so they're thinking of selling the pharmacy and living off the money."
Tao Lengshuang understood and said "Oh," before arriving at the second pharmacy.
The second pharmacy was located a bit further away, but the location was still good. However, it didn't have a second floor, had a backyard, and the renovation was older.
This pharmacy's business wasn't good; to be precise, it was short-changing customers and passing off inferior goods as superior. Since they couldn't continue like this, they wanted to sell. The asking price was three hundred and fifty taels.
Tao Lengshuang then looked at the remaining two pharmacies. Both had backyards, and one had two private rooms, which the owner used as their own living space.
The owner of this pharmacy was returning to their hometown to attend a funeral and didn't know when they would return. Coupled with the current situation, they decided to sell the pharmacy and start a business in their hometown in the future.
Tao Lengshuang liked this pharmacy. Its location was in the middle, neither too bustling nor too secluded, and the price was reasonable. Most importantly, it would save her the money for renting a place to live.
"Two hundred and thirty taels..."
The broker smiled. "If you like this pharmacy, Sister, shall I try to negotiate the price further? The owner is a good person, usually willing to offer credit, and their prices are fair."
Tao Lengshuang said, "Thank you for the trouble."
The broker went inside and negotiated with the owner, emphasizing that Tao Lengshuang was a serious buyer and that it was already good to have someone buying in these times.
The owner considered it for a moment and grudgingly lowered the price, stating they would sell it for two hundred and ten taels, and no less.
Tao Lengshuang was very satisfied with this price. She paid the money on the spot and left the remaining matters to the broker, naturally paying the intermediary fee.
The broker repeatedly assured her that everything would be handled properly and asked the original owner to move out as soon as possible so the new owner could renovate.
The original owner said they would move out in the next two days and that anything they couldn't take would be left behind as a gift for Tao Lengshuang.
After the deal was settled, Tao Lengshuang stated that she wouldn't need to rent a house anymore and would live in the pharmacy from now on, which would save a lot of trouble.
The remaining tasks were to prepare various medicinal herbs and pills, and to inform her adoptive parents.
From now on, when she opened the pharmacy, she would have to disguise herself in a different appearance, and Little Feng would also need to be disguised so that no one could recognize them.
Upon returning to the Sheng residence, she informed Madam Sheng about her potential departure.
Madam Sheng was very surprised. "Why are you leaving out of the blue? Is something wrong?"
Tao Lengshuang was silent for a moment before saying, "I don't like life in the royal family, nor can I adapt to it. I also cannot tolerate Mo Lingxi having three wives and four concubines. Rather than suffer in the future, it's better to cut ties decisively now."
This made Madam Sheng understand, and she sighed. "Lengshuang, have you thought it all through?"
Tao Lengshuang nodded. "I've thought it through very clearly. Mo Lingxi and I are on different paths, and I cannot ask him to abandon everything to follow my path. I also cannot abandon my aspirations. It's better to part ways sooner."
Madam Sheng could understand and remarked, "Your personality is so much like mine. Back then, after I got engaged to your adoptive father, I made it very clear to him that if he took concubines or got involved with other women, I would divorce him."
"Adoptive Mother supports you. However, what about Little Feng? He is still young and needs parental care."
Tao Lengshuang said she had asked Little Feng for his opinion, and he was willing to follow her. But if the child changed his mind, she would have to let Mo Lingxi take him.
Madam Sheng did not try to persuade them to reconcile like some people. "Since you've thought it through, adoptive mother has nothing more to say..."
"Adoptive Mother has nothing more to say?" At this moment, Mo Lingxi walked in, holding Little Feng's hand.