This half-joking, half-serious remark caused Mo Lingxi's expression to change, his eyes fixed on Zi Cheng with a ferocity that suggested he wanted to tear him apart.
Seeing this, Zi Cheng flinched, shrinking back. "Uncle, don't look at me like that. I'm timid. Besides, I'm speaking the truth."
"If it weren't for your ambiguous attitude, would Auntie have taken Xiao Feng away? And Auntie won't stay single forever, will she? She'll remarry in the future. These are all facts."
He weakly added, "Overall, it's your fault, Uncle. If you hadn't treated Auntie that way from the start and lived your life properly with her, would Auntie have done these things?"
Mo Lingxi knew it was his fault, but he couldn't stand Zi Cheng saying such things. Yet, he also understood it was the truth.
Given Tao Lengshuang's personality, if she left him with Xiao Feng, she wouldn't remain devoted to him forever. One day, she would surely remarry.
The mere thought of her marrying another man and living a happy life made him want to kill.
"Uncle," Zi Cheng asked fearlessly, "Uncle, why are you so angry? You don't have any other intentions towards Auntie. She can't stay like this forever."
Mo Lingxi slammed the table in anger, "Who says? Towards her..."
Then, the prince faltered.
"How do you feel about Auntie?" Zi Cheng coaxed, "Uncle, imagine Auntie happily marrying someone else, doing what couples do..."
"Shut up! She will only ever be my wife!" Mo Lingxi interrupted, his face grim.
Shrinking in the corner, Zi Cheng felt utterly weary. He had gone this far, and his uncle still hadn't grasped the crucial point. He was simply unteachable.
"Uncle, just wait until Auntie falls for someone else, and then you can cry slowly." With that, he scurried away. If he didn't run, would he wait to be beaten by his uncle?
The words "falls for" made Mo Lingxi's mind explode. Everything gradually became clear: "So that's how it is."
He covered his face with his hand, his mouth bitter. His reluctance, his displeasure, was all because he liked Tao Lengshuang and wanted to spend his life with her. Yet, he had never understood this, nor why she had repeatedly rejected him.
Mo Lingxi, Mo Lingxi, you who could strategize and resolve any trouble or danger, yet you couldn't even understand your own heart. You are truly laughable.
Now, his wife had run off with his son. Let's see what you do.
Mo Lingxi let out a long sigh and decided to talk to Madam Sheng again. He wanted to have a good talk with Tao Lengshuang about their future. He didn't want to lose her.
Thus, Mo Lingxi found Madam Sheng again and stated his intentions.
Madam Sheng neither agreed nor refused. "I will ask Leng Shuang for her opinion. If she is willing to see you, I will arrange it. If she is not willing..."
Mo Lingxi pursed his lips tightly, his voice low and tinged with loneliness, "Godmother, I understand."
Madam Sheng pinched her brow, thinking, what good is your understanding? The most important thing is Leng Shuang's willingness. Otherwise, no matter how much you want to be with Leng Shuang, she won't help.
"I will inform His Highness Prince Mingrui when I have news."
Mo Lingxi knew very well that all he could do now was wait, hoping Tao Lengshuang would be willing to see him.
Meanwhile, after receiving Madam Sheng's letter, Tao Lengshuang decided to meet Mo Lingxi. She wanted to clarify things to avoid future trouble.
They arranged to meet at a restaurant in the Eastern Capital.
When Tao Lengshuang arrived at the private room with Xiao Feng, Mo Lingxi was already there.
"Tao Lengshuang! Xiao Feng!" Mo Lingxi strode forward, scooped up Xiao Feng, and looked at Tao Lengshuang with burning eyes.
Tao Lengshuang's eyelashes trembled, and she sat down with a calm expression. "Let's sit and talk."
Mo Lingxi's heart felt as if it had been doused with ice water. He knew it was his own doing. Holding Xiao Feng, he sat down. "I want to spend my life with you, not just casually want to spend my life with you, but out of liking!"
Tao Lengshuang's hand paused as she reached for the teacup. She looked at him in surprise, ripples stirring in her heart. "Has Prince Mingrui thought it through?"
Mo Lingxi nodded heavily, indicating he had. "I'm not speaking carelessly. Every word I say is from the heart. Tao Lengshuang, I hope you'll give me another chance."
Xiao Feng sat obediently on his father's lap, eating and occasionally looking at his mother, then his father, with a gossipy expression.
Tao Lengshuang lowered her eyes and touched the teacup with one hand. "But I don't want to be with you anymore."
Mo Lingxi was struck as if by lightning. He asked urgently, "Why? Is there something I'm not doing well enough?"
Tao Lengshuang slowly shook her head and looked up at him. "No. Mo Lingxi, the life you want to live and the life I want to live are different. Completely different."
"Especially these past few days spent outside, I've fully understood what kind of life I want. I can't be a bird in a cage, and I don't want to be confined to that small world. You can call me selfish, or irresponsible, but I just don't want to go back to that place."
Mo Lingxi: "Even if you go back, you can do what you want. I won't stop you."
Tao Lengshuang gazed out the window and sighed softly. "You still don't understand. If I go back, I will have another identity. I will no longer be an ordinary person."
"An identity is a shackle that binds a person. With an identity, one must be mindful of their words and actions. You know this better than I do."
Mo Lingxi indeed understood this very well. Countless people yearned for status and position, but status and position could also shackle a person, causing them to go against their true nature.
"What if I give you a guarantee?"
Tao Lengshuang: "Do you think a guarantee is useful? In the face of imperial power and family, can I truly be myself? I'm afraid even seeing a male patient would be criticized, simply because I have an identity."
Mo Lingxi held her hand and declared, "Tao Lengshuang, trust me this once. I will give you the life you want, one that allows you to be yourself."
Tao Lengshuang tried to pull her hand away but failed. "It's useless. In the beginning, I might live the life I want, but over time, I won't be able to anymore."
"Don't say it won't happen. Time erodes everything. It will change your attitude towards me, and I will be influenced by my surroundings. Also, perhaps in the future, Xiao Feng will also disagree with me appearing in public."
Xiao Feng blinked his innocent eyes. "Mother isn't appearing in public. In Xiao Feng's heart, Mother is very skilled at practicing medicine and healing. In the future, Xiao Feng wants to be as skilled as Mother."
"Mother, don't worry about Father. Xiao Feng will be with you forever, protecting you forever. If anyone dares to say anything bad about Mother, Xiao Feng will deal with them."