Tao Lengshuang pulled Xiao Feng behind her, signaling with her eyes for him to say no more. Even in modern times, few people would believe such a situation, let alone in ancient times.
Just as she was about to drive these people away, a flurry of hurried footsteps was heard. Immediately after, dozens of villagers from inside and outside the village, armed with hoes and other weapons, rushed to her doorstep but dared not step inside.
Everyone looked at her with eyes filled with hatred and fear.
"Calamity, it's you, the calamity, who caused me to lose my children and not even have enough to eat. Today, I will make you pay for my children's lives."
"Wuwuwu~~ It's all you, the calamity, you, the calamity, you caused the great disaster and ruined my family. I will not let you go."
"I want to kill the calamity, kill you to pay for my son's life. My son was only a few years old when he starved to death. You owe me my son."
The villagers, both inside and outside the village, were wary of Tao Lengshuang's medicinal powder and her reputation as a calamity, so they only dared to curse at the main entrance or throw snowballs at her.
But with the presence of the hidden guards, these snowballs could not reach Tao Lengshuang at all.
Tao Lengshuang's emotions did not fluctuate in the slightest. Her eyes indifferently swept over the clamoring crowd, wanting to see what other spectacle would unfold.
After a long commotion, someone shouted, "Charge! Charge in and kill the calamity, and we can live a peaceful life again."
With the crowd incited, the villagers from inside and outside the village, brandishing their weapons with bloodshot eyes, charged towards Tao Lengshuang, looking as if they would beat her to death.
"Kill the calamity, kill the calamity!"
Just as Tao Lengshuang was about to sprinkle her powder, she was suddenly shielded by a hidden guard and moved to the side.
Before she could ask what was happening, she heard a 'whoosh' sound as something flew past her, followed by a 'bang'.
Turning her head, she saw an arrow stuck in the doorframe, its tail still shaking.
Her heart pounded as she scanned her surroundings.
The surroundings were either people subdued by the hidden guards or a vast expanse of white. No other figures were visible, but she knew very well that the archers were hidden in the snow.
"Please, Doctor and Young Master, retreat to the main hall. We will handle the rest."
Hearing the hidden guard's words, Tao Lengshuang decisively took Xiao Feng's hand and retreated towards the main hall.
At that moment, several more 'whooshing' sounds were heard, and several arrows flew directly towards Tao Lengshuang and her son.
Tao Lengshuang calmly scooped up Xiao Feng, quickly retreated into the main hall, slammed the door shut, and then hid behind the table.
She signaled Xiao Feng to remain silent, hide well, and be vigilant of their surroundings. It seemed that today's events were orchestrated by the mastermind.
Listening to the sounds outside, Tao Lengshuang pondered how to resolve this matter. Even if she dealt with the assassins and the soldiers, she could not resolve the title of "calamity," which would bring her endless danger in the future.
She had to admit that the mastermind's sequential plan was truly malicious.
"Mother, let's go find Father," Xiao Feng whispered. "With Father here, these bad people won't dare to bully Mother, and no one will dare to call Mother a calamity anymore."
Tao Lengshuang shook her head, indicating that she could not go to Mo Lingxi. Not to mention the dangers on the road, she could not rely on Mo Lingxi for every little problem.
As she was contemplating how to resolve the "calamity" title, she heard an angry roar.
"Tao Lengshuang is a calamity, and she must be executed today, otherwise she will bring greater disaster."
Following that, she heard a hidden guard's reprimand, "Calamity? You call our Doctor a calamity? If the Doctor were truly a calamity, His Majesty would have sent people to arrest her long ago, would he only send you?"
"Yes, I'm also very curious. Logically, for such matters, the Imperial Observatory would report to His Majesty. When did it become your turn to arrest me?"
"If the Imperial Observatory determined I was a calamity, they would report it to His Majesty immediately. Could it be that your status is higher than His Majesty's, so the Imperial Observatory tells you as soon as they measure it?"
These words carried weight. The group of soldiers cursed Tao Lengshuang for talking nonsense. "You, a village woman, don't understand these things at all. I advise you to come out quickly and accept your death, or you will suffer."
Tao Lengshuang slightly opened the door and saw the villagers lying scattered in the courtyard. The soldiers stood at the entrance with fearful expressions, and she let out a scoff.
"Look at your guilty faces. It's obvious that this matter was not determined by the Imperial Observatory, but you were bribed to kill me."
From this, it could be seen that the mastermind was quite capable, managing to bribe a squad of soldiers and use the name of the Imperial Observatory to kill her.
The soldiers never expected the matter to be so difficult. At the time, they thought it would be a simple task, and they were already discussing where to go for drinks on the way back.
The few of them exchanged glances, then looked at the groaning villagers lying all over the ground. They still dared not enter, for those were hidden guards.
"You calamity, wait until we report this matter after we return, and then you'll see!"
With that, the squad leader was about to lead his subordinates away but was directly subdued by the hidden guards.
Seeing this, Tao Lengshuang did not come out. She did not know if the assassins in the dark had left, so it was safest to stay put for now.
However, the matter of the "calamity" title had to be resolved quickly. Otherwise, if the current Emperor found out later, she would truly have no way out.
She beckoned a hidden guard over and whispered in his ear, "Can you do it?"
The hidden guard indicated that it was no problem and instructed Tao Lengshuang and Xiao Feng to stay in the main hall for the time being, as the people in the dark had not yet been dealt with.
Tao Lengshuang watched the hidden guard leave, then returned to the heated brick bed with Xiao Feng to wait for the results.
...
The three hidden guards knocked out the squad of soldiers, threw them into a carriage, and then quietly arrived at the manor where General Sheng and his wife were recuperating at the fastest speed.
Upon seeing the unconscious soldiers, General Sheng's expression changed slightly. "These were men under my command. What happened?"
The hidden guards explained the situation in detail and also mentioned that General Sheng was implicated, stating, "The mastermind wants to kill multiple birds with one stone."
General Sheng and Madam Sheng were both very confused. It was strange. If the mastermind wanted to scheme against them, why would they attack an innocent doctor?
And this was not the first time.
The couple was baffled but knew that the most important thing now was to handle the current situation.
"I will handle these people properly," General Sheng said in a deep voice.
However, the hidden guard said that the Doctor already had arrangements, and it would trouble General Sheng then. He explained Tao Lengshuang's plan.
General Sheng nodded as he listened, his admiration for Tao Lengshuang growing. "The Doctor's method is good. You go and do it, and I will handle the rest properly."