These matters were reported to Mo Lingxi and Tao Lengshuang by the dark guards.
Tao Lengshuang merely raised an eyelid, knowing that even if the house was reclaimed, it would have to be demolished and rebuilt. Fortunately, she and Xiao Feng had escaped in time, otherwise, they would have been captured by the soldiers.
More importantly, this matter was not over.
Just as Tao Lengshuang had thought, the issue of the disaster star was not over.
The current emperor decreed a nationwide search for the whereabouts of the disaster star. Anyone who could capture or kill the disaster star would be heavily rewarded, while anyone who harbored the disaster star would face extermination of their entire clan.
Under the imperial decree, countless people searched everywhere for Tao Lengshuang's whereabouts.
Families like the Tao family and the Luo family, who hated Tao Lengshuang, took the opportunity to accuse the Wang family and the Shen family of harboring and aiding the disaster star.
If Mo Lingxi had not made arrangements beforehand, the Shen family and the Wang family would have narrowly escaped death. However, Wang Laoda and Shen Laoda were sent to build the royal villa again, and this time, no one would pay special attention to the two of them.
Following this, Mo Lingxi did another thing.
...
Morning court.
When the court officials saw that the person appearing was not the current emperor, but the Crown Prince in golden yellow robes and Prince Mingrui in dark green robes, they erupted in an uproar.
"What... what is going on? Why is His Majesty not in court, and it is the Crown Prince and Prince Mingrui who are presiding?"
"May I ask Your Highness the Crown Prince, where is His Majesty?"
Zi Cheng sat in a chair next to the dragon throne, propping his head with one hand, and cast a glance at the officials below with a smile that did not reach his eyes: "His Majesty is indisposed. From today onwards, the management of state affairs will be handled by me and Prince Mingrui. Do any of you have objections?"
The court officials glanced at the fearsome Prince Mingrui and all trembled. Who didn't know Prince Mingrui's methods?
However, many court officials were not convinced, especially the Crown Prince's brothers.
"Crown Prince, Father Emperor's health has always been good. It is impossible for him to suddenly feel unwell. Could it be that you and Prince Mingrui have done something you shouldn't have?"
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, if you and Prince Mingrui are to preside over court, you must have an imperial decree from His Majesty. Without His Majesty's imperial decree, you two are committing treason!"
Mo Lingxi faintly raised his eyelids and swept across the crowd with a chilling gaze.
With just one look, the officials felt as if they were being flayed by ice blades, and they all quieted down.
"Imperial decree? Yes, we do."
Zi Cheng raised his hand, and a eunuch handed over a bright yellow imperial decree. He smiled and opened it: "Shall I read it to you, or shall the Prime Minister read it? I think it would be better for the Prime Minister to read it."
Saying that, he handed the imperial decree to the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister read the contents of the imperial decree.
In simple terms, the current emperor suddenly felt unwell and fully entrusted all state affairs and a series of matters to the Crown Prince and Prince Mingrui, allowing them to handle all affairs at their discretion.
With the issuance of this imperial decree, the officials had mixed feelings. Everyone knew the truth of the matter and was also shocked by the power of the Crown Prince and Prince Mingrui.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, Your Highness Prince Mingrui."
At this moment, the chief eunuch quickly walked over and bowed respectfully: "His Majesty has decreed that due to the inspiration from heaven, it has been learned that there is no disaster star, but rather someone intends to sow chaos in the court and endanger the country and its people."
"Furthermore, His Majesty has annulled the engagement between His Highness Prince Mingrui and Princess Anning, and will select a new marriage for Princess Anning."
Zi Cheng waved his hand, and the chief eunuch retreated.
"Imperial Uncle, who do you think has such audacity to sow chaos in the court?" He swept his gaze authoritatively over the officials below.
Mo Lingxi said coldly, "We will know if we investigate."
The officials all knew what "investigate" meant. The princes and officials who had problems were in a panic, thinking of seeing His Majesty as soon as possible. The officials who had no problems and those on the Crown Prince's side held their heads high.
After the morning court, Mo Lingxi left the imperial palace and returned to the wooden house on the mountain in Shilipo Village. He told Tao Lengshuang about the recent events and also mentioned that the imperial decree had been posted.
"With the new imperial decree, it is unlikely that so many people will be looking for you. However, it is best for you and Xiao Feng to stay in the mountains for a while, just in case."
Tao Lengshuang glanced at Xiao Feng, who was reading and writing, and whispered to Mo Lingxi about the matter: "It's not good to live in the mountains all the time, and the village is in a mess. I'm thinking of temporarily moving to Lotus Town with Xiao Feng."
Temporarily moving to Lotus Garden would allow her to slowly open a pharmacy and find a way to earn money.
Mo Lingxi pondered for a moment: "Why not move to Dongdu? Compared to Lotus Town, Dongdu is more stable, and I can also take better care of you and Xiao Feng."
"Actually, I'd prefer you and Xiao Feng to move directly into the Prince's mansion, but I know you wouldn't want that."
Tao Lengshuang indeed did not want to move into Prince Mingrui's mansion like this. Upon hearing this, she thought for a moment and agreed: "Let's move to Dongdu for now and see."
She and Xiao Feng would not live in Dongdu forever.
Seeing that she had agreed, Mo Lingxi instructed the dark guards to make arrangements for this matter and then said to Tao Lengshuang, "I think I will take you and Xiao Feng back to Dongdu tomorrow. We should get acquainted with things and meet people."
Tao Lengshuang, however, said it was not necessary: "We'll talk about it later."
Mo Lingxi knew her thoughts and hummed with a slight frown, "Is there anything you need to buy?"
Tao Lengshuang had nothing to buy. If there was something to buy, she could buy it herself. After all, she had some money on hand.
She just didn't know if this little bit of money could buy a pharmacy in the expensive Dongdu.
...
The next day, early in the morning.
Tao Lengshuang and Xiao Feng boarded a carriage and quietly arrived in Dongdu with Mo Lingxi.
This was Xiao Feng's first time in Dongdu.
Like a child who had never seen the world, he looked at the prosperous Dongdu with surprise and joy, exclaiming repeatedly. He would often tell Tao Lengshuang about the various things he saw.
Tao Lengshuang did not scold or express dissatisfaction. She cooperated fully with Xiao Feng and explained what she saw and the reasons behind it.
This made Xiao Feng very excited.
Mo Lingxi watched them with gentle eyes.
When they arrived at the courtyard, he protected Tao Lengshuang and her son as they walked in and introduced them to the situation of the courtyard.
Tao Lengshuang surveyed the simple and elegant, low-key courtyard. It was a two-courtyard residence, which was a bit too large for her and her son.
"Is there no smaller courtyard? Otherwise, my son and I could live in the pharmacy. This place is too big."
Xiao Feng nodded in agreement, gesturing how big it was: "It's so big, so big. Xiao Feng has never seen such a big house before. It feels a bit uncomfortable being so empty."
Mo Lingxi explained, "There will be servants."
Upon hearing this, Tao Lengshuang picked up Xiao Feng and turned to leave: "As a village woman, why would I need servants to attend to me? Moreover, Xiao Feng is still young and doesn't need servants."
This was a trap!
"Hey, hey, hey!"
Mo Lingxi stopped Tao Lengshuang and said with some helplessness, "If you don't want servants arranged, that's fine, right?"
"The courtyard is too big." Tao Lengshuang still wanted to move to the pharmacy.
Mo Lingxi could not persuade the mother and son, so he had to go along with them and let them move into the pharmacy.
"You two are really something. You have a good place to live but don't enjoy it, and insist on living here." He teased them as he packed their belongings.