Xiao Feng tilted his head and said very seriously, "Mother, Father wants to live a good life with you."
Tao Leng Shuang dismissed it as childish prattle and didn't take his words to heart. She and Mo Lingxi could never live a good life together.
She guessed that the hairpin was sent by Mo Lingxi as a way to ask for her help.
"You're such a clever one."
She lightly tapped Xiao Feng's nose twice, put the hairpin away, and decided not to wear it or sell it.
The mother and son walked hand in hand to the main hall and found that Mo Lingxi had already served three bowls of rice.
The so-called three bowls of rice were only slightly better than porridge, and they were made with coarse grains.
In this village, it was considered quite good.
The family of three chatted while they ate, discussing everyday life.
As they talked, Mo Lingxi said, "After we finish cleaning up, I have something to discuss with you."
Tao Leng Shuang noticed Xiao Feng chuckling. She lightly tapped his head, thinking the child was up to some mischievous thoughts again.
"Okay."
After the meal, Mo Lingxi took the initiative to clean up and wash the dishes.
Tao Leng Shuang let him be, while she stayed in the main hall to play with Xiao Feng.
When Mo Lingxi finished cleaning, Xiao Feng obediently returned to his room and began reading.
"I've found something out from A Bo."
Mo Lingxi's opening words made Tao Leng Shuang sit up straight, looking at him intently. "What did you find out?"
Mo Lingxi gestured for her to not rush, added some firewood to the basin, and then slowly began to speak.
According to A Bo's confession, his master was a steward of a noble family.
As for which noble family it was, he, being a kept man, did not know. He only knew it was a noble family of merit.
The steward had asked A Bo to come to Shilipo Village to investigate if Mo Lingxi was here and what his relationship with Tao Leng Shuang was.
If Mo Lingxi was in Shilipo Village and had a close relationship with Tao Leng Shuang, they were to find a way to eliminate both of them without leaving any trace.
If these two had no relationship, they were still to be eliminated.
The most important thing was to eliminate Tao Leng Shuang and not let her live any longer.
After listening, Tao Leng Shuang was confused. "Noble family?"
"Besides offending Sheng Li, I haven't offended anyone. Is this related to you?"
Mo Lingxi shook his head, his brow slightly furrowed. "It shouldn't be that simple."
"If they are targeting me, then you wouldn't be the main focus."
Tao Leng Shuang nodded as if she had a sudden realization. "But why?"
She truly couldn't understand.
She hadn't offended any noble family, yet she was being targeted for assassination by one.
Mo Lingxi had been investigating this matter, but he had no leads. "I plan to investigate this matter through A Bo."
"Can the steward A Bo mentioned provide any clues?"
"No clues were found. It should be a minor steward."
Mo Lingxi explained in detail that noble families generally kept a group of people.
These people did not know who their master was, nor did they see any of the master's family members. They were arranged by a steward who was also unaware of the ultimate master.
The superior of this steward was another steward.
This layered reporting system maximized secrecy.
Tao Leng Shuang understood. "Simply put, they raise a group of people to handle matters that cannot be dealt with openly for them."
Mo Lingxi nodded.
Tao Leng Shuang pondered for a moment. "Why would a noble family want to kill me, a village girl?"
Mo Lingxi shook his head, indicating he didn't know. "I've investigated the Tao family thoroughly."
"The Tao family has no problems. They have been farmers for generations and have not offended any high-ranking officials or nobles."
Tao Leng Shuang thought hard for a long time but couldn't come up with anything useful. She then asked, "Did you find anything else?"
"There are leads regarding the dark hand on Brother Zhang San's side."
"Who is the dark hand?"
Mo Lingxi's thin lips uttered two words: "The Luo family!"
Tao Leng Shuang was shocked. She never expected it to be the Luo family. "Didn't the Luo family disappear? Where did they emerge from?"
She had almost forgotten about the Luo family's existence, but she didn't expect them to reappear.
"I suspect that the person who saved the Luo family is the one who wants to harm you."
"That's possible. The Luo family hates me deeply, believing I caused their downfall."
Back then, the Luo family had used many underhanded tactics to harm her.
Mo Lingxi cautioned her with concern and said he would find out where the Luo family was hiding.
Upon hearing this, Tao Leng Shuang said with a sigh, "What about Luo Yang's life? She is the one you love."
Mo Lingxi shot her a sharp, icy glare. "I've explained that I have no relationship with Luo Yang. It was all her one-sided affection from the beginning."
Tao Leng Shuang shivered and rubbed her hands. "But you have a good relationship with her. I often see you two chatting intimately."
And always in secluded places like corners.
Mo Lingxi pinched his temples, his tone becoming heavier. "I'll say this one last time."
"I have no relationship with Luo Yang, nor do I have any feelings for her. Do you understand?"
Tao Leng Shuang nodded repeatedly, believing Mo Lingxi.
This was a noble young master from above the noble families. Why would he look down on Luo Yang? At most, he would just play with her.
"Poor Luo Yang's sincere heart."
Mo Lingxi's veins bulged on his forehead. He gritted his teeth. "Are you asking for a beating?"
Tao Leng Shuang grinned and said no, then steered the conversation back to the main topic. "How likely do you think it is that the plan to lure the snake out of its hole will succeed?"
Mo Lingxi stated directly that there would be trouble. "I haven't yet ascertained the opponent's strength."
"If you rashly try to lure the snake out of its hole, you'll only become their target."
Tao Leng Shuang didn't think so. "The opponent has already found you."
"It's possible they want to use me and Xiao Feng to scheme against you, and they don't know that A Bo has been exposed.
In this situation, luring the snake out of its hole might reveal the identity of the mastermind."
Mo Lingxi pondered upon hearing this and felt that Tao Leng Shuang's words made sense and could be tried.
"This matter needs to be arranged carefully. One mistake could lead to disaster."
Tao Leng Shuang also knew this. She discussed with Mo Lingxi how to safely lure the snake out of its hole.
After they had discussed it.
Mo Lingxi told Tao Leng Shuang about another matter. "The royal villa might be in trouble recently."
Tao Leng Shuang was startled and quickly asked what was going on.
Why would the construction of the royal villa be in trouble?
Mo Lingxi pursed his thin lips and sighed. "They're cutting corners and not taking it seriously."
Tao Leng Shuang knew the consequences of cutting corners, and her heart sank. "Shen Er's aunt and Wang San's aunt's families are working on the royal villa."
Mo Lingxi assured Tao Leng Shuang that he would protect the families of these two aunts, but there would inevitably be trouble later.
Tao Leng Shuang's face darkened, and she gnashed her teeth. "Could it be that even at this point, His Majesty still wants to complete the royal villa?"
Mo Lingxi said that was indeed the case.
Their Majesty would not care about what the people below him were doing, only whether he could enjoy himself.
In His Majesty's eyes, nothing was more important than his own enjoyment.