The guard's words made Mo Lingxi even more puzzled. Why would the secret guards of aristocratic families repeatedly try to kill Tao Lengshuang?
"Have you found anything about Tao Lengshuang?"
The guard stated that they had found nothing, nor had they discovered why the aristocratic families' secret guards were repeatedly trying to kill Tao Lengshuang.
Mo Lingxi waved the guard away and, while hunting, pondered the various doubts. Tao Lengshuang's change began after she fell.
At that time, with so many people watching, it was impossible for someone to have replaced her.
If this Tao Lengshuang was not an imposter, how could they explain what she knew?
But she was indeed no longer the previous Tao Lengshuang.
Unable to figure it out, Mo Lingxi temporarily put the matter aside, thinking of testing Tao Lengshuang upon their return to see if any clues could be found.
When Mo Lingxi returned home with two wild rabbits, Tao Lengshuang and Xiao Feng were already there.
Tao Lengshuang, who was making preserved eggs, saw him return and smiled as she took the prey. "You're getting more and more skilled. It looks like we won't have to worry too much about supplies this harsh winter."
Mo Lingxi gave a faint hum, his eyes scrutinizing her. "You know quite a few things, even medicine."
Tao Lengshuang knew Mo Lingxi was testing her, but she didn't understand why he would suddenly do so. She calmly replied, "If I knew too many things, I'd starve to death sooner or later."
Mo Lingxi didn't believe it, his suspicion of the completely different Tao Lengshuang before him growing. "Is that so?"
Hearing his two words devoid of any warmth, Tao Lengshuang shivered involuntarily. "Mo Lingxi, just ask me directly if you have something to ask. There's no need to be suspicious of me here."
Mo Lingxi wouldn't be foolish enough to ask directly.
He said nothing more, only staring intently at Tao Lengshuang's every move with his cold, icy black eyes, as if trying to see through her.
His gaze was so intense that Tao Lengshuang almost couldn't walk.
She gritted her teeth, endured it, and finally slammed the kitchen door shut with a 'bang,' blocking out the terrifying gaze of the man.
Taking a few deep breaths, she focused on the task at hand.
There weren't many supplies left to buy in town. She thought of going to the capital to see if she could buy some.
Going to the capital by ox cart would take more than two hours, so she would have to leave early in the morning and return in the evening.
She calculated the few taels of silver she had, thinking of selling some medicinal herbs at the apothecaries in the capital or exchanging them for supplies, hoping to make this harsh winter a little easier.
With a plan in mind, she continued making the remaining preserved eggs.
Later that evening, Tao Lengshuang discussed the matter of buying supplies in the capital with Mo Lingxi, emphasizing the current shortage of supplies.
"If we can't buy enough supplies, let alone in the future, just this harsh winter will be enough for us to endure."
Mo Lingxi looked at her deeply and said calmly, "The capital is quite chaotic right now."
Tao Lengshuang had some guesses and didn't say anything. "Then I'll give you the silver, and you can buy some supplies?"
As a commoner, she preferred to avoid the chaotic capital to prevent losing her life without even knowing how.
"Are you sure?"
"Sure. If I don't let you buy them, am I supposed to give a few taels of silver to someone else? I'm not that foolish."
Tao Lengshuang turned over the dried vegetables and other items. "If you can buy more rice and flour, buy more rice and flour."
Mo Lingxi narrowed his eyes, his gaze towards her changing slightly. "Mm."
Tao Lengshuang didn't notice his emotional shift; her mind was filled with how to stock up on more supplies and how to gather more usable items from the mountains.
In the past two days, more and more villagers had been going into the mountains, and in many places, not even a blade of grass could be seen.
She dared not go too deep into the mountains, fearing she might encounter fierce beasts again. She might not be as lucky next time.
A knock on the door was accompanied by Aunt Shen Er's slightly raised voice.
"Mo family, are you in?"
Tao Lengshuang opened the door and smiled as she welcomed Aunt Shen Er in. "Aunt Shen Er, what's the matter?"
Aunt Shen Er rubbed her hands and exhaled a large breath. "It's getting colder and colder. It wasn't this cold at this time last year."
"It's like this, I've discussed it with several families in the village, and we're planning to go to other towns to see if we can buy more rice and flour. I wanted to ask if you want to go."
Tao Lengshuang was a little surprised. "Aunt Shen Er, why don't you go to the capital?"
Aunt Shen Er sighed, looked around fearfully, and whispered, "I heard the capital is a bit chaotic, how would we dare to go?"
"So, we'll just go to farther towns."
Tao Lengshuang thought for a moment and politely declined Aunt Shen Er's offer. She had already asked Mo Lingxi to buy in the capital, and other towns were too far away, making it inconvenient for her to go.
Aunt Shen Er knew Tao Lengshuang's situation and didn't force her, asking if she wanted her to help bring back some rice and flour.
Tao Lengshuang said it was unnecessary and thanked her.
Aunt Shen Er nodded and then started talking about the village chief's family. "These past few days, many villagers have been loitering near the village chief's house."
"They say they can smell meat at the village chief's house every day, even three meals a day. This makes the villagers even more suspicious that the village chief has stolen the tax revenue, but they can't do anything about him."
Looking at her angry and indignant expression, Tao Lengshuang had an idea and started talking about the law, mentioning what Mo Lingxi had taught her.
"Aunt Shen Er knows that my husband is not simple; he understands a bit about the law."
When Aunt Shen Er heard about the laws related to a village chief, her eyes lit up, and she pulled Tao Lengshuang, asking if it was true.
Tao Lengshuang, having basically read all the law books, told her with absolute certainty that it was indeed true.
Originally, she thought that after such an incident, the village chief would at least compensate the village families, and thus the villagers and her family would have an easier time.
But who would have thought that the village chief would make no move at all, continuing to live his good life?
Upon hearing this, Aunt Shen Er quickly said she was going to the village and then hurried away.
Tao Lengshuang knew what she was going to do, thinking she would go to the village chief's house later to watch the excitement, and also to see how the village chief would react, so she could make arrangements for the future.
After all, there was a helper hidden behind the village chief's house.
...
When the time was about right, Tao Lengshuang informed Mo Lingxi and his son, then unhurriedly arrived at the village chief's doorstep.
Upon arrival, she saw a dense crowd of villagers surrounding the entrance of the village chief's house, shouting for the village chief to give an explanation and demanding compensation.
"Village Chief, we've all heard. According to the law, your actions should result in beheading or exile."
"We're not asking for much, only that you return the stolen tax revenue so we can get through this harsh winter."
"Oh heavens, open your eyes and see! The village chief commits evil deeds and steals tax revenue. He's leaving us no way to live."
"Now the taxes have increased again. If the village chief doesn't return the stolen taxes, how can our families get through this harsh winter? I fear we'll all smash our heads against the village chief's doorstep."