Sheng Lengshuang did not mean it that way: "I was thinking that we need to change how we educate Xiao Feng. We can't just focus on studies and etiquette; we also need to pay more attention to his inner world and strive to prevent him from going astray."
Mo Lingxi had no objections. To be precise, he had no objections to Sheng Lengshuang's decisions, unless they were something that didn't fit.
"Now that my illness is cured, some people can't wait," he said, helping Sheng Lengshuang into the carriage.
Sheng Lengshuang looked at him twice: "Are there any traces or clues of the Black Hand?"
Mo Lingxi poured her a cup of tea: "There are some clues, but we are still investigating whether they are related to the Black Hand. However, this incident will allow us to clear out some restless court officials."
Sheng Lengshuang did not concern herself with court affairs, nor could she: "I only care about the Black Hand..."
"Your Highness, something has happened at the Ministry of Justice prison!" At this moment, a dark guard landed on the carriage and saluted: "Masked men broke into the Ministry of Justice prison, abducted Sima Min, killed several prison guards, and seriously injured Master Cheng."
Sheng Lengshuang and Mo Lingxi exchanged a look.
Mo Lingxi said sternly: "Search the entire area for Sima Min's whereabouts. You must capture her."
The dark guard responded with a "Yes" and retreated to carry out the order.
"I have a feeling something is wrong, but I can't quite put my finger on it," Sheng Lengshuang frowned. "If the Black Hand wanted to save Sima Min, why would they wait until today?"
Mo Lingxi comforted her: "Don't overthink it. No matter who is behind this, I will catch them."
Sheng Lengshuang thought it made sense and didn't dwell on it anymore: "I thought we could finally deal with Sima Min. Knowing Sima Min's personality, she will cause trouble as long as she is alive."
"If she causes trouble, we will be able to catch her."
"You should say, if she causes trouble, we can follow the clues."
Mo Lingxi gave her a thumbs-up and praised: "You are still the厉害 one."
Sheng Lengshuang: "...Your praise is really insincere."
"Excuse me, how should I praise you to be considered sincere?"
"Figure it out yourself."
Mo Lingxi, feeling rejected, touched his nose. It wasn't the first or second day he'd been disliked by his wife, so he was used to it.
...
Upon returning to the Sheng family, Sheng Lengshuang learned from the housekeeper that Princess Wen Ya had arrived and had been waiting in the main hall for some time.
Sheng Lengshuang thought for a moment and understood why Princess Wen Ya had come to see her.
She went to the main hall.
"I apologize for keeping Consort Chang waiting for so long," she said, curtsying.
Princess Wen Ya quickly helped her up and said timidly, "Not at all, not at all. I just arrived myself."
Sheng Lengshuang invited her to sit in the main seat, while she sat in the first seat on the left: "May I ask why Consort Chang has come to see me?"
Princess Wen Ya bit her lip, looking somewhat restless: "Um, I wanted to ask Miss Sheng for a favor."
"Consort Chang, please speak."
"It's... it's about my Southern Jin Dynasty."
Sheng Lengshuang feigned ignorance and asked, "Consort Chang, your words are very strange. I am from the Eastern Jin Dynasty, how can I help the Southern Jin Dynasty? If it's something ordinary, perhaps I can help Consort Chang."
Princess Wen Ya thought of the letter the envoy had given her. Despite her fear, she had to ask Sheng Lengshuang for help: "To be honest, Miss Sheng, His Highness Prince Ming Rui has already sent a document to my Southern Jin Dynasty, demanding compensation as written in the document, or else war will break out."
"I want to ask Miss Sheng to persuade His Highness Prince Ming Rui to reconsider the compensation."
Sheng Lengshuang looked troubled: "Consort Chang, I'm afraid I can't help you with this. As you know, as a minister's daughter, how can I manage court affairs? Moreover, this is a matter between the Eastern Jin Dynasty and the Southern Jin Dynasty, and I wouldn't dare to interfere."
Although Princess Wen Ya was timid, she was not foolish. She knew this was Sheng Lengshuang's excuse: "Miss Sheng, please help my Southern Jin Dynasty for the sake of the common people."
Sheng Lengshuang became even more troubled: "Consort Chang, it's really not that I don't want to help you, but that I can't. I don't want war either, but this is not something I can control."
Princess Wen Ya understood from this that Sheng Lengshuang truly would not help. This was not surprising; if it were her, she wouldn't help an enemy country in this situation either.
"I was being too demanding."
Sheng Lengshuang waved her hand: "Consort Chang is also doing it for her own country, I can understand."
Princess Wen Ya gave a bitter smile. She truly didn't want to manage the fate of the Southern Jin Dynasty, but her status dictated it. If she didn't, she would displease both sides.
"I won't disturb Miss Sheng any further." She nodded slightly and left with her palace maids.
Sheng Lengshuang touched her chin, a chill creeping into the corners of her eyes. Princess Wen Ya coming to find her meant this matter was not simple.
After all, for concubines in the harem to leave the palace, they needed the current Emperor's permission.
This meant that the Emperor wanted to do something through Princess Wen Ya, so he deliberately let her out of the palace to find her.
What was the Emperor trying to do?
...
As soon as Princess Wen Ya returned to the palace, Zi Cheng learned about it from the chief eunuch.
"Your Majesty, Consort Chang's complexion doesn't look very good. It seems she was unsuccessful."
Zi Cheng was not surprised. Without looking up from his memorial, he said: "It would be strange if my little aunt agreed. Have those people made any moves?"
The reason he let Princess Wen Ya out of the palace was to see what moves those people in the shadows would make.
The chief eunuch bowed slightly: "Reporting to Your Majesty, those people have not made any moves for the time being. However, with Princess Wen Ya's matter, it is expected that those people will make a move."
Zi Cheng: "Keep a close watch."
The more it was like this, the less they could relax their vigilance.
The chief eunuch responded with a "Yes."
Zi Cheng then remembered Sima Min's matter: "Wasn't Sima Min rescued? Search the entire Sima family, focusing on Sima Min's courtyard and the servants who attended her."
The chief eunuch retreated to handle the matter.
...
Sima Family.
The Imperial Guards searched the entire mansion, focusing on Sima Min's courtyard, even digging three feet deep to check for anything unusual.
They did find something.
It was under Sima Min's bed.
When Sheng Lengshuang arrived, she saw Mo Lingxi standing at what looked like the entrance to a secret passage.
She looked around. From the remaining state of the room, it appeared to be a luxurious, flamboyant, and scholarly woman's room. But now, the room was a mess, dug up with pits everywhere.
"Where does this secret passage lead?" she asked, standing beside Mo Lingxi and peering into the passage.
Mo Lingxi carefully supported her: "Still investigating. Also, the maids who served Sima Min have confessed a lot, which will surprise you."
Sheng Lengshuang's heart stirred: "Is it related to the Black Hand?"
"Clever!"
"You absolutely must not tell me that Sima Min is a subordinate of the Black Hand."
Mo Lingxi said gravely: "It's not certain yet, but Sima Min has had dealings with the Black Hand for a long time, which is one of the reasons she could scheme against you repeatedly."
Sheng Lengshuang blinked, recalling something: "So, Sima Min hired the Black Hand to kill Prince Rui and then frame me?"