Holding a lantern, guiding souls across, Lady Hou comes from the underworld.

The indoor lighting was dim.

In the silence, you can clearly hear the night wind rattling the windowpanes.

Ren Fengjue remained still, observing Xia Ximo's expression.

"A few days ago, I sent someone to Xiling County, intending to find the 'crazy cousin' Mu Tingting that Miss Xia mentioned."

When I arrived, the Mu family had already dismissed all the servants, leaving only a steward, a gatekeeper, and two or three old servants to guard the house.

"Everything is exactly as Miss Xia described. Miss Mu suffered a fit of hysteria, injured someone, and then disappeared..."

The person opposite, Xia Ximo, listened quietly, as if the matter had nothing to do with him, and showed no unusual expression.

Ren Fengjue continued, "So, my men looked around the Mu residence and were surprised to find that the place where 'Miss Xia' was staying was actually called 'Tingshui Nuange'?"

Xia Ximo paused, but a smile appeared on his lips.

Then, she lowered her head slightly, and when she looked up again, her eyes inexplicably began to dart away.

Compared to how I felt a second ago, it was like I was a completely different person.

"Tingshui Nuange was originally my cousin's boudoir. Because I've always been sensitive to the cold, my aunt let me live there."

Ren Fengjue's long eyes were half-closed, taking in these subtle changes in her expression, before he continued, "So, Miss Xia likes needlework?"

Upon hearing the word "needlework," Xia Ximo trembled slightly again, and stammered, "Yes..."

"I am not in good health and cannot go out often, so in my spare time I can only do embroidery in my room."

Ren Fengjue smiled slightly: "When you went to the Duke of Du's mansion that day, I went to your room and saw that your craftsmanship was indeed exquisite, which shows that it has been accumulated over many years."

"However, this thing is too mentally taxing and strains your eyes, so it might not be suitable for you..."

"I remember a few years ago, my father said that Daqi's first female painter loved painting as much as her life."

"When you were still an infant, she often painted by candlelight all night long, but she would place you, a young child, directly on the table, letting the candlelight shine all night. How could your eyes withstand that?"

"So much so that later, when she wanted you to learn to paint, she discovered that if you stared at one thing for too long, your eyes would get blurry and uncomfortable..."

Although these words were spoken lightly, Xia Ximo visibly trembled upon hearing them.

She said guiltily, "How could I... possibly remember something so trivial?"

Ren Fengjue didn't seem to care and continued, "They are indeed a bit small, but they should remember when they're older, right?"

"Since you moved into the Mu residence, the Marquis's mansion has been sending a batch of precious medicinal herbs to Xiling County every now and then."

"Among these medicinal herbs, there are several aromatic herbs that come from the Western Regions. They are extremely rare and cannot be obtained in Xiling County."

Do you remember me?

Xia Ximo's fingers began to tremble in her sleeves, and even Ren Fengjue could see her panic.

"The medicine is always prepared by the matrons in the manor; I don't know much about it..."

"That would be strange."

Ren Fengjue said solemnly, "Every time, the Mu family sends over a list of herbs, claiming that the list was written by an old servant of the General's Mansion, and only then does the Marquis's Mansion make the purchases according to the list."

He suddenly raised his voice: "Miss Xia has been taking medicine for so long, how could she not know?"

Upon hearing this, Xia Ximo suddenly stood up: "I truly don't know!"

Seeing her strong reaction, Ren Fengjue slowly stood up and stared at her: "You don't know because—you are not Xia Ximo at all."

"Right, Miss Mu?"

He pulled out a copied account book from his sleeve, his expression growing increasingly cold.

"This is the bill that Xinglintang uses to record this medicinal herb. Those batches of herbs were not used on Xia Ximo at all. Instead, they were directly taken to the pharmacy and resold by your Mu family."

"The person you're referring to as suffering from hysteria isn't named 'Mu Tingting,' but rather Lady Liu, the concubine of Minister Mu!"

"The reason Ms. Liu suffers from hysteria is because her son died seven years ago, but you say that the child was killed by 'Mu Tingting'..."

Hearing his words, Mu Tingting stood there for a long time without responding, her petite body trembling.

She bit her lower lip and lowered her head, as if she was struggling with something inside.

Ren Fengjue's tone was icy as he continued, "Do you think that just because your father, as the Vice Minister of the Chancellery, forced the Xiling County government to suppress the truth about Fan's suicide in prison, you can just fabricate stories like this?"

"What happened the night before Fan was imprisoned cannot be concealed simply because you dismissed all the servants!"

"Your father, Mu Zheng, already admitted two days ago to what you and your mother have done to Xia Ximo over the years!"

"Mu Tingting, you impersonated someone else and deceived the Marquis's mansion. Now that things have come to this, are you still going to try to deny it?!"

Mu Tingting suddenly clenched her fingers, then looked up with a strange smile on her face.

She said coldly and defiantly, "Young Marquis's reasoning is truly frightening!"

Ren Fengjue also keenly noticed that in just a moment, the feeling emanating from this person had changed again!

"After saying all that, are you going to expose me to the Madam and the Marquis?"

Mu Tingting spoke with disdain, even swaying her hips slightly as she took two steps closer to him.

"I just want to say that you don't need to take the identity of this 'Xia Ximo' too seriously, young marquis. If you met the real Xia Ximo, you might not like him."

"Since the Lady of the Marquis recognizes me, the entire Marquis's mansion recognizes me, and even the whole capital recognizes me, why don't you just consider me as her?"

Ren Fengjue felt a chill run down his spine when he heard that she not only showed no remorse but also spoke of it as if it were perfectly reasonable.

"You don't actually think my mother will still acknowledge you or protect you after she finds out about this!"

"Stop your delusions! There will be no place for you in the Marquis's mansion!"

"Young Marquis, don't speak too soon." Mu Tingting still smiled confidently. "I know that Young Marquis must despise me very much."

"He even wishes he could lock me up in the Ministry of Justice's prison and torture me repeatedly, just to vent his anger on your real fiancée..."

"But the young marquis has always been meticulous and not a reckless person. Why was he suddenly summoned back to the marquis's residence tonight? Didn't he notice anything amiss?"

Ren Fengjue immediately felt a chill run down his spine.

It felt like being hit on the head with a stick!

Is it...

He lost his judgment for a moment and immediately opened the door to go outside, but almost bumped into Rong Shu who came to report.

"What's wrong with Mother?" Ren Fengjue asked instinctively.

Rong Shu was taken aback. "Madam... just fell asleep."

She added, "I came to inform you, young master, that Yu Shaoqing has suddenly come to our door, saying he has something important to discuss with you."

Ren Fengjue was still worried about his mother, so he went to see her in person. He was relieved to see that Rong was lying on the bed without any problems.

He dared not relax his vigilance, turning to sternly order, "From this moment forward, you must keep a close watch on Madam at all times. That 'Miss Xia' is not to be allowed near her!"

"Furthermore, summon two matrons to send her to the North Garden and lock her up temporarily. No one is allowed to see her!"