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

It was nearly midnight when Xia Ximo finally emerged from the Brocade Clothing Store.

As the waiter had said, a carriage was parked at the door, and the steward, Ren Cong, was waiting.

"Miss Xia."

Although she had waited for nearly half an hour, Ren Cong showed no sign of resentment. He stepped forward and took the initiative to lift the carriage curtain for her, and said respectfully, "I have been ordered by Lord Ren to come and take the young lady back to her residence."

As expected, Xia Ximo simply responded and boarded the carriage without any hesitation.

Ren Cong was not surprised by this. After the other party was seated, he drove the carriage around and headed back to the mansion.

The rumble of the car was exceptionally clear in the quiet night.

Halfway through the journey, the person sitting in the car suddenly spoke up.

"I'm just staying at your residence for a few days. Tell Ren Fengjue not to ask what I'm doing here."

"Even if he did something, it has nothing to do with him."

Upon hearing this, Ren Cong paused in his driving, momentarily at a loss for words.

He spent most of his life in wealthy and powerful families, dealing with the powerful and influential for half his life.

It took me so long to gain insight into the ways of the world and learn to discern the true intentions behind half a sentence.

Few people are like that, completely open and honest, without even a hint of beating around the bush.

"Miss Xia... you must have misunderstood."

He wanted to explain something, but the other person just took over the conversation.

"It's better if it's a misunderstanding; no need to explain."

"..."

Ren Cong had nothing to say and could only silently drive the carriage.

About fifteen minutes later, the two returned to the Ren residence. Ren Fengjue did not go to bed, but waited in the study.

Hearing the noise, he slowly lowered his hand holding the pen, and then he saw a face that was faintly blackened.

Clearly, Steward Ren had once again been humiliated by that woman.

"how?"

Ren Fengjue asked, but then dipped his pen in ink again and looked down at the documents on the table.

Ren Cong slowly exhaled a breath of stale air and said, "The clothing store said that Miss Xia went there only to alter her clothes."

"Is it really just alterations?"

Ren Fengjue raised an eyebrow slightly, somewhat surprised.

Ren Cong nodded, looking somewhat conflicted, and then truthfully reported the whole story, including what Xia Ximo had said in the carriage on the way back.

In his opinion, although the matter sounded strange, it made sense when applied to that girl with the peculiar behavior.

After listening, Ren Fengjue finally put down his pen, leaned back slightly, and murmured, "She's certainly not one to beat around the bush."

Ren Cong couldn't help but whisper in agreement, "I've never seen such a cold-hearted person. They have absolutely no 'human touch'."

Lord Ren remained silent, gazing thoughtfully towards the guest rooms in the east courtyard.

-

The next day was a rare sunny day.

Before 9:00 AM, someone came to see Ren at the gate of his residence.

But this time, it was a completely new face.

Ah Chun didn't recognize him, but when she heard that the other party claimed to be from Jinxiu Clothing Store, she called over the steward, Ren Cong.

Ren Cong hadn't slept well the night before and was still half asleep when he saw an elderly man in a gray robe sitting in the hall, which startled him greatly.

This person was none other than Ren Shuo, the former owner of Jinxiu Clothing Store.

This startled Ren Cong.

In terms of seniority, the man before them was Ren Xuanhou's cousin, and even Ren Fengjue had to address him as his paternal uncle.

Why did he suddenly come to visit?

"Mr. Ren, why did you come in person?"

Ren Cong hurriedly stepped forward, but he was quite puzzled.

Three years ago, Ren Shuo stepped back from the limelight and handed over the business of the clothing store to several managers.

I heard that two years ago he went to the mountain to cultivate in seclusion with a Taoist priest, and he rarely came down the mountain unless there was something to do.

When he saw Ren Cong, he didn't put on airs. He immediately stood up, his slender eyes smiling yet gleaming with a sharp light.

"It is I who have disturbed you."

Ren Cong quickly poured him tea and said, "Young Marquis went to the palace before dawn, and I'm afraid he won't be back until around 11 PM at the earliest."

"Your household is quite leisurely, and the servants are used to being lazy. They have really neglected you, Master Ren."

Ren Shuo smiled and said, "It's alright. The young marquis is now a favorite of the emperor; how could he be easily seen?"

"I have come today to meet a distinguished guest of your household."

These words stunned Ren Cong even more.

What does that mean?

He didn't come for the young marquis?

After thinking it over, the only person Ren Cong could think of was the girl in the guest room in the east wing.

Why does Ren Shuo want to see her?

He asked tentatively, "Is the one Master Ren is referring to... the girl who went to the clothing shop to have her clothes altered last night?"

Ren Shuo nodded, "Yes, that girl's surname is Xia."

Ren Cong's heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively felt that he had been tricked.

Manager Liu wasn't telling the truth at all!

The woman's trip to Jinxiu Clothing Store was definitely not just for altering clothes, otherwise why would it have alarmed Ren Shuo?

What a huge mess this is!

Ren Shuo picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and then glanced at Ren Cong's expression out of the corner of his eye. Finally, he asked, "I wonder... if it would be convenient to ask that Miss Xia to come out and meet me?"

Ren Cong quickly weighed the options in his mind, but how could he dare to say "no"?

He put on a pained expression, feigning difficulty, and said, "Master Ren, Miss Xia is a guest of the manor. With the young marquis not here, I dare not make any decisions on my own."

"To be honest, this young lady is new to the capital and doesn't know any manners. She has a rather peculiar personality. I... don't know if I can persuade her to come."

Ren Shuo put down his teacup, his face beaming with a friendly smile. "This young lady's surname is Xia. I can roughly guess her identity. Since we're all family, there's no need to stand on ceremony."

"Just go and inform the young marquis of my relationship with him."

Ren Cong secretly groaned, thinking to himself, even if this Miss Xia is engaged to the young marquis, she should see the marquis and his wife first, not her uncle first.

But he really couldn't refuse this lord, so he could only agree and brace himself as he went to the east courtyard.

In front of the guest room, Xia Ximo placed a chair in the middle of the courtyard and leaned back in the chair, closing her eyes to bask in the sun.

As you get closer, you'll see that she's holding a strange lotus lantern in her hand, the nature of which is unknown.

This relaxed and carefree attitude suggests that he doesn't consider himself an outsider at all.

Ren Cong glanced at the "ugly thing" in her hand, coughed lightly while covering his mouth, and then greeted her, "Miss Xia."

Upon hearing this, Xia Ximo finally raised his eyelids and lazily glanced at the other person.

He was very arrogant and had no intention of getting up.

Ren Cong didn't take it to heart and said directly, "A guest has come to our residence and wishes to see you, young lady. He is currently sitting in the hall. Would you mind if I made a trip there?"

"Are they from Jinxiu Clothing Store?"

He had only intended to test the waters, but the answer surprised Ren Cong.

"Yes, it's the former owner of the clothing store."

"Um."

Xia Ximo responded calmly, then closed his eyes again and said, "I will not see him unless he is willing to settle that wrongful case for me."