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

This inexplicable sentence left Ren Cong completely baffled.

What wrongful conviction? What was the resolution?

Is this girl talking nonsense?

Standing there, Ren Cong was once again rebuffed. He scratched his head and couldn't help but ask another question.

"Girl... what do you mean by that?"

Xia Ximo didn't lift his eyelids anymore. His cold face faced the sunlight, and he looked somewhat weak because he was too pale.

However, the words he spoke were still merciless.

"You don't need to know too much, just tell him what I have to say."

Ren Cong hesitated for a moment, and after understanding the other party's attitude, he went back into the hall and reluctantly told Ren Shuo the result that they "could not be persuaded".

Ren Shuo seemed unsurprised by this, his expression remaining unchanged, though his eyes darkened slightly as he asked, "Did Miss Xia bring any message?"

This stumped Ren Cong again.

He can't possibly... actually say what he just said, can he?

"This…"

For the first time in his life, Ren Cong hated himself for having a mouth, but seeing Ren Shuo narrow his eyes, he knew that he had no choice but to say it.

"What Miss Xia said was a bit strange. She only said that she wanted to settle some wrongful case..."

Upon hearing this, Ren Shuo's expression instantly darkened.

-

Ren Fengjue returned to his residence around 5 PM, as usual.

But this time, upon entering, Ren Cong rushed over before A Chun and took the official hat from his hands.

Seeing this, he could probably sense that today's events were extraordinary.

"I heard someone came to visit during the day?"

"Who are they? What brings them here?"

Ren Cong had been holding back all day, waiting for Lord Ren to return to the mansion. When questioned, he immediately blurted out everything.

After hearing what had happened, Ren Fengjue was also somewhat surprised.

My uncle appears kind on the surface, but he is actually very cunning. He came down the mountain just to meet a woman who has just arrived in the capital.

No, something must have happened.

Moreover, it must be related to his idle cousin.

After pondering for a moment, Ren Fengjue instructed Ren Cong, "Go to Jinxiu Clothing Store and find out more about their young master."

Ren Cong understood immediately.

Master Ren always doted on his only son, and most things that could alarm him were related to this.

Without asking any further questions, they went straight to inquire.

Ren Fengjue temporarily suspended his official duties, went back to his room to change into casual clothes, and then went to the guest room in the east courtyard alone.

At this moment, the sun was setting, leaving only a lingering glow in the courtyard.

In the dim light, a thin figure leaned against a chair, motionless, as if fast asleep.

Upon seeing this scene, Ren Fengjue paused, slightly surprised.

At this hour, the chill in the air is growing stronger, yet the woman, dressed in only thin clothes, is sleeping so soundly.

Is she really not afraid of the cold?

After a moment's hesitation, Lord Ren deliberately increased the volume of his footsteps and slowly approached.

The other party remained completely unaware.

"Miss Xia."

Left with no other choice, Ren Fengjue could only call out softly.

The person who was fast asleep was finally moved. Seeing her eyelashes flutter slightly, she seemed to open her eyes with some effort.

"you…"

He opened his mouth, but before he could speak, the other person suddenly reached out a hand and grabbed his sleeve unexpectedly.

The excessively cold touch startled Ren Fengjue, and he instinctively tried to back away, but his hand was immediately grabbed again.

"Don't move."

The other party's intentions were unclear, but their voice sounded somewhat weak and hoarse.

Ren Fengjue then noticed that her pale face was almost devoid of color, and even her lips were pale with a bluish tinge.

Something seems off about this!

As a result, the hand that originally wanted to pull away was forced to remain frozen in mid-air.

Are you sick?

Lost in thought for a moment, he suddenly remembered something and called out, "Guards!"

However, after calling out several times, no one responded.

Ren Fengjue then realized that this was not the Marquis's residence, there was no physician here, and he had always been used to peace and quiet and did not like being served by others.

Ren Cong has just left, and the remaining four servants, "Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter," are all busy with their own duties and cannot come over in time.

He frowned slightly, not caring too much about anything else. Just as he was about to bend down and pick the woman up from the chair, he was startled again.

In an instant, the other person's face regained some color, and even their cold hand became a little warmer.

This made Ren Fengjue somewhat doubtful. Could it be that he had just imagined it?

Xia Ximo felt that familiar, pure energy coursing through his body. The continuous warmth gradually restored sensation to his previously stiff body.

My soul returned to its place, and I felt refreshed and invigorated.

Sure enough, being in the sun all day couldn't compare to how "useful" this man was.

"I am not sick."

After a moment of lingering affection, she finally released that warm hand.

Upon hearing this, Ren Fengjue involuntarily took two steps back, but couldn't help saying, "It's getting dark, and the courtyard is cold. You're dressed too lightly, so you should go inside first."

"Need not."

Xia Ximo glanced at him and asked, "What do you want from me?"

Ren Fengjue then remembered his purpose and asked directly, "My uncle came by earlier today. Do you know him?"

"I don't know him."

Ren Fengjue paused for a moment, then asked, "Then what is this so-called wrongful conviction you're referring to?"

Xia Ximo gave him a cold look, her attitude resolute.

"This has nothing to do with you."

Faced with such a blunt reply, Lord Ren was slightly taken aback, and inexplicably understood why Ren Cong always returned with a dark face after handling affairs.

He couldn't help but smile. "This matter is indeed not directly related to me, but our engagement is still in effect. If you are involved in any murder case, I will also be implicated."

Xia Ximo did not refute his words, but changed the subject, "You said that you would get a reply in three to five days. Today is the third day. In two more days at most, there will be no more connection between you and me."

As she spoke, she ignored what Ren Fengjue had to say and got up to walk towards the guest room.

Ren Fengjue noticed that she was holding a lotus lantern, which was entirely black and had a strange appearance. He wondered what its purpose was.

He was about to say something when a cloud of doubt suddenly clouded his mind.

Why is Xia Ximo so eager to sever ties with me? Could it be that she has some kind of entanglement with Ren Dongxing?

It seems that this woman's intentions in coming to the capital are indeed not simple.

That night, a carrier pigeon flew in from the south, bringing news of the latest developments in Xiling County.

Yao Guang wrote in her letter that only one strange thing had happened at the Mu residence recently.

A few days ago, Madam Mu turned herself in and went to jail, where she hanged herself that very night.

The reasons behind this are unknown.

After reading the letter, Ren Fengjue fell into deep thought.

The timeline before and after this event happens exactly before Xia Ximo came to Beijing.

Is Madam Mu's matter also related to her?

At this moment, Ren Cong also brought back some shocking news from Jinxiu Clothing Store.

Ren Dongxing inexplicably went insane.