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

"Yes, you only arrived yesterday, so I called you back to the manor early this morning."

Seeing her son's strange expression, Ren Xuan assumed it was due to reluctance, and her tone suddenly turned serious: "Do you feel there's something wrong?"

Ren Fengjue remained silent for a long time, his brow furrowed, and it was unclear what he was thinking.

The old marquis was subtly displeased.

"You've been so engrossed in investigating cases all these years, I won't interfere."

"You're already twenty, and you'll be twenty-one next year. Aren't you planning to get married yet?"

"Even if you can afford to be delayed, Xi Mo can't!"

At this moment, Ren Fengjue finally replied: "I'll go see the person first."

"..."

Ren Xuan knew his son's temperament well, and was afraid that he would be stubborn and unwilling to see people. Hearing him say this suddenly would be quite unusual for him.

"That would be perfect..."

He actually wanted to say something more, but Ren Fengjue walked out without delay, clearly more anxious than he was.

"Wait a minute!"

Although the old marquis was overjoyed, he feigned sternness: "Look at the state you're in! At least go back to your room and change your clothes; after all, it's our first meeting..."

"No need."

Ren Fengjue only heard half of what he said, and after throwing out a sentence, he left as if he had the wind on his feet.

Normally, Ren Xuan would have scolded him a few times.

But at this moment, the old marquis felt only immense satisfaction. He even hummed a tune as he turned back to tease the caged bird, muttering to himself, "You brat, it seems you've finally seen the light."

Lady Hou's breakfast was always served in the East Warm Pavilion. When Ren Fengjue arrived, the people inside were still having their meal.

The maidservant guarding the door saw his figure from afar and immediately announced inside, "The young marquis has arrived."

Upon hearing this, Lady Rong's laughter came from the inner room, and she deliberately asked him loudly, "Has Feng'er had breakfast yet?"

Upon hearing his mother's voice, Ren Fengjue deliberately slowed his pace, took off his cloak, and handed it to a maid before replying, "Not yet, Mother. I heard that distinguished guests have arrived at the manor, so I rushed back first."

As he spoke, he slowly stepped into the room and immediately saw a petite, unfamiliar woman sitting next to Rong.

"Come and sit down."

Rong immediately waved to him with a smile and introduced the person beside her: "This is General Xia's daughter, Xi Mo."

The woman immediately rose gracefully, lowered her head shyly, and gave him a slight curtsy: "Xi Mo greets Young Marquis."

Xia Ximo wore a moon-white brocade top with cloud patterns, paired with a matching silk skirt, and styled her hair in a trendy cloud bun with "hibiscus makeup".

She was elegant in demeanor and soft in voice. Like most noble ladies in the capital, she was well-mannered, dignified, and virtuous. It was difficult to find fault with any of her actions.

Ren Fengjue paused slightly, a fleeting, almost imperceptible change in expression crossing his face. He then raised his arm slightly and said politely, "Miss Xia, there's no need for such formalities."

Hearing his clear and melodious voice, Xia Ximo raised her head slightly, her gaze only briefly meeting his before quickly looking away.

Madam Rong was clearly very satisfied with her future "daughter-in-law." She affectionately took Xia Ximo's hand and said, "There's really no need to be polite with him. We're all family."

The maid had already brought over a chair and placed it next to "Miss Xia" according to the color of the Lady Hou's dress.

Ren Fengjue glanced at her, but subtly moved his chair next to the Lady Hou and sat down naturally.

"I'm really hungry, I need to eat something first."

This action caught Xia Ximo's eye, and he visibly paused slightly.

Seeing this, Rong had no choice but to move her chair closer to her side to show her intimacy.

Ren Fengjue took the porridge ladled over by the maid and ate a few mouthfuls himself. Seeing that "Xia Ximo" opposite him had sat down, he slowly asked, "I heard from Father that there have been some unexpected changes in Minister Mu's family recently. I wonder what difficulties they have encountered?"

Rong Shi was annoyed that he had to bring up such a sore subject, so she coughed lightly and prompted him, "You and Xi Mo have only just met, don't you have anything else to say?"

Ren Fengjue ignored his mother's comment and instead smiled gently, saying, "I asked that precisely because I care about 'Miss Xia'."

Xia Ximo slightly raised her eyelids, then lowered them again, concealing the complex emotions in her eyes, and carefully replied, "Ximo thanks you for your concern, Young Marquis. My uncle's family..."

She seemed hesitant to speak, and pursed her thin lips again: "Actually, everything has to do with my cousin..."

"Oh?"

Ren Fengjue immediately raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued, and asked, "I don't recall ever hearing that Minister Mu has a daughter."

Xia Ximo's slender fingers curled up slightly, and he nodded gently.

"My cousin is the same age as me, only three months older, but she has suffered from hysteria since childhood, so she rarely sees guests..."

Ren Fengjue put down his spoon and looked at her, seemingly listening intently and waiting for her to continue.

Xia Ximo didn't dare to meet his gaze, but she could clearly feel a burning gaze from above her head.

She vaguely realized that the man in front of her, who seemed gentle and had a pleasant voice, actually possessed an invisible force of coercion.

Under his gaze, she felt uneasy, but she couldn't show it on her face.

In this situation, she could only force out a tear, change her tone, and choke out, "For so many years, my aunt and uncle have been searching for renowned doctors to treat my cousin's hysteria, but unfortunately, it's all been to no avail..."

"Actually, my cousin is fine when she's not having an episode, but once she does, nobody can control her, and she might do something really bad..."

Ren Fengjue remained calm upon hearing this, only tapping the table lightly with his right index finger, seemingly lost in thought.

Xia Ximo could only grit his teeth and continue, "Eight days ago, my cousin had another attack. This time, she stormed into my room and tried to kill me..."

As she spoke, she lifted up her left sleeve, revealing a wound that was neither deep nor shallow.

Rong looked on with heartache and quickly said to the maid beside her, "I have a bottle of imperial-bestowed antiseptic ointment in my storeroom. Go and get it for Miss Xia."

The maidservant responded and left, but Ren Fengjue suddenly stood up and asked, "Miss Xia, may I take a look at your wound?"

Xia Ximo seemed somewhat surprised by this, and after hesitating for a moment, he slowly reached out his hand.

Seeing this, Rong assumed her son was also feeling sorry for his "fiancée," but instead heard him say seriously, "Judging from the wound, it was indeed inflicted by someone with a dagger. However, this person wasn't decisive enough and clearly held back..."

"..."

Xia Ximo's face stiffened slightly, and he quickly withdrew his hand, then hurriedly explained, "A person suffering from hysteria, when they go crazy, how can they show any mercy..."

Ren Fengjue ignored her question and instead asked, "And then? How did you escape?"

"It was my aunt who arrived in time with people and stopped my cousin. Only then did I realize that my cousin actually hated me very much. She... had always wanted to kill me."

As Xia Ximo spoke, fear flickered in her eyes, and her voice trembled slightly: "Moreover, she also said that she had actually killed someone."