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

After resting for another night at Mingyue Manor, the group set off for Liangzhou City.

At the foot of the mountains in northern Vietnam, the snow was still heavy and vast. The mountain village and the abandoned post station were soon hidden in the snow until they disappeared.

Due to the rugged snow-covered roads, it was already dark when they arrived outside Liangzhou City.

Everyone hoped to find a place to stay in the city and have a good meal.

However, they were stopped by the soldiers guarding the city gate.

"Everyone get out of the car, routine search!"

Yu Lang was driving the carriage at this time. As the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, he was used to traveling freely and had never encountered such a situation before.

However, Lord Ren had instructed that upon entering the city, it would be inconvenient to reveal one's identity, and that one should first investigate the situation within the city.

So, without saying anything more, everyone got off the carriage one after another.

But upon disembarking from the carriage, a quick glance revealed a large crowd blocking the city gate.

Whether entering or leaving the city, a thorough search must be conducted.

Yu Lang whispered, "I didn't expect the guards in Liangzhou City to be so strict, even more so than those in the capital."

Ren Fengjue replied, "Something must have happened suddenly. It wasn't like this when I entered the city yesterday..."

Upon hearing this, Yu Lang immediately craned his neck and looked ahead.

The snow was still falling. Seeing that the city gate was heavily blocked, Ren Fengjue figured he wouldn't be able to get in anytime soon, so he glanced at Xia Ximo in the snow.

He instructed Asha, "Go to the carriage and get my cloak."

A-Xia went to get it immediately.

However, after receiving the cloak, Ren Fengjue went straight to Xia Ximo and put it on her.

The men's cloak was far too large for Xia Ximo's slender figure.

Ren Fengjue was also taller than the average person, so his size was also larger.

The drape was now on Xia Ximo, almost completely covering her.

However, at that moment, a group of people suddenly appeared in the snow.

The leader was a young woman, wearing a purple cloak and black leather boots, and holding a whip in her hand.

Seeing her arrive so aggressively, and with a group of well-trained guards following behind her, at first glance, one might think she was there to cause trouble.

Then Yu Lang suddenly spoke up: "Oh no, I almost forgot she's in Liangzhou City too!"

Yan Zhengchu couldn't help but ask, "You know him?"

Yu Lang glanced at Ren Fengjue and lowered his voice, saying, "Speaking of which, he is one of the young marquis's admirers..."

"what?"

Sure enough, the next second, a clear voice was heard saying, "Ren Fengjue, I told you, I would recognize you even if you turned to ashes."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Yu Lang could only frantically suppress his laughter, wanting to laugh but not daring to, finding it extremely difficult to hold it in.

In contrast, Ren Fengjue remained calm and replied, "Princess Fenghua, it's been a long time."

Princess Zhao Wan is the current emperor's niece and the eldest daughter of the late King Wu.

Zhao Wan is two years older than Princess Ding'an and just turned seventeen this year.

She spent a few years in the palace when she was young, and she and Ren Fengjue have known each other since childhood.

However, Princess Fenghua has a fiery temper and is even more willful and capricious than Princess Ding'an.

Her reason for "liking" the young master of the Ren family was also strange; it was all because her cousin, a princess, liked him.

From childhood to adulthood, she would always ask for a share of anything Princess Ding'an had.

Emperor Qingkang, mindful of his deceased elder brother, always showed great favor to this niece.

Ren Fengjue was constantly pestered by the two sisters during his time at the palace school.

The difference is that Princess Ding'an addressed him as "Brother Feng" repeatedly, showing him considerable respect.

But Princess Fenghua was different. She always addressed people by their given names, and when she was angry, she would even come up with some random nicknames that made people laugh.

At this point, three years had passed since the two last met.

Princess Fenghua has not only grown taller, but her appearance has also become more and more beautiful and charming. However, her temper has not changed at all.

She walked straight up to Ren Fengjue, looked him up and down, and suddenly frowned: "How come you're so much taller than me?"

"I've grown taller over the years, haven't I?"

Ren Fengjue simply smiled, his tone indifferent, clearly maintaining distance and propriety: "I didn't expect to meet the princess here."

Then, he glanced at the bodyguards behind her.

This group of people is different from the Golden Feather Guards in the capital. They were all selected from the Golden Feather Army to protect Princess Fenghua.

The Golden Feather Army was an elite force personally trained by King Wu.

Back then, upon hearing that the young Marquis of the Ren family had been taken to the Golden Feather Army camp for training, Princess Fenghua used various excuses to force herself to go to the camp to see him.

Zhao Wan replied, "A thief broke into my house and stole quite a few things. I'm catching the thief right now."

Yu Lang, who was standing to the side, immediately realized what was going on.

No wonder there was such a big commotion all of a sudden; it turns out someone had "offended" Princess Fenghua.

Ren Fengjue replied, "I remember that the Wu King's residence has always been guarded by the Golden Feather Army. How could thieves have broken in?"

Zhao Wan raised her eyebrows and immediately cursed, "I don't know who has the guts to do this. If I catch him, I will beat him until his skin is torn and his flesh is ripped."

Upon hearing this, those around her couldn't help but glance at the soft whip in her hand.

"Oh, right!"

But compared to catching the thief, Zhao Wan was clearly more interested in Ren Fengjue's arrival: "Why did you suddenly come to Liangzhou City? Did you come specifically to see me?"

As he spoke, his eyes swept over the area behind him, from Yu Lang to Yan Zhengchu, then to A Xia, and finally settled on Xia Ximo.

Then he asked, "And who are these people?"

Yu Lang stepped forward, about to speak, but Zhao Wan said, "You don't need an introduction, I know you, your name is Yu Lang."

"I am grateful that Your Highness still remembers."

Ren Fengjue introduced Zhao Wan in turn: "This is Master Yan from Yunhe Mountain."

Yan Zhengchu cupped his hands in greeting: "This humble Daoist Yan Zhengchu greets Princess Fenghua."

Zhao Wan simply nodded, then pointed to Xia Ximo not far away and asked, "I want to know, who is she?"

At this moment, Xia Ximo was wearing Ren Fengjue's cloak, with half of her face covered by the hood, only revealing a bit of her chin and slender neck.

But her skin was fair and delicate, and it was obvious at a glance that she was a woman.

Zhao Wan had never seen any woman by Ren Fengjue's side. It was said that there were no maids in his residence in the capital.

This kind of person, going on a long trip, actually brings a woman with him?

This is highly suspicious!

Ren Fengjue glanced at Xia Ximo and solemnly introduced her, "This is General Xia's daughter, Xia Ximo."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Wan's expression immediately changed drastically.

"Surname Xia?"

She had a pretty good idea of ​​who the other person was.

Ren Fengjue's betrothed since childhood was rumored to be the daughter of General Xia Qing, the protector of the nation.

But he had never mentioned this person before.

Rumors are circulating in the capital that the young marquis is not satisfied with this marriage, but he can't go against his parents' wishes.

The Xia family's daughter is sickly and might pass away any day.

But now, Ren Fengjue is actually taking her with him on his trip?