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

Zhao Wan's eyes flashed with surprise and doubt, and she pondered for a moment before finally walking up to Xia Ximo and asking, "Are you General Xia's daughter?"

Beneath the cloak, Xia Ximo simply responded with a faint "Mm".

Not a single unnecessary word was spoken.

Seeing her cold demeanor and lack of any attempt to curry favor, Zhao Wan was already displeased and couldn't help but ask, "Is it true that you and Ren Fengjue were betrothed since childhood?"

Before Xia Ximo could answer, Ren Fengjue stepped forward and answered for her.

"Of course it's true."

Zhao Wan choked.

Xia Ximo also slightly raised his chin, glanced at Ren Fengjue, as if he wanted to say something, but held back.

The atmosphere suddenly became strange.

Princess Fenghua's face darkened, and the next second, she suddenly raised her voice: "Guards!"

The guard closest to her immediately stiffened and hurriedly stepped forward, "What are your orders, Princess?"

"Let's go back to the manor!"

Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, Zhao Wan stomped her foot so hard that her little leather boots sank deep into the snow.

But she was completely oblivious, and with another flick of her sleeve, she turned and left.

Yu Lang stared in disbelief and whispered to Ren Fengjue, "It seems the princess is angry."

Ren Fengjue was used to it and didn't care. "Let her be."

However, after a short while, several guards returned and said to them, "The princess has instructed that since you have come from afar, she, as the host, should entertain you. Please come to the Prince's residence."

Everyone could tell that Princess Fenghua's attitude was very firm. On the surface, she was "inviting" someone, but she was not giving anyone any room to refuse.

Ren Fengjue glanced at the situation at the city gate, and not wanting to wait any longer, he immediately nodded.

"That's fine. It's getting dark. Staying at the Prince's residence is much less troublesome than staying anywhere else."

With guards from the Wu King's Mansion clearing the way, they were able to enter Liangzhou City smoothly and go straight to the Wu King's Mansion.

Along the way, Yu Lang secretly recounted to Yan Zhengchu the deeds of King Wu in his youth, so exciting that it was as if he had witnessed them firsthand.

Among them were quite a few "romantic affairs".

Although his voice was soft, Lord Ren still heard it and immediately glanced at him: "Young Master Yu's storytelling skills are comparable to those of storytellers in teahouses and taverns."

Yu Lang then covered his mouth, no longer daring to speak.

Yan Zhengchu was listening intently and couldn't help but ask, "You just said that besides his wife, the King of Wu had married several concubines and mistresses, but then you said that he only had one daughter, Princess Fenghua. That sounds too strange."

Yu Lang was about to agree when Ren Fengjue interrupted him: "This is a family matter of the Prince's Mansion. You've seen the Princess's temper before. These are all taboo topics, so please don't get involved."

Upon hearing the young marquis's words, the two immediately fell silent, embarrassed.

After the carriage arrived at the Prince Wu's residence, everyone got off.

The head steward of the Prince's mansion, along with a group of servants, was greeting them at the entrance. At first glance, it seemed they were being given a great deal of face.

However, Yan Zhengchu glanced at the grand gate and courtyard behind him and immediately frowned.

The palace was filled with an eerie atmosphere, clearly harboring malevolent spirits.

Moreover, there was more than one strand.

He glanced at Xia Ximo, who happened to be looking at him as well. They exchanged a knowing look.

As soon as Steward Sun entered the hall, the maids immediately filed in, serving them hot tea and exquisite fruits and pastries for their enjoyment.

But Steward Sun said that Princess Fenghua had soiled her clothes when she returned and was changing them at the moment, so it would probably be a while before they could see them.

The group waited for nearly half an hour, until it was completely dark outside, but Zhao Wan was nowhere to be seen. They had no idea what she was up to.

After entering the mansion, Yan Zhengchu had been secretly working with the compass, and by now he had estimated the approximate location of the ghost.

He couldn't help but ask the steward, "If I may be so bold as to inquire, has anything strange happened at your residence lately?"

Steward Sun was all too familiar with this line.

If it were anyone else, he would never have paid them any attention.

But this person came with the young master of the Ren family, so we have to give him some face.

"The Taoist priest is truly a master strategist."

Steward Sun first offered a compliment before saying, "A thief broke into your residence last night and stole some valuables from the treasury."

Yan Zhengchu immediately said, "It's not related to any person, but rather to..."

Before he could finish speaking, a voice announced from outside: "The Princess has arrived!"

Upon hearing the noise, Steward Sun immediately found an excuse to leave.

As everyone looked over, they saw that Zhao Wan had indeed changed her outfit.

She wore a fox fur cloak made of brocade satin, with a gold-embroidered brocade skirt underneath, and deerskin boots on her feet.

The color of the clothes was still purple, but a brighter "rouge purple".

Needless to say, her makeup and hair were meticulously planned and selected, as if she wanted to wear all the "beautiful and expensive headdresses".

Surrounded by several maids, she entered the hall, where she shone brightly under the lamplight, truly dazzling.

Everyone stood up and bowed.

But Zhao Wan's eyes remained fixed on Ren Fengjue, assuming that when he looked at her, his eyes would reveal a look of "amazement".

However, the young marquis remained calm, his eyes showing no emotion.

It's as if you can't see her beauty at all.

Zhao Wan felt a subtle displeasure.

She glanced at Xia Ximo beside her again, and was slightly surprised.

After entering the mansion, Xia Ximo took off her cloak, revealing her face. Although her clothes were simple, her innate beauty was still undeniable.

Zhao Wan had long heard that the general's wife was a beauty, and that even if her daughter was sickly, she would certainly be beautiful.

Seeing it now, it was indeed so.

Thinking this, Zhao Wan felt even more uncomfortable. She deliberately walked up to Ren Fengjue and asked, "Ren Fengjue, do I look good in this outfit?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Lang, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but laugh and almost choked.

The young marquis remained unfazed, instead turning the question directly to Yu Lang: "What does Young Master Yu think?"

Yu Lang was startled and quickly lowered his eyes, flattering her, "The princess is naturally beautiful, so she looks good in anything."

Zhao Wan was unimpressed: "I'm asking you, not him."

Ren Fengjue then replied, "If I were to answer, the princess would certainly not be satisfied."

"..."

Zhao Wan knew exactly what he was going to say.

Back in the capital, in order to steal the limelight from her princess cousin, she would dress up for every occasion.

Therefore, he was criticized by the Empress Dowager for being too ostentatious.

She was hiding in a corner of the palace wall and crying when Ren Fengjue passed by, but she pretended not to see him.

When Zhao Wan got angry, she rushed up to him, hoping he would comfort her or praise her.

As a result, Ren Fengjue deliberately said things she didn't want to hear: "The Empress Dowager dislikes women in the harem being too ostentatious. Doesn't the Princess know that?"

Thinking of this, Zhao Wan immediately snorted: "I know what you're going to say, but this is Liangzhou, not the imperial palace. I like to show off, and I know you can't stand it, but I'm going to make you angry anyway."