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

As soon as the five carriages left, the beggars dispersed immediately.

Zhao Wan watched the figure from afar and snorted coldly, "I wonder what he's so smug about."

It was clear that the princess was very dissatisfied with these so-called three holy sons.

Ren Fengjue immediately asked, "Has the Princess seen these 'Three Holy Sons'?"

Yu Lang then asked, "Are these three Holy Sons one person or three people?"

Zhao Wan glanced at the two of them and then answered them both at the same time.

"I heard there were three people, but I've only seen one of them, and I didn't even see his face. They usually wear masks and don't show their true faces. They don't look like good people at all..."

Ren Fengjue nodded, but subconsciously glanced at the refugee who had just spoken.

The other person immediately avoided his gaze and lowered their head.

Clearly, this person knows something...

On the way back to Liangzhou City from the temple, Zhao Wan briefly told everyone about the rumors surrounding the "Three Holy Sons" in Liangzhou City.

About three years ago, when the Marquis of Zhenbei was seriously ill, his staff began to search the city for young men whose birth charts matched, whose destinies were similar, and who were the same age. The purpose of this search was unknown.

About six months after this incident, the term "Three Holy Sons" began to circulate in the city.

These "Three Holy Sons" are ostensibly the adopted sons of the Marquis of Zhenbei, but it is said that they possess great supernatural powers and can bring back to life anyone who is not completely dead and who receives blessings from them.

He quickly gained the support of the people of Liangzhou City.

"That year was when my father was at his most seriously ill..."

When King Wu was mentioned, a trace of grief appeared in Zhao Wan's eyes, but she quickly suppressed it. "I was so anxious at the time that I wanted to try to find the three holy sons."

"Then, I sent a letter in my father's name to the Marquis of Zhenbei's residence, requesting an audience with the Marquis of Zhenbei..."

Upon hearing this, everyone straightened their backs, pricked up their ears, and their expressions became serious.

Zhao Wan clearly sensed the atmosphere freeze, and asked in confusion, "Why do you all look at me like that? Do you also think my actions back then were stupid?"

Everyone quickly waved their hands, "No, absolutely not..."

Yu Lang said, "I'm just curious, did the princess really meet with the Marquis of Zhenbei and manage to invite the Three Holy Sons?"

Zhao Wan said with a regretful expression, "No, because when my father found out about this, he was so angry that he got off his sickbed and personally went to the Marquis's residence to bring me back..."

Her face was filled with dejection: "The whole of Liangzhou City knows that my father and the Marquis of Zhenbei are at odds. Even if the three holy sons are willing to help, my father's stubborn temper might not allow it."

"On that same day, in the Zhenbei Marquis's residence, I saw a masked man standing under the eaves. Judging from his figure and appearance, he should be the Third Holy Son mentioned in their rumors."

Yan Zhengchu, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up: "There is absolutely no possibility of any true god in the human world. In my opinion, the so-called Three Holy Sons are not much different from the ghosts and gods of Beiding County. I guess they are all evil spirits causing trouble."

Yu Lang said, "It seems we should start by investigating these 'Three Holy Sons'..."

Ren Fengjue pondered for a moment and made a plan in his mind.

Upon returning to the Prince's residence, the four people who had accompanied him disembarked from the carriage and looked up to see the plaque that read "Prince Wu's Residence." They were immediately stunned and at a loss for what to do.

Although Zhao Wan expressed her disdain, she still turned around and instructed Steward Sun to take the person away and ask the family physician to treat him.

This trip to Kaifu Temple certainly left everyone exhausted after most of the day.

In order not to delay the New Year's Eve vigil, they all went back to their rooms to rest first.

Xia Ximo had just returned to Zhenxia Courtyard when she bumped into Zhao Wan's personal maid, Xiao Xizi, coming out from inside.

The other person was somewhat afraid of her, so he immediately stopped and explained, "I am... ordered by the princess to come and purchase some things for Miss Xia."

Xia Ximo asked calmly, "Add what?"

Xiao Xizi said, "Several sets of new clothes for the New Year, and some matching jewelry."

Upon hearing this, Xia Ximo showed no joy on his face, and simply said, "There's no need to go to such trouble, I don't need it."

Xiao Xizi was taken aback: "How could we not need them? Tomorrow is the New Year's Eve, and these clothes are all newly made, and the jewelry was also the best that the princess picked out from her own dressing case last night."

She muttered to herself, "Even when the princess wanted it, the county princess wouldn't give it to her."

Xia Ximo replied, "Since it's so valuable, I can't accept it. You should take it back."

"Miss Xia!" Xiao Xizi was clearly a little angry. "This is all out of the princess's good intentions. The princess... truly considers you a friend!"

"...If you really don't want it, you should talk to the princess yourself."

Xiao Xizi said angrily, then turned and ran away.

Xia Ximo stood there stunned for a moment.

The word "friend" was completely foreign to her.

She doesn't need friends either.

Just a moment ago, she hesitated for a moment and didn't say those words out loud.

After Xia Ximo returned to the room, Wuyou immediately appeared as well. It stretched out its nose and sniffed again and again, saying, "Mogu, I seem to smell a trace of the soul of a wronged person, faint and indistinct..."

"Where?"

"Just now, on the way back to the palace from outside the city, I felt like a spirit was following us, and it followed us all the way to the palace gate, but it didn't seem to come in."

They probably didn't dare to get close because Yan Zhengchu was there.

"Let's go out and take a look now."

Xia Ximo took the Soul-Crossing Lamp and headed away.

On the other side, Ren Fengjue did not return to the guest courtyard, but instead planned to go to the backyard to check on the four people.

Guided by the servant, he found the room where the four people were being housed, and the physician was treating the young boy's wounds.

The others had just changed into clean clothes and were standing to the side.

Upon seeing Ren Fengjue, the slightly older man immediately stepped forward and was about to kneel down, but was stopped.

"You don't need to thank me for this; it was Princess Fenghua who was willing to take you in."

Ren Fengjue smiled slightly and said, "My surname is Ren. I am a friend of the princess and a guest at your residence. May I ask how you gentlemen are addressed?"

The man said, "We are from the same village, and we are all surnamed Zhu. My given name is Peng, the Peng of 'Great Roc spreading its wings'."

Zhu Peng then pointed to two men of similar age and appearance beside him and said, "These two are brothers, and everyone calls them Zhu Da and Zhu Er."

"The youngest one is called Xiaozai, he's my nephew."

Ren Fengjue nodded before saying, "Today is New Year's Eve. Since the princess is willing to take you in, please stay here and recover from your injuries. You can also spend the New Year here..."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Peng was visibly taken aback, and his eyes instantly reddened, perhaps because something painful had been mentioned.

He suddenly thought of something, his expression became tense, and he subconsciously looked down and around, then suddenly panicked.

"Where...where are my clothes?"