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

"substitute?"

Yan Zhengchu frowned, but said, "If it were an illusion, it shouldn't be completely flawless."

Zhao Wan suddenly spoke up, "I've noticed something's not quite right..."

Upon hearing this, everyone turned to look at her.

Ren Fengjue said, "The princess is the only one who has seen the Marquis of Zhenbei, so she should be more likely to discover it."

Zhao Wan said, "Actually, I've only met him once. I just feel that his attitude towards Miss Xia seems a little off, but I can't quite put my finger on why..."

Ren Fengjue nodded; he had noticed it too, of course.

Jiang Ting's several changes in expression were clearly related to Xia Ximo.

He seemed very polite to her, and even appeared somewhat wary of her…

Xia Ximo herself didn't feel much. In fact, from the first moment she saw the Marquis of Zhenbei, she knew that he was not the person she was looking for.

This person is either a puppet or there's something else going on...

In short, the evil spirit that was stirring up trouble in the shadows has not yet made its direct appearance.

Yu Lang immediately asked, "Sir, from which aspect should we begin our detailed investigation next?"

Ren Fengjue lowered his eyes and thought for a moment, then said, "Don't rush to make a decision, let's wait and see."

"Are we waiting for Wan Tingjun to find Di Nu's whereabouts?"

Yu Lang was puzzled; this was not like Lord Ren's usual style.

But Ren Fengjue nodded and replied, "It's not just that, there's also news about the Shadow Guards."

Yu Lang was immediately taken aback. "When did the Shadow Guards arrive in Liangzhou City?"

"Thinking back, I had already secretly contacted Yaoguang back in Beiding County. They even arrived in Liangzhou City a day earlier than us."

"Now, about ten days have passed, and they should have figured out the situation in the entire Liangzhou City by now."

Hearing Ren Fengjue's words, Yu Lang breathed a sigh of relief.

"I knew Lord Ren was a prudent man who would keep something in reserve. These Shadow Guards are too well hidden; even I didn't know about them."

Ren Fengjue smiled, not revealing too much, and only said, "Alright, it's getting late, and everyone must be exhausted from the past two days. Take advantage of the fact that Yaoguang hasn't sent any news yet and get some rest."

Yu Lang also sighed, "This year's New Year was really tiring. In the past, I would still be resting at home at this time."

After everyone dispersed, they went back to their respective residences.

Xia Ximo had only taken a couple of steps when she noticed Ren Fengjue following her.

She stopped and turned to look at him: "Is there anything else?"

Ren Fengjue asked, "I haven't seen you eat anything since last night. Aren't you hungry?"

Xia Ximo was preoccupied with other things and hadn't remembered this incident at all. Just as she was about to say she wasn't hungry, her stomach started growling.

The sound is quite loud.

"I'll just grab something to eat later."

She didn't feel embarrassed at all, and turned to leave, but he gently tugged at the hem of her clothes.

Ren Fengjue then said, "I'm actually quite hungry. On my way back, I think I saw a restaurant by the roadside. Would you like to come with me?"

As he spoke, he pulled her outside. Xia Ximo wondered why they had to go outside when the Zhuang Neiyuan clearly had a kitchen where they could order whatever they wanted to eat.

But Ren Fengjue didn't give her a chance to refuse. He walked briskly, holding her hand tightly, and didn't let go...

The two walked one after the other in the vast white snow, their footprints almost forming a line.

After walking a long way south from the manor gate, I finally saw a steaming restaurant by the roadside.

The shop owners were an elderly couple, and they were arguing at the moment.

"It's only the third day of the Lunar New Year, there's hardly anyone on the road. Instead of resting at home, they insist on opening a shop. They've been keeping watch all day, making so many dumplings and frying so many spring vegetable balls, who are they going to eat?"

The mother-in-law was full of resentment and blamed everything on her husband.

But the old man smiled and said, "I did a divination this morning, and it's certain we'll have customers today. I'm just idling at home anyway, so I might as well come to the shop and keep busy."

As the two were arguing, they happened to see a pair of figures in the snow.

"Look, the guests have arrived!"

Upon seeing guests arrive, the old woman immediately cleared her throat and her expression instantly changed. "Quickly go and wipe the tables and chairs."

"Would you two like something to eat? Please come in quickly."

Ren Fengjue found a warm spot in the shop for Xia Ximo to sit down before asking the shopkeeper, "What do you have to eat?"

The old woman pointed to the steaming pot and introduced with a smile, "There are freshly wrapped 'gold ingots' and 'spring pancakes,' which are a must-eat during the Chinese New Year."

"Golden ingot" refers to dumplings, while "spring pancakes" are dumplings made by frying spring vegetables.

One symbolizes Najib, while the other represents reunion.

Ren Fengjue said, "Then I'll take one for each of us."

The shop was kept clean and tidy, showing that the elderly couple were very efficient and meticulous in their work.

Xia Ximo glanced around the shop and could see something amiss, but said nothing.

Ren Fengjue sat down beside her, and after the food was served, he carefully picked up his chopsticks and handed them to her. He also placed a small dish containing some vinegar in front of her.

Xia Ximo never stood on ceremony with him. He picked up his chopsticks and started eating slowly when footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door.

The newcomer was dressed in all black, carrying a bag on his shoulder and wearing a bamboo hat, looking quite like a江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry).

Despite the guests' behavior, the old woman still greeted them warmly, using the same words.

However, after entering the room, that person sat directly next to Ren Fengjue.

As she removed her straw hat, a pair of rather pretty faces were revealed; she was actually a woman.

Shadow Guard Yao Guang glanced at Xia Ximo beside Ren Fengjue. Judging from her expression, she was clearly puzzled. Why did Lord Ren bring unrelated people with him when he was doing important business?

So she coughed lightly first.

Xia Ximo paused, but didn't even look up. She seemed to have already guessed Ren Fengjue's intention in coming here, and was more calm and composed than anyone else.

Ren Fengjue smiled and said, "She's no stranger, and we don't need to avoid talking to her."

Yao Guang looked on with even more surprise and couldn't help but say, "My lord, you've even been avoiding Yu Lang..."

Is she more trustworthy than Yu Lang?

"When you and I meet, the fewer people who know, the better."

Ren Fengjue brushed it off, then said, "Let's talk about that list, and what we've found out in Liangzhou City these past few days, all at once."

Yao Guang gave Xia Ximo another deep look, but ultimately chose to trust Lord Ren and slowly said, "That list contains people of various backgrounds; they are not all from the imperial court..."

"The only thing they have in common is that... all of them have passed away in the last three months, and the cause of death is unknown."

As she spoke, she presented him with a list, which clearly indicated the identities of these people and their times of death.

The gender, age, and some characteristics of these people basically match what Changsheng described.

A complex look flashed in Ren Fengjue's eyes.

"Only today have I confirmed that Minister Meng's death was not directly related to that grain transport map."

"The bigger reason is that he once went to Mingyue Manor by chance."