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

As soon as Xia Ximo stepped into the Dongsheng Hall, his ears twitched.

someone.

And it wasn't just one person.

She squinted slightly, her gaze sweeping over the furnishings of the hall before slowly moving to the rows of bookshelves.

It turns out that the palace is actually deeper than I imagined.

Besides the main hall where the emperor summoned his ministers, there was a small room at the back, which seemed to be used to store some books and items.

The subtle movement came from the deepest part.

Wuyou drifted over following her gaze, but soon slunk back.

"...You'd better not watch it!"

"There are people inside... doing illicit things!"

"But I've already invited them inside the lamp to play."

Xia Ximo didn't respond, nor did he show much reaction.

He only asked, "Did you see Meng Zhiyuan's spirit?"

Wuyou pointed to the side, "Where is it?"

Before the emperor's desk, there was no one, but a wisp of a soul was kneeling on the ground with a hunched back, holding a scroll in its hands.

Xia Ximo slowly approached it and called out, "Meng Zhiyuan."

The wisp of soul looked up in astonishment, its eyes seemingly filled with terror. "You...can you see me?"

"I'm here to see you."

Upon hearing this, Meng Zhiyuan staggered and fell to the ground, taking several steps back. "You... are a ghost messenger? You're going to take me away?"

"No, I won't leave. I haven't given this map to the Emperor yet..."

It was agitated and clearly terrified.

"I am not a ghost messenger."

Xia Ximo asked, "I only want to know, why did you immolate yourself in the study? And why did your soul dissipate?"

Upon hearing the words "self-immolation," Meng Zhiyuan immediately showed a pained expression, and black ash began to fall from his body.

"I did not self-immolate; the fire... started on its own."

"I don't know why that happened!"

It tried hard to recall that night, but a look of bewilderment gradually appeared in its eyes.

That night, Meng Zhiyuan was still in his study revising maps of the grain transport route.

Although he had scrutinized the details countless times, he was still not satisfied.

I always thought there was a faster and better route…

It was very late at night. His wife came to the study several times and brought him a bowl of ginseng soup.

She always remained silent, her eyes filled with concern and tenderness.

She said, "My lord, it's almost midnight. You have to attend the morning court session tomorrow, so remember to go to bed early."

He responded with a soft voice.

His wife lit the candle for him, let out a soft sigh, and silently left the study.

Meng Zhiyuan didn't know how long he had been sitting, but his body began to feel tired.

Suddenly, he heard a soft sound coming from the study.

"lady?"

He thought it was his wife urging him to go to bed again.

He called out, then closed the scroll in his hand, got up, and left the table.

But his wife was nowhere to be seen inside the room.

Meng Zhiyuan was puzzled when he felt a gust of wind sweep past him. He turned around abruptly and saw a dark shadow pass right through him.

The next second, the candles on the table fell over and ignited the painting on the table.

He hurriedly tried to step forward, but discovered an even stranger scene.

At this moment, I have already vanished into nothingness…

But not far away, lay his own body.

He was reduced to a wisp of soul, powerless to do anything but watch as the flames engulfed the entire study.

After listening to Meng Zhiyuan's account, Xia Ximo frowned deeply.

No wonder Meng Zhiyuan's ghost was so obsessed; it turns out his death was so mysterious...

If what he said is true, then it is very likely not man-made.

However, just as Xia Ximo was about to continue asking questions, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the hall.

Meng Zhiyuan's ghost also dispersed at that moment.

Then, a figure stood in front of her and reached out a slender, fair hand to cover her mouth.

"Shhh."

The person who came made a shushing gesture.

He then pulled her behind a screen to the side.

Xia Ximo stared wide-eyed at the person in front of her, only to find that it was Ren Fengjue.

That makes sense.

Wherever he is, ghosts will instinctively disappear.

But why is he here?

She shook off his hand and was about to ask a question when a large number of people rushed into the hall with an imposing manner.

A commanding female voice boomed, "Bring out that adulterous couple!"

A hint of unease flashed across Ren Fengjue's face.

Even though he knew the other person wasn't talking about him.

But Xia Ximo seemed unaware of the situation and glanced at him, her eyes seeming to ask: Are you talking about you and me?

Ren Fengjue shook his head directly and whispered in her ear, "I'm not talking about us."

The warm breath brushed against her earlobe, bringing a strange sensation.

I suddenly felt a little strange.

Xia Ximo was puzzled and didn't want to understand; all she wanted to do was get out of there as soon as possible.

Judging from the current situation, it seems we won't be able to get out anytime soon.

It was very lively outside the screen.

Because the adulterous couple had already been brought out.

The two men, disheveled, were forced to kneel before Empress Zhang, the head of the six palaces.

The man pleaded repeatedly, "Your Majesty, please spare my life! It was all the Crown Princess's fault...she seduced me first!"

On the contrary, the Crown Princess Tang remained calm and did not panic at being caught red-handed.

She refused to plead guilty, her eyes filled with contempt, showing no remorse whatsoever.

Empress Zhang was so angry that she slapped her on the spot, but ordered, "Drag this scoundrel away and beat her to death with sticks."

"Your Majesty, please forgive me! Your Majesty, please forgive me! We beg Your Majesty—"

The man screamed in terror, but was quickly covered in the mouth and dragged away.

Inside the palace, Empress Zhang was still furious, but she still valued the royal family's reputation, so she ordered, "Someone, help the Crown Princess change her clothes first."

The palace maids retrieved the clothes the two had taken off during their previous intimate moments and dressed Tang Shi in them one by one.

Her fair back was covered with whip marks, clearly indicating that old wounds had not yet healed before being covered by new ones.

The palace maids were horrified by what they saw, but dared not utter a sound.

Empress Zhang looked at the woman who had fallen to the ground. Although her anger gradually subsided, her face was still flushed and pale.

After a moment, she sighed deeply and said, "I will pretend that today's events never happened. Tang Yuelang, you'd better watch yourself!"

The woman on the ground did not reply.

A voice came from outside the door again, "Princess, slow down, don't run so fast."

Empress Zhang's expression faltered slightly.

Immediately, Princess Ding'an, dressed in pink, appeared outside the palace gate, looking surprised.

"Your Majesty the Empress?"

The innocent and carefree princess had no idea what was happening here. She smiled and stepped forward to pay her respects, saying, "Ruozhen greets Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty be well."

He also bowed to the Crown Princess standing to the side.

Empress Zhang forced a smile. "Shouldn't Ruozhen be in the Imperial Garden right now? Why is she here?"

Princess Ding'an replied, "I just saw Brother Feng coming this way, but he disappeared in the blink of an eye."

Then he asked, "Your Majesty, have you seen him?"

Upon hearing this, Empress Zhang's expression changed drastically. She subconsciously glanced into the depths of the palace and asked hesitantly, "You mean, the young marquis was here just now too?"