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

Faced with Princess Fenghua's persistent questioning, Yu Lang was at a loss for words.

After hesitating for a moment, he told her the whole truth.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Wan frowned deeply, seemingly lost in thought.

Unsure whether she still harbored feelings for Ren Fengjue, Yu Lang said, "Princess, I think the young marquis and Miss Xia are already in love. Although they have broken off their engagement, others may not necessarily have a chance."

He had barely finished speaking when Zhao Wan grabbed his ear and angrily asked, "Are you pointing fingers at me? Do you think I'm the kind of person who takes advantage of others in their vulnerable state?"

Yu Lang grimaced in pain but did not utter a sound.

Who knows? He muttered to himself.

Zhao Wan said angrily, "I just think that Xia Ximo must have some unspeakable reason for asking the Marquis's mansion to annul the engagement."

Yu Lang was taken aback when she said that.

Zhao Wan released her grip and continued her analysis: "Her parents died early, and she grew up living under the roof of others. Her life must have been difficult. Her sudden desire to annul the engagement must mean that something major has happened..."

"That Ren Fengjue is really something. Why didn't he ask questions before announcing the engagement?"

Perhaps because she thought of her own parents who had passed away, she felt that she and Xia Ximo were kindred spirits, and she couldn't help but stand up for her.

Yu Lang then realized that he had indeed misunderstood the princess.

At this moment, Zhao Wan truly regarded Xia Ximo as a friend and had no improper thoughts about Ren Fengjue.

He was very pleased and said, "Miss Xia is no ordinary woman. She must be hiding many things in her heart that she doesn't want us to know."

Zhao Wan's eyes darted around. "I don't care why she wanted to break off the engagement before. All I know is that she definitely likes Ren Fengjue now."

"If they really have a conflict, as their friends, we certainly can't stand idly by, right?"

Yu Lang nodded vigorously, "What the princess says is very true."

Zhao Wan grabbed him and said, "Come on, let's follow them and see what happens. If necessary, we'll have to rely on this princess to take action."

Yu Lang couldn't refuse even if he wanted to, and was dragged along by her all the way out of the guest courtyard.

……

On the other side, Xia Ximo heard footsteps behind him on his way back to Zhenxia Courtyard.

Inside the Soul-Crossing Lamp, Wuyou sensed the fluctuations in her emotions and couldn't help but say, "Mogu, isn't your attitude changing a bit too quickly? You seemed so reluctant to part last night, and now you're completely different?"

In fact, Xia Ximo also had a sleepless night last night.

After drinking so much alcohol, she did feel drunk.

However, the intoxication came quickly and went even faster.

When Ren Fengjue placed her on the bed, she had already slowly woken up, and the reason she called out his name was involuntarily.

For a fleeting moment, it felt like a dream.

Until her hand touched his face, the sensation between her fingers told her that what she was seeing was not a dream.

It was at that moment that she suddenly realized that her time on earth was running out.

Once Chongli's matter is completely resolved, once the thirty-two souls have been ferried across and the soul-ferrying lamp is lit...

When that time comes, she will return to the underworld, to the Nine Netherworlds.

Therefore, no matter how reluctant she is, all of this will eventually leave her.

At that moment, Ren Fengjue squatted down in front of her.

He was so close to her, his eyes bright and gentle; she could even clearly see the emotions hidden in his eyes…

After Ren Fengjue left, Xia Ximo was immersed in this emotion, tossing and turning, watching the dawn break.

In the end, she could only make a decision quietly in her heart.

At this moment, Ren Fengjue caught up again.

It was clear he was eager to know the reason, so his first words were, "Miss Mo, I was very offensive last night. If you are angry with me because of this, I apologize..."

Xia Ximo paused, knowing full well what he meant…

However, Zhao Wan and Yu Lang, who were secretly following behind them, were unaware of this.

They exchanged a glance, as if they had reached some kind of consensus, and immediately stopped in their tracks, pressed themselves against the corner of the wall, and pricked up their ears.

However, Xia Ximo remained silent.

Ren Fengjue continued in a slow voice, "What...do you want me to do for you to forgive me?"

Zhao Wan frowned and asked Yu Lang in a low voice, "What exactly did he do to Xia Ximo?"

Yu Lang's expression was also strange, but he still insisted, "Lord Ren is a gentleman, he certainly wouldn't do anything outrageous!"

Zhao Wan: "Then why is Xia Ximo so angry?"

Yu Lang: "I also find it strange."

While the two were whispering to each other, Xia Ximo finally spoke up.

"It has nothing to do with last night. However, you should know that your current identity is Ren Fengjue, and I am not Xia Ximo."

"We are not engaged, and we can't even be called friends."

"So, don't waste too much time on me; we're not on the same wavelength."

Ren Fengjue stood frozen in place, looking somewhat bewildered: "Why are you bringing this up again out of the blue?"

Xia Ximo's hands clenched involuntarily: "I already made it very clear to you back in Beiding County, do I have to repeat myself?"

Ren Fengjue took a deep breath. "I thought that after going through so much, our relationship could get closer. I had even planned to ask him after we returned to the capital..."

"Once the matter of Chongli is completely resolved, I will have my own place to go."

After Xia Ximo finished speaking, he walked directly into Zhenxia Courtyard without waiting for a reply.

Ren Fengjue couldn't help but grab her wrist. "Has something happened? Can you tell me?"

Xia Ximo turned around and looked at him coldly, her eyes as cold as ice in the night. "Ren Fengjue, think about what I told you when we were in Beiding County. If you think it through, you will know that the best ending for us is for us to have no connection with each other."

After she finished speaking, she broke free from his hand, entered Zhenxia Courtyard, and even closed the courtyard gate.

Ren Fengjue stood frozen in place, recalling her words, but felt a void in his heart.

It took him a long time to recover, and when he turned around, he saw Yu Lang and Zhao Wan.

The expressions on the two men's faces were also very complicated.

Ren Fengjue could tell that they had overheard his conversation with Xia Ximo.

But he didn't say anything and walked dejectedly towards the guest quarters.

Yu Lang and Zhao Wan immediately exchanged glances, deciding to "each do their own thing," with Yu Lang telling Zhao Wan to go to Zhenxia Courtyard to find Xia Ximo, while Yu Lang followed Ren Fengjue.

"Sir, wait for me!"

Yu Lang jogged to catch up with Ren Fengjue, then glanced at him cautiously, about to say something to comfort him.

Unexpectedly, Ren Fengjue paused, then casually ordered, "Don't say anything yet, come with me to the Zhenbei Marquis's residence."

"?"

Yu Lang was taken aback. Although he couldn't figure out what Lord Ren was thinking, he still did as he was told.

"Then... shall I go and prepare the carriage?"