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

Ren Fengjue carried Xia Ximo out of the Imperial Palace, intending to find a eunuch to summon the imperial physician.

Fearing a repeat of what happened last time, he unconsciously hugged her tighter.

However, not long after they went out, the person in their arms slowly woke up.

He was relieved to see that her pale face had gradually regained its rosy hue.

"Miss Xia, what do you think?"

Faced with the man's concerned gaze, Xia Ximo felt a strange unease.

Although the body craves the other's embrace, reason forbids it.

"It's okay, put me down."

Ren Fengjue placed her beside the railing as instructed.

Xia Ximo suddenly frowned.

She felt a slight pain in her forehead, so she touched it with her hand.

It looks like it was bumped by something; the skin is actually broken...

What happened to my forehead?

This kind of pain was completely foreign to her.

At least he has been brought back to life, which is a first.

Ren Fengjue noticed that her originally smooth and fair forehead was inexplicably covered in bruises and red marks, so he explained, "It must have been when Xia Zhiyuan possessed her just now that she bumped into the ground..."

"..."

Xia Ximo's face immediately darkened.

kowtow?

This is even more unfamiliar than "pain".

I still remember when her soul was taken to the underworld, she never knelt before the Lord of the Underworld…

Ren Fengjue assumed she was concerned about her appearance, so he smiled slightly and said, "I'm not worried. I'll go to the Imperial Medical Bureau later and get a bottle of Frost-Freezing Jade Ointment."

Xia Ximo didn't bother to explain. Seeing the black ink on her hands, she understood and simply asked, "Has Meng Zhiyuan's drawing already been sent out?"

"Yes, it has been handed over to His Majesty."

"Um."

Ren Fengjue glanced at her, still seemingly somewhat uneasy, and asked again, "Are you feeling unwell right now?"

"no."

Xia Ximo also looked at him, and for some reason explained, "When a spirit possesses you, your soul will be temporarily sealed, and you may be in a coma. You'll be fine when you wake up."

"That's good."

Suddenly remembering that he had left in a hurry and needed to inform the Emperor, Ren Fengjue added, "I left too quickly and didn't have time to explain to the Emperor."

"Wait for me here, I'm going back to the Imperial Palace."

Xia Ximo nodded.

Only after Ren Fengjue left did Wuyou dare to show herself.

"The three souls of that high-ranking official have now returned to their rightful place; we can send him on his way."

"Um."

Meng Zhiyuan's remains have been burned to ashes, so there is no need for further rituals.

Once the deceased's wishes have been fulfilled and their three souls have returned to their rightful place, a suitable yin location can be chosen, and the soul-ferrying lamp can be used to guide them directly to the underworld.

Xia Ximo remembered that on the way to the Imperial Palace, there was a lakeside with willows planted on the shore.

Willow wood is yin in nature and is near water, which is perfect for the soul of someone who died in a fire.

Guided by her memory, she quickly found the lakeside and placed the soul-ferrying lamp under the tree.

"Your obsessions from your life have been resolved, and your three souls have returned to their rightful places. It is time for you to go to the underworld."

Meng Zhiyuan's spirit appeared faintly, and judging from its hesitant expression, it seemed to have some concerns.

Xia Ximo added, "Although your death was suspicious, it wasn't caused by someone. I can't avenge your death."

"All I can do is ferry you to the underworld, where the Lord of the Underworld will uphold justice for you."

Upon hearing this, Meng Zhiyuan simply shook his head, a smile appearing on his face: "I know my body is already nearing its end, so dying in this way is not a bad thing."

"I don't care about dying, but there's one more thing I'd like to trouble you with, young lady."

Upon hearing this, Xia Ximo's expression clearly showed a hint of emotion.

"What is it?"

He said softly, "I am only saddened that I died so suddenly, without even being able to say goodbye to my wife and daughters..."

"I have only one wish: that you, young lady, could convey a message to my wife on my behalf."

"Can."

Meng Zhiyuan's smile deepened, and he said gently, "Tell her for me, 'I have wronged you in this life, but I will make it up to you in the next...'"

"You may not meet again in the next life."

Xia Ximo's attitude was cold, and it seemed that he had no intention of showing any leniency.

But then she added, "However, I will pass on your message."

Meng Zhiyuan bowed deeply to her, "Thank you, young lady."

The ghost transformed into a sliver of light, circled the black lotus petals once, and slowly dissipated at the wick of the lamp.

The once windless lake was suddenly swept by a gentle breeze, and the clear ripples spread out.

Xia Ximo stood there for a while, gazing at the shimmering lake, her emotions fluctuating slightly.

She joked that she had only been back to life for half a month, yet she had already been tainted by human "malice".

Being soft-hearted can easily lead to entanglements.

All of this is disadvantageous to her.

Just then, a sound came from behind the artificial hill not far away.

"Princess, slow down! Be careful not to fall."

Xia Ximo turned her head at the sound and saw Princess Ding'an, dressed in pink, stumbling and running towards them, followed by several palace maids.

"Do you know where Brother Feng is? I have something to ask him!"

Princess Ding'an naturally spotted Xia Ximo at a glance. She recognized him as Ren Fengjue's personal servant, but wondered why he was standing alone by the lake.

Xia Ximo stared at the princess for a moment, his brows furrowing slightly.

Piaodang, standing to the side, couldn't help but exclaim, "The murderous aura around her is so strong!"

Princess Ding'an was surrounded by a dense aura of malevolence, as if she were possessed by some evil spirit.

Because of this malevolent energy, her originally innocent and carefree face now looked somewhat fierce.

Seeing that "he" did not answer, the princess became even angrier.

"I'm speaking to you, why aren't you answering!"

A red tinge appeared in her eyes, caused by the invasion of evil energy. She suddenly raised her right hand, and a slap was about to come down.

Xia Ximo immediately reached out and quickly restrained her wrist.

The princess's hand lingered in the air, unable to fall, making her face appear even more ferocious.

"How dare you! How dare you!"

Xia Ximo showed no fear. As she increased the force in her hand, the wisp of Yin energy seemed to be facing a formidable enemy and wisely bounced away from the princess.

At the same time, a bright pearl rolled to the ground.

The palace maids who rushed over all stared wide-eyed at the sight, and the lead maid pointed at Xia Ximo angrily and shouted, "How dare you! How dare you disrespect the princess!"

Xia Ximo slowly released his grip only after Princess Ding'an's eyes gradually regained their clarity.

She ignored the maid's words and simply bent down to pick up the beads from the ground.

Strangely, the beads themselves showed no problems whatsoever.

What is that malevolent aura?

"Who gave you this bead?"

Upon hearing this, Princess Ding'an seemed to wake from a dream, staggered back a few steps, and looked bewildered.

"I…"

Just now at the banquet, her third brother, Yu Wang, told her that there were rumors in the capital that Ren Feng Jue was hiding a woman in his residence.

Upon hearing this, she was suddenly consumed by jealousy, wishing she could tear "that woman" to pieces!

The thought made her even more agitated, and she even left the Imperial Garden on the spot, unable to control herself, and even Consort Qi couldn't stop her.

But in that very instant, the irritation and jealousy in my heart suddenly vanished.

Thinking of this, Princess Ding'an felt a sudden dizziness, and her consciousness began to blur.

Amidst screams, her legs suddenly gave way and she collapsed to the ground, unconscious.