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

Yan Zhengchu's words instantly made Master Wang lose face.

He glanced quickly at Simeng, frowned, and said, "Why didn't you say anything beforehand? Why bring just anyone home? Didn't you see we had important guests?"

Wang Rui seemed oblivious to the deeper meaning in his father's words. He actually stepped forward, grabbed Simeng's hand, and said emotionally, "Father, Simeng and I are in love. I don't care that she's a courtesan!"

"I'm going to divorce that crazy woman inside and marry Simeng!"

Upon hearing this, not only did Master Wang's expression change drastically, but even Ren Fengjue frowned deeply.

"Outrageous! Outrageous!"

Master Wang was so angry that he kept pounding his chest.

His family had few descendants; he only had one son when he was over forty.

He thought that seeing his son marry a new wife and having a grandson would make his life complete.

but…

How could such a thing suddenly happen?

Ren Fengjue couldn't help but step forward and said solemnly, "According to the laws of my Great Qi, if a wife is a legally wedded wife who has been formally married with the three letters and six rites, and has not violated any of the seven grounds for divorce, her husband's family has no right to divorce her."

"You've only been married to Lady Cui for a month, yet you dare to say such things? Are you showing contempt for the law? Do you treat marriage like a game?"

His words were forceful and his manner imposing.

Wang Rui was even less confident, but he still pointed at Cui Shi in the room and argued, "This woman went crazy as soon as she married into the family. She not only hit me, but she even hit my father..."

"This is it... and I can't even get a divorce?"

Yan Zhengchu gave a cold laugh. "You should know very well why she hit you, right?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Rui felt even more uneasy, but he forced himself to remain calm and said, "How would I know? It's obvious that she has a pre-existing condition and is deliberately hiding it. My Wang family hasn't even pursued any charges yet."

"Oh."

Yan Zhengchu continued his sneer: "Don't be so stubborn. Why don't you let Miss Cui come and confront you face to face later?"

"..."

Wang Rui then realized what was happening.

Why is there no sound from the Cui family?

It was clear that Cui's "madness" was getting worse every day; whenever anyone approached, she would scream incessantly.

But now, the room is eerily quiet.

He glanced into the room instinctively, and was nearly scared out of his wits.

A disheveled woman stood by the door, staring at him with icy eyes.

If it's not the Cui family, then who is it?

"You crazy woman!"

Wang Rui, feeling guilty, retreated repeatedly in fear, then shouted to the servants on either side, "What are you all standing there for? Quickly get a rope and tie her up!"

The servants dared not move, all looking at Cui Shi inside the room with complicated expressions.

At this moment, Cui also spoke up: "The one who should be tied up is not me, but you."

Her voice was hoarse, as if her heart had turned to ashes, yet her tone was unusually calm.

Wang Rui angrily retorted, "What nonsense are you spouting, you madwoman? You were the one who went crazy first; we tied you up because we were afraid you'd hurt someone!"

Cui's hand, resting on the door, had knuckles that were faintly white, clearly filled with hatred, yet she turned to the side and said, "Xiao Xing, tell me, what exactly happened that night seven days ago?"

The maid called Xiaoxing trembled, glanced at Cui Shi, then at Wang Rui, before rushing to Ren Fengjue's feet.

"My lord, I am a maid of the Wang family. I have been serving the young mistress ever since she married into the household."

This maid was both clever and perceptive; she immediately revealed her identity as a "maid of the Wang family" upon arrival.

In this way, what you say will not be suspected of being biased.

Ren Fengjue nodded in acknowledgment. "Tell me what you have seen and heard truthfully, and I will make my own judgment."

Xiao Xing then said tremblingly, "That night, the young master returned home drunk and suddenly had a fight with the young mistress."

"This servant saw with her own eyes that the young master forcibly stuffed a bead the size of a pigeon egg into the young mistress's mouth."

"After that, the lady fainted, and when she woke up, she could not speak and gradually became insane..."

Upon hearing Xiao Xing's words, Wang Rui's eyes widened in anger, and he even tried to step forward to strike her, but Ren Fengjue blocked him.

"Did you really force-feed that bead?"

"She's talking nonsense!" Wang Rui naturally denied it. "There are no beads at all; it's all the maid's ramblings!"

Ren Fengjue smiled slightly, then took out a bead from his sleeve, handed it to him, and asked, "This is what a bead looks like. Am I trying to slander you?"

Wang Rui was indeed fooled by his trick.

His expression changed drastically: "How did I end up here? I clearly already..."

Realizing he had said the wrong thing, his legs immediately gave way and he collapsed to the ground.

Seeing this, Master Wang became even more heartbroken.

How could anyone have imagined that this whole thing was caused by his own son?

He grabbed Wang Rui's clothes, raised his hand and slapped him, cursing, "You unfilial son, how dare you do such a thing!"

"I'll beat you to death!"

During the beating and cursing, he was still not satisfied and even raised his cane to hit someone, but was suddenly stopped by a cold hand.

He turned around and saw that it was the courtesan.

"You...you dare!"

Simeng gave a cold smile and provocatively said, "Old man, I'm the one who made him do this. What's the use of hitting him?"

"You vixen!"

Enraged, Master Wang showed no mercy and raised his cane to strike again, but was suddenly pushed away by his son, Wang Rui, who stood up.

This push was almost with all its might; how could the elderly Master Wang withstand it?

Just as he was about to fall backward, Ren Fengjue caught him in time.

Although Wang Yuanwai didn't fall, he was so angry that he almost fainted on the spot.

The chaotic scene was astonishing to behold.

Only Simeng suddenly raised her chin and let out a long, triumphant laugh.

She walked gracefully to Ren Fengjue, gave him a deep look, and then glanced back at Xia Ximo, who was standing not far away by the door.

She stopped trying to hide anything and said bluntly, "You guys are really something, going to that temple and actually coming back alive?"

Ren Fengjue asked directly, "Did you kill Ruyan?"

Simeng showed no remorse whatsoever, and even looked completely at ease.

"That's right, it was my master who used me to tear her soul from her body. She must have died in utter despair, right?"

"Good days were just around the corner, and there was hope for survival, but there was no longer any chance to live."

As she spoke, she laughed arrogantly and unrestrainedly, her eyes filled with smugness.

Yan Zhengchu couldn't stand it anymore: "You'd rather be a decent human being than become a servant of evil spirits? You're hopeless!"

Simeng remained indifferent.

"The evil spirit has been subdued by this Taoist priest."

Ren Fengjue asked, "So, what did you end up with?"

Simeng glanced at Wang Rui beside her and said softly, "At least I know what it feels like to be loved and protected by someone, regardless of right or wrong, regardless of worldly opinions, and to be together no matter what..."

Stop lying to yourself.

A voice rang out from behind the group, and Xia Ximo walked slowly into the night.

Simeng turned around and saw a pitying gaze directed at her: "Sister Simeng, what is truly precious is sincerity, not pretense."