Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Ren Cong was utterly baffled by that bizarre statement.

What wrongful case? What settlement?

Was this girl talking nonsense?

Standing frozen on the spot, Ren Cong felt rebuffed once again. He scratched his head, unable to resist asking one more question.

“Miss… what exactly do you mean by that?”

Xia Ximo didn’t even bother to lift her eyelids. Her cold, elegant face was turned toward the sunlight, appearing somewhat frail due to her extreme pallor.

However, her words remained as merciless as ever.

“You don’t need to know much. Just tell him what I said.”

Ren Cong hesitated for a moment, having finally grasped her attitude. He turned back into the hall and, bracing himself, informed Ren Shuo of the failed invitation.

Ren Shuo didn’t seem particularly surprised by this. His expression remained unchanged, though his eyes darkened slightly as he asked, “Did Miss Xia leave any message?”

This question put Ren Cong on the spot again.

He couldn’t… he couldn’t actually repeat those words, could he?

“This…”

For the first time in his life, Ren Cong regretted having a mouth. But seeing Ren Shuo narrow his eyes, he knew he had no choice but to speak.

“Miss Xia’s words were a bit strange. She only said… that some wrongful case must be settled…”

Upon hearing this, Ren Shuo’s face instantly clouded over.

***

Ren Fengjue returned to the manor around the Hour of the Rooster, as was his custom.

But this time, instead of A’chun, it was Ren Cong who rushed to meet him at the door and take his official black gauze cap.

Seeing this, Ren Fengjue sensed that something unusual had happened today.

“I heard someone came to visit during the day?”

“Who was it? What was their business?”

Ren Cong had been holding everything in all day, waiting for Lord Ren to return. Now that he was being questioned, he let everything out in a single breath.

Ren Fengjue was also quite surprised after hearing the sequence of events.

His elder paternal uncle was a man who appeared kind on the surface but possessed deep, calculating schemes. For him to come down from the mountain just to see a woman who had recently arrived in the capital?

No, something must have happened.

And it undoubtedly involved his idle, profligate cousin.

Ren Fengjue pondered for a moment before instructing Ren Cong, “Go to the Brocade Garment Manor. Discreetly look into what their young master has been up to lately.”

Ren Cong understood immediately.

Old Master Ren had always doted on his only son. Anything that could stir the old man into action was likely related to him.

Without further questions, he headed out to investigate.

Meanwhile, Ren Fengjue set aside his official duties and changed into casual robes before heading alone to the East Courtyard Guest Room.

By now, the sun was setting, leaving only a lingering glow in the courtyard.

In the dim, golden light, a thin figure leaned motionless in a chair, appearing to be fast asleep.

Ren Fengjue’s footsteps faltered when he saw this, a hint of surprise crossing his face.

At this hour, the chill in the air was growing sharp. Could this woman truly sleep so peacefully while dressed so thinly?

Was she really not afraid of the cold?

Lord Ren hesitated for a moment, then deliberately made his footsteps heavier as he slowly approached.

She remained unresponsive.

“Miss Xia.”

Left with no choice, Ren Fengjue called out softly.

The sleeping figure finally stirred. Her eyelashes trembled slightly as she seemed to struggle to open her eyes.

“You…”

He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say a word, she suddenly reached out a hand and caught his sleeve unexpectedly.

The icy touch startled Ren Fengjue. He instinctively tried to pull back, only to have his hand firmly gripped a moment later.

“Don’t move.”

Her intentions were unclear, but her voice sounded weak and raspy.
Ren Fengjue only then noticed that her pale face was almost devoid of color; even her lips were a ghostly white tinged with blue.

Something was clearly wrong!

Consequently, the hand he had intended to pull away remained frozen in mid-air.

“Are you ill?”

After a moment of daze, he finally regained his senses and raised his voice. “Someone, come here!”

However, despite calling out several times, no one responded.

Ren Fengjue then realized that this was not the Marquis Mansion. There was no Household Physician here, and he was accustomed to a quiet life, disliking having servants constantly at his side.

At the moment, Ren Cong had stepped out on an errand, and the four servants-Chun, Xia, Qiu, and Dong-each had their own duties. It was impossible for them to rush over immediately.

He frowned slightly, unable to worry about propriety. Just as he was about to lean down and lift the woman from the chair, he was startled again.

In the blink of an eye, a hint of rosiness actually returned to her face, and even her icy hand regained a bit of warmth.

This made Ren Fengjue doubt himself-had he just been seeing things?

Xia Ximo felt that familiar, pure energy circulating through her body. The continuous flow of warmth allowed her previously frozen limbs to gradually regain sensation.

Her soul-consciousness returned to its place, and her mind felt clear and refreshed.

As expected, basking in the sun all day couldn’t compare to how “useful” the man before her was.

“I am not ill.”

After a moment of lingering, she finally released his warm hand.

Hearing this, Ren Fengjue instinctively took two steps back, yet he couldn’t help but say, “Night is falling and the courtyard is getting cold. You are dressed too thinly; you should go inside.”

“No need.”

Xia Ximo glanced at him and asked, “What did you come to see me for?”

Ren Fengjue finally remembered his purpose and spoke directly. “My elder cousin-uncle visited earlier today. Do you know him?”

“I don’t.”

Ren Fengjue paused, then asked again, “Then what is this ‘unjust case’ you mentioned?”

Xia Ximo gave him a cold look, her attitude resolute.

“That matter has nothing to do with you either.”

Faced with such a blunt response, Lord Ren was momentarily stunned. He suddenly understood why Ren Cong always returned with a dark face after dealing with her.

He couldn’t help but chuckle. “This matter indeed has no direct connection to me. However, our engagement has not been dissolved yet. If you are involved in a capital crime, I won’t be able to escape the consequences either.”

Xia Ximo did not refute his words, but simply shifted the topic. “You said there would be news in three to five days. Today is already the third day. In two days at most, there will be no further connection between us.”

As she spoke, she ignored whatever else Ren Fengjue might have to say, stood up, and walked toward the guest room.

Ren Fengjue noticed she was holding a lotus lamp. It was entirely black and looked quite peculiar; he had no idea what its purpose was.

With words lingering on the tip of his tongue, a cloud of doubt suddenly formed in his heart.

Xia Ximo was in such a hurry to distance herself from him-could she have some entanglement with Ren Dongxing?

It seemed this woman’s intentions in coming to the capital were indeed not simple.

That night, a carrier pigeon flew in from the south, bringing news of the recent situation in Xiling County.

Yaoguang stated in the letter that only one strange thing had happened at Mu Manor recently.

A few days ago, Madam Mu had turned herself in and was imprisoned. That very night, she had committed suicide by hanging herself in her cell.

The reasons behind it were unknown.

After reading the letter, Ren Fengjue fell into deep thought.

The timeline of events happened just before Xia Ximo arrived in the capital.

Was the matter regarding Madam Mu also related to her?

At that moment, Ren Cong returned from the Brocade Garment Manor with a shocking piece of news.

Ren Dongxing had inexplicably gone mad.