Chapter 25

Chapter 25

After parting ways with Yu Lang at Yusheng Teahouse, Ren Fengjue made another trip to the Ministry of Justice.

Lately, the entire Ministry of Justice had been conducting a secret investigation into the case of the “Minister of Works’ suicide to escape punishment,” but unfortunately, no progress had been made.

Consequently, Guan Yue, the Director of the Ministry of Justice, felt like a mouse meeting a cat whenever he saw the Vice Minister, his back breaking out in a cold sweat.

He had thought that since today was the Vice Minister’s day off, he could catch his breath for a moment.

He hadn’t expected that he still wouldn’t be able to escape.

“Lord Ren…”

Upon hearing the clerk’s announcement, Guan Yue immediately rose to greet him.

Ren Fengjue gave a slight nod and said, “I heard there’s been some progress in the case, so I came specifically to take a look.”

Guan Yue couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat. “It’s about the assassin who tried to kill you on the boat last time. We’ve identified them.”

“Who are they?”

“There is a martial arts organization in the north called ‘Hanging Mirror Hall.’ They keep a group of assassins…”

Ren Fengjue understood immediately upon hearing this.

Someone had paid money for his life.

However, hiring such a civilian organization for an assassination felt more like intimidation and testing the waters. The underlying intention was worth looking into.

After finishing his report, Guan Yue carefully observed Lord Ren’s expression and said tentatively, “As for the person who hired them…”

“There’s no need to investigate further. They will show their hand sooner or later.”

Ren Fengjue’s expression was calm as he interrupted him, continuing, “Vice Minister Guan, your focus should still be on the case involving the Ministry of Works.”

“Yes.”

Ren Fengjue stayed at the Ministry of Justice until around the hour of the Rooster before heading home.

He thought about many things along the way, his mind inevitably wandering. However, as soon as he entered the Ren Residence, a figure walked toward him, leaving him in a momentary daze.

“I’ve been waiting for you all day.”

Under the fading glow of the sunset, Xia Ximo had changed her usual style. She wore bright, elegant clothes, her hair was neatly styled in a bun, and she had even applied a thin layer of powder and rouge to her face.

Her attire was actually no different from that of many noblewomen in Shangjing. However, paired with that indifferent face and those cold, proud eyes, it gave her a unique temperament.

At this moment, she still looked at him with cold eyes. “Today is the fifth day. You should give me an explanation.”

Ren Fengjue slowly shifted his gaze away from her, but he spoke of something else entirely. “Your outfit today is quite nice.”

“…”

Xia Ximo’s eyes narrowed suddenly.

Ren Fengjue had no choice but to give a light cough. “It’s quite cold outside. Why don’t you move to my study for a cup of hot tea, Miss Xia?”

With that, he made a gesture of invitation and leisurely led the way.

Watching his back, Xia Ximo hesitated for a moment before silently following him.

The Ren Residence did not cover a large area. After a short walk toward the south courtyard, they reached Ren Fengjue’s study.

Xia Ximo still disregarded social etiquette, finding a small couch and sitting down on it, completely unaware that it was the seat belonging to the master of the study.

Seeing this, Lord Ren didn’t mind. He sat down casually to the side and poured her a cup of tea.

The hot tea steamed, the mist curling upward, but Xia Ximo remained motionless.

Ren Fengjue asked intentionally, “Does Miss Xia look down on my tea-making skills?”

Only then did she pick up the teacup and take a small sip.

“Can you speak now?”

Her tone was cold; she clearly didn’t intend to indulge him any further.

Ren Fengjue knew when to stop and nodded. “Of course.”

His long fingers lightly tapped the white jade teacup. With lowered eyes, he said calmly, “I went back to the Marquis Mansion today. However, something strange happened, which Miss Xia might need to explain first.”

Xia Ximo raised her eyes to look at him, clearly confused. “What do you mean?”

It was evident she was still in the dark.

The corners of Ren Fengjue’s lips curled slightly. “A woman arrived at the Marquis Mansion yesterday. She also claims to be General Xia’s daughter, Xia Ximo. She is currently at the Marquis Mansion with my mother.”
“She is not.”

Xia Ximo responded with only those three words.

Her reaction caught Ren Fengjue somewhat by surprise. Her expression was devoid of any ripple of emotion, and even her gaze was unnervingly calm. She didn’t seem to have any intention of explaining herself, nor did she plan to argue in her own defense.

She was nothing like the “Miss Xia” currently at the Marquis Mansion…

He had carefully observed the minute changes in her facial expressions while she spoke, and he couldn’t help but question the truth of the situation from the bottom of his heart.

Ren Fengjue paused for a moment before asking, “How do you intend to prove that?”

“Prove it?”

Xia Ximo gave a faint, mocking smile. “Why should I prove something that has nothing to do with me? All I need is a letter of annulment. You just need to write it for me.”

Ren Fengjue was stunned once again. In truth, he had cracked many complex cases over the years and encountered all sorts of complicated people, yet this was the first time he had met a person and a situation that made him feel truly “troubled.”

And it just so happened that the “situation” centered entirely on this “person.”

He couldn’t help but let out a helpless laugh as he explained, “This matter certainly has everything to do with you. Our betrothal isn’t that easy to dissolve. At the very least, I must obtain my parents’ consent…”

“But as things stand, I have two ‘fiancées.’ One wants to marry me, and the other wants to annul the engagement.”

“Tell me, which one should I listen to?”

Xia Ximo replied without a second thought, “You can annul the engagement with me first, then go marry her.”

“…”

Lord Ren was stuck between exasperation and amusement.

Xia Ximo suddenly stood up. “If you cannot make the decision regarding the annulment, then please take me to the Marquis Mansion. I will speak to them in person.”

If anyone else had said this, Ren Fengjue might have just let them be. But what kind of place was the Marquis Mansion? And what kind of man was Marquis Renxuan? No one in all of Shangjing was unaware of the answers to those questions. No matter how bold a person was, they wouldn’t dare cause trouble there.

However, Lord Ren harbored a bit of a selfish motive regarding the woman before him. At the very least, he wanted to protect her until Yu Lang returned from Xiling County after clarifying the situation. The matter of the “true and false Xia Ximo” would have a resolution sooner or later. It wouldn’t be too late to dissolve the engagement then.

But what exactly was hidden behind all of this? He had to find out.

Having made his decision, Ren Fengjue replied, “I’m afraid I cannot agree to that.”

Xia Ximo froze slightly. When her dark pupils met his again, they were visibly laced with a chilling frost. In that instant, she was clearly enraged. Being watched by her like that, Ren Fengjue felt a strange, eerie chill envelop his body.

He couldn’t help but soften his tone as he said, “It isn’t that I don’t believe you. It’s just that my father and mother place great importance on this marriage.”

“Now that another ‘Xia Ximo’ has suddenly appeared, dissolving the engagement is not something that can be accomplished in just a few words.”

“Only after I have investigated the truth behind this matter can I give you an account.”

Upon hearing this, Xia Ximo’s expression softened slightly. Her thin lips parted as she asked, “How long?”

Ren Fengjue calculated the time. “Seven days at most.”

“Fine.”

Xia Ximo gave him another deep, searching look. “I will give you seven more days. If there are no results after seven days, I will go to the Marquis Mansion myself.”

With that, she turned and walked straight toward the exit. This time, however, she paused at the doorway. Looking back with her face in profile, she said, “Four years ago, when your mother went south to the Mu Manor, the person she met was Mu Zheng’s daughter-Mu Tingting.”

“If I’ve guessed correctly, the person currently staying at the Marquis Mansion is also her.”

“I don’t care whether you believe my words or not. All I want is a letter of annulment.”