Chapter 7
Chapter 7
By the time the boat reached the ferry terminal, the sky was fully bright.
Local constables arrived on the scene, and after assisting Yu Lang in handling the matters on the boat, the surrounding area gradually resumed its usual flow.
Ren Fengjue stood on the shore with his hands behind his back, watching the crowd disperse. A pensive look flickered in the depths of his eyes.
The two corpses from the boat had already been taken away by the magistrate’s office.
The traumatized passengers still wore expressions of panic as they stepped onto the shore.
However, there was one thin, frail figure that seemed somewhat out of place in the crowd.
It was that “drunken” woman…
Ren Fengjue spotted her immediately.
She disembarked alone, carrying no luggage whatsoever.
For such a young woman to travel to the capital by boat alone, her face remained remarkably indifferent to everything around her.
She didn’t look like a first-time visitor, yet… she didn’t look like someone who had a place to go, either.
Yu Lang emerged from the thick of the crowd, clearly exhausted.
Wiping the sweat from his brow, he reported the general situation on the boat to Ren Fengjue. Toward the end, however, his expression shifted into one of profound mystery.
“One last thing, and it actually concerns you, Lord Ren.”
Ren Fengjue was somewhat surprised and couldn’t help but frown. “Me?”
Yu Lang nodded with a smile. His left hand instinctively reached for the folding fan at his waist, only to find it missing.
He didn’t seem to mind, maintaining his mysterious air. “Didn’t you ask me to look into that woman’s background?”
Ren Fengjue didn’t respond, offering only a faint hum of acknowledgement.
Yu Lang continued, “At first, I thought she was a mute. I asked her several questions and she didn’t say a word.”
This was entirely within Ren Fengjue’s expectations.
“Then I thought, perhaps she was just in shock. So I asked her what business brought her to the capital and told her that if she was in trouble, she should speak up. Guess what she said?”
Yu Lang looked amazed. “She asked me how to get to the Renxuan Marquis Manor.”
Ren Fengjue was inwardly startled. This was something he had not anticipated.
Could it be that she knew his identity?
No.
If she really knew, she shouldn’t have reacted that way back in the cabin.
Yu Lang always enjoyed seeing Lord Ren lose his composure. He continued to draw out the suspense, speaking slowly. “So I asked her what business she had at the Marquis Mansion, but she stopped answering…”
“Then, I told her that the gates of the Renxuan Marquis Manor aren’t exactly easy to enter. Without a recommendation, she’d only be met with a closed door.”
“And then? Guess what she said next?”
Ren Fengjue frowned, his patience clearly wearing thin.
Yu Lang finally stopped beating around the bush and said directly, “She said she was looking for the son of the Marquis of Renxuan to settle a certain matter in person.”
“…”
Ren Fengjue was momentarily speechless, his mind filled with suspicion and uncertainty.
Yu Lang observed him quietly from the side, stifling a laugh as he asked pointedly, “Could it be that you and this woman… have some sort of history, Lord Ren?”
Ren Fengjue shot him a sharp look. “I do not know her.”
“Then that’s strange.”
Yu Lang looked out over the wide river, squinting his eyes as if waiting for a good show to start.
“To travel such a long distance for a stranger… I wonder what her intentions are.”
Ren Fengjue remained silent for a long while. This matter was indeed suspicious.
He watched the woman’s retreating figure until she disappeared, then asked after a pause, “Did she say anything else?”
Yu Lang chuckled. “She also borrowed a tael of silver from me. Does that count?”
“…”
***
A rich aroma wafted from a bun shop by the roadside. An apprentice was hawking his wares: “Buns! Freshly steamed buns!”
Xia Ximo paused, unable to stop herself from looking back. Just then, her stomach let out a loud growl.
The sudden sound left her feeling a bit dazed.
Ever since her body had absorbed enough yang energy, she had gradually regained some of the sensations of the living.
The memories in her mind were both vivid and chaotic.
However, the past that belonged to her original self remained as if sealed away, always just out of reach, impossible to recall clearly.
She knew that she didn’t originally belong here; she was merely using this body to accomplish certain tasks.
“Give me a bun.”
Xia Ximo walked up to the stall and handed over a piece of broken silver.
The vendor froze for a moment, looking troubled. “Miss, I’ve only just opened for business. I’m afraid I don’t have enough change for that.”
“Keep the change.”
“Huh?”
The vendor was taken aback again. He couldn’t help but look the woman over carefully, feeling even more bewildered.
She clearly looked poor and destitute, so how could she be so generous with her money?
While he was hesitating, another hand reached out and offered a copper coin.
“I’ll pay for the lady’s bun.”
Xia Ximo looked back and met a grinning face.
She recognized him, of course.
“I say, Miss, that’s not how you’re supposed to spend the silver you borrowed from me. Prices in the capital are high, but they haven’t reached that level yet.”
Yu Lang handed her the warm bun and turned to order one for himself.
Xia Ximo didn’t say a word. Holding the bun in her hands, she took a small bite and chewed slowly, eating with refined focus.
She seemed completely oblivious to the curious gazes from those around her.
Her manner of eating made Yu Lang marvel inwardly.
Born into a high-ranking family, he had seen many noble ladies dine with grace and composure, but this was the first time he had seen someone eat a bun on the street like that.
His curiosity grew, and he cleared his throat before asking, “Do you plan on going to the Renxuan Marquis Manor now, Miss?”
Xia Ximo finished her last bite of the bun before giving him a one-word reply.
“Yes.”
Yu Lang’s intentions were clear as he continued, “Then, are you looking for the Young Marquis of the Renxuan Marquis Manor?”
Her expression remained unchanged, her words as sparse as gold. “Yes.”
“To be honest, the Young Marquis hasn’t returned to the Marquis Mansion for some time. He is currently staying at his private residence in the capital.”
Upon hearing this, a flicker of emotion finally crossed Xia Ximo’s face.
“How do you know?”
Her dark eyes turned toward him with a cold stare that sent a slight shiver down Yu Lang’s spine.
How could such a clear and beautiful young face be so intimidating?
Strange!
He collected himself and gave another deliberate cough.
“You don’t need to ask too much. If you trust me, I can lead the way.”
He had come here on the Young Marquis’s orders, but at this moment, he couldn’t suppress the curiosity burning in his heart.
What kind of connection could a person like her have with Lord Ren?
And what business did she have with him?
Just thinking about it made the exhaustion from half a month of traveling vanish instantly.
Yu Lang felt refreshed and invigorated.
She didn’t seem to care whether he was telling the truth or not, simply replying, “Lead the way.”
What courage!
Vice Minister Yu, who was dying to see how the drama would unfold, couldn’t help but praise her inwardly. He wasted no time in bringing her to Ren Fengjue’s residence.
However, Lord Ren had already rushed to the palace to meet the Emperor. It was dusk by the time he returned home.
As soon as he stepped through the door, he saw Yu Lang walking out of the hall, stifling a yawn.
“Lord Ren, you’re finally back.”
Ren Fengjue was just about to ask why the man was in his house when he realized something was wrong.
This Yu Lang had actually brought the woman directly to his home!