The whole family was brutally murdered? The ruthless heiress's eldest daughter went berserk aft

The late autumn sun cast long shadows on the bluestone path. In the instant a cold glint flashed, Liuli swiftly grabbed Murong Yuxuan's brocade robe sleeve, and the two retreated rapidly against the mottled wall.

The arrow whizzed past Murong Yuxuan's clothes and embedded itself deeply in the damp blue brick wall.

The red feathers tied to the arrow's fletching were still trembling slightly, like a blooming spider lily in the dim alley, alluring yet dangerous.

"Go!" Murong Yuxuan shouted, grabbed Liuli, and turned to run.

Although Murong Yuxuan's voice was calm, his grip on Liuli's wrist tightened slightly, clearly indicating lingering fear. A cacophony of footsteps sounded behind them, the rapid thud of leather boots on the stone pavement suggesting that there was more than one pursuer.

Liuli glanced back and, in the slanting sunlight streaming into the alley, saw at least five or six men in black closely pursuing them. Their faces were all covered with black cloth, but judging from their agile movements, they were no ordinary street thugs.

"Young master, turn left ahead!" Liuli suddenly said, her breathing still steady, clearly indicating that she had practiced martial arts regularly.

Murong Yuxuan understood, and the two of them turned into a narrower alley almost simultaneously.

A muffled thud followed behind, accompanied by a groan; clearly, a pursuer had crashed into the wall because they hadn't turned in time. Dust that had fallen from the blue bricks danced in the sunlight.

Murong Yuxuan's lips curled slightly, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes: "It seems you were prepared?"

A blush crept onto Liuli's face, and her ears grew slightly warm. "Before we came, I sensed something might go wrong, so I memorized the surrounding terrain. Ahead..." Before she could finish speaking, another whooshing sound rang out, and two more arrows whistled through the air. The arrowheads gleamed coldly, aimed straight for their vital points.

The two dodged, and Liuli suddenly threw out a few round pebbles from her sleeve, which was embroidered with a begonia pattern.

The pebbles rolled on the bluestone pavement, making a soft sound. One of the pursuers, caught off guard, stepped on one and immediately lost his balance, letting out a cry of surprise.

In the chaos, Murong Yuxuan and Liuli took the opportunity to slip into the backyard of a cloth shop.

The cloths drying in the courtyard fluttered in the wind, providing them with excellent cover.

Liuli hid behind a piece of lake-blue silk and asked softly, "Aren't we going to Xiangyang's house?" Her voice was tinged with confusion, but her eyes remained alertly fixed on the courtyard gate.

Murong Yuxuan smiled mysteriously and straightened his slightly disheveled clothes: "The letter is indeed at Xiangyang's house, but..." He pulled a stack of yellowed papers from his brocade robe embroidered with auspicious cloud patterns, "These are the truly important things."

It turned out that Murong Yuxuan had long anticipated that Xiao Wanning would not let them get the letter easily, so he had arranged for someone to retrieve the key contents before setting off.

At this moment, what was in Xiangyang's home were nothing more than ordinary military correspondence. Sunlight filtered through the thin white silk, casting dappled shadows on the letters in his hands.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere inside the main hall of the Dali Temple became increasingly tense.

The vermilion-lacquered doorposts gleamed with a dark red luster in the sunlight, and a faint scent of sandalwood permeated the air.

Xiang Yang was still recounting his experiences, but Xiao Wan Ning's attention was clearly no longer on that.

Her fingers unconsciously caressed the white jade fan inlaid with gold wire, her slender fingers trembling slightly from time to time, her gaze occasionally drifting towards the carved gate, clearly waiting for some news.

"That winter, Lord Xinyou suddenly summoned me to his residence..." Xiangyang's voice remained calm, but when he spoke of certain details...

Xiao Wan's hands, embroidered with hibiscus, clenched more and more nervously beneath her brocade sleeves. Fine cracks began to appear on her dignified and elegant mask.

Just then, a servant rushed into the hall and whispered a few words in Jiang Lingyun's ear. Jiang Lingyun's face immediately turned ugly, and his eyes showed a hint of panic as he looked at Xiao Wanning.

Murong Xuewei took it all in. Ignoring the sharp pain in her abdomen, she sneered, "Lord Jiang, is there something urgent?"

Jiang Lingyun forced herself to remain calm: "It's nothing, it's just..."

Before he could finish speaking, a commotion suddenly broke out outside the lobby.

Murong Yuxuan and Liuli strode in, their clothes somewhat disheveled, but their faces radiated confidence.

"My lords," Murong Yuxuan bowed respectfully, "the letter has been received; please take a look."

Xiao Wan Ning suddenly stood up, and her fan fell to the ground with a "thud".

Xiao Wan Ning stared intently at the letter in Murong Yu Xuan's hand, her face instantly turning pale.

Murong Yuxuan respectfully handed over the letter, which the Vice Minister of Justice took and began to read. As each page of the letter was unfolded, the expressions of everyone present gradually became solemn.

"These...are there any real evidence to support these letters?" Jiang Lingyun asked, forcing herself to remain calm.

“Of course,” Murong Yuxuan said unhurriedly, “Every letter bears Xin You’s personal seal, and…” He gave Xiao Wan Ning a meaningful look, “…***’s handwritten signature.”

An uproar erupted in the hall. The letter not only revealed how Xin You secretly cultivated his cronies, but also provided evidence of his dealings with Xiao Wan Ning.

More importantly, it also mentions a plan to murder the envoy from the Kingdom of Qu.

As Xiao Wan Ning watched her secrets being revealed bit by bit, she suddenly let out a shrill laugh: "Fine! Fine! You're all very fine!" She abruptly pulled a dagger from her sleeve. "Since that's the case, then..."

"Madam!" The maid who had been standing behind her suddenly rushed forward and grabbed her arm tightly. Xiao Wan Ning struggled, but was restrained by the guards who had been lying in wait.

Just then, Murong Xuewei suddenly felt dizzy.

Murong Yuxuan's body, which he had been holding on to, finally gave way, and his vision went black as he fell backward.

"Xuewei!" Gu Ye caught her limp body and found her forehead burning hot. He picked her up with heartache, but found her hands were as cold as frost.

"Quickly, find a doctor!" Gu Ye shouted anxiously. He looked down at Murong Xuewei's pale face and whispered in her ear, "Silly girl, why be so stubborn..."

Chaos erupted in the hall. Xiao Wanning and Jiang Lingyun were taken away to await trial, while the other officials took their leave.

Nangong Yifeng stood in the corner, looking at Murong Xuewei, who was being held in Gu Ye's arms, with a complicated expression, while Liuli silently lowered her head, a hint of sadness flashing in her eyes.

Uncle Lin rushed over and, upon seeing this scene, his initial dissatisfaction with Murong Xuewei seemed to dissipate somewhat.

Uncle Lin sighed and said softly to Gu Ye, "Let's take Madam back to the manor to rest first."

Gu Ye carried Murong Xuewei out of the hall. Dusk was gradually falling over the capital, and the sunset on the horizon was as red as blood.

Although the storm has subsided for the time being, everyone knows that this is merely the calm before an even bigger storm.

As night fell, the general's mansion became even more secluded and tranquil. Fine dewdrops clung to the banana leaves in the courtyard, shimmering silver in the moonlight. In a side room in the backyard, a candle still burned.

"This servant has learned that Xiao Wanning is imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice's jail, but the Emperor does not seem to have made a statement yet," Liuli reported to Murong Yuxuan. She had changed out of her daytime clothes and was wearing a plain-colored long dress, which made her look even more elegant and refined.

Murong Yuxuan stood by the window, the moonlight casting a soft silver glow on his handsome profile.

Murong Yuxuan pondered for a moment, then lightly tapped his fingers on the window frame: "This matter is probably not so simple. Xiao Wan Ning is the Emperor's own sister; even with solid evidence, the Emperor may not easily punish her."

“Then we…” Liuli hesitated, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes.

"Let's wait and see." Murong Yuxuan gazed at the moonlight outside the window, his voice low and steady. "In chaotic times, sometimes observing the situation is the best choice. Besides, what happened today is probably just the beginning."