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

Most shockingly, a line of large characters was written in vermilion on the opposite wall:

"General Gu, it's your turn next."

The handwriting carried a hint of arrogance, with sharp strokes and a chilling undertone.

Murong Xuewei stared at the line of words, feeling that the handwriting was strangely familiar, but she couldn't remember where she had seen it before.

"Uncle Lin, immediately check all the sentry posts in the mansion for any abnormalities," Gu Ye ordered in a deep voice. "Pass down the order: no one is allowed to leave the General's Mansion tonight."

Uncle Lin accepted the order and left, his footsteps fading into the distance. Only Gu Ye and Murong Xuewei remained in the secret room, the torchlight illuminating their solemn faces.

"The list has been stolen." Gu Ye's voice was low, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "The list of all the court officials I've interacted with is in that iron box. If it falls into the hands of our enemies..."

He didn't finish speaking, but Murong Xuewei understood. This list not only concerned the lives of others, but was also the core of Gu Ye's long-term schemes in the court.

If it were leaked, the consequences would be unimaginable. She unconsciously touched her lower abdomen, a sense of unease welling up inside her.

“Let’s go back to the room and talk in detail.” Murong Xuewei grasped Gu Ye’s hand. “This isn’t the place to talk.”

Back in the main room, Liuli had already prepared tea. She gazed at the rising steam from the tea on the table.

Murong Xuewei frowned in thought: "The people on the list must be moved as soon as possible. Although alerting them is risky, it's better than letting them defeat us one by one."

Gu Ye shook his head and poured Murong Xuewei a cup of tea: "It's not appropriate. Most of the people on the list hold important positions, and a hasty relocation would inevitably attract attention. Besides..." He paused, "I suspect that the mansion has already been infiltrated."

Murong Xuewei's heart tightened: "Why do you say that?"

"The secret chamber is extremely well-hidden; even most of the servants in the manor don't know it. The fact that they could find the list so accurately means they know everything about our household," Gu Ye said sharply. "Moreover, the Empress's sudden release of us today is likely a diversionary tactic."

Murong Xuewei picked up her teacup. In the rising steam, she seemed to see a face appearing and disappearing in the mist: "I felt there was something strange about the Empress's smile today. She seems to have a bigger scheme in mind."

"A bigger scheme?" Gu Ye thought for a moment, "When the Empress was still unmarried, she was a remarkable woman in the capital. Later, the Emperor took a liking to her and brought her into the harem, making her Empress. She has always been dutiful and dutiful, and people have almost forgotten what she was like before."

"It seems the Empress isn't as simple as she appears," Murong Xuewei said, setting down her teacup. "We've been focusing on the Empress Dowager and neglected her."

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside. Uncle Lin rushed in: "General, I've already sent men to check the entire mansion. They found the guard at the west gate unconscious; he's probably been drugged with a sleeping potion."

Gu Ye's eyes darkened: "Have you found out when this happened?"

"It was around 5 PM," Uncle Lin replied. "At that time, the General and his wife were in the palace, and most people in the manor were having their evening meal."

"No wonder," Murong Xuewei sneered, "the timing was perfect."

Just then, Zhang Jing's personal attendant rushed in and handed over a secret letter: "Doctor Zhang instructed me to personally deliver this to the general, saying it is of utmost importance."

Gu Ye unfolded the letter, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper. Murong Xuewei, observing his changing expression, knew something serious must have happened. Sure enough, Gu Ye handed her the letter: "Someone is secretly buying up large quantities of 'Soul-Severing Powder'."

"Soul-Severing Powder?" Murong Xuewei took the letter and quickly scanned its contents. This was a highly potent poison commonly used in the palace of the previous dynasty. It was colorless and odorless, and those poisoned would slowly decay and die within three days. Most importantly, even the imperial physicians found it difficult to detect any traces of poisoning.

"It seems they intend to use the same trick again." Gu Ye stood up and paced back and forth. "The formula for this poison has long been lost; only a handful of people can find it."

Murong Xuewei pondered, "Could it be..."

Before she could finish speaking, another commotion arose outside. Liuli rushed in: "Madam, something terrible has happened! A letter was found outside the gate!"

Gu Ye took the letter, unfolded it, and his expression immediately changed. The letter read:

"This is just the beginning; the best is yet to come. General Gu, are you ready?"

The handwriting was exactly the same as the one on the wall of the secret room, arrogant with a hint of provocation. Murong Xuewei took the letter and carefully examined the familiar handwriting. Suddenly, she remembered something, and her face turned pale instantly.

"What's wrong?" Gu Ye immediately helped her up. "Are you feeling unwell?"

Murong Xuewei shook her head, her voice trembling slightly: "I remember this handwriting. I encountered a murder case when I was doing business in Jiangdong; the handwriting was exactly the same. Could it be..."

Before he could finish speaking, another series of hurried footsteps sounded outside. Uncle Lin led several of his personal guards in, escorting a man in black: "General, we've captured an assassin in the west courtyard!"

Although the man in black was masked, his eyes were exceptionally sharp. Gu Ye signaled his personal guards to search him, and they quickly discovered a finely crafted hidden arrow.

The arrow bore a special mark, a highly secretive symbol used only by royalty and nobility.

“This is…” Gu Ye examined the mark carefully.

Murong Xuewei suddenly stood up: "I know who it is! This mark is a secret royal symbol. I heard from a retired palace guard that it's something only the guards protecting the Empress Dowager's tomb can use..."

A glint flashed in Gu Ye's eyes: "Who could this person be?"

Just as Murong Xuewei was about to speak, a louder commotion erupted outside. Uncle Lin rushed in: "General, something terrible has happened! The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel's household has been attacked. Fortunately, our men arrived in time, but the assassins have escaped!"

Gu Ye and Murong Xuewei exchanged a glance, both seeing the seriousness in each other's eyes. This covert contest had only just begun.

The night grew deeper, but the lights in the General's Mansion remained bright. Gu Ye and Murong Xuewei sat at the table, carefully reviewing everything that had happened that night. On the table lay the sleeve dart with its special markings, as if silently telling a long-buried secret.

"The craftsmanship of this hidden arrow is exactly the same as the one in the Empress Dowager's tomb." Murong Xuewei gently traced the patterns on the arrow with her fingers. "That person, it must be her..."

"Who exactly is it?" Gu Ye pressed.

Murong Xuewei looked up at him, a complex expression flashing in her eyes: "A person who should have died."

Just then, a series of urgent bell rings came from outside. It was an alarm from the General's Mansion!

Gu Ye immediately stood up: "Let's go!"

The two hurried into the courtyard, where they saw a red glow spreading across the eastern sky. Uncle Lin ran up with a group of guards: "General, we just received news that the Minister of Rites' residence is on fire!"

"It's started after all." Murong Xuewei leaned against a pillar, her face grave. "They're going to take them down one by one."

Gu Ye immediately ordered, "Pass down the order: increase security at the residences of all those on the list. Liuli, you take men to investigate the whereabouts of suspicious individuals. Uncle Lin, you are in charge of monitoring the city's movements."

Everyone obeyed and left, and the courtyard returned to calm. Gu Ye turned to Murong Xuewei: "Go and rest, I'll take care of things here."

Murong Xuewei shook her head: "I can't sleep." She gazed at the firelight in the east, "Gu Ye, this opponent is no simple matter."

Gu Ye put his arm around her shoulder: "I know. But no matter who it is, I won't let her hurt you."