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

Gu Ye raised his hand, signaling her to continue.

“My men followed Jiang Lingyun and discovered that he goes to a residence in the south of the city every three days at midnight,” Liuli said in a low voice.

Murong Xuewei's heart skipped a beat. "Can we find out who owns that mansion?"

Liuli shook her head, "That mansion is nominally owned by a merchant, but in reality..."

“It should actually be related to the Empress,” Gu Ye continued, “otherwise Jiang Lingyun wouldn’t be coming and going so frequently.”

Liuli nodded vigorously to show that she agreed with Gu Ye's words.

Murong Xuewei seemed thoughtful, "If we could infiltrate that mansion..."

“That’s one way, but…” Gu Ye flatly rejected it, “You’re not feeling well right now, so leave this to me.”

Murong Xuewei was about to argue when she suddenly heard a commotion outside. A moment later, Uncle Lin rushed in, "General, something terrible has happened! We just received news that the Vice Minister of Rites has been assassinated!"

"What?!" Gu Ye jumped to his feet. "Have you caught the murderer?"

Uncle Lin shook her head. "The murderer escaped quickly, but..." She glanced at Murong Xuewei, "It's said that they used the same hidden weapon as in the secret room."

The study fell into a deathly silence.

Murong Xuewei's mind raced. "This is a provocation."

A cold glint flashed in Gu Ye's eyes. "No, this is forcing us to take action." He turned to Uncle Lin. "It seems they've already contacted the people on the list. The Vice Minister of Rites is their warning to us, and also to the others on the list..." Gu Ye paused. "Uncle Lin, go and make arrangements to send more men to protect the remaining people."

Uncle Lin accepted the order and withdrew. Liu Li also left, leaving only Gu Ye and Murong Xuewei behind.

“General,” Murong Xuewei said thoughtfully, “I have a feeling things aren’t that simple. Since they had the list, why didn’t they just target the people on it directly, instead of resorting to this method?”

Gu Ye's eyes flickered slightly. "What do you mean?"

"They want to force us to make the first move," Murong Xuewei said slowly. "Once we intervene to protect the people on the list, it's tantamount to acknowledging the list's authenticity. Then..."

“That will confirm our crime of forming cliques for personal gain.” Gu Ye picked up on her words, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes. “Madam is indeed insightful.”

Murong Xuewei, however, was not pleased by the praise. Gazing at the night outside the window, she murmured, "This game of chess has probably only just begun."

Meanwhile, in a secret room deep within the palace.

"You were too impulsive!" The Empress glared at Xiao Wan Ning standing opposite her. "Once you had the list, you should have proceeded according to plan. Why did you have to provoke Gu Ye?"

Xiao Wan Ning sneered, "Having spent so much time in the harem, you're afraid to even take this small risk? If things go according to your plan, when will it ever succeed?"

"You!" The Empress's face turned pale with anger. "Do you know that Gu Ye is not someone to be trifled with? If we alert him..."

"What are you afraid of?" Xiao Wanning interrupted her. "The evidence is in our hands now. Even if Gu Ye has incredible abilities, he can't cause any trouble."

The Queen took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. "How's the conversion of those on the list going?"

“It’s already underway.” Xiao Wan Ning’s lips curled into a smug smile. “However, there are indeed a few troublesome ones who will require… special methods.”

The Empress sensed the chill in her voice and shuddered involuntarily. "You want to kill them?"

"Murder?" Xiao Wan Ning glanced at her contemptuously. "Dead men can't help us. But some people need a lesson, to teach them what it means to be pragmatic."

The Empress hesitated, then finally sighed, "Be careful. Don't forget, Gu Ye has Murong Xuewei by his side. That woman is not simple."

A sinister glint flashed in Xiao Wanning's eyes. "Murong Xuewei? Ha, she'll soon understand what it means to be truly extraordinary."

A night breeze swept through the palace walls, bringing a chill. The candlelight flickered in the secret chamber, casting two long shadows. This undercurrent of competition had only just begun.

On her way back to her room, Murong Xuewei gazed at the dark night sky, her mind filled with countless thoughts. Since her rebirth, she had always believed herself to be the one playing the game, but little did she know that everyone in this game had their own calculations.

Gu Ye grasped her slightly cool hand. "What are you thinking about?"

Murong Xuewei snapped out of her reverie and forced a smile. "I was just thinking about how we should proceed next."

"Don't worry too much," Gu Ye patted her hand reassuringly. "Since they want to play, we'll play along to the end."

Murong Xuewei looked at his resolute profile, but a strange and indescribable emotion welled up in her heart.

In her past life's memories, Gu Ye was indeed a brilliant strategist. But precisely because of this, she was even more worried that she would unknowingly become his pawn.

The carriage stopped in front of the General's Mansion. Gu Ye alighted first and reached out to help her. Looking at his gentle smile, Murong Xuewei suddenly said, "General, what if one day you discover that I also have my own secrets?"

Gu Ye paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Is my wife testing her husband?"

Murong Xuewei didn't respond to his joke; she simply looked at him quietly.

Gu Ye's smile faded, and he said seriously, "No matter what secrets you have, in my heart, you will always be you."

Murong Xuewei felt a warmth in her heart, yet also a bitter taste. She knew all too well that Gu Ye also had his own secrets. But in this power struggle, who could truly be completely devoted?

Back in her room, Murong Xuewei stood by the window, gazing at the moonlight in the courtyard. Memories of her past life flooded back like a tide; the bloody scenes, the destruction of her family, flashed before her eyes.

She clenched her fists. No matter what, in this life, she was determined to find out the truth and protect everyone she wanted to protect.

Just then, a gentle breeze blew by, carrying a faint scent of sandalwood. Murong Xuewei's expression sharpened; this was... Zhang Jing's favorite incense!

She hurried to the window and, sure enough, saw a familiar figure standing under the shadow of the trees in the courtyard. Zhang Jing was still dressed in white, appearing particularly aloof in the moonlight.

"Why are you here?" Murong Xuewei asked in a low voice.

Zhang Jing looked up at her, his face expressionless, and said, "Madam Gu, don't forget the conditions you promised me."

Murong Xuewei was startled. Why would Zhang Jing suddenly come to her demanding something? Murong Xuewei clenched her fists. "What does Doctor Zhang want?"

As if sensing her confusion, Zhang Jing said calmly, "Madam Gu, don't be in such a hurry. I'm just here to remind you, in case you forget. If the day really comes, I hope you won't go back on your word!" With that, his figure disappeared into the night.