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

The sycamore trees in the courtyard swayed gently in the night breeze, casting dappled shadows.

Murong Xuewei stood by the window, looking at the flickering candlelight in the courtyard, her brows furrowed.

The scenes of seeing Xiao Wan Ning in the palace today haunt my mind like a nightmare, refusing to leave.

In that ornately decorated palace, Xiao Wan Ning gracefully poured tea for her, a faint smile playing on her lips, but a chilling coldness emanating from her eyes.

"Madam Murong, the autumn scenery in Jiangnan must be very beautiful, right?" This question kept echoing in Murong Xuewei's mind.

"Liuli," she called softly, her voice trembling slightly.

“Madam.” Liuli stood quietly behind her.

"Madam, what were you doing in the palace today..." Liuli hesitated, wanting to say something but stopping herself.

Murong Xuewei turned to look at the maid who had been by her side since childhood and said softly, "You've noticed something too?"

Liuli bit her lip: "This servant feels that Xiao Wanning's summons this time is suspicious. The Empress clearly issued an imperial decree, yet you only saw Xiao Wanning."

“Indeed.” Murong Xuewei’s eyes flashed. “The relationship between the Empress and Xiao Wanning is probably not as harmonious as it appears.”

Murong Xuewei took a deep breath, suppressing her unease: "Send someone to our hometown in Jiangnan to deliver a message, and do it quickly." She paused, "Tell them to be careful and not to alert anyone. Especially..." Her voice lowered, "...to ensure the safety of my sister-in-law and the children."

Memories of her past life flooded back: Song Wanyi's pale face, the bloody scene of her being disemboweled—all of this made her fingers involuntarily clench. In this life, she would never allow such a tragedy to repeat itself.

Liuli accepted the order and left. Murong Xuewei turned around and sat down at the desk, her fingers unconsciously tapping the surface.

Xiao Wan Ning's eyes, which held a smile yet were cold, reminded her of that bloody night in her past life.

At that time, she was also manipulated and played like a puppet, which ultimately led to the annihilation of her entire clan.

The sandalwood incense burned slowly in the bronze censer. She picked up her teacup; the tea had already gone cold.

Just then, familiar footsteps came from the courtyard; it was Gu Ye.

"Why aren't you resting so late?" Gu Ye's voice was gentle and concerned.

Murong Xuewei looked up at him. The general was handsome and upright in the moonlight, with gentle eyes.

Such a gaze always brought her a little peace of mind. But then, she remembered her identity as a reborn person and the secrets that Gu Ye might be hiding, and her heart sank again.

"Go and invite Yu Xuan and Xue Yao over," she instructed Liu Li, who had just returned. "I have important matters to discuss."

Before long, Murong Yuxuan and Murong Xueyao arrived at her courtyard.

Under the candlelight, Murong Yuxuan still maintained his gentle and refined demeanor.

Murong Xuewei personally poured tea for everyone, the sound of water being particularly clear in the night.

"Sister, what happened that you called us so late?" Murong Xueyao's innocent voice broke the silence. She rubbed her eyes, clearly not understanding the seriousness of the situation.

Murong Xuewei put down the teapot, her gaze sweeping across everyone's faces. "Today in the palace, I saw Xiao Wanning." Her voice was soft, yet it made everyone tense. "She secretly warned me that my family back in Jiangnan is now in her hands."

"What?" Murong Xueyao exclaimed in surprise, almost dropping her teacup. "Impossible! We just received a letter from home a few days ago saying everything was fine..." Her voice trembled, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Murong Yuxuan pressed down on his sister's hand: "Xueyao, calm down." He turned to Murong Xuewei, a sharp glint in his eyes, "Xuewei, what exactly does Xiao Wanning want?"

“She wants me to cooperate with her,” Murong Xuewei said with a wry smile, her fingers lightly tracing the rim of her teacup. “As for what kind of cooperation, she hasn’t said yet. But it probably won’t be anything good.”

Gu Ye had been listening silently until now, when he spoke up: "Yu Xuan, how about you and Xue Yao set off back to Jiangnan tonight? If your family is safe, escort them to Yun City for temporary refuge." His voice was steady and powerful, giving people a sense of security.

Murong Yuxuan's eyes flashed: "The general is right. But..." He looked at Murong Xuewei, his eyes filled with worry, "Xuewei is all alone in the capital..."

“I’m here.” Gu Ye interrupted him, his tone firm. This simple promise made Murong Xuewei’s heart tremble slightly.

Just then, her gaze inadvertently fell on Gu Ye's hand holding the teapot.

His posture while pouring tea was dignified and graceful, a style unique to the aristocratic families of the Taichu Kingdom.

This reminded her of the awkward feeling she had when Xiao Wan Ning poured tea yesterday—her technique didn't seem like that of someone from the Primordial Kingdom.

"I'll go pack my things right away." Murong Xueyao stood up, tears welling in her eyes. "Sister, please be careful."

Murong Yuxuan also stood up: "Xuewei, don't worry, I will protect our family. General..." He gave Gu Ye a meaningful look, "I'm entrusting this to you."

After the brother and sister left, Murong Xuewei looked at Gu Ye and said, "Will you come with me to see them out of the city?" Her voice was tinged with weariness, but she was still clear-headed.

Gu Ye nodded. Under the cover of night, the four of them quietly arrived at the entrance to the secret passage under the city wall.

This is a secret passage discovered by Gu Ye's men, which is rarely used.

The moonlight, like water, shone on the ancient city walls, casting deep shadows.

The air was filled with the scent of damp moss and the earthy smell of soil.

“Sister,” Murong Xueyao said, her voice choked with emotion, holding Murong Xuewei’s hand, “I have this uneasy feeling in my heart. Do you think Xiao Wanning might…”

“Silly girl,” Murong Xuewei interrupted her, forcing herself to remain calm, “with your older brother by your side, you’ll be fine. Besides, this is just taking precautions.”

Murong Yuxuan bowed deeply to Gu Ye: "General, I entrust Xuewei to your care. If there is any news, I will find a way to send it back."

“Be careful on the road,” Gu Ye nodded. “If you encounter anyone suspicious, don’t force an investigation; your own safety is the most important thing.”

Watching the brother and sister disappear, Murong Xuewei tilted her head back and took a deep breath, trying to suppress the unease in her heart.

Just then, Gu Ye's expression suddenly changed, and he pulled her into the shadows. His movements were swift yet gentle, always careful not to frighten her.

Not far away, Jiang Lingyun was walking alone towards the city gate. In the moonlight, his steps seemed particularly hurried, and he kept looking back, appearing furtive.

"Where is he going at this hour?" Murong Xuewei asked in a low voice, already having a bad feeling.

"He left the city at this hour..." Murong Xuewei whispered, "Could it be to see Xiao Wanning?"

Gu Ye gently shook his head: "Not necessarily. Although Jiang Lingyun is Xiao Wanning's man, he may have other motives."

You mean...

"It's too early to say anything now," Gu Ye interrupted her. "You go back to the manor first, I'll investigate and find out the truth."

Murong Xuewei grabbed his sleeve: "Be careful. Jiang Lingyun is an extremely cunning man."

Gu Ye turned around and gazed at her in the moonlight: "Don't worry, I won't let him find out." He paused, "Wait for me to come back."

Murong Xuewei wanted to say something more, but seeing Gu Ye's determined gaze, she finally nodded. She knew it was best not to alert him at this time. Besides, she trusted Gu Ye's martial arts skills.

Watching Gu Ye's figure disappear into the night, Murong Xuewei stood quietly for a moment, then turned and walked towards the General's Mansion.

The wind rustled her clothes, and it also stirred her thoughts. Memories of her past life flooded back like a tide—Jiang Lingyun's betrayal, Xiao Wanning's scheming, and the massacre of her entire family.

Back in her room, Murong Xuewei stood by the window, gazing at the hazy moonlight in the distance.

She knew that with Murong Yuxuan and Murong Xueyao's departure, and with Jiang Lingyun's secret actions, the situation would become even more unpredictable.

Undercurrents are swirling among various forces, and everyone is playing their own game.

Meanwhile, Gu Ye was silently following behind Jiang Lingyun, heading towards the outskirts of the city.