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

General's Mansion.

The search lasted most of the night, but Jiang Lingyun found nothing. He glared angrily at Gu Ye: "Where is he?"

"This general doesn't understand what Lord Jiang is talking about," Gu Ye said calmly.

Jiang Lingyun narrowed his eyes: "General Gu, are you aware that harboring a serious criminal is a capital offense?"

Gu Ye was startled, but his expression remained unchanged: "This general has no idea what Lord Jiang is talking about?"

"Is that so?" Jiang Lingyun sneered. "I wonder where General Gu's steward went today? Why can't we see him?"

Gu Ye's pupils contracted slightly. Could it be that someone had tipped them off...?

Just then, a soldier rushed in: "Sir! A secret passage has been discovered in the backyard!"

Jiang Lingyun's eyes lit up: "Chase them!"

Gu Ye's heart sank. He had originally thought he could hold out until dawn, but he hadn't expected the secret passage to be discovered so quickly.

In the dense forest on the outskirts of the city, Murong Xuewei was riding at full speed in one direction. She knew that even if everyone else couldn't save Gu Ye, there was still one person who definitely could.

Murong Xuewei stood in front of Zhang Jing's thatched hut, her pale fingers gripping her sleeves tightly. She took a deep breath, raised her hand, and knocked heavily on the door, her knuckles turning white from the force.

"Dr. Zhang! Open the door!" Her voice was slightly hoarse, and there were still traces of tears in the corners of her eyes. She hadn't even had time to drink water while running all this way.

Unhurried footsteps came from inside the door, followed by Zhang Jing's lazy voice: "What's up so late?"

Murong Xuewei pursed her dry, cracked lips: "Gu Ye has been arrested." Her fingers unconsciously dug at the door frame, the tips already turning white.

The door opened. Zhang Jing leaned against the doorframe, his blue robe perfectly straight, his narrowed eyes gleaming with an unfathomable light: "Why do you think I would help you?"

Murong Xuewei looked directly into his eyes, a sharp glint in them: "Your deal with Gu Ye. If he dies, your experiment can't continue." As she spoke, she stared intently at Zhang Jing's expression, afraid of missing any subtle change.

Zhang Jing's lips curled up slightly, and he let out a soft sneer: "Looks like you know quite a bit." He stroked his chin thoughtfully, his gaze lingering on Murong Xuewei's face.

“None of that matters,” Murong Xuewei took a step forward, her fingernails digging into her palms. “Are you going to help or not?” Her voice was hoarse, but it carried a resolute air.

Zhang Jing looked her over with amusement, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "You're calmer than I expected. It seems Gu Ye wasn't wrong about you." He stepped aside to make way for her. "Come in."

Murong Xuewei quickly followed him into the house, her eyes scanning the surroundings warily. The room was simply furnished, but clean and tidy, with several medicine jars in the corner, emitting a faint medicinal fragrance.

“Just name your conditions.” She forced herself to calm down, her fingernails leaving crescent-shaped marks on her palms.

Zhang Jing walked slowly to the table, picked up the teapot with his slender fingers, and elegantly poured a cup of tea: "Conditions? That's not urgent. You can stay in the valley for a few days first."

"Stay in the valley?" Murong Xuewei frowned, instinctively clenching her sleeves. "How long?"

“That depends on my mood.” Zhang Jing put down his teacup, the porcelain clinking against the wooden table. “I’ll bring you food every five days. Remember, no matter what news you hear, you are not allowed to leave the valley.” His tone was calm, but his eyes were unusually sharp.

Murong Xuewei was about to speak when Zhang Jing raised his hand to stop her: "This is the only condition. If you don't accept it, there's nothing to talk about." His fingers tapped lightly on the teacup, making a rhythmic sound.

“…Okay.” Murong Xuewei bit her lower lip hard; she could taste the metallic tang in her mouth. “I promise you. But you have to tell me about him.”

Zhang Jing suddenly laughed, a laugh that sent a chill down Murong Xuewei's spine: "Whose news?" He slowly stood up, looking down at her, "Gu Ye, or General Gu? Or perhaps..." He paused deliberately, "...a descendant of the previous dynasty?"

Murong Xuewei jumped to her feet, causing her chair to tip backward with a loud thud. Her pupils contracted sharply: "What...?"

“Don’t be nervous,” Zhang Jing waved his hand, his smile deepening. “I’m just a doctor; I have no interest in court affairs.” He walked to the door. “Now, you should go.”

After Murong Xuewei left, Zhang Jing's smile gradually faded. He quickly packed some medicinal herbs and set off for Yun City. The night was as dark as ink, and his figure soon disappeared into the dark alley.

The back gate of the Lin residence. Zhang Jing tapped the door three times lightly with his knuckles, the movement as light as a cat's claws scratching at the door.

"Are you crazy?" Uncle Lin opened the door, his face so dark it could drip water. He lowered his voice, practically forcing the words out, "Coming at this hour, aren't you afraid of being discovered?"

A faint smile played on Zhang Jing's lips as he pulled a bamboo tube from his sleeve. "More than this, you should be worried about Gu Ye's life."

Uncle Lin took the bamboo tube, his fingers trembling slightly: "What's your plan?" His gaze was fixed on Zhang Jing's face, afraid of missing any details.

"Wait two days." Zhang Jing looked up at the night sky, his tone casual. "Meet me under the Broken Bridge in the south of the city two days later." The moonlight outlined his thin profile.

"Who will make contact?" Uncle Lin subconsciously tightened his fingers.

Zhang Jing turned around, his sleeves fluttering gently in the night breeze: "You don't need to know that. It's best if you know nothing."

Inside the prison, the air was thick with the stench of blood and sweat.

"Crack!" The whip sliced ​​through the air and struck Gu Ye's back hard. His body trembled slightly, but he didn't make a sound.

Jiang Lingyun shook his aching wrist and tossed the whip to the ground. He strode over to Gu Ye, deliberately making a screeching sound as he stomped his boots on the ground: "Gu Ye, you're truly stubborn. Admit to harboring a criminal, and you'll suffer less."

Gu Ye slowly raised his head, a trace of blood on the corner of his lips, but his eyes remained sharp: "Lord Jiang, you and I both know that this is just an excuse." His voice was hoarse, yet it carried a chilling coldness.

"An excuse?" A flash of annoyance crossed Jiang Lingyun's eyes. He suddenly leaned close to Gu Ye's face, his breath hot on Gu Ye's skin. "Then tell me, what exactly is your relationship with that person? Where is he now?"

Gu Ye's eyes suddenly turned dangerous, like a lurking beast: "Lord Jiang seems quite interested in my steward?" A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips. "Could it be that Lord Jiang has a peculiar hobby?"

“Stubborn to the end.” Jiang Lingyun sneered, about to say something, when he was suddenly interrupted.

"Sir!" A jailer rushed in, sweat beading on his forehead. "*** wants you to come over immediately."

Jiang Lingyun narrowed her eyes, gave Gu Ye a meaningful look, turned and left, her boots making a crisp sound on the stone slab.

That night, Xiao Sining arrived at the *** mansion. She knelt on the ground, her brocade robes covered in dust, but she was completely unaware.