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

Inside the farmhouse, the dim light of an oil lamp illuminated the earthen walls. Murong Xuewei lay on a simple wooden bed, fine beads of sweat glistening on her forehead. A farm woman was wiping the sweat from her face with a warm handkerchief.

"Husband, hurry and brew the medicine!" the peasant woman urged her husband. "This young lady's pregnancy seems unstable."

The man hesitated, "Wife, have you thought this through? This person coming in the middle of the night, what if..."

"What if what?!" The peasant woman glared at her husband. "Didn't you see how richly dressed she was? She must be a young lady from a wealthy family. Perhaps she's encountered some difficulties. Besides, if something were to happen to her, how could we possibly be at ease?"

The man sighed and turned to prepare the medicine. The peasant woman glanced at the unconscious Murong Xuewei on the bed, a shrewd glint in her eyes: "This young lady's jewelry is worth quite a bit of money..."

Just then, the sound of horses' hooves came from outside. The peasant woman's face changed, and she quickly bolted the door and pulled down the curtains to cover the windows.

"Has anyone seen anyone suspicious?" Jiang Lingyun's voice rang out from outside.

"Reporting to you, sir, we've searched the entire area and found no suspicious persons."

"Keep searching!" Jiang Lingyun said coldly. "We need to find her alive or dead! We can't let her escape!"

The peasant woman was terrified. Looking at Murong Xuewei on the bed, she made up her mind. As the footsteps faded into the distance, she hurriedly called her husband.

"Master, this young lady seems to have some connection with the government," the peasant woman said in a low voice. "How about this, we hide her in the cellar. If anyone comes to search, we'll say we haven't seen anyone."

The man's face showed fear: "This...this is the person the authorities are looking for!"

"Foolish!" the peasant woman spat. "Didn't you hear those people say they wanted to see the person alive or dead? They're clearly after someone's life. Saving a life is a great act of kindness. Besides..." She glanced meaningfully at Murong Xuewei's jewelry.

After a moment's hesitation, the man finally nodded in agreement. The two of them worked together to carry Murong Xuewei to the cellar, laid out dry grass, and covered her with a blanket.

Meanwhile, in the general's mansion.

"General, I have gathered information," a man in black knelt before Gu Ye, "Jiang Lingyun has sealed off all exits from the valley and is searching nearby farmhouses."

Gu Ye clenched his fist: "How are Liuli and Qin'er?"

"Liuli is seriously injured and has been captured by Jiang Lingyun's men. Qin'er... I haven't found her."

Zhang Jing said in a deep voice, "General, we cannot act rashly now. Jiang Lingyun's actions are clearly intended to lure you out."

“I know,” Gu Ye said grimly, “but Xue Wei is currently six months pregnant, if…”

"Young Master," Uncle Lin suddenly spoke up, "This old servant has an idea. Why don't I go and find him?"

Gu Ye's eyes sharpened: "What do you mean?"

Uncle Lin bowed his head and said, "This old servant has found her. I had prejudices against her before, and even wanted to harm her. But now that she is carrying the young master's child, I will do anything to protect her. Moreover, I also want to see who is behind this."

Zhang Jing sneered, "Is Butler Lin trying to prove his innocence?"

"Dr. Zhang!" Gu Ye stopped Zhang Jing and turned to Uncle Lin, "Are you really going?"

Uncle Lin nodded solemnly: "Young master, rest assured, this old servant will never allow anyone to harm Madam."

Gu Ye pondered for a moment, then nodded in agreement. After Uncle Lin left, Zhang Jing said, "General, do you know what you're betting on?"

“I’m betting on Uncle Lin’s loyalty to me,” Gu Ye said calmly. “Over the years, if he really wanted to harm me, he would have had the chance long ago.”

Zhang Jing shook his head: "The general trusts others too much. However..." He changed the subject, "Since Steward Lin volunteered, it saves us a lot of trouble."

You mean...

"General, why do you think Steward Lin would suggest seeking out Murong Xuewei at this time?"

A glint of light flashed in Gu Ye's eyes: "You suspect he went to tip off someone?"

"Smart," Zhang Jing smiled. "Since we don't know who the mole is, we might as well let them slip up on their own."

Just as the two were talking, a servant rushed in: "General, something terrible has happened! Liuli has been captured!"

Inside a camp in the valley.

Liuli was tied to a wooden stake, blood still seeping from the arrow wound on her back. Jiang Lingyun stood in front of her, his eyes flashing coldly.

"Tell me! Where has Murong Xuewei gone?"

Liuli sneered, "Even if I knew, I wouldn't tell you."

“Stubborn.” Jiang Lingyun waved his hand, and a jailer stepped forward, holding a red-hot branding iron. “I’d like to see how long you can hold out.”

Just as the jailer was about to take action, a report came from outside: "Sir, Steward Lin requests an audience."

Jiang Lingyun raised an eyebrow: "Steward Lin? Interesting." He turned to the jailer and said, "Wait a moment."

Outside the tent, Uncle Lin was pacing anxiously. Seeing Jiang Lingyun emerge, he quickly stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Lord Jiang."

"Why is Butler Lin here?" Jiang Lingyun asked with a half-smile.

"This old servant is here to help the master persuade Liuli," Uncle Lin sighed. "This child is stubborn; if we can find her, this old servant is willing to talk to her."

Jiang Lingyun looked at Uncle Lin meaningfully: "Butler Lin is very thoughtful. However..." He changed the subject, "Butler Lin's timing is rather poor."

Uncle Lin was startled. Before he could speak, several guards surrounded him.

"My lord, what is this...?"

"Butler Lin, you said you came to persuade Murong Xuewei," Jiang Lingyun sneered, "Then how did you know we were looking for her?"

Uncle Lin's expression changed drastically: "This..."

"So, you're a spy sent by Gu Ye." Jiang Lingyun waved his hand. "Take him down!"

Murong Xuewei slowly awoke in the cellar, feeling a dull ache in her abdomen. By the dim candlelight, she could make out her surroundings.

"Awake?" The peasant woman came downstairs carrying a bowl of medicine. "Drink it while it's hot; it's good for the baby."

Murong Xuewei looked at the peasant woman warily. The peasant woman sighed, "Don't worry, young lady, we won't harm you. The soldiers outside just finished searching; it's safe for now."

"Thank you, ma'am." Murong Xuewei took the medicine bowl, looked at the murky medicine, and pondered how to get out of there.

"Don't think so much, young lady," the peasant woman seemed to see through her thoughts. "With your current condition, you're lucky if you can even keep the baby. Although my husband and I are greedy, we know what we should and shouldn't do."

Murong Xuewei was taken aback by his words, then smiled wryly: "Auntie is indeed a wise person. But..."

"Just what?"

"I'm afraid I won't be able to escape for much longer," Murong Xuewei said, stroking her belly. "My departure has implicated so many people. Liuli, she..."

The peasant woman suddenly interrupted her: "Girl, do you know there's a tunnel down this mountain?"

"What?"

“That was left to my family by our ancestors,” the peasant woman said in a low voice. “It was used to hide people back then. The tunnel leads all the way to a small temple on the other side of the mountain. If you want to go…”

A glimmer of hope flashed in Murong Xuewei's eyes: "Why would you help me, Auntie?"

The peasant woman was silent for a moment before saying, "I also had a daughter when I was young, about the same age as your daughter. She was pregnant that year, but she was murdered." As she spoke, she wiped her eyes. "I think your daughter was being chased too; I couldn't just watch you and your daughter get hurt."

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded from above. The peasant woman's face changed: "Someone's coming! Girl, don't make a sound."

Murong Xuewei held her breath as she heard voices coming from above:

"Auntie, we're here to find someone."

"Who are you looking for? It's so late," came the farmer's voice.

"A woman six months pregnant, dressed in an embroidered pale yellow dress."

"Never seen anything like it," the peasant woman said bluntly. "How could such a distinguished person come to our poor family?"

"Auntie, this is a wanted criminal. Harboring him is punishable by death."

"Oh dear, my husband and I are too timid to do such a thing. Search us if you want."

Footsteps echoed all around, and Murong Xuewei's heart leaped into her throat. Suddenly, she heard someone say:

"Why is there blood on the ground?"

The farmer's wife hurriedly explained, "Oh, that's where my piglet fell."

"Really? What's in this cellar?"

Murong Xuewei heard the sound of the cellar door being opened, and her heart turned cold. Just then, a shout of killing suddenly came from outside.

"Report! Something terrible has happened! Someone is attempting to break into the camp to rescue people!"

The guards hurriedly left, and the peasant woman quickly closed the cellar door, whispering to Murong Xuewei:

"Girl, I'll take you to the tunnel later."

Murong Xuewei, tears welling in her eyes, grasped the peasant woman's hand: "Auntie, if..."

“Enough of that,” the peasant woman interrupted her. “I know you’re from a wealthy family. I only ask that if you ever gain power, you won’t forget us, your husband and me.”

"Don't worry, Auntie, I, Murong Xuewei, am absolutely not an ungrateful person."