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

As night deepened, the torches outside the prison flickered in the wind, casting shifting shadows. The early autumn night breeze carried a chill, swirling up fallen leaves and rustling softly.

Using the shadows of the corner of the wall, Gu Ye and Zhang Jing cautiously approached the prison. Both of them had changed into ordinary civilian clothes, and Zhang Jing specially gave Gu Ye an inconspicuous makeover. He used a special powder to adjust his original skin tone to a rougher wheat color, and then used charcoal to add a few wrinkles to his face, making him look like an ordinary farmer.

“I’ve already found out.” Zhang Jing lowered his voice, leaning close to Gu Ye’s ear, his breathing almost silent. “Liuli is locked in the third cell on the west side. Tonight, the guards are Zhao Yong and Li Shan. I have a lot of dirt on both of them.”

Gu Ye squinted, carefully observing the two jailers not far away by the firelight. The short, stout one was Zhao Yong, dozing against the door, the key hanging at his waist swaying gently with his snores. The tall, thin Li Shan was awake, but his eyes were unfocused, and he absentmindedly fiddled with the sword at his waist, occasionally rubbing his reddened eyes.

"Both of them are drunkards." A hint of disdain flashed in Zhang Jing's eyes, his right hand unconsciously twisting his sleeve—a habitual gesture when he was thinking. "Zhao Yong is addicted to gambling and has racked up a lot of debt. Li Shan, on the other hand, is a womanizer and frequents brothels in the south of the city... With some money, perhaps..."

Gu Ye gently shook his head, interrupting him: "Bribing them with money doesn't guarantee they won't betray you later." His slender fingers unconsciously caressed the dagger hidden in his sleeve; the lotus pattern carved on the hilt gave him a slight sense of reassurance. "These kinds of people will do anything for profit. Do you have a safer method?"

Gu Ye lowered his head and remained silent, seemingly deep in thought.

Zhang Jing seemed to sense his emotional fluctuation and said softly, "Don't worry." He took out a delicate celadon bottle from his robes, its surface adorned with subtle blue vine patterns that shimmered in the moonlight. "This is my specially made calming incense. Just one sniff will put them into a deep sleep for two hours. It's colorless and odorless, and no trace can be found afterward."

Gu Ye took the small bottle, his fingertips slightly cool. The porcelain bottle felt warm to the touch, but it reminded him of this kind of poison he seemed to have encountered somewhere before.

How many lives had those medicinal powders, packaged in exquisite porcelain bottles, claimed? He couldn't help but sigh, "The Valley of the Medicine King truly lives up to its reputation. This medicine... could it be fatal?"

A hint of approval flashed in Zhang Jing's eyes: "General, you are kind. This medicine will only put people to sleep; it will not endanger their lives. Although I, Zhang Jing, am not a kind person, I still have my principles."

Just as Gu Ye was about to speak, Zhang Jing's expression suddenly hardened. He grabbed Gu Ye's wrist and pulled him into the roadside weeds.

"Strengthen security, especially in the western cells," Jiang Lingyun's deep voice was particularly clear in the night. "That Liuli, he can't see anyone, not even the jailers who bring him food; they must be thoroughly checked."

"Yes, sir." Several guards acknowledged the order and left, the sound of their armor clashing echoing in the silent night.

Gu Ye frowned as he looked at Jiang Lingyun. He hadn't expected that Jiang Lingyun, who looked so gentle and weak, would be so shrewd and calculating.

As Jiang Lingyun's footsteps faded into the distance, Zhang Jing and Gu Ye emerged from the bushes, whispering, "It seems Liuli does indeed know something important. Jiang Lingyun's nervousness is probably..."

“So we need to hurry.” Gu Ye interrupted him, a sharp glint in his eyes, “before they’ve fully set up their defenses.” He gripped the celadon bottle tightly, his knuckles turning slightly white, “If we’re too late, I’m afraid…”

Zhang Jing glanced around and pondered for a moment, then said, "General, how about we wait a while? I'll disguise myself as a patrolling guard. I'll distract the guards at the main gate, and you can slip in..."

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly felt Gu Ye's cold gaze. Looking up, he saw a fire suddenly illuminate the prison, and a jailer carrying a lantern walked towards the western cells. The lantern swayed in his hand, casting an eerie shadow.

"At this time, how could someone..." Before Zhang Jing could finish speaking, he heard Liuli's voice coming from the cell.

"You...what are you here for?" Liuli's voice carried a hint of fear and a barely perceptible weakness. "Didn't Lord Jiang say..."

Then came a muffled thud, like something falling to the ground, followed by chaotic footsteps and suppressed shouts.

"They're going to kill us to silence us!" Gu Ye's expression changed drastically, and the dagger in his hand slid into his palm.

"Don't be impulsive!" Zhang Jing lowered his voice, a hint of wariness flashing in his eyes. "This could very well be..."

Before the words were finished, a cold voice came from behind: "Who goes there?"

The two men froze. Behind them, a guard with a knife was staring intently at them, the blade gleaming coldly in the moonlight. The guard was burly and broad-shouldered, with a hideous scar on his face and fierce eyes.

Zhang Jing reacted swiftly, pulling Gu Ye behind him and simultaneously drawing a silver needle from his sleeve. The needle was as thin as a hair, almost invisible in the moonlight. "I am a doctor in the city, and this is my patient," he said with a helpless smile. "He's delirious and insisted on coming to the prison to find his deceased elder brother. I finally found him and was just about to take him home..."

The guard narrowed his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the two men: "You think you can fool me with such nonsense..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhang Jing flicked his wrist, and the silver needle shot through the air. The guard felt a sharp pain in his neck, and before he could even cry out, everything went black, and he collapsed limply. Zhang Jing quickly rushed forward to support him, preventing him from making a sound as he fell.

"Let's go!" Zhang Jing grabbed Gu Ye's hand, trying to leave. But Gu Ye pulled away, saying, "Liuli is still inside. If anything happens to Liuli, Xuewei will be heartbroken."

Zhang Jing frowned deeply: "But the situation has changed now; acting rashly is too dangerous."

“Go and distract the guards at the main gate.” Gu Ye’s voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable firmness, his eyes flashing with a sharp light. “I’ll go in through the back window. Liu Li was captured to save Xue Wei, and I must get him out.”

Seeing the determination in Gu Ye's eyes, Zhang Jing knew he couldn't change Gu Ye's mind, so he could only sigh softly, "Be careful. I'll give you the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. If things don't look good, retreat immediately. Remember, staying alive is more important than anything else." As he spoke, he took out a small bottle from his pocket, "This is some wound-healing medicine; take it with you."

Gu Ye took the medicine bottle and nodded solemnly. He watched Zhang Jing's figure disappear into the night, took a deep breath, and quietly made his way towards the western prison cells.

The moonlight, like water, bathed his thin figure. At this moment, he remembered Gu Ye's worried gaze before he left. He had wanted to come himself, but Gu Ye had stopped him due to his severe injuries. "Be careful," Gu Ye patted Zhang Jing's shoulder as they parted, his eyes filled with worry, "If..."