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

Gu Ye gestured for everyone to be quiet, then quietly went to the window. He saw a man dressed in gray lingering outside the bamboo grove, seemingly searching for something.

“Don’t be nervous,” Zhang Jing said in a low voice. “That’s an informant I placed. If he notices anything unusual, he’ll notify us this way.”

Sure enough, the man circled the bamboo grove once and then left. Zhang Jing then explained, "He was telling us that house-to-house searches have begun in the city."

"It seems Jiang Lingyun is determined to find us," Gu Ye sneered.

"What do we do now?" Liuli asked worriedly.

Zhang Jing pondered for a moment: "This place is safe for now. Even if Jiang Lingyun sends people to search, they won't find it anytime soon. However..." He looked at everyone, "we still need to think of a long-term plan."

Murong Xuewei clenched her fists: "We can't keep hiding like this."

"Our top priority is to find the child," Gu Ye said solemnly. "Once we have concrete information, we can counter Xiao Wan Ning."

As they were talking, they suddenly heard the sound of horses' hooves in the distance. Zhang Jing quickly told everyone to hide, while he pretended to be an ordinary farmer, tidying up herbs in the yard.

The sound of horses' hooves drew nearer, then gradually faded into the distance. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. But they all knew that this period of anxiety had only just begun.

The atmosphere in the manor gradually quieted down. Zhang Jing changed Liuli's dressing and gave Murong Xuewei some tonic soup. Gu Ye paced back and forth in the courtyard, seemingly deep in thought.

As night fell, Zhang Jing was decocting medicine when he suddenly heard a noise outside. Just as everyone was about to become alert, a young boy rushed in.

"Something terrible has happened!" the child gasped, "In the city..."

Before he could finish speaking, Gu Ye stepped forward to support him: "Tell me slowly, what happened?"

The boy composed himself: "It's being said all over the city that remnants of the General's faction have been found. Lord Jiang has already led men to arrest them!"

"What?" Gu Ye's expression changed. "Where?"

“In…in a house in the south of the city,” the boy said. “They say they’ve captured several maids from the general’s mansion.”

Gu Ye and Murong Xuewei exchanged a glance, both seeing worry in each other's eyes. They weren't afraid of what the maids might say, but they feared that Jiang Lingyun would use them to cause trouble and spread rumors. That would make their situation even more dangerous.

"And," the boy lowered his voice, "I heard that Prince An's residence is hosting a banquet tonight, and many officials have been invited. It seems... it seems *** will be there too."

This news cheered everyone up. Gu Ye pondered, "Why would Xiao Wan Ning attend a banquet at the Prince An's residence at this time?"

"Could it be..." Murong Xuewei suddenly thought of something, "...could it be that they're discussing how to deal with us?"

“Very likely.” Gu Ye nodded. “But this is indeed an opportunity.”

Zhang Jing understood his meaning: "You mean, while they're at the banquet, we..."

“Yes.” A sharp glint flashed in Gu Ye’s eyes. “The more complacent they are, the greater our opportunity.”

Murong Xuewei, however, was somewhat worried: "But the search in the city is so strict now, what if we..."

"Don't worry," Gu Ye reassured him, "I have my own plans."

As dusk settled, the Prince An's mansion was brightly lit, and preparations for the banquet were nearing their end.

Gu Ye stood in the shadows, his brows furrowed, his sharp gaze sweeping over every detail of the mansion.

At this time, the Prince An's mansion seemed peaceful, but undercurrents were surging, and every corner could hide a deadly crisis.

"General, everything is ready." Zhang Jing quietly appeared beside Gu Ye, reporting in a low voice, his eyes warily scanning the surroundings. "The guards in the mansion have been thoroughly checked; there are a hundred regular guards, and at least fifty assassins lurking in the shadows."

A cold glint flashed in Gu Ye's eyes: "Have you found any trace of the child?"

Zhang Jing pursed his lips, shaking his head with a guilty expression: "We haven't found the exact location yet, but according to intelligence, it should be somewhere in the backyard."

Gu Ye's fingers unconsciously traced the hilt of his sword, his voice low and laced with suppressed anger: "Since she dared to bring a child to the Prince An's residence, she must have been prepared. Pass down the order: everyone must be on high alert and not fall into a trap."

"Husband." A familiar voice came from behind. Gu Ye turned around and saw Murong Xuewei standing in the moonlight. Her face was pale, but her eyes shone with a determined light.

Gu Ye's brow twitched, and he quickly stepped forward to support her, his voice filled with undisguised worry: "Why are you here? You haven't fully recovered yet."

Murong Xuewei looked up, tears welling in her eyes, but stubbornly refusing to let them fall: "This is our child, taken from my arms." She grasped Gu Ye's hand, her fingertips trembling slightly, "I can't just sit at home and wait to die."

“But…” Gu Ye’s face showed struggle.

“I know what you’re worried about.” Murong Xuewei interrupted him with a bitter smile. “But you must understand, I’m not a weak woman who needs to be protected. This time, let me fight alongside you.”

Gu Ye gazed at her, seeing the pain and determination mixed with the resolve in her eyes. He sighed softly, but the worry in his eyes didn't lessen in the slightest: "Promise me, if there's any danger, evacuate immediately."

"Don't worry." Murong Xuewei nodded, a relieved smile on her face. "Liuli and I have already prepared the cook's attire."

Zhang Jing, standing nearby, glanced nervously at the sky: "General, it's almost time."

Gu Ye gripped Murong Xuewei's hand tightly, his eyes filled with reluctance and worry: "Remember, after the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, I will create chaos. You all take the opportunity to search for the child's whereabouts."

Liuli stepped forward: "Madam, we should go change our clothes."

Soon, the banquet began. The hall was filled with the clinking of glasses and the rustling of elegant ladies. Murong Xuewei and Liuli, dressed as cooks, moved among the guests carrying drinks. Murong Xuewei wore a humble smile, but her eyes constantly scanned her surroundings with vigilance.

“Madam.” Liuli’s pupils suddenly contracted, and she lowered her voice, “Look over there.” She gestured in a direction. A maid was hurrying towards the backyard, and the faint sound of a baby crying could be heard from her arms.

Murong Xuewei's heart tightened, and her fingertips unconsciously dug into her palm: "Go and inform the general; I'll go after them and see."

"Madam, this is too dangerous." Liuli's face turned pale, and she hurriedly grabbed her sleeve.

"It's too late." Murong Xuewei decisively shook off Liuli's hand, a resolute glint in her eyes. "Go quickly!"

Liuli gritted her teeth, tears welling in her eyes, and turned to look for Gu Ye.

Murong Xuewei concealed her aura and carefully followed the maid through the corridor to a secluded courtyard.

"As expected, they've arrived." A cold voice suddenly rang out. Xiao Wan Ning stepped out of the shadows, a confident smile on her lips, but her eyes were as cold as ice. "Has the once elegant and noble Madam Murong fallen so low as to become a lowly cook?"

Murong Xuewei straightened her back, her eyes blazing with barely concealed anger: "Where is my child?"

"So eager?" Xiao Wan Ning chuckled, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes. "Why don't we go to the pavilion and have a proper talk?"

As Xiao Wan Ning turned around, her skirt gracefully traced an arc, but Murong Xue Wei noticed that her fingers were slightly curled, revealing her inner turmoil.