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

In the pavilion in the backyard, the moonlight was like water, yet it couldn't illuminate the thoughts of the two. Xiao Wan Ning's face appeared even colder under the moonlight, her eyes concealing calculation.

"What exactly do you want?" Murong Xuewei stared directly at Xiao Wanning, her voice calm, but her eyes burning with rage.

Xiao Wan Ning elegantly raised an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on her lips: "What I want is simple: exchange your child for the Lingxi Pendant."

"Is a mere jade pendant worth all this trouble?" Murong Xuewei sneered, her gaze searching for any clues on Xiao Wanning's face.

A strange light flashed in Xiao Wan's eyes, and a crack appeared in her mask-like elegant expression: "A mere jade pendant?" She stood up, looking down at Murong Xuewei. "Murong Xuewei, do you know the true origin of this jade pendant? This could..." She suddenly stopped, a sly glint in her eyes, "Never mind, why should I tell you all this? You wouldn't understand anyway."

Just then, a huge commotion suddenly erupted in the front yard. Shouts of battle rose and fell, and flames soared into the sky. Xiao Wan Ning's expression instantly darkened, and her eyes twitched slightly.

"It seems your husband can't wait any longer." She gave a cold laugh, her eyes sharp as knives. "I'll give you the time it takes for an incense stick to burn to consider. The jade pendant, in exchange for the child."

Watching Xiao Wan Ning's departing figure, her skirt billowing in the wind, Murong Xue Wei gripped the jade pendant in her sleeve tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force. Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps came from behind.

"Madam!" Liuli ran up breathlessly, her face full of anxiety. "The general sent me to tell you that they've found the child's possible location. It's in the backyard..."

"No need to say anything more." Murong Xuewei raised her hand to stop her, her eyes becoming incredibly sharp. "I know Xiao Wanning's purpose."

"Madam?" Liuli looked flustered, her eyes filled with worry.

“Go tell the general to proceed according to the original plan.” Murong Xuewei’s voice was soft, but her eyes were as firm as iron. “I have my own plans.”

Chaos continued to spread. When Gu Ye led his men into the backyard, the scene before him made his heart clench.

Murong Xuewei stood in the moonlight, holding the legendary Lingxi Pendant in her hand, her face calm yet with a hint of determination; while Xiao Wanning held their child.

Standing not far away, he wore a confident smile on his face.

“Madam…” Gu Ye tried to step forward, his eyes filled with anxiety, but was stopped by two rows of guards.

“General Gu, don’t worry.” Xiao Wan Ning gently stroked the baby’s face, a smug smile playing on her lips. “Your wife and I are discussing a deal.”

"You!" Gu Ye's eyes blazed with fury, his facial muscles tensing with rage.

“Husband,” Murong Xuewei’s voice came, unusually calm, but her eyes conveyed a certain message, “Let me handle this.”

Xiao Wanning's gaze swept back and forth between the two of them, her voice tinged with a hint of mischief: "Time's up, what's your decision?"

Murong Xuewei slowly raised her head, the moonlight illuminating her cool and aloof face. Her eyes were firm and resolute: "Before the transaction, I need to confirm the child's safety."

“Of course.” Xiao Wan Ning’s lips curled slightly, she made a gesture, and a glint of triumph flashed in her eyes. A wet nurse carrying an infant stepped forward.

Looking at her sleeping child, a pang of heartache flashed in Murong Xuewei's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure. She took a deep breath and slowly took out the jade pendant from her sleeve. Just then, a sharp whistle suddenly rang out.

Changes occurred suddenly.

The night wind howled, fluttering her clothes. Murong Xuewei gripped the jade pendant tightly, a resolute glint in her eyes.

She turned to look at Gu Ye, her eyes filled with apology and determination.

Although Gu Ye was anxious, he understood something from her eyes and nodded almost imperceptibly.

Xiao Wanning narrowed her eyes, a hint of wariness flashing in them, and looked the two of them up and down.

In that split second, a crucial decision was about to be made.

Suddenly, a sharp whistle pierced the night sky, and several dark figures swiftly emerged from the shadows. Zhang Jing and his guards instantly formed a defensive formation. The clanging of swords being drawn was exceptionally clear in the darkness.

"Protect the princess!" Xiao Wan Ning's guards shouted, and more than a dozen men immediately surrounded her, their raised swords gleaming coldly in the moonlight.

“Have your men step back, Your Highness.” Murong Xuewei’s lips curled slightly as she raised the jade pendant in her hand. “Why make things so ugly? How about we make a deal?”

Xiao Wanning glanced at the wet nurse surrounded by Zhang Jing's men, narrowing her eyes: "At this point, do you think you still have the right to negotiate?"

“Of course.” Murong Xuewei said calmly, “You want the jade pendant, I want the child. It’s a fair trade, isn’t it? Even if you force me to do it now, I can take the jade pendant at any time…” She tightened her grip slightly, as if to smash the jade pendant.

"Murong Xuewei!" Xiao Wanning's voice sharpened, "How dare you!"

“Why wouldn’t I dare?” Murong Xuewei stepped forward slowly. “To me, it’s just an ordinary jade pendant. But you, the regent, aren’t even willing to let a mother see her child? If word gets out, it might not be good for your prestige.”

"You!" Xiao Wan Ning's expression shifted between anger and uncertainty.

Gu Ye, standing to the side, kept his eyes fixed on the wet nurse, his hand on the hilt of his sword, ready to strike at any moment. The scene fell into a stalemate.

After a long silence, Xiao Wan Ning suddenly sneered, "What a sharp-tongued daughter of the Murong family. Take the child over."

"Princess!" a guard exclaimed, "What if..."

"Shut up!" Xiao Wanning snapped, a glint of ruthlessness flashing in her eyes. "I have my own plans. One more word, and watch your tongue!"

The guard immediately fell silent, bowing his head and retreating. The wet nurse cautiously walked forward, and the baby in her arms seemed to sense the tense atmosphere, letting out a soft cry.

Gu Ye gripped the sword hilt tightly, tapping his knuckles three times. Murong Xuewei caught this gesture out of the corner of her eye and nodded subtly. They had rehearsed countless times before, waiting for this moment.

"Wait!" Xiao Wanning suddenly spoke, her eyes sharp. "Give me the jade pendant first."

Murong Xuewei shook the jade pendant in her hand, which shimmered faintly in the moonlight: "You want the jade pendant? Let me hold the child first. Damn it, you won't even grant such a simple request? Isn't that incredibly unreasonable?"

"You dare to reason with me?" Just as Xiao Wan Ning was about to lash out, a clear voice suddenly came from under the corridor.

"A jade pendant? Why is *** so obsessed with this jade pendant? Could it be... that she's looking for that thing?"

Everyone turned around and saw Consort Ning walking slowly out of the moonlight. Her appearance was clearly unexpected by everyone.

"Consort Ning?" Xiao Wan Ning's expression changed, and she took a half step back. "What are you doing here?"

"What, shouldn't I have come?" Consort Ning smiled faintly, her gaze falling meaningfully on the jade pendant. "This jade pendant has been missing since the late Emperor's passing. ***Why all the commotion today, could it be that you've found some clue?"