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

In the chaos, Murong Xuewei protected Master Sun, fighting and retreating. Just then, she noticed that Jiang Lingyun seemed to be secretly observing something. Following his gaze, she saw that Master Sun seemed to be hiding something in his sleeve.

"Go!" Gu Ye forced back several guards with his sword and pulled Murong Xuewei away.

In the darkness, the firelight illuminated half the sky. Murong Xuewei turned around and saw Jiang Lingyun standing in the ruins, a meaningful smile on his face.

A sense of unease rose in her heart: Was everything really as they wished?

"Madam!" Liuli called from a distance, "Hurry!"

The group quickly disappeared into the night. Only after returning to their safe lodgings did Murong Xuewei realize that her hands had been trembling the whole time.

“Master Sun,” she turned to the old man, “Jiang Lingyun said Xiao Wanning set a trap, what does that mean?”

Master Sun shook his head: "Everything is within the game of chess. However... the opponent in this game is probably not just Xiao Wanning."

Murong Xuewei and Gu Ye exchanged a glance, both seeing worry in each other's eyes. Had they won this round, or had they fallen right into the enemy's trap?

"Search! Search! We must find them!" Xiao Wanning stood in front of the ruins of the Imperial Observatory, her voice as cold as ice.

Jiang Lingyun knelt on one knee: "Your subordinate is guilty; you let them escape."

"Useless!" Xiao Wan Ning flicked her sleeve, smashing a teacup on the ground. "So many people couldn't stop them?"

“Please calm down,” Jiang Lingyun looked up, a strange glint in his eyes. “I’ve already sent men to investigate all suspicious residences in the city. They can’t have gone far with the wounded.”

Xiao Wan Ning sneered: "I hope so. Otherwise..." She gave Jiang Ling Yun a meaningful look.

Meanwhile, in a secluded courtyard in the west of the city.

"Madam, something terrible has happened!" Liuli rushed in. "The number of guards at the city gate has doubled, and everyone leaving the city is being thoroughly checked."

Murong Xuewei, who was bandaging Master Sun's wounds, paused upon hearing this: "As expected. Xiao Wanning is trying to trap us in the city."

“That’s not all,” Gu Ye said, walking in with a grave expression, “There are soldiers searching throughout the city. In another hour, they’ll be here.”

"We need to move quickly," Murong Xuewei gritted her teeth. "But Master Sun's injuries..."

Master Sun waved his hand: "This old monk is fine. The most urgent matter is to find a safe place."

“I do know a place,” Liuli suddenly spoke up. “There’s an abandoned mortuary in the west of the city, rarely visited. I’ve inquired about it before; there’s a secret room underground.”

Gu Ye frowned: "The mortuary is too conspicuous; they'll definitely search it."

“Precisely because it’s conspicuous, they’ll be less vigilant,” Murong Xuewei stood up. “If they don’t find it after searching once, they won’t go again.”

Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from outside.

"They came so fast!" Gu Ye strode to the window. "It seems we'll have to split up. Liuli, you take Master Sun to the mortuary first. Xuewei and I will distract them."

Murong Xuewei said, "No, husband, you and Liuli take Daoist Sun away, I'll distract them."

"No!" Gu Ye refused decisively. "It's too dangerous."

“Listen to me this once.” Murong Xuewei gripped Gu Ye’s hand tightly. “Xiao Wanning wants to capture me, so it’s best for me to distract them. Besides…” she lowered her voice, “I also need to find someone.”

Gu Ye was taken aback: "Who?"

“The old tailor from the south of the city.” Murong Xuewei’s expression was grave. “I suspect he knows something. A few days ago, I saw him in contact with people close to Xiao Wanning.”

The sound of horses' hooves grew closer, and the shouts of soldiers could already be heard.

“Okay,” Gu Ye gritted his teeth, “Be careful. Meet at the mortuary before dark.”

Murong Xuewei nodded and turned to leave, but Gu Ye grabbed her arm.

"Wait." He took out a jade pendant from his robes. "Take this. If you encounter danger, crush it. I will know."

Murong Xuewei accepted the jade pendant, a warmth spreading through her heart. She tiptoed and gently kissed her husband's cheek: "Don't worry, I'll be alright."

After Gu Ye and the others left through the back door, Murong Xuewei tidied herself up and walked out through the front door with a confident air.

"Over there!" Sure enough, soldiers spotted her shortly afterward.

Murong Xuewei remained calm and composed, leading her pursuers through the streets and alleys. She knew this area very well and could easily shake off her pursuers.

But she didn't rush to shake them off. Instead, she deliberately kept a certain distance, leading the pursuers south of the city.

The old tailor's shop was just around the corner. Murong Xuewei hid on the roof, watching the commotion below.

Soon, a young servant-like man sneaked into the shop. He left shortly after, seemingly carrying something extra.

Murong Xuewei narrowed her eyes. There was definitely something wrong!

Once the sounds of the pursuers faded into the distance, she quietly slipped into the shop. The old tailor was packing his things, seemingly preparing to leave.

"So you're in such a hurry to leave?" Murong Xuewei's voice suddenly rang out.

The old tailor was startled, and the bundle in his hands fell to the ground, from which a roll of blueprints rolled out.

Murong Xuewei snatched the blueprint with lightning speed, unfolded it, and her pupils suddenly contracted.

Is this... a map of the palace's secret passages?

"You..." The old tailor's face turned deathly pale. "How could you..."

"Shut up!" Murong Xuewei said coldly. "Tell me, where is my child?"

The old tailor suddenly laughed: "Do you think I'd tell you?"

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly opened his mouth and bit something. Before Murong Xuewei could stop him, he collapsed to the ground, foaming at the mouth.

"Damn it!" Murong Xuewei stomped her foot, but then heard footsteps outside.

Without a second thought, she grabbed the blueprints and darted to hide on the roof beam. Soon after, Jiang Lingyun and his men burst in.

"Where is he?" Jiang Lingyun's expression changed upon seeing the old tailor lying on the ground. "Search! Turn the entire shop upside down!"

Murong Xuewei held her breath. Just then, a commotion arose outside.

"Report! A suspicious person has been spotted in the west of the city; it looks like Gu Ye!"

A glint flashed in Jiang Lingyun's eyes: "They really did split up. Let's go!"

After Jiang Lingyun and his men left, Murong Xuewei jumped down from the roof beam and carefully examined the map of the secret passage. It was an extremely detailed map, not only marking the location of the secret passage but also the rotation schedule for the guards.

"This doesn't look like an ordinary secret passage map..." Murong Xuewei murmured to herself, suddenly noticing a strange mark in the corner of the map. It was a small lotus flower pattern that looked somewhat familiar.

She suddenly remembered that the sachet Uncle Lin had given her was embroidered with lotus flowers just like this!

Just as she was about to study the drawings carefully, she heard footsteps outside. Murong Xuewei quickly put away the drawings and climbed out of the back window.