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

Murong Xuewei nodded.

At this moment, the wet nurse came in carrying the sleeping Xiao Yan'er. Murong Xuewei took Xiao Yan'er from her and dismissed the wet nurse.

Murong Xuewei looked at Xiaoyan'er's sleeping face in her arms and gently tucked Xiaoyan'er's blanket.

Because Xiao Yan'er was born prematurely and was taken away by Xiao Wan Ning at birth, she was particularly prone to being frightened after being rescued. Therefore, Murong Xue Wei took meticulous care of Xiao Yan'er.

In the imperial study room.

“Your Majesty,” the chief eunuch bowed slightly, “we have found out. Jiang Lingyun left the city when you achieved your great victory over the An Party. According to the soldiers guarding the city, he went to the Bodhi Temple outside the city, and then disappeared without a trace.”

Gu Ye sneered: "Gone?"

"Your Majesty, according to the soldiers guarding the city, Jiang Lingyun left the city overnight."

"Is someone following us?"

"Yes," the chief eunuch handed over a confidential letter, "but..."

"Just what?"

"The people who were tracking him lost track of him in Jiangnan. They last saw him enter a teahouse, but he was nowhere to be seen when he came out."

"Has the teahouse been checked?"

"I checked, it's an ordinary teahouse. The owner said there was indeed a customer who looked similar that day, but he only stayed for half an hour before leaving."

Gu Ye's eyes darkened, and he was about to speak when Murong Xuewei's voice came from outside the hall: "Gu Ye, are you busy?"

"Come in." Gu Ye put away the secret letter, his expression softening slightly.

As Murong Xuewei entered the hall, the head eunuch had just left. She glanced at Gu Ye's expression and asked softly, "Is there any progress on Jiang Lingyun's matter?"

“He went to Jiangnan,” Gu Ye said calmly.

Murong Xuewei frowned: "Going to Jiangnan at this time... doesn't he have any businesses there?"

“I haven’t heard about that.” Gu Ye gave her a meaningful look. “But isn’t your older brother also going back to Jiangnan?”

"Gu Ye, you mean..." Murong Xuewei's expression changed.

“I’ve already arranged for someone to protect them secretly, so you don’t need to worry.” Gu Ye took her hand. “So, what did you want to see me about?”

"My elder brother just said he'll be setting off for Jiangnan the day after tomorrow." Murong Xuewei's eyes flashed with reluctance as she mentioned this. "I'd like to host a farewell banquet at Zuixiangju."

Seeing the slight disappointment in her expression, Gu Ye said softly, "That's fine, it's rare for my brother and his family to come all this way." He paused, then added, "But we need to send more people to keep an eye on them."

“I know.” Murong Xuewei smiled, “Before my brother leaves, we should have a proper get-together. Besides, this is Linlin’s first time in the capital… He said Linlin keeps pestering me to tell her stories.”

Before he could finish speaking, Murong Qingyu's voice came from outside the hall: "Who's been pestering me to hear a story?"

"Big brother!" Murong Xuewei's eyes lit up.

"Sister, Your Majesty." Murong Qingyu entered, holding a red invitation card. "I've come to deliver your invitation."

"An invitation?" Murong Xuewei took the red invitation from her brother. "This is..."

"An invitation to Linlin's first birthday celebration," Murong Qingyu said with a smile. "Although it's still two months away, I thought I'd send it now. If His Majesty and my sister can come to Jiangnan..."

"Two months later..." Murong Xuewei stared blankly at the invitation, then suddenly looked up, "Big brother, how long will you be gone to Jiangnan this time?"

"What? You're reluctant to part with your older brother?" Murong Qingyu ruffled his younger sister's hair. "I think you're reluctant to part with Linlin, aren't you?"

"Big brother!" Murong Xuewei glared at him reproachfully, "You're just teasing me."

"Alright," Murong Qingyu said, her joking expression fading, "this trip will probably take at least half a year. The business in Jiangnan needs reorganization, and besides..."

"And what?" Murong Xuewei keenly sensed the hidden meaning in her brother's words.

"It's nothing." Murong Qingyu glanced at Gu Ye and changed the subject, "But you, you need to take good care of yourself and Xiao Yan'er."

......

Inside Zuixiangju, wine cups clinked and toasts were exchanged.

"Xuewei," Song Wanyi said with a smile, holding the sleeping Linlin, "by the time you and the Emperor come to Jiangnan, Linlin will definitely be walking."

“That’s right,” Murong Qingyu joked, “We don’t even know if we’ll recognize Auntie then.”

Murong Xuewei looked at her sleeping niece with tenderness in her eyes: "She's so smart, how could she not recognize her aunt?" As she spoke, she gently touched Linlin's chubby little hand.

"Speaking of which," Song Wanyi suddenly said, "Xuewei, do you remember when you were little? You were about this age when you first met Qingyu..."

Murong Xuewei was taken aback: "Really? I don't remember at all."

“That’s right,” Murong Qingyu chimed in, “You were so little back then, and you would hide behind your mother as soon as you saw me. I had to use candied hawthorns to coax you out.”

"So my brother has always been good at coaxing people since he was a child," Murong Xuewei said with a smile, but her eyes were a little moist.

Just then, the manager of Zuixiangju hurried over and whispered a few words in Murong Xuewei's ear.

Gu Ye keenly noticed that Murong Xuewei's face suddenly turned pale.

"Xuewei?" he called softly. "What's wrong?"

Murong Xuewei clutched the secret letter tightly, her voice trembling slightly: "Something's happened in Jiangnan..."

Murong Qingyu's expression changed: "What happened in Jiangnan? Is it Zuixiangju...?"

"The branch office has been set on fire." Murong Xuewei tried to remain calm, but couldn't hide the trembling in her voice.

"What about the casualties?" Gu Ye asked in a deep voice.

"Your Majesty," the shopkeeper whispered, "fortunately, everyone was evacuated, but..."

"But what?" Murong Qingyu pressed.

"But the arsonist left a note," the shopkeeper said, handing over another letter, "saying this is just the beginning."

Gu Ye unfolded the note, on which were written a few words in crooked handwriting: "Like rain after a long drought, one day it will surely be stained with blood..."

"What does this mean?" Song Wanyi instinctively hugged Linlin tighter.

Murong Qingyu's expression was solemn: "It seems someone has been waiting for this day for a long time."

Gu Ye looked at Murong Xuewei: "Do you recognize this handwriting?"

Murong Xuewei stared intently at the note, and after a long while, she said, "It looks...it looks like it was deliberately written crookedly."

"This handwriting..." Gu Ye looked at the shopkeeper, "Are there any other clues?"

The shopkeeper shook his head: "Your Majesty, the fire was too intense. By the time the city defense troops arrived, nothing could be seen."

"Your Majesty," Murong Qingyu pondered for a moment, "I am about to depart for Jiangnan the day after tomorrow. Perhaps I could investigate this matter."

Murong Xuewei frowned: "Big brother, this..."

“Xuewei,” Murong Qingyu interrupted her, “Zuixiangju has been operating in Jiangnan for many years, and I’m familiar with the situation there. Besides…” He glanced at the sleeping Linlin, “We can’t let your business be ruined like this.”

Gu Ye said thoughtfully, "Qingyu is right, he is indeed familiar with Jiangnan."

"But..." Murong Xuewei wanted to say something more.