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

"Think it through? Of course I've thought it through. I'll ask you one last time, will you give it to me or not?" Jiang Lingyun kicked Murong Qingyu to the ground and stomped hard on Murong Qingyu's wound.

"Cough cough..." Murong Qingyu coughed violently, and blood flowed down the corner of her mouth.

"Xuewei, don't worry about me..." He raised his head, his gaze still firm.

Jiang Lingyun sneered, "Guards, show the young lady what it means to be begging for death."

Two guards grabbed Murong Qingyu, while another brought out red-hot iron tongs. Murong Xuewei's pupils contracted sharply: "Stop!"

"Where's the token?" Jiang Lingyun asked lazily.

"You..." Murong Xuewei bit her lip hard, her nails digging into her palms. That token was related to the entire Murong family's foundation; if she handed it over...

"Ah!" A scream interrupted her thoughts. The iron clamps were already pressed against Murong Qingyu's arm.

"Big brother!" Murong Xuewei took a step forward, then stopped abruptly. For the first time, she felt so helpless, as if the tragedy of her past life was about to repeat itself.

"I'll give you the time it takes for an incense stick to burn," Jiang Lingyun waved his hand. "However, you need to keep a close eye on things during this time."

The guards understood and brought out the instruments of torture one by one. Murong Xuewei trembled all over, a resolute glint flashing in her eyes.

"Jiang Lingyun, how dare you?" Murong Xuewei stared coldly at Jiang Lingyun in front of her, her eyes concealing murderous intent.

"Oh?" Jiang Lingyun revealed a mocking smile. "I'd like to see what the Empress, in all her power, can do now." He strode over to Murong Qingyu, his fingers lightly tapping the table. "Tell me, should we let your sister see just how tough she really is?"

"Stop!" Murong Xuewei stepped forward abruptly, her voice trembling slightly. "Jiang Lingyun, don't go too far!"

Liuli gripped the dagger hidden in her sleeve, about to step forward, but was stopped by Xiaocui. Xiaocui shook her head, her eyes red, signaling her not to act rashly.

"Excessive?" Jiang Lingyun suddenly burst into laughter, his laughter tinged with madness. "I'll show you what 'excessive' truly means! Guards, bring the master and madam up here!"

The palace doors were pushed open, and two ragged figures were dragged in by the guards. Murong Xuewei's heart trembled, and her nails dug deeply into her palms, blood dripping from between her fingers onto the ground.

“Father! Mother!” Her voice was already a little hoarse.

Master Murong struggled to raise his head, his eyes filled with heartache: "Xuewei...don't give him the token...the Murong family's foundation..." Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by a guard's slap.

"You beasts!" Liuli could no longer hold back and broke free from Xiaocui, rushing forward.

"Liuli!" Murong Xuewei grabbed her, her voice carrying an unyielding command, "Calm down!"

Jiang Lingyun stood there, enjoying Murong Xuewei's rare moment of loss of composure. He slowly walked to Madam Murong, lifting her chin with his finger: "Madam, tell me, which is more important, the token, or your and Master's lives?"

"Let go of my mother!" Murong Xuewei's voice trembled.

“Jiang Lingyun.” Murong Qingyu suddenly spoke, her voice weak yet tinged with sarcasm, “Are you so sure you can escape unscathed? What if the Emperor finds out…”

"Your Majesty?" Jiang Lingyun sneered, kicking Murong Qingyu in the ribs, watching him curl up in pain. "You think your status as Empress still matters? I can tell you, the people behind you want your lives, and even Gu Ye can't save you!"

These words were like a bucket of ice water poured over Murong Xuewei's head. She stared intently at Jiang Lingyun, countless thoughts flashing through her mind. Outside the window, the petals of the crabapple blossoms fell softly, reflecting the fate of the people inside the hall, like candles flickering in the wind.

"Who is the person behind you?" Murong Xuewei suddenly asked.

Jiang Lingyun ignored her question: "Three breaths." He slowly walked to Madam Murong, a dagger flashing in his hand, and pressed it against her neck. "I'll count to three. If you don't hand over the token..."

"One..." The blade lightly grazed Madam Murong's skin.

"How dare you!" Murong Xuewei's voice trembled.

"Two..." A trickle of blood flowed down Madam Murong's neck.

Xiao Cui covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face. Liu Li's hand, gripping the dagger, had turned white, but Murong Xue Wei held it down firmly.

“Last chance…” A ruthless glint flashed in Jiang Lingyun’s eyes.

“Three…” Jiang Lingyun’s voice echoed in the hall. The blade moved forward a little more, and the blood beads on Madam Murong’s neck slid down the blade.

"Wait!" Murong Xuewei's voice was almost squeezed out through clenched teeth, "The token... I'll give it to you."

With trembling hands, she took out a jade token from her sleeve. The jade was warm and smooth, engraved with intricate patterns; it was the family's ancestral token passed down through generations. All eyes in the hall were fixed on that jade, which bore witness to the hard work and dedication of several generations of the Murong family.

"Xuewei, no!" Murong Qingyu struggled to get up, but the guards pressed him back down hard. "Cough cough..." He coughed violently and spat a mouthful of blood onto the ground.

"Big brother!" Murong Xuewei felt as if her heart was being torn apart.

Jiang Lingyun strode forward and snatched the token: "Finally, you've gotten to the point." He carefully examined the jade's patterns, then looked up at Murong Xuewei, "However..." A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips, "Do you think I'll let you leave so easily?"

"You broke your promise?" Murong Xuewei's face turned pale, but she had expected this. Her memories from her past life told her that Jiang Lingyun had always been a treacherous person who didn't keep his word.

"Guards!" Jiang Lingyun roared, "Lock them all up and keep them under strict guard. If Gu Ye dares to come to rescue them..." He sneered, a ruthless glint in his eyes, "he'll see the color of blood!"

Dozens of guards rushed forward and lifted up the members of the Murong family. Madam Murong struggled and cried out, "Xuewei! My daughter!" Her voice was filled with despair.

"Mother!" Murong Xuewei tried to rush forward, but was held down firmly by two burly guards. She struggled desperately, but to no avail. "Let me go!"

"Young Miss!" Liuli and Xiaocui were also restrained, tears streaming down their faces.

Jiang Lingyun strode up to Murong Xuewei, reached out and lifted her chin: "Murong Xuewei, aren't you supposed to be very clever? How come you ended up in my hands?" He leaned close to her ear, his voice laced with malice, "Don't worry, since you handed over the token, I'll let your family reunite in the fields."

"Jiang Lingyun!" Murong Qingyu roared, "You'll die a horrible death!"

"Shut up!" A guard stepped forward and kicked Murong Qingyu in the chest.

"You beast!" Murong Xuewei's eyes flashed with deep hatred. If looks could kill, Jiang Lingyun would have been riddled with holes long ago.

"Take him away!" Jiang Lingyun waved her hand dismissively. "Just wait for Gu Ye to come and die. If he truly cared about you, he would have come."

The guards dragged everyone away from the main hall. The last rays of the setting sun streamed through the carved window lattices, casting Jiang Lingyun's shadow long and menacing, like a grotesque demon. The crabapple petals continued to fall, only making the whole scene appear even more bloody and cruel.

Murong Xuewei was led out of the main hall. She glanced back at Jiang Lingyun's smug smile and secretly vowed: in this life, she would make Jiang Lingyun pay the price. Even if it cost her her life, she would protect her family.