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

When Murong Xuewei and Gu Ye arrived at the Crown Prince's Palace, thick smoke billowed out, and the Imperial Guards were already putting out fires everywhere. Liuli, disregarding her appearance, lifted her skirt and rushed into the palace gates behind Murong Xuewei.

"Little Yan'er!" Murong Xuewei called out anxiously the prince's childhood name.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, His Highness the Crown Prince is safe." The wet nurse ran out of the side hall carrying Xiao Yan'er. Although the child was frightened and cried, she was unharmed.

Murong Xuewei quickly took the child and carefully examined him before she felt a little relieved. Gu Ye also hurried over, and his tense expression eased upon seeing that the Crown Prince was safe.

"Your Majesty, an assassin broke in during the chaos, attempting to kidnap the Crown Prince. Fortunately..." Before the Imperial Guard Commander could finish speaking, a hidden arrow suddenly pierced the air!

"Watch out!" Gu Ye reacted swiftly, pulling Murong Xuewei and the Crown Prince aside to narrowly avoid the fatal blow. The arrow was embedded in the pillar behind them, its fletching still trembling.

"Protect His Majesty and the Empress!" The guards immediately formed a defensive formation.

Murong Xuewei held the Crown Prince tightly, cautiously glancing around. Then she noticed something seemed to be tied to the arrow.

“Wait.” She stopped the guard who was about to pull out the arrow. “Let me see.”

A note was tied to the arrow. Murong Xuewei unfolded it and her pupils contracted sharply: "Meet me in the Golden Palace in ten days."

A strange symbol was drawn at the end of the signature. Murong Xuewei stared intently at the pattern, her face gradually turning pale.

“This is…” she murmured to herself, “the mark of the Temple of Blessings.”

Gu Ye frowned upon seeing the note: "The Palace of Prayer for Blessings?"

“Yes.” Murong Xuewei took a deep breath. “The mysterious woman who questioned me at the coronation ceremony—she was from the Qifu Palace. Now I finally understand…”

"Understand what?"

"Why is Xiao Wanning so reckless?" Murong Xuewei raised her head, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes, "Because behind her stands the entire Qifu Palace."

Gu Ye's expression was grave. The Qifu Palace held a transcendent position in the martial arts world, and was said to possess many unknown secrets. If Xiao Wan Ning had truly gained the support of the Qifu Palace, then matters were far more complex than they imagined.

"Ten days from now..." Murong Xuewei said softly, "It seems it's time to settle things once and for all."

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded in the distance. A guard ran up to report, "Your Majesty, traces of Nanzhao spies have been discovered outside the city!"

"Where are the spies?" Gu Ye asked in a deep voice.

"I've already sent men to keep an eye on a dilapidated temple in the south of the city," the guard reported.

Murong Xuewei handed the Crown Prince to the wet nurse, then turned to Gu Ye and said, "I'll go with you."

"No." Gu Ye refused decisively. "The Crown Prince has just been assassinated; the palace needs you to oversee things right now."

Murong Xuewei wanted to say something, but Gu Ye had already strode away. Liuli stepped forward and advised, "Your Majesty, His Majesty is right. You should deal with the affairs of the palace first."

Watching Gu Ye's departing figure, a hint of worry flashed in Murong Xuewei's eyes. She had a feeling that things weren't that simple.

"Liuli, send someone to follow His Majesty and report back immediately if anything unusual happens," Murong Xuewei instructed in a low voice.

"Yes." Liuli accepted the order and left.

Murong Xuewei carried the Crown Prince back to Fengyi Palace. She had barely sat down when she heard a commotion outside.

"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!" A palace maid rushed in, flustered. "Someone just found poison in the imperial kitchen!"

Murong Xuewei's eyes turned cold: "When did this happen?"

"Just before His Majesty had his breakfast..."

Murong Xuewei suddenly stood up: "Quickly! Go and fetch the imperial physician to examine His Majesty's pulse!"

But soon another piece of bad news arrived: the Imperial Hospital had been set on fire, and several imperial physicians had been poisoned, their fates unknown.

"What a clever feint!" Murong Xuewei gritted her teeth. "Liuli!"

"Your Majesty." Liuli walked over quickly.

"Go and inform Zhang Jing immediately, tell him..."

Before she could finish speaking, another commotion erupted outside. A guard rushed in to report, "Your Majesty, the spies discovered in the south of the city have disappeared. His Majesty led men in pursuit, but..."

"But what?"

"But halfway through the pursuit, they discovered it was a trap. Someone had planted landmines along the road, Your Majesty..."

Murong Xuewei's face turned deathly pale instantly.

Just then, Liuli suddenly pointed out the window: "Your Majesty, look!"

Murong Xuewei turned her head and saw a thick plume of smoke suddenly rise into the sky south of the capital, followed by a loud bang.

"No!" Murong Xuewei grabbed Liuli's hand. "Liuli, you immediately take the Crown Prince through the secret passage to Zhang Jing's place. No matter what happens, don't come back."

"Your Majesty, what about you?"

“I will go to His Majesty.” A resolute glint flashed in Murong Xuewei’s eyes. “Remember, if neither His Majesty nor I have any news of you, you will take the Crown Prince and leave the capital for Jiangnan.”

"But......"

"No buts!" Murong Xuewei said sternly, "Protect the Crown Prince, that's an order!"

With tears in her eyes, Liuli nodded, picked up the sleeping prince, and headed towards the entrance of the secret passage.

Murong Xuewei watched them leave, then turned and walked to her dressing table. She opened a hidden compartment and took out an exquisite wooden box. Inside lay a dagger, the "token of love" that Jiang Lingyun had given her in her previous life.

She gripped the dagger tightly, her eyes flashing coldly: "Xiao Wanning, this time, let's settle things once and for all."

In a secluded courtyard south of the capital, Xiao Wan Ning coldly observed the message delivered by her subordinates.

"Gu Ye fell for the trap?" Xiao Wan Ning gently stroked the teacup in her hand.

“Yes.” Jiang Lingyun walked in from outside. “Gu Ye has already led his men to chase after them. According to the plan, they will soon encounter those…unexpected events.”

Xiao Wan Ning's lips curled into a cold smile: "How are the preparations at the Qi Fu Palace going?"

"Everything is ready." Jiang Lingyun paused, "But...Master, do we really have to go to the Golden Palace..."

"What?" Xiao Wan Ning put down her teacup. "Are you scared?"

“That’s not what I meant,” Jiang Lingyun said, bowing his head. “It’s just that the Golden Palace is heavily guarded, and if anything goes wrong…”

"With me here, what are you afraid of?" Xiao Wan Ning stood up and walked to the window. "Besides, do you think Murong Xue Wei will obediently wait for us in the Golden Palace?"

Jiang Lingyun was taken aback: "You mean...?"

“She will definitely come to find me beforehand.” Xiao Wan gazed at the thick smoke rising in the distance. “Look, she’s already on her way.”

“Then we…”

"Pass down the order." Xiao Wanning turned around. "Proceed according to plan. Oh, right..." She seemed to remember something, "Has Lan'er been found?"

Jiang Lingyun shook his head: "Since the betrayal, there has been no news of her."

"Hmph." Xiao Wan Ning snorted coldly, "A mere spy dares to betray Nanzhao."

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside.

"Reporting to Master!" A man in black rushed in, "We've discovered that the Murong family is secretly mobilizing."

Xiao Wanning narrowed her eyes: "Transfer?"

“Yes. They seem to be secretly gathering forces, and…” the man in black lowered his voice, “they seem to have connections with Medicine King Valley.”

“Zhang Jing…” Xiao Wan Ning’s expression turned cold. “Those old bastards, they really did interfere.”

"Should we...?"

“No need,” Xiao Wan Ning waved her hand. “Let them be busy.” She turned to Jiang Ling Yun, “Prepare that thing sent by Nanzhao. It’s time to show Murong Xue Wei what a true struggle for royal power is.”

"Yes." Jiang Lingyun responded and withdrew.

Xiao Wanning sat back down in her chair, her fingers lightly tapping the table: "Murong Xuewei, this time, I'll see if you can be as lucky as last time."

Suddenly, a gust of cold wind blew by, causing the candlelight to flicker. Xiao Wan Ning looked up sharply; she seemed to see a dark shadow flash past the window.

"Guards!" she shouted sternly.

There was no response from outside the door.

Xiao Wanning stood up and warily looked around. Just then, a familiar voice rang in her ear:

"Long time no see, fake princess."