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

"Your Majesty flatters me. I only have a superficial understanding and dare not accept such praise," Murong Xuewei replied modestly.

"Haha, good, very good indeed, 'a smattering of knowledge'! Even a smattering of knowledge can help you make your business thrive." The Emperor laughed heartily, "Minister Gu, you are truly blessed to have married such a virtuous and capable wife!"

"Thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty." Gu Ye smiled faintly, but his eyes remained completely calm.

As Gu Ye finished speaking, the dancers who were going to perform entered one after another.

Everyone's attention was drawn to the dancer's performance.

But Murong Xuewei felt a gaze fixed on her, as if she were being stuck to a sticky bug, making her feel uncomfortable all over.

As the banquet drew to a close, the Emperor suddenly spoke up, saying, "Minister Gu, you have served the country with utmost loyalty and made great contributions. I am deeply gratified!"

"This is what I should do," Gu Ye replied calmly.

"I have decided to make the Second Princess Xiao Sining your secondary wife, and we will hold the wedding on a chosen date!" The Emperor's tone was authoritative and left no room for argument.

"Your Majesty, I already have a wife. I hope Your Majesty will rescind your order." Gu Ye cupped his hands, his tone firm.

"Oh? What do you mean by this, my dear minister? Are you perhaps dissatisfied with the wife I have chosen for you?" The Emperor asked, his tone displeased.

"It's not that I'm dissatisfied, it's just that my wife and I are deeply in love and I don't want to marry anyone else," Gu Ye said, neither humble nor arrogant.

"Moreover, the princess is of noble birth, while I am but a mere brute. How could the princess marry me as a secondary wife? That would be too unfair to the princess."

"Your Majesty, I don't mind being General Gu's concubine. As long as I can be with General Gu, I have no other desires." Xiao Si Ning suddenly knelt down, looking at Gu Ye with a firm gaze.

"Si Ning, why are you doing this to yourself?" The Emperor looked at Xiao Si Ning with disappointment.

"Your Majesty, my mind is made up. If I cannot marry General Gu, I am willing to remain unmarried for the rest of my life," Xiao Sining said firmly.

"This..." The Emperor pretended to be troubled and gestured to the Empress with his eyes.

The Empress understood immediately and said with a smile to Murong Xuewei, "Madam Gu, it seems that my clothes have been stained with some wine. Why don't you accompany me to change?"

Murong Xuewei glanced at Gu Ye subconsciously, and met his gaze.

Gu Ye nodded to Murong Xuewei, signaling her not to resist.

Murong Xuewei nodded, her expression remaining calm: "Yes, Your Majesty."

"Someone, take Madam Gu to the side hall." At the Empress's command, two palace maids walked to Murong Xuewei's side and gestured for her to proceed.

Murong Xuewei left the banquet hall with the palace maid, thinking to herself, "It seems I have no choice but to get involved in this mess tonight."

Murong Xuewei followed the palace maid through the winding corridors, her mind filled with countless thoughts.

The Empress sent her away, clearly intending to discuss the matter privately with the Emperor, Gu Ye, and Xiao Si Ning.

It seems the Empress is determined to bring Gu Ye and Xiao Si Ning together.

"Madam Gu, please come in." A palace maid pushed open a carved wooden door and gestured for her to enter.

Murong Xuewei nodded slightly and walked into the room.

The room was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood incense, and the decor was very elegant.

The empress sat in front of her dressing table, and a palace maid was combing her hair.

"Your Majesty, this humble woman pays her respects." Murong Xuewei curtsied.

"Get up," the Empress said calmly, her tone revealing neither joy nor anger.

Murong Xuewei stood up and stood quietly to the side, waiting for the Empress's question.

"Madam Gu, what do you think of my attire today?" the Empress asked casually, looking at herself in the mirror.

Murong Xuewei knew that the Empress was deliberately testing her.

She smiled slightly and said in a humble yet assertive manner, "Your Majesty's robe today is elegant and luxurious, making you appear even more dignified and majestic, befitting an empress."

The Empress's lips curled into a barely perceptible cold smile as she said, "Is that so? But why do I feel that this phoenix robe looks a little too somber on me?"

Murong Xuewei sneered inwardly, but said calmly, "Your Majesty is joking. This phoenix robe is exclusively for the Empress, symbolizing the noble status of the Empress. How could it be dull?"

"However, I've heard that some people just like to wear clothes that don't belong to them, without even considering whether they have the right to do so," the Empress said with a hint of sarcasm.

Murong Xuewei knew that the Empress was implying that she came from a merchant family and was not a good match for Gu Ye.

She took a deep breath, suppressed her anger, and said calmly, "Your Majesty, I am of humble birth and know that I am not worthy of the General, but the feelings between us are as clear as day."

"Feelings?" The Empress sneered. "Does having feelings alone make you a general's wife? Madam Gu, you're too naive."

“Your Majesty’s rebuke is correct; submission is indeed naive.” Murong Xuewei lowered her head, her tone calm. “But I believe the General will make his own judgment.”

The Empress looked at Murong Xuewei, a hint of malice flashing in her eyes.

This Murong Xuewei is much more difficult to deal with than she imagined.

"Alright, it's getting late, you can go back now." The Empress waved her hand impatiently.

"Yes, I submit and take my leave." Murong Xuewei curtsied and turned to leave the room.

Murong Xuewei knew that tonight was just the beginning.

Now that the Empress has taken action, she will not give up easily.

Murong Xuewei must prepare herself for the challenges ahead.

Meanwhile, in the banquet hall, the Emperor, Gu Ye, and Xiao Si Ning were still locked in a stalemate.

"Your Majesty, my mind is made up. I beg Your Majesty to grant my request." Gu Ye knelt on the ground, his tone firm.

"Your Majesty, I don't want to make things difficult for you, but I will marry no one but General Gu in this life." Xiao Si Ning also knelt on the ground, looking pitiful.

The emperor looked at the two kneeling on the ground, feeling very troubled.

If Gu Ye doesn't accept Xiao Si Ning, how can he get Murong Xue Wei?

"Your Majesty, I have a plan that may solve your problem." The Empress returned to the banquet hall at some point, a meaningful smile on her face.

"Oh? What brilliant plan does the Empress have?" The Emperor's eyes lit up, and he quickly asked.

"Your Majesty, since General Gu is reluctant to let Si Ning become a concubine, and Si Ning is determined to marry General Gu, why not grant them this wish and let them..." The Empress leaned close to the Emperor's ear and whispered her plan.

After hearing the Empress's plan, the Emperor's eyes lit up, and he finally couldn't help but clap his hands and exclaim, "Excellent! The Empress's plan is brilliant! Let's do it this way!"

Upon hearing this, Gu Ye and Xiao Sining were both startled. Xiao Sining quickly asked, "Brother, what exactly did Sister-in-law say to you?"

The Emperor smiled and said, "I have made my decision. Gu Ye, listen to my decree!"

Gu Ye and Xiao Si Ning immediately knelt down, holding their breath and waiting for the Emperor's decree.

"I have decided..." The Emperor deliberately dragged out his words, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Gu Ye and Xiao Si Ning, a hint of mockery in his eyes.