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

Murong Xuewei stood in front of the mansion gate, watching Gu Ye leave until he could no longer be seen.

Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats approached. Murong Xuewei turned around and saw a guard riding up at full speed.

“Miss Murong,” the guard dismounted and bowed, “His Majesty has decreed that you enter the palace immediately.”

Murong Xuewei's heart skipped a beat, but she forced herself to remain calm and said, "This concubine obeys the decree."

Gu Ye had barely left the capital when the emperor summoned her to the palace; it was probably not that simple.

Inside the palace, Xiao Wan Ning and Xiao Si Ning were whispering to each other.

"Sister, what do you think is the reason why the Emperor summoned Murong Xuewei to the palace this time?" Xiao Sining asked curiously.

Xiao Wan Ning sneered, "What else could it be? It's naturally a good thing."

Xiao Sining stared at Xiao Wanning with her big, questioning eyes, pouting and saying indignantly, "Good thing? What good thing? She just yesterday urged Gu Ye not to marry me, and today my brother wants to reward her. How could my brother do this?"

Xiao Wan Ning rolled her eyes at her younger sister, "Are you really stupid or just pretending? What's good for the Emperor might not be good for Murong Xue Wei."

"Ah! Is there anything else?"

Xiao Wan Ning sighed and glanced helplessly at Xiao Si Ning, "Ever since my brother saw Murong Xue Wei for the first time, he has fallen for her. He has no choice but to take her in while Gu Ye is not in the capital."

Xiao Sining was stunned for a moment after hearing this, then burst into laughter, "Hahaha, so that's how it is. Does that mean Gu Ye can marry me when he returns to the capital?"

Xiao Wanning shook her head helplessly, "Yes! Yes!"

Xiao Si Ning happily hugged Xiao Wan Ning's arm, "But what's so good about Murong Xue Wei? Gu Ye likes her, and even my brother likes her. She's just a little bit pretty and can do a little bit of business."

Xiao Wanning gave her sister a meaningful look. "Sining, don't underestimate her. This Murong Xuewei is no simple character."

Xiao Sining scoffed, "Hmph, she's just a merchant's daughter, what skills could she possibly have?"

Xiao Wanning shook her head. "You're too naive. She managed to turn my struggling business around in just a few months; it wasn't luck. Besides, she has the Murong family backing her."

Upon hearing the name Murong family, a strange light flashed in Xiao Sining's eyes. "The Murong family, is it the Murong family, the richest family in Jiangnan?"

Xiao Wanning nodded.

Xiao Sining covered her mouth in disbelief, "But didn't my brother say that they were never allowed to return to the capital? How dare she come back?"

"But she's a general's wife now! There's nothing wrong with her going back to her husband's family home with him."

Xiao Sining's eyes lit up. "If that's the case, can't we use that to blackmail her and force her to leave the capital?"

“That being said,” Xiao Wan Ning said thoughtfully, “we cannot let our guard down. This time, we must strike decisively and cut off all her escape routes.”

Xiao Sining nodded, "Don't worry, sister, I'm ready. This time, I'll make sure she suffers eternal damnation!"

Murong Xuewei stood outside the palace gate, gazing at the thick dark clouds on the horizon, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside her.

Memories of her past life flooded back like a tide. She clenched her fists and secretly vowed that she would never repeat the same mistakes in this life.

The palace gates slowly opened, and Murong Xuewei took a deep breath and stepped inside.

The heavy palace gates closed behind me, as if shutting out all the warmth of the outside world.

Inside the main hall, the Emperor sat high on his dragon throne, his gaze dark and menacing. Civil and military officials stood solemnly on either side, the atmosphere heavy with tension.

Murong Xuewei stood in the hall, feeling the complex gazes cast from all directions, but her heart remained as calm as ice.

"Greetings, Your Majesty." Murong Xuewei bowed respectfully, her voice neither humble nor arrogant.

The Emperor spoke coldly, "Murong Xuewei, I've heard you killed Murong Lian, is that true?"

Murong Xuewei raised her head and looked directly into the Emperor's eyes. "Your Majesty, there is indeed more to this matter than meets the eye. Murong Lian colluded with villains to plot against me, and I had no choice but to act in self-defense."

"Oh?" The Emperor raised an eyebrow. "Then do you know that Murong Lian is the wife of a high-ranking official?"

Murong Xuewei's heart skipped a beat, but she showed surprise on her face. "I don't know. But no matter who the other party is, I will not sit idly by and wait for my death."

The Emperor sneered, "What a sharp-tongued Murong Xuewei! Do you know what a grave crime it is to murder the wife of a high-ranking official?"

Murong Xuewei's heart pounded with alarm, knowing the situation was dire. She forced herself to remain calm and said, "Your Majesty, I am willing to accept the investigation. If I am guilty, I am willing to accept punishment."

A strange light flashed in the Emperor's eyes. "I can forgive and forget, but... you must grant me one request."

Murong Xuewei's heart sank; she had a bad feeling, but she calmly asked, "What are Your Majesty's conditions?"

The Emperor slowly rose, walked to Murong Xuewei, and said in a low voice, "How about you come with me to the palace and become a Noble Consort?"

Upon hearing this, Murong Xuewei was stunned. She felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over her head, and her whole body went cold.

Suppressing her anger and humiliation, Murong Xuewei gritted her teeth and said, "Your Majesty, I already have a husband, I cannot..."

"Hmph!" The Emperor sneered. "Your husband has been exiled to the frontier and is not allowed to return to the capital for three years. If you disobey, I will punish you for the heinous crime of murdering the wife of a court official, and your entire family will be executed!"

Murong Xuewei felt a chill in her heart; she knew she was in dire straits. But her painful past life taught her that if she yielded, endless torment and humiliation awaited her.

“Your Majesty,” Murong Xuewei looked up, her gaze resolute, “please forgive me for being unable to comply.”

The Emperor flew into a rage, "What a stubborn woman! Guards, lock her in the Cold Palace! No one is to release her without my decree!"

Two guards stepped forward, grabbed Murong Xuewei, and tried to drag her out. Just then, a commotion suddenly arose outside the hall.

"Your Majesty!" an anxious voice rang out, "Urgent report!"

The Emperor's expression changed. "Summon them!"

A messenger stumbled into the hall, knelt down, and reported, "Your Majesty, a sudden heavy snowfall has hit the north, and the roads around Yumen Pass have been blocked!"

These words caused an uproar in the hall. A glimmer of hope suddenly welled up in Murong Xuewei's heart, and she secretly clenched her fist.

The Emperor's face was grim. "Issue my decree: Gu Ye is to return immediately and set off again after the snow melts."

Murong Xuewei was secretly delighted, but she showed no sign of it on her face. She knew that this sudden heavy snow might be a turning point.

"As for you," the Emperor said coldly, looking at Murong Xuewei, "I'll lock you up in the Cold Palace first. After I've dealt with the border matters, I'll come and 'take good care' of you."

As Murong Xuewei was being dragged out of the main hall, she happened to brush past Xiao Wanning and Xiao Sining, who were rushing over.

A cold glint flashed in Xiao Wanning's eyes, while Xiao Sining wore a gloating expression.

"Sister," Xiao Sining whispered, "that bitch has finally fallen."

Xiao Wanning gave her younger sister a meaningful look. "Sining, you're too naive. This Murong Xuewei isn't so easy to deal with."

Xiao Sining scoffed, "Hmph, no woman who has caught the eye of my imperial brother has ever escaped."

Xiao Wanning shook her head, "Don't forget, there's also Gu Ye."

Upon hearing Gu Ye's name, a strange light flashed in Xiao Sining's eyes. "Gu Ye... isn't he going to be exiled to the frontier?"

“That’s true,” Xiao Wanning said thoughtfully, “but who knows if things might change? We must be fully prepared.”

Inside the Cold Palace, a biting wind howled. Murong Xuewei huddled in a corner, shivering. But her eyes held an unusually firm gaze.

"General," she murmured, "you must come back safely."

Just then, a soft footstep sound came from behind. Murong Xuewei looked up alertly and saw a dark figure quietly sneaking into the Cold Palace.

"Who?" she asked warily.

"It's me." A familiar voice rang out. Murong Xuewei opened her eyes wide in surprise, only to see Gu Ye standing in front of her.

"General!"