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

"Madam, something terrible has happened!" A maidservant came running, panting. "The people in the East Market are looting grain!"

Upon hearing this, Murong Xuewei immediately took Liuli and headed towards the East Market without saying a word.

A cold wind, mixed with snowflakes, swept over her, and Murong Xuewei instinctively wrapped her cloak tighter around herself.

Chaos reigned in the East Market as starving and freezing people scrambled to grab food and clothing, fearing they would miss out if they were too slow.

Murong Xuewei felt both heartache and helplessness upon seeing this scene.

"Fellow villagers!" Murong Xuewei shouted from a short distance away, "Please do not loot! There is enough food and clothing for everyone. As long as you line up to receive yours, everyone will get some!"

Murong Xuewei's clear voice pierced through the noise, attracting the attention of many people.

Some people stopped their frenzied looting, but others continued to fill their bags with food.

Seeing that persuasion was useless, Murong Xuewei could only resort to threats: "If you continue to rob, I will take this grain back."

When the people who were looting the grain heard that it was to be taken back, they stopped what they were doing and looked at Murong Xuewei.

A tall, burly man pushed his way to the front, giving Murong Xuewei a disdainful look. "Pah! You officials love to put on these kinds of charades. You promise to distribute grain, then take it back. Who knows how much of the people's hard-earned money you've embezzled?"

Murong Xuewei wasn't angry. Instead, she said gently, "I know everyone is worried about their families going hungry and cold. But please believe me, as long as everyone lines up in order, everyone will receive enough food and clothing."

The burly man sneered, "Who would believe empty words? I'll grab it first!" With that, he reached out to snatch a grain bag from an old man nearby.

Just then, a strong hand grabbed the big man's wrist. The big man turned his head and saw Liuli standing to the side, looking at him coldly.

"A little girl like you think she can fight me?" The big man, relying on his tall stature, tried to break free from Liuli's grasp, but found that he couldn't break free no matter what he did. The big man was immediately frightened and turned pale, and hurriedly begged for mercy, "Grandma, I was wrong, I will never dare to do it again."

Liuli said in a deep voice, "What? My wife kindly distributed food to you, and you still want to cause trouble?"

Liuli kicked the big man away, and the big man lay in the snowdrift clutching his stomach, his face pale.

"This is what will happen to anyone who tries to cause trouble again."

With the shock of Liuli's words, the scene quickly quieted down. The people began to line up in an orderly fashion to receive food and clothing.

Murong Xuewei looked at the scene before her, feeling both gratified and moved.

Murong Xuewei sighed inwardly, "In the face of disaster, human nature is inherently selfish."

Seeing Murong Xuewei's distressed expression, Liuli said, "Madam, please go and rest for a while! I'll take care of things here."

Murong Xuewei smiled. "I'm fine. The people need us most right now, how could I leave?"

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

"Sister, really?" Xiao Sining said excitedly, "The guards said Gu Ye is back!"

A cold glint flashed in Xiao Wanning's eyes. "I know. The heavy snow blocked the roads, so it's normal that he couldn't go to Yumen Pass and had to come back."

Xiao Sining, oblivious to her elder sister's expression, continued, "Then, according to that logic, he can stay in the capital!"

Xiao Wan Ning sneered, "So what if you stay in the capital? He still won't want to marry you."

Xiao Sining's face immediately fell. "Royal sister, what do you mean by this? Are you deliberately trying to hurt my feelings?"

Xiao Wanning said meaningfully, "Sining, you're still too naive. Since he doesn't want to marry you, why not find a way to make him marry you?"

Xiao Sining's eyes lit up. "Royal sister, you mean...?"

Xiao Wanning stood up and walked to the window. Looking at the swirling snow outside, a fierce glint flashed in her eyes. "What trouble can a mere Murong Xuewei stir up!"

The heavy snow fell for two whole months, and the situation in the capital became increasingly severe.

Murong Xuewei stood in front of the general's mansion, watching the endless stream of people coming to collect food and clothing, feeling very worried.

“Madam,” Liuli approached and whispered, “our food supplies are running low.”

Murong Xuewei frowned. "So fast? Didn't they say there were three warehouses?"

Liuli sighed, "Yes, but more and more people are coming to collect it. Now there's only one warehouse left, and who knows when this snow will stop?"

Murong Xuewei pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, "Prepare the carriage; I need to go to the Su residence."

Upon arriving at the Su residence, Murong Xuewei met directly with Prime Minister Su.

"Lord Su," Murong Xuewei said bluntly, "our food supplies are running low. I wonder what you think..."

Prime Minister Su sighed, "Madam Gu, I am also troubled by this matter. To be honest, the situation on my side is not optimistic either."

Murong Xuewei's heart sank, but a glimmer of hope quickly rekindled within her. "Lord Su, I don't want to borrow grain from you, but rather I want to use your connections to buy grain."

Upon hearing Murong Xuewei's idea, Prime Minister Su's eyes lit up. "Auntie, how much silver would that cost?"

Murong Xuewei shook her head, "The price isn't the issue; I'm just worried that if I get involved, people won't be willing to sell."

Prime Minister Su stroked his beard. "Very well, this is for the people; I will help you with this."

That afternoon, Murong Xuewei led a group of people to collect food and cotton clothing throughout the city.

Murong Xuewei visited wealthy households and merchants one by one, earnestly requesting them to generously donate money.

“Mr. Wang,” Murong Xuewei said to Mr. Wang, “the people are suffering from hunger and cold right now. Could you…”

Mr. Wang said with difficulty, "Madam Gu, I would like to help. But as you know, transporting grain is difficult and costly in this heavy snow."

Murong Xuewei understood his meaning and said directly, "Mr. Wang, please name your price. As long as it's reasonable, we'll take it."

Mr. Wang's eyes lit up, and he quickly offered a price that was 30% higher than usual.

Without saying a word, Murong Xuewei was about to take out her money. At that moment, Gu Ye suddenly appeared and stopped her.

"Mr. Wang," Gu Ye said coldly, "aren't your prices a bit too outrageous?"

Startled by Gu Ye's imposing manner, Boss Wang quickly said, "General Gu, please don't misunderstand. This really is cost price..."

Gu Ye sneered, "Cost price? Do you think I don't know the market price? At most, it'll be 10% higher, otherwise..."

Boss Wang glanced at Gu Ye, then at Murong Xuewei, and finally had no choice but to compromise, "Alright, we'll go with the price General Gu quoted."

After leaving the rice shop, Murong Xuewei said with some concern, "General, weren't you being too forceful? What if they refuse to sell to us?"

Gu Ye shook his head. "Don't worry, they wouldn't dare. People are panicking right now, and no one dares offend us. Besides," Gu Ye gave Murong Xuewei a meaningful look, "we're saving people, not letting them profit from the national crisis."

Murong Xuewei felt a warmth in her heart upon hearing this. She knew that although Gu Ye appeared cold and hard, he also cared about the people.

Deep within the palace, Xiao Wan Ning was plotting with several trusted confidants.

“Princess,” a guard whispered, “we’ve found out some information. Gu Ye’s return this time doesn’t seem to be solely for the purpose of providing relief to the people.”

A cold glint flashed in Xiao Wanning's eyes. "Oh? Go on."

The guard continued, "We also discovered that he had been secretly in contact with several ministers."

Xiao Wan Ning sneered, "Just as I thought. It seems this Gu Ye is no simple man."

She stood up and walked to the window. Looking at the snowflakes swirling outside, a fierce glint flashed in Xiao Wan Ning's eyes. "Gu Ye, do you think you can hide this from me? Hmph, I'll see what you're really up to!"