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

"Friends?" Nangong Yifeng sneered. "Would friends secretly meet in the dead of night? Would friends make vows of eternal love under the moon? Murong Xuewei, you're a complete liar!"

Murong Xuewei's face showed pain: "I'm sorry, Yifeng. I... I was just confused at the time. I never meant to hurt you."

A flicker of pain flashed in Nangong Yifeng's eyes: "Foolish? Do you know how much infamy I bore for you? I, a prince, was even exiled to fight on the frontier. And all that, all I got in return was a simple 'I'm sorry'?"

Murong Xuewei lowered her head, her voice trembling, "I know I made a mistake. But Yifeng, you must understand, there's no future for us. You know how much I hate the Nanzhao Kingdom. How many businesses of my Murong family were taken away by Nanzhao. And you were just a merchant back then."

Nangong Yifeng gave a bitter smile: "So, you'd rather betray my true feelings?"

Murong Xuewei raised her head, tears welling in her eyes: "Yifeng, I'm sorry. I hope you can forgive me, and I hope you can start over. Don't waste any more time on someone as unworthy as me."

Nangong Yifeng remained silent for a long time before finally letting out a long sigh: "Murong Xuewei, I hate you. But I hate myself even more, I hate my stupidity and gullibility. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other." After saying that, he turned and left, leaving Murong Xuewei standing there alone, tears streaming down her face.

Those around them, witnessing this scene, began to discuss it amongst themselves. Some sympathized with Nangong Yifeng, some condemned Murong Xuewei, and others began to doubt the previous rumors that Murong Xuewei was a spy.

This play, like a stone thrown into still water, quickly spread throughout the streets and alleys.

People's opinions of Murong Xuewei also began to change. Although her reputation was damaged, she was at least cleared of suspicion of being a spy.

A few days later, inside the General's Mansion.

Murong Xuewei and Gu Ye sat in the study, reviewing the events of the past few days.

"Xuewei, are you alright?" Gu Ye asked with concern.

Murong Xuewei forced a smile: "I'm fine. It's just...it just feels a bit ironic. To clear my name of one fabricated charge, I'm instead being forced to commit another."

Gu Ye held her hand: "Don't think like that. You did a great job. At least for now, those rumors about you being a spy have died down."

Murong Xuewei nodded: "Yes. However, I always feel that things aren't that simple. Where did these rumors come from? And who is manipulating them behind the scenes?"

A resolute glint flashed in Gu Ye's eyes: "I've already sent people to investigate. Whoever is behind this, I will find them and make them pay the price."

In the days that followed, Murong Xuewei and Gu Ye began to secretly investigate the source of the rumors.

They visited countless neighbors and asked many vendors and passersby.

Finally, after collecting all the witness testimonies, they traced the case to a peasant woman.

"It's her!" a vendor said, pointing to a thin, middle-aged woman. "I first heard this rumor from her."

Murong Xuewei and Gu Ye exchanged a glance, both filled with doubt.

Why would this seemingly ordinary peasant woman spread such rumors? What are her motives?

Gu Ye stepped forward, about to ask a question, when the peasant woman suddenly turned and ran. Gu Ye shouted, "Stop her!"

Several guards immediately gave chase and quickly subdued the peasant woman.

The peasant woman was brought before Gu Ye, where she knelt on the ground, trembling.

Gu Ye asked in a deep voice, "Speak, who instructed you to spread these rumors?"

The peasant woman lowered her head, not daring to look Gu Ye in the eye: "M-My lord, spare me! I...I was just following orders and didn't know who was behind it!"

Murong Xuewei crouched down and asked softly, "Auntie, you don't need to be afraid. We won't hurt you. We just want to know the truth. Can you tell us who told you to spread these rumors?"

The peasant woman raised her head, glanced at Murong Xuewei, and a hint of struggle flashed in her eyes.

Finally, she whispered, "It was... a man in black. He gave me money to spread rumors about you on the streets."

"A man in black?" Gu Ye and Murong Xuewei exchanged a glance, both of them realizing what was going on.

Murong Xuewei continued, "What did that man in black look like? Do you remember him?"

The peasant woman shook her head: "The man was masked, so I couldn't see his face. I only remember that his voice was very hoarse, as if he was deliberately disguising it."

Gu Ye frowned: "Where did you agree to meet?"

The peasant woman replied, "In an abandoned temple in the south of the city. He always appears suddenly, gives me money and instructions, and then disappears."

Murong Xuewei stood up and said to Gu Ye, "General, we need to go and take a look at that temple."

Gu Ye nodded, then said to the peasant woman, "You'll come back to the General's Mansion with us for now. Don't be afraid, we won't hurt you. But you'll have to cooperate with us to get to the bottom of this."

The peasant woman nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes. I will tell you everything I know."

That evening, Murong Xuewei and Gu Ye sat in the study, discussing the matter.

"The man in black..." Murong Xuewei mused, "Could he be related to Xiao Wanning?"

Gu Ye pondered for a moment: "That's possible. But we can't act rashly. Xiao Wanning is, after all, a slut; without solid evidence, we can't hastily accuse her."

Murong Xuewei nodded: "You're right. It seems we need to plan carefully how to find this man in black."

Gu Ye grasped Murong Xuewei's hand: "No matter what, we will find out the truth and clear your name."

Looking into Gu Ye's determined eyes, Murong Xuewei felt a surge of warmth in her heart.

Murong Xuewei knew that no matter how many difficulties and obstacles lay ahead, as long as Gu Ye was by her side, she would have the courage to face everything.

However, just then, a series of hurried footsteps interrupted their conversation. Uncle Lin rushed in, his face grave: "General, Madam, something terrible has happened!"

Gu Ye and Murong Xuewei stood up at the same time: "What's wrong?"

Uncle Lin, panting, said, "This afternoon...this peasant woman...died!"

"What?" the two exclaimed in surprise.

Uncle Lin continued, "She...she committed suicide. She hanged herself in her room."

Murong Xuewei and Gu Ye exchanged a glance, both seeing shock and confusion in each other's eyes.

The death of this peasant woman undoubtedly cast a deeper shadow over the entire incident.

Who is pulling the strings behind all this? And who is that mysterious man in black? Was the peasant woman's death suicide or murder?

All the mysteries seem to point to that abandoned temple.

Murong Xuewei and Gu Ye exchanged a glance, both understanding that they had to go to the abandoned temple whether they wanted to or not.