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

Murong Xuewei's lips curled into a mocking smile: "I wonder what crime Your Excellency wishes to inquire about? If you claim that I conspired with General Gu to sabotage the peace talks, then please provide evidence. The Dali Temple should always rely on solid evidence in its judgments, shouldn't it?"

Murong Xuewei's voice was calm and unhurried, yet every word was piercing. The people below couldn't help but whisper among themselves, clearly quite surprised by this seemingly frail woman who possessed such a powerful aura as the general's wife.

Prime Minister Wen's expression froze for a moment, then he sneered, "Evidence? The entire capital knows that Gu Ye, because of his personal relationship with you, intended to disrupt the court. Now that the envoy from Qu Kingdom has been murdered, it is irrefutable evidence that you and your wife sabotaged the peace talks. Are you still going to try to deny it?"

“Your Excellency is mistaken,” Murong Xuewei said slowly, her voice clear and firm, her gaze fixed on Prime Minister Wen. “If we were to convict based on mere rumors, wouldn’t the Dali Temple become nothing more than a teahouse for storytelling? My husband, Gu Ye, is a Grand General of the Imperial Court, commanding the three armies and guarding the frontier. Without solid evidence, are you trying to charge Your Excellency with defamation?”

As soon as Murong Xuewei finished speaking, the whispers among the crowd below grew louder. Indeed, Gu Ye's identity was extraordinary, and convicting him without concrete evidence would be unreasonable.

Prime Minister Wen's face turned ashen. He had expected Murong Xuewei to panic after being imprisoned, but instead, she not only remained calm but also pressed him relentlessly, making him feel quite embarrassed. Overwhelmed with anger, he slammed his fist on the table and stood up abruptly.

"Outrageous!" Prime Minister Wen roared. "Your husband, Gu Ye, has committed a heinous crime against the envoy of Qu Kingdom. The evidence is irrefutable. As his wife, how can you stand idly by? The day Gu Ye's head rolls will be the day you, his accomplice, are brought to justice!"

Upon hearing this, the entire hall fell silent. Prime Minister Wen suddenly realized he had let something slip and quickly shut his mouth. But it was too late; a sharp glint had already flashed in Murong Xuewei's eyes.

Murong Xuewei slowly straightened up, her voice as cold as the north wind in the dead of winter: "My lord, have you already decided that General Gu is doomed? It seems you were already confident of this." She paused, then continued, "Lord Wen, you should think carefully. The border is currently in turmoil, and in our Taichu Kingdom, only General Gu is capable of guarding the frontier. If anything happens to General Gu, the border will surely descend into chaos. At that time, I wonder if Lord Wen can bear that responsibility?"

These words hit the nail on the head. Cold sweat beaded on Prime Minister Wen's forehead; he knew Murong Xuewei was right. The border situation was indeed precarious, and without Gu Ye's presence, the consequences would be unimaginable. Just as he was wondering how to respond, a delicate fragrance wafted into the hall.

Xiao Wan Ning entered slowly, dressed in a long purple gown, her every gesture exuding an air of regal authority. A faint smile played on her lips as she spoke, "Since Madam Murong is so certain of Gu Ye's innocence, why not wait until the joint trial in court, and have him confronted in front of all the officials?"

Murong Xuewei looked at Xiao Wanning, her heart tightening. She instinctively touched her lower abdomen, where a tiny, undeveloped life lay. At this moment, she not only had to clear Gu Ye's name, but also protect this hard-won child. A torrent of thoughts surged through her mind.

The intertwined memories of her past and present lives made her increasingly aware that this struggle was not only about her and Gu Ye's lives, but also about her grand revenge. She could not fall, and she could not lose.

"Guards, take Murong into custody!" At Prime Minister Wen's command, two jailers stepped forward, grabbed Murong Xuewei, and were about to head to the prison.

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside the hall. Murong Yuxuan rushed over with Liuli, followed by a young man with a terrified expression—it was Xiangyang, who had been missing for a long time.

"Wait!" Murong Yuxuan shouted, "I have an important witness to see!"

Upon seeing this, Prime Minister Wen frowned deeply: "Young Master Murong, this is the Dali Temple's important grounds; how can you trespass like this?"

"Please forgive me, Your Excellency," Murong Yuxuan said, bowing respectfully, his expression solemn. "However, this Xiang Yang is closely connected to the case. I implore Your Excellency to investigate thoroughly."

Xiao Wan Ning looked at Xiang Yang, who had suddenly appeared, a flicker of panic crossing her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure. She turned gracefully to Prime Minister Wen and said, “My lord, it’s getting late. Perhaps we should postpone the details of this case until the joint trial of the three courts?”

After a moment's thought, Prime Minister Wen nodded in agreement. Murong Xuewei was taken to prison, but her gaze never left Xiangyang.

At the same time, Murong Xuewei also noticed Xiao Wanning's gaze. It seemed that sending Yuxuan to pick up Xiangyang was the right choice, as Xiangyang must hold Xiao Wanning's secret.

Three days later, the joint trial was held as scheduled.

The Supreme Court, the Ministry of Justice, and the Censorate jointly tried the case, with all the high-ranking officials of the court in attendance. The court and its surroundings were heavily guarded. This trial not only concerned the military affairs of the Taichu Kingdom but also involved diplomatic relations with the Qu Kingdom, making it a matter of great concern to the entire court.

Murong Xuewei and Gu Ye stood side by side, looking at the dignified officials in the hall.

After three days in prison, Murong Xuewei's face was slightly pale, but her eyes remained sharp as knives. Gu Ye's expression was calm, as if he cared nothing for the impending trial.

Only Murong Xuewei could sense that his palms were covered in cold sweat.

Of the three presiding judges present, Wen, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, sat in the center; Li, the Minister of Justice, sat on the left; and Zhang, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, sat on the right. Their expressions differed, but all carried a sense of solemnity.

"Gu Ye!" Prime Minister Wen shouted sternly, "As the Grand General of the Taichu Kingdom, you secretly plotted to murder the envoy of the Qu Kingdom, attempting to sabotage the peace talks between the two countries. Your crime is unforgivable! Do you know your crime?"

Gu Ye raised his eyes, his gaze sharp: "I request that you provide evidence, sir. This general knows nothing of the death of the Qu Kingdom envoy. Without concrete evidence, I urge you to be cautious in your words."

At this moment, Xiao Wanning gracefully stepped forward, leading a pale-faced man—it was Zhou Xiong. Her voice was gentle, yet each word was clear: "This Zhou Xiong is the witness who saw Gu Ye acting suspiciously near the post station. Zhou Xiong, tell me, what did you see that day?"

Zhou Xiong stammered, "That day... I was on duty at the back gate of the post station and I saw General Gu sneaking in. Not long after, the envoy from Qu Kingdom... died of poisoning..."

"Nonsense!" Gu Ye interrupted coldly, his voice filled with authority. "When did this general ever go to the post station? Do you have any proof?"

Xiao Wan Ning smiled slightly and called over another person: "This is Liu Quan, a waiter at the post station; he can also testify." Liu Quan stepped forward, his demeanor humble, yet his tone firm: "I did indeed witness General Gu and Lord Zhao Lie having a private conversation at the post station. The two gentlemen were quite agitated during their conversation, as if they were discussing some important matter."

A murmur rippled through the crowd. Murong Xuewei, however, noticed that the so-called waiter's eyes darted around as he spoke, glancing at Xiao Wanning every now and then, clearly lacking confidence. Just as she was about to speak, she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her abdomen.

Murong Xuewei endured her discomfort, cold sweat pouring down her back. She knew this was the fetus protesting. But now was not the time to show weakness; she had to persevere. Just then, Nangong Yifeng suddenly stepped forward from the crowd.

"My lords," Nangong Yifeng said loudly, "I have something to say. General Gu and Lord Zhao Lie did meet, but that was at my behest. I wanted their help in investigating some commercial disputes. As for the poisoning of the Qu Kingdom envoy, General Gu would never have done such a thing."

A cold glint flashed in Xiao Wan's eyes: "Young Master Nangong, you are mistaken. How can you testify that you are on good terms with Gu Ye? Besides, why would a business dispute require a secret meeting?"

Just as the argument was raging, Xiangyang was brought up. Although the young man looked terrified, his eyes were resolute. Murong Yuxuan and Liuli stood behind him, offering him silent support.

"My lord, I have something to say..." Xiang Yang's voice trembled, but it was exceptionally clear.