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

Su Mansion.

"Should I not be the empress?" Murong Xuewei asked softly, gazing at the crabapple blossoms in the courtyard.

Su Nuan'er put down her teacup: "What nonsense are you talking about?"

"This morning at court, Gu Ye dismissed Sun Yuanzhang from his post in order to make me empress," Murong Xuewei sighed. "I don't want to strain his relationship with the ministers because of me."

“Xuewei,” Su Nuan’er grasped her hand, “Do you remember what you said when we first met? To be the most dazzling woman. Now that you have won His Majesty’s heart, why back down?”

"But..."

“No buts,” Su Nuan’er interrupted her. “Father said His Majesty has never protected anyone like this before. Do you think those ministers really care about social status? They just want to place their own people in the harem.”

Murong Xuewei stared blankly at Su Nuan'er.

“You deserve all of this,” Su Nuan’er said softly. “Don’t let His Majesty down, and don’t let yourself down.”

Murong Xuewei's eyes reddened slightly: "Nuan'er..."

"Alright," Su Nuan'er said with a smile, "Don't think about it so much. Your wedding day is in a few days; you should be happy."

Crabapple petals drifted down in the wind. Murong Xuewei gazed at the clouds on the horizon, her heart gradually clearing. Perhaps, she really should let go of those unnecessary worries and bravely accept this happiness.

"Maybe I'm just overthinking things."

"Alright then," Su Nuan'er said, looking at the smile in Murong Xuewei's eyes, "Now that you've come to your senses, we should start preparing for your wedding."

Gu Ye proved his sincerity towards Murong Xuewei with his actions, and the imperial edict establishing her as empress was delivered to the Phoenix Palace where Murong Xuewei resided the very next day.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I, having received the imperial mandate to continue the grand plan, bestow upon my Empress Murong Xuewei the abundant grace and blessings. She is a woman of both virtue and talent, a fine member of the imperial clan, born with exceptional beauty and refined elegance. She possesses a gentle and intelligent demeanor, virtuous character, and is respectful and cautious in her conduct, establishing a virtuous reputation within the palace. Of noble character, intelligent by nature, well-mannered and virtuous, she exemplifies propriety and tranquility. By the mandate of Heaven, I hereby appoint Murong Xuewei as Empress, granting her residence in the Fengyi Hall of the Huadu Palace. So be it!"

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your great favor." Murong Xuewei accepted the imperial edict and had Liuli give a bag of gold leaves as a reward to the eunuch who delivered the edict.

After the eunuch left, Liuli looked happily at the imperial edict in Murong Xuewei's hand.

"Congratulations, Madam. No, you should now be called Your Majesty. Congratulations on Your Majesty's ascension to the position of Empress."

Murong Xuewei tapped Liuli's forehead. "A reward is due."

"Then this servant thanks Your Majesty for the reward."

Just then, a commotion arose outside. A palace maid rushed in, flustered: "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! A strange illness has struck the Northern Frontier, and His Majesty has ordered the postponement of the Empress's investiture ceremony!"

Murong Xuewei abruptly stood up: "What happened?"

"They say that people are fainting one after another, and their deaths are bizarre..." Liuli's voice trembled.

"I'm going to the palace." Murong Xuewei was about to leave when Su Nuan'er stopped her, saying, "I'll go with you."

The imperial study was brightly lit, and Gu Ye and his ministers were studying a map. Urgent reports from various regions were laid out on the desk.

“Your Majesty,” Zhang Jing said, his brow furrowed, “I have sent men to investigate. This plague is spreading rapidly. The people first develop fever and faint, then their bodies turn purple, and they die within three days.”

"Have you found the cause of the illness?" Gu Ye asked in a deep voice.

Li Mingyuan, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, knelt and said, "Your Majesty, we are helpless. Ordinary medicines are completely ineffective, and even a thousand-year-old ginseng cannot save his life."

"Could it be..." The Minister of Revenue hesitated, glancing at everyone present.

Gu Ye's gaze sharpened: "Speak plainly."

"I dare say," the Minister of Revenue said in a low voice, "could it be that someone is manipulating things behind the scenes? After all, the ceremony for the Empress's investiture is just around the corner..."

Zhang Jing suddenly stood up: "You mean someone deliberately poisoned it?"

“Very likely,” the Minister of War interjected, “this illness is too strange. And it just so happens to be at this critical juncture…”

"Outrageous!" Gu Ye slammed his fist on the table. "If that's true, I will dig them up and tear them to pieces!"

Just then, Murong Xuewei and Su Nuan'er arrived.

"Your Majesty," Murong Xuewei bowed, "has something happened in the Northern Border?"

Gu Ye's expression softened slightly: "Why are you here?"

"I heard..." Murong Xuewei was about to speak when the head of the Imperial Medical Academy handed her another urgent report.

"Your Majesty," Li Mingyuan's voice trembled, "the plague has spread to three neighboring prefectures..."

There was silence in the hall.

"Zhang Jing," Gu Ye said in a deep voice, "you personally lead a team to investigate. You must find the source of this plague!"

"Yes!"

“Li Mingyuan,” Gu Ye continued, “have all the imperial physicians mobilized to research an antidote day and night.”

"As you wish!"

"Your Majesty," Murong Xuewei stepped forward, "the matter of establishing an empress is not urgent; saving the people is the most important thing."

Looking into her determined eyes, Gu Ye felt a warmth in his heart: "Okay."

Su Nuan'er suddenly spoke up: "Father, do you remember one of your advisors? He's on good terms with merchants from the Western Regions; perhaps he can find some special medicinal herbs..."

"Is that really true?" Zhang Jing's eyes lit up.

"Nuan'er," Prime Minister Su exclaimed in surprise, "You mean Old He?"

“Yes,” Su Nuan’er nodded, “He’s traveled all over the country and is very knowledgeable. He might know some folk remedies.”

Gu Ye pondered for a moment, then said, "Then please ask Lord Su to make arrangements to contact this old He as soon as possible."

As everyone was talking, another messenger rushed into the hall: "Your Majesty, the Northern Guard has reported that a suspicious caravan has been discovered, suspected of carrying an unknown powder..."

Gu Ye's eyes turned cold: "Did you win?"

"That caravan..." the messenger swallowed hard, "...escaped."

Gu Ye ordered his men to split into two groups: one to track down the caravan, and the other, led by Prime Minister Su, to find Old He.

After making the arrangements, Gu Ye still felt uneasy, thinking that this matter was not so simple.

"Report!" A guard suddenly rushed into the hall. "Your Majesty, Old He has been... has been murdered!"

There was an uproar in the hall.

"What happened?" Gu Ye jumped to his feet. "Tell me the details."

"When I arrived, Old He was already..." the guard's voice trembled, "his throat had been slit, and he was lying in a back alley of the West Market. This was also found at the scene."

He handed her a piece of blood-stained cloth embroidered with a broken plum blossom.

Zhang Jing took it and examined it: "This pattern... is a technique from the Western Regions."

"Investigate!" Gu Ye's eyes flashed coldly. "We must find out who's behind this!"

Just then, a eunuch rushed in to report: "Your Majesty, Princess Xiao the Second requests an audience."

Gu Ye frowned: "Announce."

Xiao Sining entered the hall gracefully, her expression solemn: "Your Majesty, I have important matters to report."

"explain."

"This plague... I've seen it," Xiao Sining said softly, "in my elder sister Xiao Wanning's secret chamber."

Everyone was startled. Gu Ye's eyes flashed sharply: "What did you say?"

"Back then, in my sister's secret chamber, I saw a medical book from the Western Regions that detailed the symptoms and antidote for this plague." Xiao Sining paused, "but..."

"Just what?"

Xiao Sining raised her head and looked directly at Gu Ye: "This humble woman can prepare the antidote, but..." She bit her lip, "This humble woman has a request."

Murong Xuewei's heart skipped a beat; she had already guessed what she was going to say.