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

The atmosphere inside the hall froze instantly.

Murong Xuewei glanced at Xiao Sining imperceptibly. For the past few days, Xiao Sining had been working tirelessly day and night, barely leaving the house, to prepare the medicine. Although she was grateful for the antidote, hearing these words still stirred a hint of displeasure within her.

Gu Ye's expression darkened: "Xiao Sining, I know you have sacrificed a great deal for the people on the border, but..."

“But what?” Xiao Sining interrupted him, her voice tinged with grievance. “Your Majesty, you promised that if I handed over the antidote, you would make me a Noble Consort. Can Your Majesty go back on your word?”

Murong Xuewei sneered, "Second Princess Xiao, the way you're saying that sounds like you're threatening the Emperor."

Xiao Sining looked at Murong Xuewei, a complex expression flashing in her eyes: "Sister Xuewei, I know you have a problem with me. But this matter was decided beforehand. Besides..." She paused, "All I want is the position of Imperial Concubine, it won't affect your position as Empress."

"You!" Murong Xuewei was so angry that her face turned pale.

"Enough!" Gu Ye suddenly shouted, his voice carrying an undeniable authority. "Xiao Sining, step back. We'll discuss this later."

Xiao Sining bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes: "Your Majesty..."

"Step back!"

Xiao Sining bowed reluctantly and turned to leave. Before leaving, she gave Murong Xuewei a deep look, her eyes filled with both resentment and a hint of apology.

The hall fell into silence.

After a long silence, Murong Xuewei sighed softly before speaking, "Your Majesty, please make Xiao Sining a Noble Consort."

Gu Ye turned around, wanting to explain, "Xue Wei, the situation was critical at the time..."

“I understand.” Murong Xuewei interrupted him, her voice eerily calm. “This promise is indeed worthwhile to save the people on the border.”

Gu Ye frowned: "What do you mean by that?"

"It's meaningless." Murong Xuewei forced a bitter smile. "You are the Emperor; who you appoint or not appoint in the harem is entirely your prerogative. What right do I, a mere Empress, have to interfere?"

"Xuewei!" Gu Ye stepped forward to grab her hand, but she gently avoided it.

"Your Majesty, I am feeling somewhat tired." Murong Xuewei curtsied. "I will take my leave now."

Watching Murong Xuewei's departing figure, Gu Ye's gaze gradually darkened. He turned and walked back to his desk, picked up his brush and wrote a few words, then summoned the eunuch outside: "Issue an imperial decree to summon Zhang Jing to see me."

Murong Xuewei returned to Fengqi Palace, lost in thought, when Liuli hurried in: "Your Highness, guess what I just saw?"

"What?"

"This servant saw Princess Xiao leave the Imperial Study and then head straight out of the palace," Liuli said in a low voice. "It seems she's going to find someone to help her."

Murong Xuewei sneered, "She's certainly got a good plan."

"Your Majesty, you said the Emperor..." Liuli hesitated, unable to finish her sentence.

Murong Xuewei walked to the window, gazing at the distant horizon, her eyes filled with complex emotions: "He won't support her."

"Why do you say that?"

“Because…” Murong Xuewei’s voice was very soft, “He knew that once Xiao Sining was made a Noble Consort, it would be tantamount to telling the entire court that he, Gu Ye, was a man of his word.”

Liuli was taken aback: "But he did promise Princess Xiao Er."

“But he promised the entire court long ago that he would make me empress.” Murong Xuewei turned around, a hint of sarcasm flashing in her eyes. “Now the imperial edict to establish an empress hasn’t even been issued yet, and he’s already talking about making me a concubine? Isn’t that a slap in his own face?”

Liuli suddenly realized: "I see."

“However…” Murong Xuewei sighed softly, “Xiao Sining’s favor must eventually be repaid. It remains to be seen how the Emperor will do so.”

No sooner had the words been spoken than a eunuch's voice came from outside: "Your Majesty, the Emperor has summoned Prime Minister Su to the Imperial Study; it seems he wishes to discuss some important matter."

Murong Xuewei's eyes flashed. It seemed that Gu Ye had already made up his mind.

As night fell, the Imperial Study was brightly lit.

"Your Majesty, this is absolutely unacceptable," Prime Minister Su stroked his beard, his tone resolute. "Although Xiao Sining has rendered meritorious service in healing the people on the border, she is, after all, a princess of the Taichu Kingdom. If she were made a Noble Consort, there would surely be objections in the court."

Gu Ye stood by the window, his brows furrowed: "But I've already promised her."

"Your Majesty," Prime Minister Su sighed, "You are the ruler of a nation, and your every word and action concerns the safety of the country. The Taichu Kingdom is, after all, a former dynasty, and our Great Qi has only recently been established. To allow Princess Xiao Er to enter the harem at this time would be tantamount to inviting a wolf into the house. Moreover..." Prime Minister Su paused for a moment, "The Murong family has been loyal for generations, and Miss Xue Wei is even more virtuous and kind. With the Empress's investiture ceremony imminent, to elevate a princess of the Taichu Kingdom to the rank of Imperial Consort at this time, I'm afraid..."

"Is the Right Chancellor worried that the court will criticize Xue Wei because of this?" Gu Ye turned around, his gaze sharp.

Prime Minister Su bowed and said, "Your Majesty is wise. Previously, due to the Empress's status, the court officials did not support making Miss Xuewei Empress. If Xiao Sining is made a Noble Consort now, I fear she will be exploited by those with ulterior motives, and then I fear the safety of the Empress and the young Crown Prince..."

"I understand." Gu Ye was about to continue speaking when hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the hall.

"Your Majesty! Urgent report from the border!"

Gu Ye's expression changed, and he quickly took the memorial. As his gaze swept over each word, his face grew increasingly gloomy.

"What's wrong?" Prime Minister Su asked.

"The border epidemic has broken out again," Gu Ye's voice was chilling, "and this time it's much more severe; all previous prescriptions have become ineffective. Refugee riots have brought Young Master Murong..."

"Yu Xuan?" An anxious voice came from outside the hall. Murong Xuewei hurried in, clearly having already heard the news. "What happened to him? Your Majesty, what has occurred?"

Gu Ye looked at her, his voice heavy: "The refugees arrested him, saying the prescription he sent was fake and he was deliberately trying to harm people. The situation is chaotic, and the stationed soldiers are finding it difficult to control."

"Absurd!" Murong Xuewei exclaimed angrily, "How could Yu Xuan do such a thing? Clearly, someone is plotting this! Your Majesty, you know Yu Xuan's character; he would never..."

“I know,” Gu Ye reassured him. “Yu Xuan is an upright person, and I know that very well.”

Prime Minister Su also spoke up, saying, "Young Master Murong is indeed a rare man of loyalty and righteousness. There must be something fishy about this matter."

Just then, another eunuch rushed in: "Your Majesty, we have just received a secret letter from the Second Miss."

Gu Ye took the letter, quickly glanced at it, and handed it to Murong Xuewei: "Look."

Murong Xuewei unfolded the letter, and saw that it read:

"elder sister:

There's trouble at the border. A plague has broken out, with symptoms different from before, suggesting poisoning. My brother has noticed and ordered me to report back immediately. The city is in chaos; something bad might happen. According to my brother, this plague is completely different from the last one; the symptoms are fierce and seem premeditated. I fear someone might use this as an opportunity to cause trouble. My brother has ordered guards to escort me back to the capital, while he stays behind to investigate. Sister, I earnestly hope you can find a way to rescue me.

Xueyao"

"Poisoning?" Prime Minister Su's expression changed drastically. "This..."

"Investigate!" Gu Ye's voice was icy. "Investigate thoroughly! Border guards, physicians, merchants—anyone suspicious—leave no one unpunished!"

"Your Majesty," Prime Minister Su suddenly spoke, "I find this matter suspicious. The new plague has arrived so suddenly, could it be..." He glanced meaningfully towards the direction outside the hall, "...related to certain people?"

Gu Ye narrowed his eyes: "Does the Right Chancellor mean this is related to Xiao Sining?"

"Your Majesty, I dare not speak presumptuously," Prime Minister Su said in a low voice, "but the Taichu Kingdom has always coveted our borders. Previously, Princess Xiao requested to be made a Noble Consort, but His Majesty refused. Now, a sudden change has occurred on the border; the timing seems too coincidental."

"Impossible," Murong Xuewei suddenly spoke up. "If it really was Xiao Sining's doing, why did she go to such lengths to prepare the medicine? She even went so far as to threaten the Emperor with the antidote, demanding that he appoint a Noble Consort. If she did it, it doesn't make sense."

Right Chancellor Su frowned: "But..."