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

Murong Xuewei turned around and gently put her arm around Gu Ye's waist. "Gu Ye, thank you."

Qi Zheng was in a coma for three days before finally waking up under Zhang Jing's medical care.

"Water..." Qi Zheng said weakly.

Zhang Jing gestured to Murong Xueyao to hand over some warm water. He watched as Qi Zheng struggled to drink a few sips before finally asking, "Lord Qi, can you speak now?"

"Lord Zhang..." Qi Zheng's eyes gradually focused, then he seemed to suddenly remember something and said urgently, "My daughter..."

"Don't worry, Miss Qi is safe," Zhang Jing said calmly. "As for Lord Qi, if this poison had come any later, I'm afraid it wouldn't have been able to save him."

Qi Zheng's expression changed: "That hidden weapon is..."

“This was prepared especially for you.” Zhang Jing looked at him meaningfully. “It seems someone is afraid you’ll say something.”

"I..." Qi Zheng hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping himself.

“Lord Qi,” Murong Xueyao suddenly spoke, “if you still wish to see Miss Qi, you might as well tell the truth.”

A struggle flashed in Qi Zheng's eyes, but Zhang Jing observed his expression without making a sound.

"I...I witnessed Lord Jiang Lingyun and Prefect Chen meeting in secret." Qi Zheng finally revealed the truth.

Where?

"Just... just a few days before the capital changed hands, in a dilapidated temple outside the city," Qi Zheng recalled with difficulty, "I went to offer incense, but I overheard their conversation."

"What did you say?" Zhang Jing pressed.

“I dared not get too close,” Qi Zheng wiped away his cold sweat. “I only heard words like ‘border’ and ‘opportunity.’ But Lord Jiang’s expression was very solemn.”

"That's all?" Murong Xueyao pressed.

"Xueyao," Zhang Jing interrupted, "Lord Qi's injuries haven't healed yet; let him rest properly."

Murong Xueyao wanted to say something, but Zhang Jing stopped her with a look.

Back in the courtyard, Murong Xueyao finally couldn't hold back any longer: "Lord Zhang, Qi Zheng clearly had more to say..."

“He certainly won’t finish speaking all at once.” Zhang Jing took out paper and pen. “People die for wealth, birds die for food. Since Qi Zheng has chosen to speak, he will definitely continue.”

"But......"

“Xueyao,” Zhang Jing interrupted her, “why do you think Qi Zheng is only speaking now?”

Murong Xueyao was taken aback: "Is it because...his daughter?"

“Indeed,” Zhang Jing unfolded the letter, “that’s how people are; they always find the most painful spot.”

"So that's why you saved Qi Yuan..." Murong Xueyao suddenly realized.

Just then, Murong Yuxuan pushed open the door and entered: "Any new leads from Qi Zheng's side?"

"He said Jiang Lingyun had a secret meeting with Prefect Chen," Zhang Jing wrote, "and when the capital changed hands, Jiang Lingyun indeed disappeared..."

"So that means..." Murong Yuxuan's expression changed.

“Indeed,” Zhang Jing said sharply, “this plague has come at the perfect time.”

“Then I’ll go investigate Prefect Chen’s background.” Murong Yuxuan was about to turn around.

"Wait," Zhang Jing called out to him, "Let Xueyao go. She'll attract even less attention."

“But…” Murong Yuxuan looked at his sister with concern.

“Yu Xuan,” Murong Xueyao said seriously, “I’m not a three-year-old child anymore.”

Watching the two argue, Zhang Jing continued writing his letter:

"Qing: "

I discovered something of great importance at the border. Although Qi Zheng was seriously injured, he revealed that Jiang Lingyun had secretly met with Prefect Chen. In my opinion, there's probably more to the border plague than meets the eye…

"Lord Zhang," Murong Xueyao suddenly asked, "if it's true, as you suspect, that Jiang Lingyun is colluding with Nanzhao, then we..."

"So we need to be even more careful." Zhang Jing looked up. "Xueyao, when you go to investigate, remember one thing."

"What?"

"Staying alive is more important than solving the case."

Murong Xueyao was taken aback, then understood and nodded emphatically.

Zhang Jing continued writing:

"I believe this matter may be related to Nanzhao. We must be wary of past mistakes. I will continue to investigate; I hope you will prepare accordingly..."

Zhang Jing stood by the window, watching the carrier pigeon flapping its wings and flying towards the capital, his expression inscrutable.

"Lord Zhang," Murong Xueyao hesitated for a moment before asking, "Are the things Qi Zheng mentioned... easy to resolve?"

Zhang Jing withdrew his gaze and smiled calmly: "I'm just a doctor."

"But you clearly..." Murong Xueyao tried to say something urgently.

“A doctor,” Zhang Jing turned to look at her, “what’s the most important thing?”

Murong Xueyao was stunned for a moment: "It's...saving people?"

“That’s right,” Zhang Jing nodded slightly, “so I will save Qi Zheng’s life. As for the rest…” He paused meaningfully, “that’s a matter for the Emperor to worry about.”

......

Inside the Phoenix Palace, laughter and joy filled the air.

"Oh dear, Yan'er's little hands are like grapes," Murong Qingyu said with a smile, looking at the little prince her younger sister was holding. "I'm afraid I'll crush them if I squeeze them."

Gu Ye rarely showed such a gentle expression: "It does resemble her, but even more so her mother. Were your sister's hands this soft when she was little?"

"Your Majesty has asked the wrong person," Murong Qingyu laughed. "I was at the border back then, and I didn't see what Xuewei looked like as a child."

Standing to the side, Song Wanyi, holding her daughter Linlin, jokingly asked with a smile, "So, Your Majesty's opinion, Xuewei's hands are like grapes now? Want to give them a squeeze?"

"Sister-in-law!" Murong Xuewei glared reproachfully at Song Wanyi, then looked at Gu Ye with embarrassment and annoyance, "You don't even know how to behave in front of your elder brother and sister-in-law."

"Look at what you're saying about our Xuewei," Song Wanyi teased Linlin in her arms with a smile, "as if the Emperor is usually very reserved. Linlin, don't you think so?"

Linlin babbled and reached out to Yan'er. Gu Ye was about to hug his adorable little niece when a palace servant's voice came from outside the hall: "Your Majesty, a letter has arrived from Imperial Physician Zhang."

Gu Ye took the letter, unfolded it, and read it carefully, his brows gradually furrowing.

"Is it a letter from Lord Zhang?" Murong Xuewei asked softly, noticing his unusual expression, as she handed Xiao Yan'er to the wet nurse beside her. "Has anything changed at the border?"

Murong Qingyu also asked with concern, "How are Yu Xuan and Xue Yao doing? What did they say in the letter?"

“They’re alright for now,” Gu Ye said, glancing at the two children who were still laughing. “However, Zhang Jing has found some clues, and things are probably more complicated than we thought.”

Murong Xuewei's expression hardened: "Is it about Jiang Lingyun? He really is involved in this matter?"

"It seems you've thought of that too," Gu Ye's gaze sharpened, "This plague on the border probably has more to it than meets the eye."

Murong Qingyu sensed the change in atmosphere and gave Song Wanyi a wink. Song Wanyi immediately understood, stood up with Linlin in her arms, and said, "Xuewei, it's getting late. I'll take Linlin back for a nap. The child has played for a long time today; I'm afraid she won't sleep well tonight."

After the palace maids and wet nurses had all left, Gu Ye handed the letter to Murong Xuewei: "Take a look at Zhang Jing's analysis."

Murong Qingyu approached and lowered his voice: "If what Lord Zhang says is true, and this involves Nanzhao... we'll have to be wary of several cities on our border."

"Therefore, we must proceed with caution," Gu Ye said in a deep voice, "especially regarding Yu Xuan and Xue Yao... they are currently in the eye of the storm."

After reading the letter, a hint of worry flashed in Murong Xuewei's eyes: "Lord Zhang sent Xueyao to investigate Prefect Chen... Isn't that too risky?"

“Don’t worry,” Gu Ye said, holding her hand. “Zhang Jing always acts with discretion. He wouldn’t put Xueyao in danger if he wasn’t sure.”

“Xuewei,” Murong Qingyu said with a smile, seeing her sister’s worried expression, “Have you forgotten that Xueyao isn’t the same little girl she used to be? Besides, with Yuxuan and Lord Zhang here, nothing will happen.”

These words reassured Murong Xuewei slightly, but seeing Gu Ye's still furrowed brows, she knew that this matter was probably not so simple.

“Gu Ye,” Murong Xuewei said softly, “if we really have to send someone to the border…”

“No need,” Gu Ye interrupted her. “Since Zhang Jing told us to wait for news, he must have his reasons.” He paused, then added, “As for you, don’t go outside the palace these days.”