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

Gu Ye and Murong Xuewei exchanged a glance: "Announce."

Before long, Li Yue rushed into the hall, his expression anxious: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!"

"Why are you in such a panic, Minister Li?" Gu Ye asked knowingly.

"I have just received news that the physician in my Nanzhao delegation has been murdered in the Imperial Medical Academy," Li Yue said, bowing respectfully. "I implore Your Majesty to investigate."

Murong Xuewei asked softly, "Lord Li, are you certain that the physician was murdered?"

"This..." Li Yue was taken aback, "What do you mean?"

"Why don't you take a look yourself, Lord Li?" Gu Ye gestured for Zhang Jing to lift the white cloth.

Li Yue approached for a closer look, his expression suddenly changing drastically: "This...this isn't..."

"Does Lord Li know this person?" Murong Xuewei asked.

Li Yue forced himself to remain calm: "This is indeed the physician who accompanied me."

"Is that so?" Murong Xuewei slowly stood up. "Then, does Lord Li recognize this?"

She took out the jade pendant engraved with the character "琬". Li Yue's face turned pale instantly.

"this..."

"Lord Li," Murong Xuewei pressed closer, "tell me the truth, what exactly are you planning?"

Just then, another commotion arose outside. A guard rushed in: "Your Majesty, suspicious individuals have been discovered in the west of the city!"

"who?"

“Yes…” The guard glanced at Li Yue, “They are several people dressed as Nanzhao people, they…”

Before he could finish speaking, Li Yue suddenly pulled something from his sleeve and threw it on the ground. White smoke immediately billowed out.

"Stop him!" Gu Ye ordered.

However, when the smoke cleared, Li Yue had vanished without a trace. Only a note remained in the side hall.

Murong Xuewei picked up the note; it contained only one sentence: "Like rain after a long drought."

“These words…” Liuli’s expression changed.

Murong Xuewei nodded: "That's right, it's the code word that Xiao Wanning often used back in Jiangnan."

“It seems,” Gu Ye’s eyes turned icy, “that this game is finally about to begin.”

“Since Li Yue dared to escape at this time, the commotion in the west of the city must be a feint,” Murong Xuewei analyzed.

“We’ve already sent people to chase after them,” Gu Ye said in a deep voice, “but the most important thing now is…”

Murong Xuewei understood: "The coronation ceremony."

"Nanzhao has played a clever move," Gu Ye said with a deep gaze. "On one hand, they fabricated a murder case at the Imperial Medical Academy, and on the other hand, they used the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion as a pretext. If not handled properly, it might erode the trust that other countries have in our Great Qi."

“Therefore, we must also appease the other envoys,” Murong Xuewei said. “Perhaps…”

Before he could finish speaking, Liuli rushed in: "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Rites has sent over the detailed arrangements for the ceremony."

Murong Xuewei took the memorial and began to read it, her brows gradually furrowing: "These arrangements..."

"What's wrong?" Gu Ye asked.

“It’s too cumbersome.” Murong Xuewei handed the memorial to Gu Ye. “Following this procedure not only wastes time but is also prone to errors.”

Gu Ye frowned after reading it: "Indeed. At this time, the simpler and safer the approach, the better."

“Your Majesty is right.” Zhang Jing walked in at this moment. “I just had someone check, and this memorial from the Ministry of Rites was drafted by Lord Yang.”

"Yang Qian?" Murong Xuewei and Gu Ye exchanged a glance.

"The envoy from the Taichu Kingdom..." Gu Ye's eyes turned cold. "It seems that Nanzhao isn't the only country with designs on this."

“Therefore, we must act swiftly.” Murong Xuewei stood up. “I believe it would be best to proceed with the simplest of rituals. This will appear dignified and avoid any unforeseen complications.”

Gu Ye nodded: "You're right. Send an order to the Ministry of Rites to proceed according to the most basic etiquette."

"Yes."

After everyone had left, Murong Xuewei said softly, "What do you think they'll do during the ceremony?"

“No matter what they try to do,” Gu Ye said, pulling Murong Xuewei’s hand, “with me here, no one can ruin this grand ceremony.”

Murong Xuewei smiled gently: "I believe you."

The weather was exceptionally clear on the day of the enthronement ceremony. From dawn onwards, the capital was bustling with activity.

Inside the Phoenix Palace, palace maids were doing Murong Xuewei's makeup.

"Your Majesty," Liuli whispered as she placed the phoenix crown on Murong Xuewei's head, "the secret guards have sent word that the city is fully prepared."

Murong Xuewei nodded slightly: "What about the Imperial Hospital?"

"Lord Zhang personally guarded it. The 'dead man' was secretly moved elsewhere."

Just as Murong Xuewei was about to speak, an announcement came from outside: "His Majesty has arrived!"

Gu Ye walked in, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe. Looking at Murong Xuewei in the mirror, a hint of tenderness flashed in his eyes: "Are you ready?"

"Hmm." Murong Xuewei stood up, "But..."

"Don't worry," Gu Ye said, holding her hand, "everything is arranged. Today, let them see who this Great Qi empire truly belongs to."

In front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, civil and military officials and envoys from various countries had already taken their places in order. Yang Qian's gaze swept around, as if searching for someone.

"Lord Yang," Chen Hao approached and whispered, "are you looking for Lord Li Yue?"

Yang Qian's expression remained unchanged: "I heard he's unwell and can't come?"

“Yes,” Chen Hao smiled meaningfully, “I guess I drank too much at Zuixiangju last night.”

Just as Yang Qian was about to speak, he suddenly heard the sound of bells and drums, and the honor guard slowly approached.

"His Majesty has arrived!"

Dressed in a dragon robe, Gu Ye walked slowly towards the Golden Palace amidst the kneeling obeisance of civil and military officials. Each step was steady and powerful, displaying imperial majesty.

Just then, a young eunuch rushed over and whispered a few words in Chen Hao's ear. Chen Hao's expression changed, and he quickly walked out of the hall.

Murong Xuewei noticed this and exchanged a glance with Gu Ye. It seemed someone was starting to get restless.

"Today," Gu Ye's voice echoed within the Hall of Supreme Harmony, "I ascend the throne here, and I wish to work together with all my beloved ministers to create a prosperous era for the Great Qi!"

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Just as the officials were shouting "Long live the Emperor!", a commotion suddenly broke out outside the palace.

"stop!"

"Stop them!"

Immediately afterwards, a piercing scream tore through the sky.

Everyone in the hall was startled, but Yang Qian's lips curled into a faint smile.

"Someone come here!" Gu Ye said in a deep voice, "What's going on outside?"

A guard rushed in: "Your Majesty, there's an assassin!"

The civil and military officials were immediately in an uproar. Just then, another guard rushed in: "Your Majesty, spies from Nanzhao have been discovered in the west of the city!"

"What?!" a minister exclaimed in shock. "The Nanzhao Kingdom dares to cause trouble during the coronation ceremony?"

Yang Qian stepped forward: "Your Majesty, in my opinion, this matter is probably related to the murder case at the Imperial Hospital yesterday."

Gu Ye looked at him intently: "Oh? What makes you say that, Minister Yang?"

"That deceased physician from Nanzhao was likely part of the assassins' group," Yang Qian said. "And now, Lord Li Yue is also nowhere to be found..."

“Lord Yang, you are mistaken,” Murong Xuewei suddenly spoke up. “Since it is the coronation ceremony, why discuss such inauspicious matters?”

She turned to Gu Ye: "Your Majesty, I believe the grand ceremony is of utmost importance. These miscellaneous matters can be handled by the guards."

Gu Ye nodded: "The Empress is right. Continue the ceremony!"

Yang Qian was about to say something when Chen Hao strode over and whispered a few words in his ear. Yang Qian's face instantly turned deathly pale.

“Lord Yang,” Murong Xuewei looked at him, “are you feeling unwell?”

"No...no," Yang Qian forced himself to remain calm. "I lost my composure."

The ceremony continued. By the time Gu Ye formally accepted the Mandate of Heaven and ascended the throne as Emperor, the commotion outside the palace had subsided.

"Your Majesty, please enter the palace!"

Under the watchful eyes of all the officials, Murong Xuewei, dressed in a phoenix robe, slowly walked towards the main hall. Every step was elegant and composed, showing no trace of the turmoil that had just occurred.

However, at that moment, a clear voice suddenly came from outside the hall:

“Wait a minute!”

Everyone turned to look at the sound and saw a woman in magnificent robes standing at the palace entrance. She wore a smile, but her gaze was as cold as ice.

"According to custom, for the Empress's coronation ceremony, she should walk to Jing'an Temple outside the city to pray for the country's well-being. Has Her Majesty the Empress already performed this prayer?"