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

"Summon her." Murong Xuewei straightened her clothes and sat down in the main seat.

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review rushed in, first bowing to Gu Ye and Murong Xuewei before speaking: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, Li Ru has confessed."

"Speak." Gu Ye's expression was solemn.

“Li Ru said her only responsibility was to distract the Empress during the ceremony; she didn’t know what to do afterward. However…” The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review paused, “she said there were other accomplices hiding in a manor outside the city.”

Murong Xuewei narrowed her eyes: "Outside the city? Can you tell me the exact location?"

"I told you, it's at Maple Leaf Manor, thirty li east of the city," the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review replied. "I've already sent men to investigate."

“No,” Gu Ye suddenly spoke, “take it back.”

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was taken aback: "Your Majesty..."

Murong Xuewei understood Gu Ye's meaning: "This is a trap. Li Ru made it sound too easy." She looked at Gu Ye, "So Your Majesty thinks..."

"Since Xiao Wanning dared to make a move today, she must have a backup plan," Gu Ye sneered. "She deliberately made Li Ru reveal the location of the manor to lure us away from our predicament."

"Now..." The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review hesitated.

Murong Xuewei suddenly remembered something: "Aren't the envoys from various countries supposed to be attending a banquet at the palace tonight?"

Gu Ye's eyes darkened: "Just as I suspected. She wanted to cause trouble in the palace while our attention was focused outside the city."

"Your Majesty," Murong Xuewei stood up, "why not let her think her plan has succeeded?"

Gu Ye looked at Murong Xuewei, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes: "What are your thoughts?"

"Let's have the envoys from all over the world see what kind of grandeur our Great Qi truly possesses at tonight's palace banquet," Murong Xuewei said with a faint smile.

After listening to Murong Xuewei's plan, Gu Ye nodded in agreement: "As you wish. Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, go and make the preparations. Remember, everything must be made to appear genuine."

"Your subject obeys the decree." The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review acknowledged the order and withdrew.

Liuli brought in tea, just in time to hear the last few sentences: "Your Highness, do you have another idea?"

"Tonight..." Murong Xuewei took the teacup, took a small sip, and said, "Let's see if Xiao Wanning has made the right move."

As night fell, the palace was brightly lit. Envoys from various countries arrived at the banquet venue one after another. Amidst the clinking of glasses and the exchange of toasts, no one noticed the pair of cold eyes lurking in the shadows.

Liuli is helping Murong Xuewei with her makeup in preparation for the palace banquet.

"Your Majesty, do you think Xiao Wanning will come?" Liuli asked as she put a phoenix hairpin into Murong Xuewei's hair.

Murong Xuewei looked at herself in the bronze mirror: "She will definitely come." A cold smile curled at the corner of her lips. "However, not in her own name."

Liuli suddenly realized: "You mean, she'll be mixed in with the envoys?"

“Not only that.” Murong Xuewei stood up. “Tonight’s palace banquet is going to be quite lively.”

Inside the banquet hall, envoys from various countries were already seated. Gu Ye and Murong Xuewei arrived hand in hand, and all the civil and military officials rose to pay their respects.

"Distinguished envoys, you have traveled a long way. Today is a joyous day for my Empress and me, and also a time for reconciliation with other nations." Gu Ye raised his wine cup. "I will first offer you all a toast."

Everyone raised their glasses. At that moment, an envoy dressed in magnificent robes suddenly spoke up: "I've heard that the Empress of Great Qi is skilled in painting. Would she do me the honor of painting a portrait for me?"

Murong Xuewei smiled slightly: "You flatter me, Your Excellency. My painting skills are rather rudimentary; I'm afraid they are hardly worthy of being displayed in a refined setting."

“Your Majesty is too modest,” the envoy continued. “I have long heard of Your Majesty’s paintings, especially your ‘Phoenix Perching on a Wutong Tree,’ which is renowned far and wide.”

A glint of shrewdness flashed in Murong Xuewei's eyes: "The painting the envoy mentioned..." She paused deliberately, "...I have never painted one myself."

The envoy's expression changed slightly, but he still tried to remain calm: "It was a mistake on my part."

Gu Ye secretly gave Murong Xuewei a look, and Murong Xuewei understood.

“However, since the envoy is interested,” Murong Xuewei suddenly changed the subject, “I could paint on the spot. But…” She looked around, “I would like to invite everyone to the garden. Appreciating the painting under the moonlight would surely be a unique experience.”

Everyone agreed and followed Murong Xuewei to the garden. The bright moonlight shone on the lake, reflecting shimmering waves.

Murong Xuewei set up her easel by the lake and picked up her paintbrush. Just then, a hidden weapon suddenly flew out from the shadows!

"Watch out!" Liuli grabbed Murong Xuewei.

Gu Ye had already ordered the area around the garden to be sealed off. The suspicious envoy tried to escape in the chaos, but was stopped by the guards who were lying in wait.

“Xiao Wanning,” Murong Xuewei coldly looked at the restrained “envoy,” “do you really think you can do whatever you want in this palace?”

The "envoy," whose identity had been exposed, suddenly burst into laughter. The voice was indeed Xiao Wanning's: "Murong Xuewei, you are indeed clever. However..." She looked around, "Do you think I would be captured so easily?"

No sooner had the words been spoken than thick smoke suddenly billowed from all over the garden. The envoys from various countries panicked, some crying out, "Poison!"

"Don't panic!" Gu Ye said in a deep voice. "Guards, escort the envoys to a safe place."

Liuli quickly took out a handkerchief she had prepared beforehand and handed it to Murong Xuewei: "Your Majesty, this has been soaked in the antidote beforehand."

Murong Xuewei took the handkerchief and looked at the spot where Xiao Wanning had just stood; it was now empty. Taking advantage of the chaos, Xiao Wanning had escaped.

"A clever escape, indeed," Murong Xuewei sneered. "But do you really think you can get away like this?"

Gu Ye had already ordered his men to bring the situation under control, and the thick smoke gradually dissipated. The sound of footsteps echoed in the garden as the guards chased after the assassin.

"Your Highness!" Suddenly, a maid rushed in, flustered. "Something terrible has happened! The Crown Prince..."

Murong Xuewei was startled: "What happened?"

"Assassins have broken into the Crown Prince's palace!"

Gu Ye and Murong Xuewei exchanged a glance, immediately understanding Xiao Wanning's true purpose. This chaos was merely a diversionary tactic. Her real target was the Crown Prince!

"Pass down the order," Gu Ye said in a deep voice, "immediately seal off the gates of the Crown Prince's palace. No one is allowed to enter or leave!"

Murong Xuewei disregarded everything else and ran towards the Crown Prince's palace, lifting her skirt. She knew that Xiao Wanning was trying to cut off Gu Ye's escape route. If anything happened to the Crown Prince, it would undoubtedly be a fatal blow to Gu Ye, who had just ascended the throne.

Just then, a deafening explosion came from the direction of the Crown Prince's Palace!

"Not good!" Murong Xuewei quickened her pace, secretly pondering, "Xiao Wanning, what other tricks do you have up your sleeve...?"