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

Inside the Imperial Palace in the capital city.

In the stillness of the night, the candlelight in the study remained bright. Murong Qingyu sat at his desk, his brow furrowed as he stared at the mountain of memorials piled before him.

"Husband, have some refreshing tea." Song Wanyi pushed open the door and entered, carrying a steaming cup of tea.

Murong Qingyu rubbed his temples and took the teacup, saying, "Thank you, my lady."

"How many memorials did you process today?" Song Wanyi asked with concern, looking at the thick pile of memorials on her desk.

"Don't even mention it," Murong Qingyu shook her head with a wry smile, "These memorials written by the ministers are uglier than my business ledgers. Behind every single one lies a web of hidden agendas; just trying to decipher their intricacies is enough to give anyone a headache."

Song Wanyi sat down beside him and gently massaged his shoulders: "Wasn't my husband always the best at seeing through people's hearts?"

“At least in business, prices are clearly stated,” Murong Qingyu put down the memorial in her hand. “In this imperial court, everyone’s words are seven parts truth and three parts falsehood; it’s more tiring than doing accounts.”

"If Xue Wei were here, she would definitely laugh at you, a big businessman, for having your share of setbacks," Song Wanyi teased.

Mentioning her younger sister, a hint of worry flashed in Murong Qingyu's eyes: "I wonder where she is now, and whether she has found the medicine to save Gu Ye."

“Xuewei is always intelligent, and with Lan’er by her side, she’ll surely be safe and sound,” Song Wanyi comforted her. She paused, then added, “But you, you have to deal with these ministers on one hand, and guard against the people of Nanzhao on the other. You need to be extra careful.”

Murong Qingyu grasped Song Wanyi's hand: "With my wife by my side, I don't feel tired at all." He glanced at the moonlight outside the window. "It's getting late, my wife, you should go and rest first. I'll finish a few more memorials and then go to bed."

Song Wanyi shook her head: "I'll stay with you."

The candlelight flickered, illuminating the two figures. Outside, the autumn wind howled, but it couldn't dispel the warmth inside.

A biting wind howled, whipping fine snowflakes against the sails. Murong Xuewei stood at the bow, gazing at the gradually clearing snow-covered shore, a bitter feeling rising in her heart. Gu Ye's injuries were worsening, and every moment of delay agonized her.

“Your Highness, we’re just ahead at the border of the far north,” Lan’er said, handing Murong Xuewei a thick cloak. “The waterways will freeze over further ahead, making it impossible for boats to travel. We’ll have to proceed on foot.”

Murong Xuewei tightened her cloak and turned to look towards the cabin. Gu Ye was leaning against something, resting; his face was paler than the snow of the far north. She took a deep breath, the chill seeping into her heart and lungs: "Have everyone prepare; we'll set off immediately after reaching the shore."

"Yes," Lan'er replied, then turned and added, "Your Majesty, it's said that the snow lotus grows on the deepest snow-capped mountain in the far north, where snow accumulates year-round and the cold is biting. Are you... really going?"

"This is our only hope." Murong Xuewei's voice was firm, but her eyes softened involuntarily. "He was poisoned like that to save me. Now it's my turn to save him. Even if it means going to the ends of the earth, I'll go no matter what."

The ship slowly approached the shore, the splashed ice glittering coldly in the sunlight. The sailors began unloading supplies, preparing for the upcoming land journey. Lan'er arranged for Gu Ye to be carried off the ship on a soft couch, each step taken with extreme care.

"Madam... there's no need... to take such a... risk..." Gu Ye's weak voice came as he struggled to get up.

Murong Xuewei quickly stepped forward and gently pressed his shoulder: "Don't move, rest well." She took Gu Ye's hand, feeling its icy coldness, and her heart trembled. "Don't worry, I will definitely find that snow lotus."

A biting north wind howled past, whipping snowflakes along its path. Murong Xuewei gazed at the endless snow-capped mountains ahead. There lay the elixir that could save Gu Ye, but also countless dangers lurked within. She knew it would be a difficult journey, but as long as she could save Gu Ye's life, she would forge ahead without hesitation, even if it meant facing mountains of knives and seas of fire.

"Your Majesty, the supplies are all ready," Lan'er reported softly.

Murong Xuewei nodded and glanced back at the boats behind her. That was their last resort; once they set foot on this snowy plain, there would be no turning back.

“Let’s go,” she said softly, her voice firm and resolute.

The group set foot on this vast snowfield, heading towards the deepest part of the far north.

The sky was so overcast it seemed to press down on us, the thick, grey clouds making it hard to breathe. The snow crunched underfoot, each step sinking into knee-deep snow. Distant snow-capped mountains loomed indistinctly, their outlines blurred by the wind and snow.

"Watch out here." Lan'er pointed to a horizontal ice crevice ahead. "The ice is unstable; everyone, please detour."

Murong Xuewei glanced back at Gu Ye, who was being carefully carried. They had been trekking across this snowy plain for a whole day. The cold wind stung her cheeks, and her breath condensed into frost in the air, so she instinctively pulled her cloak tighter around herself.

"Ouch——"

A piercing wolf howl suddenly tore through the air, and Murong Xuewei looked up abruptly. On the distant snow-covered slope, several pairs of eerie green eyes gleamed coldly, staring at the intruders.

“Snow wolves.” Lan’er’s voice carried a hint of seriousness. “Judging from the looks of it, they’ve been watching us for a long time.”

As she spoke, more wolf howls rose and fell. The snow wolves began to surround them from all sides, their fur almost blending into the snow, only their cold eyes standing out starkly in the wind and snow.

"Form ranks!" Murong Xuewei ordered in a deep voice, "Put Gu Ye in the center."

The group quickly adjusted their formation, and Gu Ye's soft couch was carefully protected. The snow wolves began to approach steadily, their footsteps barely making a sound on the snow, and the air was filled with the stench of wild beasts.

"Roar!" The lead snow wolf suddenly leaped up and pounced on the outermost guards.

"Watch out!" Lan'er leaped forward, forcing the snow wolf back with a single sword strike. But more snow wolves were already poised to attack, their fangs gleaming coldly in the dim light.

The wind and snow intensified, the biting cold almost seeping into her bones. Murong Xuewei could feel that the sword in her hand was so frozen that she could barely hold it, but her gaze remained resolute. Suddenly, she noticed something wriggling in the snow not far away.

"Oh no!" she suddenly realized. "Everyone, retreat immediately!"

Before the words were even finished, the snow suddenly collapsed, revealing a deep, dark ice cave below. It turned out that these cunning snow wolves had deliberately lured them into this trap.

"Bang!" The ice began to shatter in large sections, making a chilling sound. Murong Xuewei stared at the widening crack beneath her feet, her heart nearly stopping.

Further into the distance, dark clouds are gathering, foreshadowing an impending blizzard.