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

"Thank you!" Murong Xuewei bowed deeply. "I'll set off as soon as the blizzard subsides."

"Madam..." Gu Ye suddenly spoke weakly, "Don't go..."

Murong Xuewei immediately grasped his hand: "Don't talk, just rest. We can go home when I get back."

She stood up and looked at Lan'er: "You stay here to protect Gu Ye." Then she said to Zhang Jing: "Dr. Zhang, I'm entrusting everything to you."

Zhang Jing wanted to say something, but seeing the determination in Murong Xuewei's eyes, he finally nodded: "I promise you, I will do everything in my power. But you must also promise me that you will come back alive."

Murong Xuewei gave a poignant smile: "I promise you." She leaned down and gently kissed Gu Ye's forehead. "Wait for me."

The wind and snow howled outside, as if proclaiming the fury of this snow-covered plain. Murong Xuewei straightened her clothes and walked towards the tent. Just as she was about to lift the curtain, the old witch doctor suddenly called out to her...

"Wait." The old witch doctor stood up shakily and took an old animal skin bag from a wooden box in the corner. "This is for you."

The leader explained, "This is a sacred object passed down through generations of the tribe. It is said to guide the way and is protected by the Snow God."

The old shaman handed the animal skin bag to Murong Xuewei and spoke a string of words in the tribal language. The leader translated, "The shaman said she saw a persistent light in your eyes, a sincerity that could move the Snow God. But..." He paused, "You must remember, this snowfield is not only inhabited by the Snow God, but also by other, far more dangerous beings."

Murong Xuewei took the animal skin bag and saw that it contained a crystal that shimmered slightly and could be faintly felt to be warm.

“These are the tears of the Snow God,” the old witch doctor said, pointing a trembling finger at the crystal. “They will guide you in your most dangerous moments. But remember, once used, they will shatter and disappear.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jing's expression shifted: "The legendary guiding stone! I didn't expect it to actually exist."

"Thank you, senior." Murong Xuewei carefully put away the crystal. "I will use it with care."

Just then, Gu Ye started coughing violently again, and Zhang Jing quickly went to check on him. The old witch doctor also hurriedly began to prepare the medicinal soup, pouring the ground medicinal powder into warm water.

“Go,” the old witch doctor said as he brewed the medicine, “but remember, you must be back before sunrise tomorrow. Otherwise…”

She didn't finish speaking, but Murong Xuewei understood her meaning. She glanced one last time at the unconscious Gu Ye, then turned and lifted the tent flap. A biting wind, mixed with snowflakes, rushed in, almost engulfing her figure.

"Your Majesty!" Lan'er called from behind, "You must come back safely!"

Murong Xuewei didn't turn back, but simply waved her hand and resolutely stepped into the snowstorm. Her figure quickly became blurred in the vast snowfield and eventually disappeared.

Inside the tent, Zhang Jing and the old witch doctor began to focus on taking care of Gu Ye. Lan'er stood at the tent entrance, gazing for a long time at the direction where Murong Xuewei had disappeared, silently praying for her safety.

Meanwhile, in the imperial city of Nanzhao, at the sacred temple.

Countless maidens in red ceremonial robes, carrying incense burners, ascended the thousand-step stone staircase in two rows. Amidst the swirling morning mist, the majestic temple appeared and disappeared, its golden roof shimmering with a mysterious light in the rising sun. The air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood and datura flowers, seemingly capable of purifying the soul.

Palace servants were setting up an altar in the plaza in front of the temple. Deep red silk hung from the top of the temple, contrasting beautifully with the blooming mandalas on the ground. Priests from various tribes, dressed in colorful embroidered robes and holding ritual implements, were arranging offerings around the altar.

Standing on the high ground, Ning Feng watched all this, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes. For so many years, she no longer needed to pretend to be Xiao Wan Ning. From this day forward, she was the Holy Maiden of Nanzhao, and in the future, she would be the Queen of Nanzhao. Thinking of this, a cold smile curled at the corner of her lips.

"The time has come." The high priest gazed at the rising sun, his cloudy eyes filled with anticipation. "Please, Holy Maiden, prepare to enter the temple."

Ning Feng took a deep breath and composed herself. She wore the most prestigious nine-phoenix crimson-gold robe of Nanzhao, embroidered with fiery phoenix patterns. Her black hair was styled in a high bun, adorned with a golden phoenix hairpin, which made her appear even more elegant and noble. In the mirror, her phoenix eyes gleamed with a determined light.

"From today onward," she sneered inwardly, "Xiao Wanning and Jiang Lingyun will forever die in the underground palace, and I, Ning Feng, will personally destroy the Great Qi."

"Welcome, Holy Maiden!" With the high priest's shout, everyone knelt on the ground.

Ning Feng walked slowly up the altar, each step elegant and composed. Her gaze swept over the crowd below, taking in the tribal leaders and important officials of Nanzhao. She observed the awe, fear, and suspicion in their eyes.

"Since its founding, Nanzhao has been protected by holy maidens for generations," the high priest proclaimed, his voice trembling slightly with excitement. "Today, we welcome a new holy maiden; may she inherit the will of our ancestors and protect the people of Nanzhao."

Ning Feng knelt in the center of the altar, her eyes lowered to conceal the sharpness within. When the high priest placed the phoenix crown, studded with rubies, on her head, a surge of joy welled up within her. Finally, this position was hers.

Just then, a strange fragrance wafted from the altar. The high priest's expression changed: "This is... an auspicious omen from heaven?"

Above the altar, a ball of red light suddenly coalesced, vaguely transforming into the phantom of a phoenix. The crowd gasped and knelt in worship, but a hint of triumph flashed in Ning Feng's eyes. She had prepared for this scene for a long time.

"Heaven bless Nanzhao!" the high priest cried out excitedly, tears streaming down his face. "The Holy Maiden is truly Heaven's choice!"

Ning Feng stood up, her gaze piercing: "Today, I am crowned by Heaven's mandate, and I will surely emulate my ancestors, restoring Nanzhao to its former glory." Her voice was clear and resolute, her eyes burning with ambition. "And the first step is to reclaim the territory seized by the Great Qi!"

These words immediately caused an uproar in the audience. The face of the Qi envoy turned ashen, while the generals of Nanzhao all beamed with joy.

Ning Feng stood on the high platform, watching the commotion below, a meaningful smile playing on her lips.

"Your Majesty!" an aged voice suddenly rang out. Behind the High Priest, the elderly Minister of Rites slowly stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Sending troops to the Great Qi is a matter of great importance; I urge Your Majesty to reconsider."

The cheers in the hall abruptly ceased. Ning Feng turned around, her gaze icy as she fixed on the Minister of Rites: "Lord Lin seems to have objections to my decision?"

Minister Lin, neither humble nor arrogant, said, "This old minister is only concerned that the time is not yet ripe. The new emperor of Great Qi has only recently ascended the throne, and although the border tribes are already prepared, rashly sending troops might..."