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

“Holy Maiden,” Xiao Cui hurried in, “General Zhao arrested Zhao Ming this morning, gave him thirty lashes in front of everyone, and locked him in the woodshed.”

Ning Feng was playing the zither, but upon hearing this, her hands did not pause at all: "General Zhao is quite clever."

“Yes!” Xiao Cui said excitedly, “Now General Zhao should be on our side, right?”

The music stopped abruptly. Ning Feng withdrew her fingers and said calmly, "Not necessarily."

"Why?" Xiao Cui asked, puzzled. "General Zhao has already seen through the Crown Prince's manipulation of Zhao Ming..."

“Precisely because we’ve seen through it,” Ning Feng stood up and walked to the window, “that we must remain neutral.”

Seeing that Xiao Cui was still puzzled, Ning Feng continued, "General Zhao hit Zhao Ming, ostensibly to discipline his son, but actually to show the Crown Prince that he, Zhao Wuji, is still the same incorruptible general."

"That..."

"As for confinement," Ning Feng's lips curled into a slight smile, "it serves two purposes: to let the Crown Prince know how strictly he disciplines his son, and to prevent Zhao Ming from causing trouble again. A double kill, a clever scheme indeed."

Xiao Cui suddenly realized: "So General Zhao is..."

“He’s still observing.” Ning Feng turned around, a sharp glint in her eyes. “He’s telling the Crown Prince that while he won’t side with the Crown Prince, he also won’t be his enemy.”

"Then wouldn't we be..."

“No rush,” Ning Feng said, sitting back down at the zither. “What is most important for a true general?”

"Is it... Military Might?"

“It’s the right time.” Ning Feng’s fingers lightly caressed the strings of the zither. “Zhao Wuji has cultivated his influence in the army for many years. Even if the Crown Prince wants to touch him, he’ll need a suitable excuse. And now…” She gave Xiao Cui a meaningful look, “What we need to do is wait for that excuse to appear.”

"What the saint means is..."

Before he could finish speaking, Ning Bo suddenly appeared at the door: "Your Majesty, Minister Du sent someone to report that the Crown Prince entered the palace to meet the Emperor today, and his words seemed to impeach General Zhao."

"They arrived so quickly?" Ning Feng frowned slightly, then relaxed. "It seems the Crown Prince is more impatient than I imagined."

She stood up, walked to her desk, and quickly wrote: "Go and invite General Zhao to our residence for a chat. Since the Crown Prince wants to play this card, let's go along with it."

The music resumed, but it was no longer melodious; instead, it had a more resonant and powerful quality.

Three days later.

Ning Feng sat in front of the dressing mirror, and Xiao Cui took the comb from the maid and combed Ning Feng's hair one stroke at a time.

“Holy Maiden,” Xiao Cui put down the comb in her hand, “the Crown Prince has already sent a congratulatory gift—a set of fine horses from the Western Regions.”

Ning Feng picked up a hairpin and handed it to Xiao Cui, smiling gently, "You really can't hold back anymore."

“Yes,” Xiao Cui took the hairpin and tucked it into her hair, “I heard this precious horse is priceless; the Crown Prince specially bought it from a merchant from the Western Regions.”

“The more valuable the gift,” Ning Feng said, putting on a pair of ruby ​​earrings, “the more guilty he seems. Zhao Wuji has accumulated too much prestige in the army over the years; it won't be so easy for the Crown Prince to take him down.”

"Then what should we give?" Xiao Cui asked with some worry. "It can't be less than the Crown Prince's gift, can it?"

Ning Feng stood up and walked to the bookshelf, taking out an antique wooden box from the top shelf: "This is the gift."

"This is..."

"The Art of War of Wuji," Ning Feng gently stroked the wooden box, "a rare copy that Zhao Wuji has been searching for for many years."

Xiao Cui's eyes lit up: "The Holy Maiden was prepared all along?"

"This book is something I specifically sought out back in the beginning." Ning Feng placed the wooden box on the table. "Zhao Wuji was a martial arts fanatic, obsessed with martial arts and military strategy throughout his life. Back then, he didn't hesitate to wipe out three bandit gangs in one fell swoop for a single military treatise."

"Is Zhao Wuji that powerful?"

"No matter how powerful they are, they can only be used by me." Ning Feng took out a sheet of Xuan paper. "Prepare a brush and ink for me."

"Does the Holy Maiden want to inscribe something?"

“Hmm,” Ning Feng dipped her brush in ink, “Many people send gifts, but not all of them understand Zhao Wuji’s thoughts.”

Watching Ning Feng wield her brush with incredible speed and grace, Xiao Cui couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, "The Holy Maiden's calligraphy is truly beautiful!"

Ning Feng paused, recalling the time she and Jiang Lingyun practiced calligraphy together, and gently lowered her eyelids. "It was just something to pass the time in my spare time."

After writing the last character, Ning Feng put down her pen and said softly, "Go and make preparations. The birthday banquet in seven days is going to be quite a lively affair."

“Yes.” Xiao Cui turned to leave, but Ning Feng called her back.

“By the way,” Ning Feng handed over a list, “all these people need to be secretly monitored. Especially those close to the Crown Prince; don’t miss their every move.”

"The Holy Maiden is worried..."

“With the Crown Prince's generosity, he certainly wouldn't be content with just one birthday gift.” Ning Feng's eyes turned slightly cold. “Since he wants to win over Zhao Wuji, we naturally need to make some preparations.”

Seven days later.

A palanquin made of golden pear wood stopped at the entrance of the Saintess's Palace. The palanquin was draped in light gauze. Pure gold bells hung from the four corners, making it look extremely ornate.

"Holy Maiden, the palanquin is ready," Xiao Cui reported softly.

Ning Feng nodded slightly, walked to the sedan chair, and stepped onto it.

With her slender, delicate hands, she parted the sedan curtain. The afterglow of the setting sun shone perfectly on her jade-like face, adding to her solemnity.

Standing beside the palanquin at Ningbo Station, he whispered, "Holy Maiden, everything is ready."

Ning Feng smiled slightly: "Go, proceed according to plan."

"Let's begin!"

With a loud shout, the palanquin was lifted and slowly moved forward.

As the procession passed by, people on both sides of the street stopped to watch.

"Look, it's the Holy Maiden!"

"Her dress, worn by the Holy Maiden of Nanzhao, is truly beautiful."

"This is the first time the Holy Maiden has made an appearance since she was officially appointed as a Holy Maiden!"

"Judging from this direction, it seems they're heading to General Zhao's birthday banquet."

Whispers drifted in from outside the sedan curtain, and Xiao Cui asked with some worry, "Holy Maiden, should we...?"

“It’s alright,” Ning Feng said calmly. “Let them talk.”

The General's Mansion has arrived. The steward stepped out, his gaze sweeping over the sedan chair: "Please wait a moment, Your Highness; the Master is changing his clothes."

"What time is it? Why are you still changing clothes?" Xiao Cui couldn't help but complain in a low voice.

Ning Feng gently raised her hand: "No rush. Today is the birthday of the most important person."

After a long wait, the steward finally reappeared. Several maids came forward to greet him, the head maid giving a slight bow: "Please follow me, Your Highness. My name is Chun Tao."

“Spring Peach?” Ning Feng smiled enigmatically. “It’s a nice name.”

Chun Tao secretly curled her lip, then turned and led the way: "Holy Maiden, please."

Soldiers in armor could be seen everywhere along the way. Xiao Cui leaned close to Ning Feng's ear: "Holy Maiden, these soldiers..."

"They're all from the military," Ning Feng said, her eyes flickering slightly. "It seems General Zhao has gotten a bit cocky these days."

"Then we..."

"Let's wait and see," Ning Feng said softly. "Tonight's show is likely to be even more exciting than we imagine."

Just then, a voice rang out: "Your subject greets the Holy Maiden."

Ning Feng turned her head and saw Minister Du standing under the corridor. Their eyes met, and Minister Du nodded almost imperceptibly.

"Lord Du," Ning Feng stepped forward slowly, "why have you arrived so early today?"

"I have some official business to discuss with the General," Minister Du said meaningfully, "but it seems we won't be able to discuss it tonight."

“Oh? Why?”

"The Crown Prince has also arrived," Minister Du said in a low voice. "Just now, I saw the Crown Prince and General Zhao go to the study together."

A sharp glint flashed in Ning Feng's eyes: "It seems the Crown Prince is very well prepared today!"

"Holy Maiden, would you like to..." Minister Du made a throat-slitting gesture.

Ning Feng gave a cold laugh, "Let's see Zhao Wuji's attitude first."

Before she could finish speaking, a commotion suddenly erupted in the banquet hall. Chun Tao rushed over to urge her, "Holy Maiden, it's time to go in."

Ning Feng nodded slightly to Minister Du and walked towards the banquet hall.