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

"The High Priest himself has come to his death?" Ning Feng looked at the old man at the door with a half-smile. "I thought you were just someone who would hide in the shadows and order others around."

The high priest gave a cold smile: "Ning Feng, do you think I really only have these assassins?" He slowly walked into the room, the porcelain bottle in his hand gleaming with a cold, eerie light under the moonlight.

"So, is the High Priest now preparing to take action personally? But this Holy Maiden's life is not so easily taken." Ning Feng smiled contemptuously.

"Heh heh..." the high priest suddenly laughed, "Young man, don't be so arrogant."

Ning Feng frowned slightly.

The high priest drew his sword and thrust it straight at Ning Feng, who simply stepped back.

Xiao Cui, wielding a sword, charged out from behind Ning Feng.

The high priest stared at Xiao Cui in disbelief. "How is this possible? You're not..."

"Nothing much, you think you're being held back by your bunch of useless subordinates? They think they can hold me back with that bunch of trash? Dream on."

As soon as she finished speaking, Xiao Cui picked up her sword and stabbed at the high priest again.

The high priest instinctively raised his sword to block. Suddenly, he clutched his chest, his face turning ashen: "You... what have you done to me?"

"Has the High Priest forgotten?" Ning Feng gently fiddled with the ring on her finger, "When you came to visit the Emperor today, I, the Holy Maiden, personally poured you that cup of tea..."

"You!" The high priest's eyes widened. "You've been waiting all along..."

"Since I dared to allow you to investigate, it's natural that I've already laid a trap," Ning Feng sneered. "High Priest, would you rather have your soul scattered or your internal organs burned to ashes?"

The high priest staggered as he tried to escape, but suddenly his whole body convulsed and he fell heavily to the ground.

"Someone come here." Ning Feng said calmly.

Several guards hurried in.

"Take the high priest away and 'take good care' of him." Ning Feng turned and walked towards the window. "Oh, and while you're at it, investigate his household and see who else was involved in this rebellion."

The following day, at court, the officials gathered once again in the Golden Palace. Ning Feng sat calmly beneath the throne.

"Distinguished ministers," Ning Feng said, her voice clear and cold as she surveyed the crowd, "Last night, the High Priest attempted to murder me, the Holy Maiden, and has now been captured. According to his confession, many other court officials were also involved."

The ministers' expressions changed drastically, and some began to tremble slightly.

"Your Majesty, please be wise!" Minister of Revenue Zhang Mingyuan was the first to kneel. "Although I have been to the High Priest's residence, I know nothing about this matter!"

Ning Feng chuckled: "Really? Lord Zhang spent a full two hours at the High Priest's residence last night. Did he just stay there drinking tea and chatting?"

Cold sweat beaded on Zhang Mingyuan's forehead: "This..."

“Your Highness,” Zhao Wuji stepped forward, “please investigate this matter thoroughly.”

"General Zhao is quite composed." Ning Feng's gaze shifted to Zhao Wuji. "However, this Holy Maiden is quite curious: why is there one of your trusted confidants among the Third Prince's guards?"

Zhao Wuji's expression changed.

"Guards!" Ning Feng said coldly, "Bring up the evidence."

A guard presented a sandalwood box, which, when opened, contained a stack of letters. Ning Feng took out one: "General Zhao, this is a secret letter you wrote yourself to the High Priest, isn't it? It mentions how to mobilize the border troops and how to coordinate an attack from within and without..."

"This..." Cold sweat beaded on Zhao Wuji's forehead. He suddenly drew his sword. "Since that's the case, then don't blame this humble general for being rude!"

"How dare you!" the commander of the Imperial Guards shouted, and dozens of Imperial Guards instantly pointed their swords at Zhao Wuji.

"Put down your weapons!" Ning Feng said in a deep voice. "Zhao Wuji, do you really think this Holy Maiden will give you a chance to act? All your trusted men were taken into custody last night."

Zhao Wuji's face turned deathly pale, and the sword in his hand fell to the ground with a clang.

"Guards, take Zhao Wuji away for rigorous interrogation," Ning Feng said coldly. "As for the others involved..." She glanced at the assembled officials, "I, the Holy Maiden, will give you a chance. Step forward and confess now, and you may receive a lighter sentence."

The hall was completely silent; no one dared to utter a sound.

“Since that’s the case…” Ning Feng took out a list, “Zhang Mingyuan, Li Cheng, Wang Yue…”

The ministers whose names were called collapsed to the ground. Ning Feng coldly ordered, "Take them all away for interrogation!"

After these people were taken away, Ning Feng looked at the remaining ministers: "Gentlemen, I will say it again. Nanzhao needs stability now. Anyone who still wants to stir up trouble..." She paused, her tone icy, "...then don't blame me for being ruthless!"

"We understand!" the ministers replied in unison, their voices filled with fear.

After the court session ended, Minister Du quickly caught up with Ning Feng: "Your Highness, what about the High Priest...?"

“The High Priest is advanced in years; he must have been misled by others,” Ning Feng said calmly. “Allow him to stay home and reflect on his actions.”

"Yes." Minister Du breathed a sigh of relief. "Then Zhao Wuji and the others..."

"Kill those who deserve to die, exile those who deserve to be exiled." A cold glint flashed in Ning Feng's eyes. "Lord Du, what do you say?"

Minister Du bowed: "Everything is entirely up to the Holy Maiden to decide."

Watching Minister Du's departing figure, Ning Feng's lips curled into a cold smile. She turned and headed towards the inner palace, intending to visit the "seriously ill" emperor.

Inside the imperial bedchamber, Ning Feng stood before the bed, looking down at the paralyzed emperor: "Your Majesty, the matter of the High Priest has been resolved. Now the court is filled with my people. Don't you think I should go and check on the situation in Da Qi?"

The emperor's eyes were filled with anger and resentment, yet he couldn't even lift a finger.

"Rest assured," Ning Feng chuckled softly, "I will protect the Nanzhao kingdom for you. However..." She leaned close to the emperor's ear, "I need to take Gu Ye's head from the Great Qi first."

After leaving her palace, Ning Feng summoned her trusted ministers: "Issue the order to mobilize an army of 100,000 and launch an attack on Daqi in three days."

"Holy Maiden!" Minister Du exclaimed in alarm, "It's the busy farming season now, if..."

"What?" Ning Feng looked at him coldly. "Is Lord Du questioning my decision?"

Minister Du immediately knelt down: "Your Majesty, I dare not. However, this matter is of utmost importance, and I implore you to reconsider."

"No need for further words." Ning Feng turned and walked towards the armory. "This Holy Maiden has her own plans. Go and summon the Minister of War; this Holy Maiden wishes to personally select the weapons."

A moment later, the Ministry of War official led a group of soldiers and brought dozens of boxes of weapons.

Ning Feng casually opened a box, inside which was a long sword that was entirely black. She drew the sword from its sheath, a flash of cold light, and the blade faintly glowed with an eerie purple hue.

"This is......"

"Reporting to the Holy Maiden," the Ministry of War official explained, "this sword is named 'Soul Devourer,' forged from millennia-old cold iron combined with the Gu poison of the Southern Frontier. Those struck by it not only suffer physical wounds, but the Gu worms within will also invade their internal organs."

A glint of light flashed in Ning Feng's eyes: "A fine sword!" She sheathed her longsword. "Distribute all these weapons to the vanguard."

"Yes."

“Oh, right,” Ning Feng suddenly remembered something, “Have scouts gather intelligence on the border of the Great Qi.”