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

However, when the gauze curtain was lifted, Murong Yuxuan was stunned.

A figure emerged from the other side of the bed and knelt before Murong Xuewei.

The figure was tall and looked almost exactly like Gu Ye, but he was facing away from Murong Yuxuan, so Murong Yuxuan couldn't see his face.

Murong Yuxuan was filled with doubt. He turned to look at Murong Xuewei, but saw that she was calm and there was no surprise in her eyes.

"Xuewei, this is..." Murong Yuxuan pointed at the kneeling figure and asked in confusion.

Murong Xuewei sighed softly and said slowly, "Brother, this is the stand-in I found, Shadow One."

A body double? Why use a body double? Where is Gu Ye? A series of questions exploded in Murong Qingyu's mind.

"A double?" he repeated, his tone full of confusion. "Why would you need a double? Gu Ye, he..."

“Brother,” Murong Xuewei interrupted him, her voice soft and tinged with weariness, “very few people know that Gu Ye went to Medicine King Valley this time. After returning from the far north, Gu Ye has not appeared in the court. The Great Qi has only just been established, so it is normal for the ministers to be worried. My actions are only to reassure the ministers.”

Murong Qingyu sighed softly, her tone softening. "Alright, I understand. I'll try to help you keep it from the ministers for now, but..."

Murong Qingyu turned to look at Yingyi, who was kneeling, and said, "You should get up too!"

Ying stood up. His face was indeed very similar to Gu Ye's, but his eyes were completely different.

Gu Ye's eyes were deep and sharp, while Ying Yi's eyes were calm and reserved, like a bottomless lake.

“Shadow One,” Murong Xuewei said softly, “you’ve had a hard time these past few days.”

“Your subordinate wouldn’t dare,” Shadow One’s voice was low and respectful. “It is what your subordinate should do.”

Murong Xuewei nodded, then turned to Murong Yuxuan and said, "Brother, I'll trouble you to continue handling state affairs these next few days."

Murong Yuxuan looked at his younger sister, his heart filled with worry and heartache.

He knew that his sister's health was deteriorating and that she needed rest and quiet recuperation.

But now that the court and the public are in turmoil, she still has to hold on and deal with these matters.

"Xuewei," he said softly, "you must also take care of yourself."

Murong Xuewei smiled slightly at him and said, "I know, brother."

Looking at his sister's smile, Murong Yuxuan felt even more heartbroken. He knew that behind her smile lay too much pain and helplessness.

He sighed softly, turned and left the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, tranquility returned. Murong Xuewei looked at Yingyi kneeling on the ground and said softly, "Yingyi, it's up to you now."

Yingyi lowered his head again and said respectfully, "Your subordinate obeys."

Night fell, and the stars twinkled. The residence of Princess Anning, once the residence of the Second Princess of the Taichu Kingdom, was now shrouded in silence. Xiao Sining sat alone by the window, gazing at the desolate courtyard outside, her eyes empty and lost.

A soft knocking sound broke the silence of the night. Xiao Sining turned around alertly: "Who is it?"

"It's me." A cool female voice came from outside the door.

Xiao Sining frowned slightly. That voice... she felt a sense of familiarity, but couldn't quite place it.

"Come in."

The door was gently pushed open, and a figure dressed in black and wearing a bamboo hat walked in. The person was graceful and moved with light steps, exuding an indescribable sense of oppression.

"You are..." Xiao Sining asked in confusion.

The newcomer slowly raised her head, removed her straw hat, revealing a bright and beautiful face—it was Ning Feng.

Xiao Sining suddenly stood up, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Eldest sister?! You...you're not dead?"

Ning Feng chuckled softly, then slowly walked to Xiao Si Ning, her posture elegant and composed. "What? Are you disappointed that I didn't die?"

"You... how did you get here?" Xiao Sining pointed at Ning Feng, her fingers trembling slightly, her eyes filled with fear and confusion.

"Can't I come to see an old friend?" Ning Feng's tone was tinged with a hint of mockery. "And I also want to see how my dear sister from back then is doing now." She glanced around, her eyes filled with sarcasm. "This Anning Princess's residence is far inferior to the Second Princess's residence of the Taichu Kingdom."

Xiao Sining's face instantly turned pale. Ning Feng's words were like a sharp thorn, piercing her heart. "You..." she gritted her teeth, suppressing her anger, "What exactly do you want?"

Ning Feng walked to the table, poured herself a cup of tea, took a sip, and then slowly spoke. "I've come to discuss a deal with you, my sister."

"A deal?" Xiao Sining sneered. "What kind of deal could we possibly have to discuss between us?"

Ning Feng put down her teacup, her gaze fixed intently on Xiao Si Ning. "I know you still deeply love Gu Ye."

Xiao Sining's heart skipped a beat, her eyes flickered for a moment, then returned to their cold expression. "So what?"

“I can help you get him.” Ning Feng’s tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable certainty.

"You... what did you say?" Xiao Sining's eyes widened again, as if she had heard something unbelievable.

“I said, I can help you get Gu Ye and become the Empress of Daqi.” Ning Feng said, each word like a heavy hammer blow to Xiao Si Ning’s heart.

Xiao Sining fell silent, her fists clenched tightly, a struggle raging within her.

"What are the conditions?" After a long while, Xiao Sining finally spoke slowly, her voice hoarse and low, as if squeezed out from the depths of her throat.

A smug smile curled at the corners of Ning Feng's lips. She knew that Xiao Sining had already fallen for her.

“It’s very simple,” she said slowly, “help me get rid of Murong Xuewei.”

These five words exploded in Xiao Sining's mind like a bomb.

Xiao Sining took a step back abruptly. "You... what did you say? You want me... you want me to kill Murong Xuewei?" Her voice trembled, her eyes filled with terror and disbelief.

Ning Feng watched Xiao Si Ning's reaction, a contemptuous smile playing on her lips. "What? You can't bring yourself to do it?" She walked up to Xiao Si Ning, pressing closer with each step. "Don't forget, you two used to be mortal enemies."

Seeing that Xiao Sining's expression was beginning to soften, Ning Feng's tone suddenly became gentle, as if she were coaxing a child, "Get rid of Murong Xuewei, and you will get Gu Ye, become the Empress of Daqi, and have everything you want."

Xiao Sining fell silent, her fists clenched tightly, her heart once again caught in a fierce internal struggle. Ning Feng's words echoed in her ears like a curse, constantly assaulting her reason.

“No,” Xiao Sining finally spoke after a long silence, her voice hoarse but firm, “I can’t do this. Even… even if I hate her, I can’t…”

“My dear sister,” Ning Feng sighed, as if helpless against Xiao Si Ning’s stubbornness, “They’ve already pushed you to this point, and you still can’t bring yourself to do it?”

"I didn't!" Xiao Sining shouted sharply, "I just, I just...!"