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

Xiao Sining's expression changed slightly. She bit her lip and said, "This subject...this subject should not have harbored any unrealistic thoughts about His Majesty."

Murong Xuewei almost burst out laughing upon hearing this. Harboring delusions? What crime is that? In this harem, which woman doesn't harbor delusions about the Emperor?

"Your Highness is too kind," Murong Xuewei said calmly. "To admire the Emperor is only human nature; what crime is there in that?"

Xiao Sining raised her head, looking at Murong Xuewei, a complex light flashing in her eyes. She hadn't expected Murong Xuewei to say that.

"Your Majesty," she paused, then continued, "I know that I am of lowly status and unworthy of His Majesty. I... I will never again have any improper thoughts about His Majesty."

Murong Xuewei looked at Xiao Sining, her confusion deepening. What was Xiao Sining's purpose in coming today?

"Did the princess come here today just to say these things?" Murong Xuewei asked.

Xiao Sining shook her head. She took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind, and said, "Your Majesty, I... I have another request."

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty wishes to hand over all the deeds to the shops and lands, as well as the taxes from the fiefdom, to the imperial court." Xiao Si Ning's voice was soft, yet it resounded like thunder in Murong Xue Wei's ears.

Murong Xuewei frowned deeply, staring at Xiao Sining in disbelief, wondering if she had misheard. "What did you say?"

Xiao Sining took a deep breath and repeated, "This subject wishes to hand over all the deeds to the shops and lands she owns, as well as the taxes from her fiefdom, to the imperial court." Her tone was firm and left no room for argument.

Murong Xuewei put down her teacup, her gaze sharp as she stared at Xiao Sining, trying to see through her intentions. "Princess, what do you mean by this?"

Xiao Sining lowered her head, twisting the handkerchief in her hands, like a child who had done something wrong. "Your Majesty... Your Majesty knows that you have done many wrong things in the past, offended many people, and... also brought a lot of trouble to the court. Your Majesty... Your Majesty wants to atone for your sins."

Atonement?

Murong Xuewei sneered inwardly. Would Xiao Sining truly atone for her sins? She didn't believe it.

"Princess," Murong Xuewei's voice was icy, "what exactly do you want to do?"

Xiao Sining raised her head, looking at Murong Xuewei with a pleading look in her eyes. "Your Majesty, I know I have committed grave sins, but I truly wish to repent and start anew. I... I wish to do something for the people to make amends for my past mistakes." She paused, then continued, "I wish... I wish to go outside the city to distribute porridge and relieve the poor."

Distributing porridge? Providing relief to the people?

Murong Xuewei was even more puzzled. Xiao Sining used to be notoriously arrogant and domineering; when did she start caring about the suffering of the common people?

She looked at Xiao Sining, her heart filled with suspicion. But she couldn't find a reason to refuse. After all, distributing porridge to relieve the people was a good thing.

“It’s good that the princess has this intention,” Murong Xuewei said calmly. “I grant her permission.”

A joyful smile appeared on Xiao Sining's face. "Thank you, Your Majesty." She paused, then said, "Your Majesty, I... I have another request."

Murong Xuewei looked at her, a vague unease creeping into her heart. "What is it?"

"Your Majesty, I would like to ask Your Majesty to accompany me to distribute porridge." Xiao Sining lowered her head, her tone hesitant. "Your Majesty, I have committed many evil deeds in the past, and I am afraid that the people... will not be willing to accept my good intentions. If Your Majesty could accompany me, the people... would probably be more willing to accept my porridge distribution."

Murong Xuewei sneered inwardly. She knew perfectly well what Xiao Sining was up to. She wanted to use her to clear her name and win the favor of the people.

However, she couldn't find a reason to refuse. After all, distributing porridge to relieve the people was a good thing, and by accompanying Xiao Sining, she could better observe her actions and see what she was really planning.

“Alright,” Murong Xuewei nodded, “I agree.”

A victorious smile spread across Xiao Sining's face. She knew that her plan was already halfway to success.

Looking at Xiao Sining's joyful expression, Murong Xuewei felt that something was wrong, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

After receiving Murong Xuewei's permission, Xiao Sining's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile, which quickly replaced with an expression of overwhelming gratitude. "Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress, I am deeply grateful." She bowed again and then slowly withdrew from the Phoenix Palace.

Watching Xiao Sining's departing figure, a cold glint flashed in Murong Xuewei's eyes. She didn't believe that Xiao Sining had truly reformed and sincerely wanted to atone for her sins. Her actions today must have another purpose.

Murong Xuewei rubbed her temples, a vague unease creeping into her heart. She had a feeling that something was about to happen, but she had no clue what it was.

“Liuli,” Murong Xuewei called Liuli over, “send people to investigate what Princess Anning has been doing lately and who she has been in contact with. Also, investigate her shops, lands, and fiefdoms carefully, and don’t overlook any clues.”

"Yes, Your Majesty." Liuli acknowledged the order and withdrew.

Murong Xuewei picked up the account book again, but couldn't concentrate on reading it. Xiao Sining's actions were making her feel uneasy.

Just then, Murong Yuxuan hurriedly entered Fengyi Palace.

"Xuewei, are you alright?" he asked with concern as soon as he entered the room, his tone tinged with worry.

Murong Xuewei looked up at her brother and forced a smile. "Brother, I'm fine. Why are you here?"

“I heard Xiao Sining came to see you,” Murong Yuxuan said, sitting down next to Murong Xuewei, his brows furrowed. “She didn’t give you any trouble, did she?”

Murong Xuewei shook her head. "No, she just came to apologize, saying that she would hand over all the taxes from her shops, land, and fiefdom to the imperial court, and that she would also go outside the city to distribute porridge and relieve the people."

Murong Yuxuan was even more puzzled upon hearing this. "Apologize? Offer porridge? What is she up to?"

Murong Xuewei sighed and said, "I don't know either. But she asked me to go with her to distribute porridge, saying that she was afraid the people wouldn't accept her good intentions."

Murong Yuxuan's face instantly turned grim. "You absolutely can't go. She might just be trying to trick you into going out to hurt you. Have you forgotten what she did before..."

Murong Xuewei interrupted Murong Qingyu. "I know, that's just her excuse. Distributing porridge to help the people is a good thing, and besides, I can use this opportunity to observe her actions and see what she really wants. If she has truly reformed, it will be good for all of us. If she really wants to harm me, given my current health, she doesn't need to..."

When Murong Xuewei was halfway through her sentence, she saw Murong Qingyu's expression and knew that she shouldn't say this, so she immediately changed the subject.

"Even if she has some ulterior motives, I still have Liuli and Lan'er to protect me, she can't hurt me."

Murong Yuxuan looked at his younger sister, his heart filled with worry. He knew Murong Xuewei's personality; once she made up her mind, nothing could change it.

"Sigh, I know that even if I forbid you from going, you'll still sneak off. Just be careful." Murong Qingyu sighed.

Murong Xuewei smiled slightly at him and said, "I know, brother. Don't worry, I'm fine."

Looking at his sister's smile, Murong Yuxuan felt even more heartache. He knew that his sister's strength was just a facade; deep down, she was actually very fragile.

He sighed softly and said, "Xuewei, no matter what happens, remember that your brother will always be your support."

Murong Xuewei's eyes welled up slightly. She nodded and said, "I know, brother."

The brother and sister exchanged a smile, everything understood without a word.