Chapter Four:"Echoes Of Betrayal".

The morning sun cast a warm glow across the chambers, but to Yanli, it felt as though a shadow lingered over her. She was alive, reborn into a past she once thought lost, yet every corner of the palace now seemed tinged with the memories of betrayal. The warmth of the sunlight did little to thaw the cold fury brewing within her heart.

Yanli's gaze drifted to the delicate porcelain teacup on the table before her. Just moments ago, Xiaolan had placed it there, her hands steady, her demeanor soft and deferential. But Yanli now knew better than to be deceived by gentle gestures and downcast eyes. The recollections of her previous life had started to come in fragments—hazy at first, but growing sharper, more unforgiving. She remembered now that it was Xiaolan who had delivered the poison into her hands, disguised as a simple medicine to ease her "illness."

Yanli's fingers trembled slightly as she lifted the cup, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. Xiaolan, her quiet, demure maid, had been the instrument of her downfall, playing her part to perfection under Consort Mei's orders. And, at the heart of it all, was Prince Hanyu. The man she once thought she could rely on, the prince who had once promised her a future together—he had been the one to drive the dagger deepest into her heart.

Taking a deep breath, she placed the cup back on the table. Now was not the time to let emotions cloud her judgment. She had learned a hard lesson about trust and vulnerability. This time, she would not be so easily ensnared.

"Meiyu," Yanli called, her voice carrying a cool determination.

Meiyu appeared at her side, her movements as graceful as ever. She looked down at Yanli with concern, sensing the change in her mistress's demeanor since the morning.

"Yes, Milady?" she asked gently.

"Today, I would like to visit the family temple," Yanli said, her tone steady and unyielding. "There is much I need to reflect on." But in her mind, reflection was not all she intended. The temple was a sanctuary—one of the few places in the palace not clouded by treachery. She needed a moment away, somewhere to gather her thoughts and prepare her mind.

Meiyu nodded with a small smile, pleased by her mistress's apparent dedication. "Of course, Milady. I will prepare the necessary arrangements at once."

As Meiyu moved to gather Yanli's ceremonial robes, Yanli glanced over her shoulder, catching sight of Xiaolan hovering quietly in the background. The girl's gaze flicked up for a brief moment before quickly lowering, but that single glance was enough. Yanli felt a chill as she recalled how easily she had once dismissed that look as harmless.

This time, she would not dismiss it. Xiaolan's involvement in her demise was only one piece of the greater scheme. But there was no need to act rashly. For now, she would play her role as a dutiful daughter and noblewoman, her mask firmly in place, all the while observing those around her with careful scrutiny.

As she made her way toward the family temple, Yanli allowed herself to drift into memory, recalling the last moments of her past life in the palace. She had been so eager to please Prince Hanyu, so willing to trust Consort Mei's seemingly kind gestures. She had been blind, seeing only what she wanted to believe—that she could find happiness and security within these walls. But Prince Hanyu's love had been as shallow as a reflection on still water, a deception crafted to draw her into his web.

The words he had whispered to her in the garden, promises of a future together, had all been lies. And Consort Mei—her charming smiles, her reassuring hand on Yanli's shoulder—they had masked a cold, calculating mind that saw Yanli as nothing more than an obstacle. Together, they had orchestrated her family's ruin, and with it, her own death.

She clenched her fists, the embers of anger flaring into resolve. This time, she would not be a passive player in their games. She would use every tool at her disposal to turn their schemes back on them. And she would start by uncovering every detail of their betrayal, every accomplice who had played a part, no matter how small.

Yanli reached the temple steps, taking in the tranquility of the sacred space. The scent of incense filled the air as she entered, and she felt a quiet strength settle over her. She knelt before the altar, bowing her head, though her mind was anything but calm.

She offered a silent vow to her ancestors, her heart filled with iron determination. "I will honor this second chance, and I will bring justice to those who have wronged us. For my family, for Prince Zhen, and for the future I lost."

As the incense smoke rose, she felt a powerful calm wash over her, as though her ancestors themselves had heard her vow. Her fingers brushed the pendant around her neck, the only keepsake she had from her mother. She would carry this strength within her, like armor against those who sought her downfall.

Rising from her knees, Yanli's eyes hardened, a quiet fierceness in her gaze. This was only the beginning