kotchanipa

Amid the softly falling snow in the Cold Palace courtyard, Princess Xianlan drew her final breath silently.

She had been falsely accused of poisoning the Crown Prince, brutally flogged until her body was torn, and imprisoned without a shred of mercy all part of a cruel scheme orchestrated by Noble Consort Su Zhen, her stepmother, whose gentle appearance masked a heart of poison.

Meanwhile, the Emperor of Li the very man who claimed to love her above all never realized that the only daughter he cherished had been crushed to death by the hands of the one he trusted most.

But the heavens showed mercy.

Xianlan opened her eyes once more, reborn into her eight-year-old self in the time before everything shattered.

This time… she would not be a worthless pawn in a game of power.
She would become the master strategist, toppling each of her enemies one by one.

With icy composure and razor-sharp wit, Xianlan hid in the shadows, slowly gathering evidence, allies, and influence within the palace.
And fate brought her an unexpected ally

Feng Yuhan, Crown Prince of the Southern Yan Kingdom, known as the “Winter Tiger.”
Cold, brilliant, and seemingly heartless yet from their first meeting, something in her eyes held his gaze.

Together, they moved in the darkness.
Xianlan laid the plans. Feng Yuhan executed them.

As the Kingdom of Li fell into the depths of political games
As vipers hissed behind silken smiles in the inner palace
As even a father’s love could be twisted by deceit

⸻

When the phoenix returns to her nest she will never again let anyone trample her.
The will of the heavens may be written in ink…
But Xianlan will rewrite fate in the blood of her enemies.

Rebirth of the Phoenix Empress

The imperial palace in spring appeared more peaceful than usual—

But beneath the surface, it was the season of schemes, where tigers and serpents laid their traps.

Bai Yue Ning smiled politely during the inner court meeting

before proposing to organize a "Virtuous Women of Gratitude" ceremony within the palace.

Behind this gracious title—lay a social snare.

She had arranged invitations for the noble ladies from prominent families,

and sent a special summon to Princess Xianlan herself, with a clear intent:

If Xianlan refused—she would be seen as one who disrespects "filial piety."

If she accepted—she would walk straight into the fire of the patriarchal clans,

who still believed that a concubine's daughter should never dare stand equal to the matriarchs.

On the day of the ceremony, the grand hall was adorned in crimson silk and golden drapes.

Court officials, servants, and noblewomen from across the realm gathered in droves.

Amid the whispers and murmurs, a voice intentionally rose:

"Princess Xianlan… looks rather well, doesn't she? Even after her treasury scandal."

Another followed softly—yet just loud enough to pierce the air:

"No matter how lowly a concubine's child may be, she still dares to show her face at an event honoring noble women."

Xianlan walked forward with steady grace, dressed in flowing violet embroidered with orchid blossoms.

Sunlight filtered through the drapes, casting a delicate glow on her figure.

She spoke not a word—only walked to the center of the hall under every watching eye.

"I believe… we should honor women who have carried the duty of motherhood with the most grace."

She lifted her gaze to meet the Empress Dowager Yunchingyan, seated high above,

then continued, calm but resolute:

"With Your Majesty's permission, I would like to speak of my late mother—Concubine Yu Fei."

Several maids turned pale—one nearly dropped her tray.

Because "Concubine Yu Fei" was a name long forbidden in the palace.

To utter it aloud… was an act of immense risk.

Yet Xianlan remained composed and spoke on:

"She never held a grand title, nor was she allowed at the royal council tables.

But she raised her child with hands calloused from labor,

and taught me that honor does not lie in rank, but in the integrity of one's heart."

And when she said "Yu Fei" once more,

the Empress Dowager did not interrupt—but instead slowly nodded,

Her carefully laid trap had backfired—

Instead of humiliation, it had handed Xianlan the perfect stage to restore her mother's dignity,

and to earn admiration from the very noblewomen who once looked down on her.

After the ceremony, Xianlan departed the hall with grace,

but her eyes were sharp—calculating.

What Bai Yue Ning sought was not mere fame,

but an opening—to forge new alliances in the inner palace.

And she… had just closed that opening with bare hands.

Elsewhere, in the envoy's residence,

Jiang Xinluo read the shadow report in silence,

"She spoke her mother's name… before the entire palace,"

she murmured, then let out a long sigh.

"Truly fearless… Princess Xianlan."

✨ Thank you for reading this chapter of Rebirth of the Phoenix Empress!If you're enjoying Xianlan's journey, please add this story to your Library, leave a comment, or tap a heart 💖 — your support truly fuels the fire!

The Wheel of Intrigue