Phoenix Cries Return to Court

Empress Dowager Lin Xihe of Great Sheng had ruled the court with an unflinching, iron fist, holding the empire's reins in her palm. Yet in the end, she met a sudden, unexplained death within the walls of Shou Kang Palace. Reborn, she awakened as Wen Zhiyi, the mistress of the Minister of War’s residence—only to find herself in a waking nightmare. Clad in her own funeral shroud and lying inside a coffin, she watched as a villainous servant approached with a cup of poisoned wine, intent on forcing her to a premature end. Outside, in the front courtyard, her "devoted husband" was busy celebrating a lavish wedding with another bride. Her first death concealed a harrowing conspiracy; her second life began with a mortal trap. But Lin Xihe swore an oath: since heaven had granted her another chance, she would shatter this corrupt game to pieces. She would uncover the true culprit behind her past life’s demise, expose the hypocritical scoundrel who wore a mask of virtue, and realize the ambitions she had left unfulfilled. From establishing academies and guiding the crown prince to pacifying the war-torn realm, she would seize fate by the throat and rewrite everything.