Rebirth of the Phoenix Princess novel Chapter 2

The two figures walking the gardens at Ning's Royal Palace sweltered in the morning sun. It was one of the hottest days of that summer. They stopped under an eave for respite.

The maid in a simple black dress frowned in worry and said, "What's happening to the Princess? She has been quite shaken ever since she woke up. She barely talks and always sits in front of her mirror, staring blankly. She's been having nightmares almost every night. Is she still afraid after her accident?"

The eunuch looked around carefully and leaned forward to whisper in the maid's ear, "Lian Xin, I'd say the Princess is bewitched. I've seen something like this before I came to the Royal Palace. It was my sister's child. He found himself drawn to the river. After they pulled him out of the water, he started behaving strangely. They sent for a Taoist priest. He said something filthy was following my nephew. So the Taoist priest performed an exorcism to ward off the evil. My nephew recovered shortly after. Now what do you think... Should we send for a Taoist priest?"

Lian Xin frowned, "Really? Her Majesty took the blame for what happened to the Princess. She asked His Majesty for punishment and was in turn, grounded in the Qifeng Palace for three whole days. If what you say is true, the exorcism will be of great importance. Let's report to Her Majesty and ask for permission."

The eunuch grunted his approval. He paused for a second before continuing, "Her Majesty has taken great care of the Princess. Her Majesty is not the Princess' mother, and yet she has been quite benevolent. The Princess was being naughty and got injured as a result. Despite that, Her Majesty took the blame. Her Majesty is such a virtuous woman.

The eunuch and Lian Xin were still discussing these events when they felt someone approach. They turned around and saw a little girl in pink, walking the gardens barefoot.

Princess Yun Shang.

The eunuch hurried to greet the little girl, "Your Highness."

Yun Shang simply nodded and glanced at the other eunuchs in the yard casually. Then she turned and headed back to the palace. She had heard every word spoken by the two people. Virtuous? Yun Shang's lips curled into a sneer. The grim smile was not befitting her pretty and innocent face.

Yun Shang sat in front of the mirror once again. She studied her reflection. The delicate face of a young girl about eight or nine years old looked back at her.

Yun Shang raised her hand and gently touched her right cheek. She remembered the deep gash her favorite sister, Princess Hua Jing, had made. She was the Empress's daughter, who was famous for both, her beauty and talents.

Hua Jing had married a General. Unfortunately, he died in the war. Out of pity for her sister, Yun Shang brought Hua Jing to her house for company. Never once had Yun Shang thought that Hua Jing would have an affair with her husband. She remembered how her beloved sister and husband had tied her to the chair and forced her to witness their lovemaking.

And her husband, the man Yun Shang had loved and trusted with all her life, had thrown their child out of the window in her presence.

The little child. Her only darling child... Thinking of the innocent child, Yun Shang felt her heart being torn apart again.

Despite how her sister and husband had treated her cruelly and unjustly, the most challenging part was accepting that the Empress, the woman whom Yun Shang had always respected and considered as her mother, had deceived her as well.

Yun Shang closed her eyes as the painful memories overwhelmed her and tried to collect herself. She knew she had to hide all her feelings.

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop thinking of how she swore vengeance as the life left her body on that cold and rainy night. Poisoned by her mother, hurt by her sister, betrayed by her husband and servants. It had all been overwhelming for Yun Shang. And yet, she had never imagined that she would return as her younger self to exact her revenge. Everything seemed so unreal that she believed it to be a dream. Ever since the moment she opened her eyes, she had done nothing but wait for death to wake her from this dream. However, as time went by, Yun Shang couldn't help noticing that everything she was experiencing was the same as when she was a child.