Rebirth of the Phoenix Princess novel Chapter 4

The fire raged on. The clamor outside grew louder and louder, but no one came to her rescue. Yun Shang chuckled to herself. Although she had expected this to happen, she still felt somewhat desperate.

Smoke leaked through the cracks of the door between the inner palace and the hall, bringing Yun Shang to coughs and tears. Suddenly, she heard a bang on the window. She turned her head and saw a man dressed like an Imperial bodyguard climbing through the window. The smoke blurred her sight and she could not see the bodyguard's face. But she was able to hear him, "Princess, my apologies..."-

Yun Shang felt her body being abruptly lifted. The man held her in his arms and got out of the room through the window.

Once safely outside, the bodyguard put Yun Shang back on the ground. She hadn't even settled on her feet when felt big strong hands grip her by the shoulder, "Shang'er, are you hurt?"

Yun Shang's heart twitched and her tears began rolling down, "Father..."

In her previous life, the Emperor had long lost faith in her because of her arrogance and imperiousness. They rarely saw each other after she turned ten. She had started the fire today for another purpose. She did not expect that the first person she would see after her narrow escape was the father who had previously been disappointed in her.

Yet through her hazy and foggy eyes, this man who ruled over the world did not seem so severe and cold as she once remembered. Perhaps it was because of the urgency? His hair was uncombed, his dragon robe had been hastily put on, and his eyes were filled with worry.

Yun Shang's tears fell again.

The Emperor saw Yun Shang's distress. He thought that she was injured in some way, so he held her up and asked, "Shang'er, where did you hurt yourself? Let father see..."

Yun Shang kept shaking her head, "I'm fine, I'm fine..."

The Emperor did not believe her. As he was just about to call for the Imperial physician, he heard a woman's voice, "What happened? How did the princess' palace catch fire all of a sudden?"

Yun Shang squinted her eyes and turned her head. She saw a glamorously dressed woman walking towards them with four palace maids following behind. Yun Shang glanced at them apathetically. One of the maids was a familiar face from Nichang Palace.

"Empress..." The Emperor saw the woman approaching, but he simply gave her an indifferent look before he let go of Yun Shang's hand. Yun Shang froze. A memory flashed by her so fast that she could not catch it. Afraid to persist on the thought, she curled her lips and cried to the Empress, "Mother, what took you so long? If it were not for father's guards who saved me, I would have been burned alive. The fire was so fierce, mother...

Hearing her, the Empress halted. She raised her head and saw the Emperor behind Yun Shang frowning. The Empress smiled and walked up to Yun Shang. She took the young princess' hand, and then said softly, "The other day, Shang'er injured herself in a fall. I have been praying for Shang'er in Qiwu Palace for the last two days. I was afraid of being disturbed, so I ordered that no one shall visit. That is why I was late. Shang'er must be in shock, aren't you? It is my fault..."

Yun Shang narrowed her eyes and lowered her head. Knowing what she knew of her past life, she could now see right through the Empress' feigned concern. She raised her head as she spoke, "I'm alright. Mother, please do not worry. You look so beautiful today, mother..." Your Ling Yun Braids have been done so beautifully. Bi Yun must have spent a lot of time on it. It suits mother so well..."