The Phoenix's Blood Weeps

I loved him, and I'm certain he loved me too. When he first saw me, I was still naive, but I could read his gaze: it held tenderness like flowing water and desire like blazing fire. His eyes were no different from the Prince of Gong's when he looked at me. Alas, fate brought us together, but we were never meant to be. If I had accepted the Prince of Gong without hesitation back then, could I have remained a happy young bride forever? Instead, though I now sit upon the empress's throne, I waste my radiant youth in cold palace chambers, burdened by some kind of conspiracy and forced to endure my husband spending night after night in revelry with my younger sister, while I struggle with emotions twisted beyond recognition.

This novel and its characters are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to actual people or events is purely coincidental. Do not imitate.