On the eve of the imperial selection, Zhen Huan opens her eyes and finds herself back at seventeen. Her memories stop at the moment poison is forced down her throat and Yunli collapses. She swears she will never enter the palace again!
A secret edict comes crashing down: she is still “born to be empress.” If she refuses to enter the palace, all nine branches of the Zhen clan will be buried with her!
On the day she rides in her sedan chair, she runs into Consort Hua in a blazing-red phoenix robe on the Imperial Avenue. When enemies meet, they share the same smile: the emperor wants to sit back and watch the tigers fight again? Then let’s see whether the tiger devours the dragon, or the phoenix slays it!
The palace’s deadly battlefield heats up ahead of schedule
Zhen Huan saves Consort Qi first, then takes Wenyi; she uses Consort Duan as a weapon, sends Sister Mei out of the palace, and slips Chun’er into the emperor’s bed as a spy. Consort Hua’s jeweled nail guards tremble as she raises a hand and slaps the Empress. Gold, silver, and medicinal herbs flow from her private storehouse into Broken Jade Pavilion. “Ally, we’re missing your cup of tea for tonight’s dragon-slaying plot.”
At court, the reborn, unhinged Yunli returns with a blade in hand and bathes Tongtuo Street in blood alongside Nian Gengyao. With the words “purge the emperor’s corrupt advisers,” he smashes the steps leading to the Dragon Throne. In the harem, the two regicides stand side by side, their red sleeves fluttering before the imperial bed as daggers and poisoned wine gleam coldly.
After a lifetime of watching the show, the emperor is finally devoured by it. “Your Majesty, in this game of chess, Consort Hua and I are the ones moving the pieces. We won’t stop until one of us is dead.”
The phoenix robes burn away, and dragon’s blood stains the steps. If the realm is destined to run with blood, then let the emperor’s blood pave the way for these sisters!
They don’t want favor. They want to hear the Dragon Throne crash to the ground!
Written. . . . . Mess
What a mess. . . .