In her previous life, Shen Zhiwei was the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Loyalty and Valor, devoted to Emperor Xiao Jue.
She gave the whole marquis household to support him with everything they had. Her father guarded the capital’s outskirts, her elder brother defended the borders, and her whole family was loyal to the death, dedicating themselves to helping him secure his reign.
But Xiao Jue failed to see people for who they were. He believed the slander of a treacherous consort and her cronies, was blinded by false appearances, and ruthlessly issued an imperial decree ordering the entire Shen family executed.
Their once-deep love came to nothing. Shen Zhiwei was stripped of her position as empress, confined to the Cold Palace, and subjected to endless humiliation. In the end, she died a miserable death, consumed by hatred and despair.
Reborn with hatred in her heart, Shen Zhiwei returned to the time before the tragedy.
After a lifetime of betrayal, her heart was as cold as ice. She no longer yearned for the emperor’s love. In this life, she wanted only to protect her family and keep them safe, stay away from Xiao Jue, watch the conflicts in the imperial harem from a distance, and live in peace.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Jue came to learn the entire truth of his previous life.
When he realized he had trusted villains, betrayed the woman he loved, and slaughtered a loyal family with his own hands, overwhelming regret consumed him.
The mighty emperor cast aside all his dignity and pride. Filled with guilt, he followed her at every turn, doing everything he could to make amends.
He purged the treacherous villains from the imperial harem, cleared the Shen family’s name, and offered her all his devotion and tenderness, humbly begging her to forgive him.
As Xiao Jue came to his senses and filled with remorse, the hatred of the past slowly faded, and her frozen heart gradually began to thaw.
With the misunderstandings dispelled and old grudges laid to rest, the two finally reconciled and started anew.
In the end, Shen Zhiwei once again donned the phoenix crown and returned to her place as empress. With the emperor and empress united, they swept away the treacherous forces at court, safeguarded a prosperous realm, and spent the rest of their lives together.
