The entire Chu family was slaughtered. The sole survivor, a young woman named Chu Sang, infiltrated the palace under the assumed name Qin Sang.
Using the medicinal cuisine skills passed down through her family, she became the empress's trusted confidante.
Every day, she secretly added an extra ingredient to the ginseng soup she prepared for the empress.
The empress grew ever more dependent on Qin Sang's soups and dishes, showering her with rewards.
When the Seventh Prince suddenly fell gravely ill, one dose of Qin Sang's medicinal soup brought him back from the brink of death.
The emperor recognized her talent, his gaze turning somber. “This woman is destined for greatness.”
The chief eunuch, Wang Shun, leaned in. “Your Majesty, Qin Sang has been in the palace for three years, yet we still know nothing of her origins.”
Amid the palace's undercurrents, the face of Qin Sang's enemy began to emerge.
But that man wielded power over all, and the empress was no more than a plaything in his palm.
Qin Sang had no choice but to risk everything.
When the phoenix returns to the parasol tree, flames consume the palace.
