Shen Zhiyi was once the Empress of the Central Palace, but one fateful day she fell from grace, was deposed, and sent to the Cold Palace.
Three years in the freezing prison wore away her flesh and blood, leaving her covered in scars. Everyone waited for her to freeze or starve to death.
But raging flames could not consume her proud spirit, and desperation could not dull her edge.
She clawed her way back from hell, carrying a sea of blood debts in her hands, and plotted her way back to the center of power, killing at every step.
The consorts who once humiliated her, the emperor who framed her, and the clan that kicked her when she was down would all be brought to justice, one by one.
From the throne, she ruled from behind the imperial curtain.
The realm had wronged her to the very core, so she would take command of its vast lands.
The deposed empress did not die. She returned without a phoenix crown.
