The Princess Has Returned to the Palace

Rong Xi, the Empress's legitimate third princess, left the palace with the Empress Dowager at the age of five to pray at a temple. She was not brought back to the palace until ten years later.

By then, her full older brother had taken his own life in the Eastern Palace after being implicated in a rebellion, leaving behind a young son who could not speak.

The Noble Consort who had once vied with the Empress for favor had since become Empress herself, ruling over the imperial harem.

None of the princes and princesses in the palace thought much of the third princess. Surely she would keep her head down, behave herself, and remain in the cold palace until the time came to send her to the frontier as a political bride.

No one ever expected that the third princess, raised among mountain temples, would be so dignified and beautiful that none could compare.

She was also willful and domineering, showing off her brilliance and eclipsing everyone in the palace.

More infuriating still, her manner captivated the noble young gentlemen of the capital. Even the Prince of Pingyang, whose family had guarded the Great Qi dynasty for generations, fell under her spell.

Theme: Be your own princess