The Phoenix Returns to Court

A free story. The author is using it to practice writing long-form fiction.

Emperor Zhongli Yue, posthumously known as Emperor Zhaowu, was born a beggar. He joined the army at fifteen, became the adopted son of Dingbei Grand General Zhongli Xiao at eighteen, inherited the title of Marquis of Dingbei and became Dingbei Grand General at twenty, married at twenty-one, and reclaimed the northwest at twenty-two.

When the Hu tribes ravaged the realm, he led his army to retake the capital. At twenty-four, he ascended the throne as the new emperor, curbed the power of aristocratic families, expanded the empire, and kept foreign tribes in check.

As the founding emperor of Great Zhao, Zhongli Yue went down in history for his military victories and empire-building. His posthumous title was Zhaowu.

The only thing later generations criticized him for was that his marriage to a daughter of the Qin family was in name only. After ascending the throne, he had the Qin family, the foremost of the aristocratic clans, eradicated, and ordered Qin put to death. From then on, he never approached another woman. His harem remained empty, and he left no heirs.

Some said he had actually fallen deeply in love with Chaoyun, the eldest daughter of the Qin family, and had been forced to order his wife’s death for the sake of his ambitions.

Only Zhongli Yue knew that he had spent his whole life searching for someone.

In her previous life, Qin Zhaozhao had only two fleeting impressions of Zhongli Yue, the founding emperor who should have been her husband but ended up becoming her brother-in-law.

But after being reborn, she wanted to become empress.

Please note:

1. The male and female leads are both faithful to each other in their past and present lives.

2. The second male lead, Fang Qingyan, will never be redeemed. He is absolute trash.

3. In her past life, the heroine was constantly emotionally manipulated and has developed a distorted perception of her own appearance, to the point that she can barely tell beauty from ugliness. She is clever, but initially a lovable girl who knows little of the ways of the world. She will gradually grow.

4. A story of healing and growth, with both leads saving each other. In their past life, they missed their chance and were left with regrets; in this life, they make up for it and find happiness.

Theme: History is shaped by human hands.