The Black Phoenix Queen

She is a goddess descended from heaven, the eldest princess of the Shen Kingdom, yet someone stole her divine fortune and abandoned her in the Sacred River. They say she won’t live to see her coming-of-age ceremony. She declares, “My fate is mine to command, not heaven’s. Give back the fortune you stole from me, and repay the life you took.” She has been a bandit and an empress, and in the end she ascends to the phoenix throne. He says, “In my heart, you are more important than the Buddha. All the gods in heaven are nothing compared to you.” She says, “Do not blaspheme the Buddha.” He adds, “Don’t keep a beauty hidden away in a golden house. If you do, I’ll kill anyone who comes looking for you.” She smiles. “I don’t want to hide a beauty away. I only want to hide you.”