Phoenix Reborn: The Peerless Fourth Lady

A deep wintery night, in a frozen landscape.

As the cold winter wind passed through, the candle that was set on the table flickered before ultimately going out, as it was unable to defend against the strong winds.

"Your Highness, you should go rest." A girl in ragged garments came over to help up the woman sitting on the ground.

"No matter." A faint trace of melancholy shown through the woman's voice, as she didn't hold the girl's hand but merely said, "Yizhu, you go and rest, I want to sit here alone."

After hearing the woman's orders, Yizhu withdrew without turning her head.

As she watched Yizhu leave, her lips helplessly burst into a smile. Perhaps, today will be her death anniversary.

She, Qilian Qingyan, was the granddaughter of General Qilian Jingyu, who was a founder of this country.

At 13 years old, she married the Crown Prince as his wife, becoming the Princess Consort that everyone envied, with a lifetime of endless glory and wealth. After the Crown Prince succeeded the throne, she furthermore, became the Empress that was only second to the Emperor, ruling over the expansive six palaces, often covered in wealth.

She'd never thought that this would all end on something called the 'Prophecy Stone'. In the end, even she was charged with the crime of insurrection and sentenced to the Cold Palace*.

(*TN: Literal translation of it's name, it's the palace where wives that have lost favor with the Emperor are sent.)

The day and night change, an endless cycle.

Qingyan walked up to the window. The landscape outside the Cold Palace was beautifully adorned in silver by the snow, perhaps everything will come to an end today.

This snowfall was sure heavy, so heavy that it could cover up all the sins in this world.

And she too, was destined to fall during this snow.

She wasn't afraid of death. She just wished that her husband, on behalf on their past love, be kind to their son and daughter.

"Oh, isn't this elder sister, the Empress? How did you end up like this?" A sarcastic voice entered Qingyan's ears.

The woman was wearing a long dress with a Luanniao* facing the Phoenix embroidered on it in silver and gold threads. Her skin was as smooth as cream, and in her light smile and low tone was an indescribable kind of elegance.

(*TN: A mythical bird similar to the phoenix))

Before her was Qilian Qingyi, her younger sister, who once had always liked her husband. And now with that dream having come true, she became the current Emperor, Weisheng Junyan's, most precious treasure.

As for her, Qilian Qingyan, she was only an abandoned old shoe!

The vows 'a pair for life', made in the past, have ceased to exist.

"Elder sister, are you getting used to living in the Cold Palace?" Qingyi while looking at the expressionless Qingyan, mockingly opened her mouth, "You have to know, for you to have ended up like this, it was all masterminded by myself."

Upon hearing this, Qilian Qingyan stared at her with a face full of shock.

It was......actually her!

Seeing the change in Qingyan's expression, Qingyi, looking pleased, lifted the corner of her mouth: "The assassination of the Empress Dowager, the previous Emperor's death, even the prophecy stone, were all by my design. Just so I can steal everything away from you!"

After these incidences had occurred, she had thought of almost everyone, but of all people, overlooked her kind and understanding younger sister. She had always thought she'd treated her well, yet in the end, she was defeated at the hands of this woman.

How could she be content with this?

Thinking this, a shadow of resentment began to grow on her face.

"Elder sister, you really shouldn't blame me, if you want to blame, then blame that heartless father of yours. Always thinking of you, the eldest daughter, and neglecting all of us, the younger ones*." Qilian Qingyi gritted her teeth as she said this. She looked as if she wanted to slash Qingyan into a million pieces.

(*TN: 庶女[Shù nǚ]- This refers to all the daughters or children that were not firstborn or bore by the legal wife. In cases where polygamy is practiced, children of concubines were referred to this as well.)

"Qilian Qingyi, he's also your father too, you shouldn't be that cruel!" Qingyan angrily said this to Qingyi, "Even if you hate me, don't use father and the entire Qilian household to vent out your anger!"

Qingyi let out a laugh, "Qilian Qingyan, let me tell you right now that his Majesty has already sentenced the entire Qilian clan to death, and in the end I'm the last one standing."

The hatred in Qingyan's eyes was enough to engulf the person before her. She stood up and rushed before Qingyi yelling, "WHY? HOW COULD YOU FIND IT IN YOURSELF TO DO SUCH A THING? WHY?"

Hearing the commotion, Yizhu and other men dressed in black rushed in and proceeded to hold down Qingyan.

Partially looking at Yizhu, she opened her mouth: "I'd never thought that the one who'd betrayed me was you!"

Yizhu, not even giving her the time to breathe, directly kicked her before Qingyi, coldly replying: "Your Highness, the so called wise man submits to circumstances, I hope you do not blame this humble servant!"

"I just wanted to see you fall from grace. You also know that his Majesty is gullible, he'll believe whatever I say, so naturally the unlucky one is you." Seeing Qingyan kneeling before her, she laughed brilliantly.

As if recalling something, she turned to Yizhu beside her, "Say, how should we punish this 'Country Destroying*' demoness."

(*TN: The original idiom means something along the lines of 'to cause damage to the country and cause suffering to the people)

Hearing Qingyi's words she looked to Qingyan before taking a bow and replying, "I once heard that in the country of Xiyue, there's this extremely cruel punishment, where you turn the person into a human swine for others to toy with."

"What's a human swine*?" Qingyi looked to Qingyan, still smiling.

(*TN: There's actually an actual historical precedence of this.)

"Your Highness, it's said that the four limbs will be cut, eyes gouged, drowning the ears in water to cause deaf, cutting off the tongue to cause mute, and lastly put in a bottle for others to toy with." Yizhu, while looking at Qingyi, replied politely and respectfully, as if she had never served Qingyan before.

As she listened to Yizhu's voice, Qingyan suddenly burst into laughter: "Kindness and evil are compensated by heaven, karma exists. Qilian Qingyi, Yizhu, I will remember you! I, Qilian Qingyan, will wait to see your end!"

Hearing this, Qingyi looked to the men in black, and coldly said, "Hurry up and do it."

The men in black forcibly held down Qingyan's body and poured a bowl of medicine down her throat. She could only feel the painful burning sensation in her throat.

Seeing Qingyan's sorry state, Qingyi walked up and whispered in her ear, "Ah, I almost forgot to inform elder sister. Before I came here, his Majesty told me to tell you, that he will never meet you again in this life."

Never to meet again in this life!

Qingyan lowered her head, no longer looking at the face of the person before her. In the palace, she had consolidated her every step, believing that if she could obtain his heart she could obtain the world, but ultimately still lost. Lost to the point where her whole clan has fallen, and ended up with the title of a 'Country Destroying' demoness.

"Your Highness, do we need to turn the abolished Empress into a human swine for other's amusement?" Yizhu carefully said as she watched.

Looking at Qingyan's half dead state, Qingyi lifted the corners of her lips: "Naturally there's the need to, just imagine if her children were see their mother fallen to such a state, what would they think?"

Listening to Qingyi's words, she lifted her head to look towards Qingyi, her eyes were calm without a trace of disturbance. But in the next second, she suddenly stood, knocking over the candleholder, and with the power of the wind, the fire grew. She looked to Qilian Qingyi laughing: "Even if you kill me, you will still never obtain his Majesty's heart."

Seeing Qingyan's appearance, Qingyi wanted to give her a kick, however the fire was too big and unable to be controlled, so instead Qingyi was hurriedly dragged away by the guards.

Qingyan sat amidst the fire, whistling the tune of [Thousand Beasts and Phoenix], and for a moment the entire imperial palace was covered by black clouds at first glance, but it was actually an enormous murder of crows.

She will remember these people, and all those that lead her to ruins. If she had another chance at life, then she will definitely let them suffer, fall into hell, and sentenced to eternal damnation!

In the historical records of Nanchen*: Kangyuan* year 30, the abolished Empress, Qilian Qingyan, died at the tender age of 25.

(*TN: 南辰[nánchén] - Name of the country; 康元[Kāngyuán] - A historical date marker similar to BC)

The cold endlessly spread through out her body.....

As if seeing her son, her daughter already suffering the same kind of pain, she struggled with all her might, yet she found that she couldn't do anything. She couldn't let Qilian Qingyi that evil wench harm her children....

Minning, Minjing, please forgive your mother for not being able to protect you forever.....

"Young miss....young miss..."

She heard a pleading call nearby, it seems as if it's been many years since she'd been called in such a manner. How long was it ago? A year, two years, or even longer?

She married Weisheng Junyan at 13, and by 15 she'd became the Empress, ruling over the expansive six palaces. Since then, she has yet to be called in such an intimate manner.

"Zizhu, could it be that young miss had another bad dream." Another silvery voice rang, clearly hearing the worry and concern showing through the tone.

Who is Zizhu? She never had a servant by her side go by that name. The servants she had by her side were all once handpicked by her mother for her. Until her last moments, she'd never thought that Yizhu would betray her, even going as far as to suggest turning her into a human swine for other's to toy with.

The throbbing sensation from her arm made Qingyan suddenly open her eyes. She stared at the white bed curtains hanging before her eyes as a faint scent of plum blossoms invaded her nose. Before she could even open her mouth, she heard a voice, "Young miss, what's wrong?"

Qingyan lifted her head to look towards the young girl wearing a light blue dress, her hair was done in a double bun, common for servant girls. That worrying appearance of hers was quite heartwarming.

She didn't reply to the servant girl, but rather looked at her hands. For many years she'd helped Weisheng Junyan read through court documents. She had also once practiced martial arts for many years, causing her hands become rough. This pair of tender and delicate hands were not her's. Staring at her hands she suddenly called out, "Bring me a mirror."

While looking at Qingyan, the young girl next to her that was wearing an aqua colored dress, quickly handed a bronze mirror to her. She looked up to the maiden reflected in the mirror, a pair of peach blossom shaped eyes, two brows hanging like willow leaves, face colored like peach blossoms, skin smooth like cream, and a red dot* on her forehead between her brows. If you take away that faint trace of paleness, she could be considered a first class beauty.

(*TN: Similar to a bindi, it's a type of beauty mark, usually applied through cosmetics)

'Bam'

The bronze mirror in Qingyan's hand shattered in response, this was simply not her body. In other words she was reborn in another's body, this was what the ancient text referred to as 'reincarnating into someone else's body'*.

(*TN: More literal translation of this idiom would be borrowing a corpse to call back the soul)

"Young miss." Seeing Qingyan's state, Zizhu softly called to her.

Qingyan looked to the shattered mirror on the ground and looked to Zizhu replying, "My hand slipped for a moment."

"Young miss, that wasn't what I meant." Zizhu instantly kneeled as she looked at Qingyan, "I hope young miss won't blame me."

Zizhu's submissive manner seemed as if she'd firmly believed that Qingyan would explode in anger the next second.

Zizhu was the eldest of the four servant girls, she clearly knew in her heart that Qingyan's innate nature wasn't bad, but due to being on the receiving end of the Second Madam* provocation, did she become that arrogant and rude, considering everyone beneath her.

(*TN: The second ranking wife of a household for example like her father's younger brother's lawful wife; wives are usually ranked by their husband's seniority)

Seeing Zizhu kneeling, the other three servants in the room also kneeled.

"I hope young miss will forgive us."

Looking at the four servant girls kneeling on the floor, Qingyan seemingly understood something, she had always treated her own servants generously, even now it was still the same, "I didn't have the intention of blaming anyone, there's no need for this."

Listening to Qingyan's words, the four of them looked to each other in dismay, but no one dared to get up first.

They clearly knew in their hearts, that just yesterday, because of third young miss from the second house, their young miss unfortunately fell into the water. But today, why does it seem as if she let the thing go easily?

"All of you get up, I don't intend on blaming anyone" Qingyan said while smiling at them.

She glanced outside the window. "Although it's early spring, it's still a bit cold, it's best to watch yourselves, careful not to get sick."

Listening to Qingyan's heartfelt words, the four of them all stood. Zizhu walked up next to Qingyan and said, "Young miss, previously you were carelessly pushed by the third young miss into the water, and yet now you wake as if you'd become another person."

Zizhu's words gave Qingyan a twinkle in her eyes as she thought up a plan: "Is that so, I assume I'd probably hit my head on the rocks at the bottom of the lake when I fell in, I actually can't remember that clearly, can you give me the details?"

Zizhu didn't have the slightest hesitation when she looked to Qingyan, and told her everything.

The name of this body was Su Qingyan, she was the daughter of Su Yun, Donghe's Dingguo Duke*, and because her parents were stationed in Qinzhou year round, she was raised by her grandmother's side.

(*TN: 定国公[dìng guó gōng] - According to my research his title would be the highest ranking of the Dukes and third rank in nobility, assuming those higher ranking than him are royalty)

However the second house's head wife, Ning Siyao, decided on her own accord to bring Su Qingyan over to her side to be raised with her daughter Su Qingyuan. But who knew that after being influenced by Ning Siyao's poison she grew up to be arrogant and rude, with a condescending attitude.

The four top ranked* servants by her side, Zizhu, Baizhi, Huangcen, and Lue, all have suffered from the abuse. But the four of them still sincerely stayed by Su Qingyan's side.

(*TN: The servants have hierarchy too)

And most importantly it was currently Hongjia* year 55. When she was still the Empress, she'd once heard Weisheng Junyan mention Donghe's ruler, Xuanyuan Hong. Counting from the date of her death, it's been more than five years since that incident.

(*TN: Another date marker)

Thinking of this, the corner of Su Qingyan's lips curled into a smile:

Weisheng Junyan, Qilian Qingyi, I've returned.

The pain I've suffered till now, will be returned tenfold from this moment on!

When Qingyan was lost in thought, she heard Baizhi call for her, "Young miss, first young miss came, your body still hasn't fully recovered, she's probably up to no good to have come to visit at this time."

Yet before Qingyan could open her mouth, a playful voice entered into Qingyan's ears, "Fourth sister, do you feel a bit better, please don't blame third sister, she didn't mean to."

The woman before her wore a moon white pleated dress decorated with misty green grass and scattered flowers, on her head she adorned a lifelike butterfly ornament made from jade. Her smiling face made the pale faced Qingyan looked somewhat inferior.

Looking at the woman before her, Qingyan dully replied, "Elder sister is right, it's merely just a prank among sisters, I've yet to hold grudges, thank you for your concern."

Qingyan's words gave Su Qingyuan's faces a momentary flash of astonishment. Clenching her fist, she begrudgingly continued, "Fourth sister's right, third sister acted unintentionally, but if uncle* found out, he would most likely blame my mother."

(*TN: Referring to Qingyan's father, who's the elder brother of Qingyuan's father)

Having lived 10 years in the inner palace, Qingyan immediately could tell what Su Qingyuan's intention was, but she wasn't just gonna let her succeed so easily. She curled her lips, "What is big sister saying, this was just fun and games among children, I won't tell my father and mother."

In Su Qingyuan's impression, usually whatever she said was how it would go down. But why in this scene today, was she unable to grasp what's going on? Could it be that Su Qingyan's brain got smarter after falling into the water?

But wouldn't that just be utter nonsense?

"Since fourth sister's body has yet to fully recover, please rest well."

"Lue, my body isn't well, please send off big sister for me." After hearing Qingyuan's words, Qingyan gave orders to expel the guests.

Since Su Qingyuan is unwilling to stay longer, then she certainly wouldn't have the reason to be so kind as to beg for Su Qingyuan to stay.

As Su Qingyuan was leaving she turned to look at Su Qingyan again, but unexpectedly met with that pair of void like eyes. Those deep serene eyes seemed as if it would see through her all.

After calming down, she quickly left.

"Young miss, I'd never expected that after falling into the water, you'd changed this much."

Zizhu was Qingyan's personal maid, she was too familiar with Qingyan's personality. If it was according to her personality in the past, she would have already taken a sword to go fight Su Qingting, but now she was able to send off Su Qingyuan with just a few words.

"How could I just sit and watch someone take advantage of someone else's disputes." Qingyan twisted the bracelet on her wrist as she dimly said this.

If it was Qingyan of the past she'd probably immediately take her sword to go pick a fight, but 'she' wouldn't, she had ruled over the six palaces for more than 10 years, she could clearly see through all the schemes of the inner palace. She wouldn't lose her cool over a few words like this.

"Young miss is right, the first young miss is up to no good. We don't even know if the third young miss was deliberately put there by her." Baizhi angrily said this while looking at the door, that grudging look reminded Qingyan of Yimei, who used to serve her.

Baizhi's words made Qingyan smile lightly, that smiling appearance momentarily entranced them.

Qingyan normally never showed her smile to them, yet now because of Baizhi's joke, she was openly smiling.

Seeing the change on the four girls' faces, she lightly caressed her cheeks with one hand smiling softly, "Don't tell me there's something on my face, that made you this entranced."

Zizhu was the first to respond, "Young miss just smiled at us, usually young miss always look so unhappy, we'd never seen you smile before."

As she listened to Zizhu, Qingyan for a moment lost herself in thought, she too did once have four maids that she was close to like family, but in the end, other than Yizhu, they were all beheaded.

As she looked at the four maids before her, she only felt a depressing feeling lodged in her chest. Zizhu was the first to detect that there was something wrong with Qingyan. Turning to Lue, she said, "Lue, quick, come see what's wrong with young miss."

Zizhu's words immediately helped Qingyan calm down as she waved her hands at Zizhu, "No matter, you don't need to worry." Closing her eyes, she fought to not let her tears fall.

It seems that even if you've tasted all the pain and suffering in the world, you would still sincerely feel the warmth from this kind of caring heart.

She tightly gripped her fist. When she opened her eyes again, they were tainted with a bit of determination; those void like eyes carried a bit of ruthlessness.

Since she could start over, then she shall cut down everything in her path whether it be buddha or a god*, no one will be able to stand in her way.

(*TN: The original was too awkward to fit in but it was something along the lines of 'encounter buddha kill buddha, encounter a god slay a god')

She wanted those people to pay her back in twofold for everything she has suffered.

Huangcen looked into Qingyan's bottomless eyes and said, "Young miss's personality is truly unlike before."

"Right, this way the people of the second house, and third house won't even dare to easily bully young miss." Following along Huangcen's words, Lue said this smiling.

"They all take advantage of the fact that the master and madam are never home all year round to bully young miss. And now, on the contrary, young miss won't be at a disadvantage." Baizhi also smiling as she looked to Qingyan.

Sensing a movement in the yard, the corners of her lips brimmed into an arc. This mansion was extremely similar to when she was still at the General's Residence, but this time she was not going to let anyone lead her by the nose.

She looked towards them, blandly saying, "Zizhu, say if there's some unsavory people in my yard, how should it be taken care of?"

"How does young miss wish to deal with them?" Zizhu following the flow of Qingyan's words asked.

"How about turning them into human swines?"

Lue, hearing Qingyan's words, opened her mouth in surprise, "Young miss, what is a human swine?"

Qingyan looked at them and replied without flinching, "Human swine ah....it's..."

"Young miss, don't say anymore, what happens if we get attacked by evil spirits at night?" Huangcen earnestly said this while stamping her feet as she looked to Qingyan, that appearance looked as if an evil spirit would really come out.

"If there are really evil spirits, then I shall kill any one I encounter, I'll definitely be able to protect you all, no need to worry." Qingyan took the water cup handed to her from Zizhu as she replied smiling.

Just as Qingyan finished her words, Baizhi added a few "pei pei pei*" before continuing, "Young miss don't say such nonsense, for we, humble servants, to be able to accompany young miss is our blessing."

(*TN: it's like spitting in contempt, said in hopes that what was said before doesn't come to pass; to counter a jinx in a way)

It's at that time that Qingyan's stomach sounded. Hearing the sound coming from her stomach, she looked to them saying, "Let's eat, my stomach is already calling out."

"Alright." After receiving the orders, Huangcen ran out at sonic speed.

After the meal was over, she took Zizhu and Baizhi with her to the gardens. This was a habit she developed when she was Empress, she needed to help digest after eating.

Just as they arrived at the gardens, they heard a familiar voice.

"I don't know why but when I went to provoke fourth sister to fight third sister, I couldn't believe I didn't succeed." Su Qingyuan looked to the girl next to her vexed, "Xiahe, what do you say we do?"

"Then Young miss should just think of another good plan! How could there be drastic changes in a person's temperament from just falling in the water, the fourth young miss definitely won't be able to resist the temptation still." A servant girl named Xiahe respectfully replied as she looked to Su Qingyuan.

Hearing Xiahe's reply, Baizhi really wanted to charge out, but was suddenly held back by Qingyan. When Baizhi turned back she was unexpectedly met with Qingyan's deep serene eyes. She didn't know why she could only feel a chill throughout her body as she halted in her tracks.

Qingyan mischievously winked at Baizhi as she picked up a small stone from off the ground, and with a gentle flick from her finger, the stone landed by Su Qingyuan's foot. And when Qingyuan stepped on it, her body's inertia shifted forward as she hurriedly tried to grab onto the the nearby Xiahe. However who would've guess that with a single mishap from Xiahe, Su Qingyuan fell into the pond.

"Oh my, I'd never expected to see such a scene upon arriving in the gardens, big sister, how'd you fall into the water?" Qingyan looked to the fallen Su Qingyuan as she said this while laughing.

"Fourth young miss, my lady doesn't know how to swim, so I beg fourth young miss to save my lady." Xiahe kneeled at once as she looked to Qingyan begging for help, "Please fourth young miss." saying this as she heavily bowed her head to the ground.

After all, once Su Qingyuan gets saved from drowning, she would definitely blame Xiahe for 'not thoroughly protecting her master', and these matters had nothing to do with her.

Listening to Xiahe, Qingyan curled her lips, "Xiahe ah! I don't know how to swim either." She even, for appearance sake, glanced at the two behind her grinning, "Zizhu, Baizhi, do you know how to swim?"

When they saw Su Qingyuan fall into the water, they only felt a great satisfaction in their hearts, and now hearing Qingyan's voice, they naturally replied, "Young miss, this humble servant has never learned to."

Qingyan clapped her hands together as she looked to Xiahe, kindly reminding, "Oh my, Xiahe, you see, neither they nor I know how to swim, so you should as quickly as possible call someone over to save big sister, else if you're too late, I'm afraid big sister will probably lose her life.