C1 Breaking the East Wind

In the desolate night, a fierce fire consumed the entire palace. The overgrown weeds of the abandoned section quickly succumbed to the flames, yet no one came to extinguish the blaze. Amidst the flickering light, a shadow could be seen pacing back and forth within the hall.

"Yue Jingfeng! I'll be watching you! My hatred for you will never fade, no matter where I am. Neither you nor Feng Chang'an will find peace!" Her face was filled with sorrow, tears mingling with the remnants of her shattered dreams. Suddenly, a burning beam broke and fell towards her. She was terrified, and her head was struck heavily.

Feng Changge fell hard onto the stone floor, her once-blue dress now charred and blackened by the embers. Unconscious on the ground, her brows furrowed, she murmured the names of those she hated—Yue Jingfeng and Feng Chang'an.

Her miserable fate in the latter half of her life was thanks to these two. Her own child had been executed, and her brother, who stood up for her, was beaten to death right there in the court. The fire in the abandoned palace seemed to burn with her hatred, lighting up the night sky. Stars scattered across the heavens, and though the sun had yet to rise, the flames illuminated half the palace.

In the farthest corner of the palace, a woman dressed in fine clothes gazed quietly at the raging fire in the distance, a cruel smile playing on her lips. "Finally gone. No one will challenge me here anymore."

As the wind carried away the remnants of the past, a red flower struggled and withered in the flames. The stars realigned, and from the ashes, something new emerged.

True to the promise made that day, as long as Feng Changge exists, neither Yue Jingfeng nor Feng Chang'an will ever find peace.

"Ah!"

Feng Changge jolted awake in bed, drenched in cold sweat from a nightmare. In her dream, her son was covered in blood, and she was burned alive in a desolate palace. She exhaled deeply, clutching the sheets tightly in fear.

After a while, she calmed down and noticed the pattern on the bedding. Was it a gesture from the palace staff, knowing winter was approaching? Ever since Yue Jingfeng had deposed her, the palace's power dynamics shifted, with everyone watching Feng Chang'an's reactions. Feng Changge's days grew increasingly difficult.

People often say that beauty doesn't last forever, but Feng Changge realized she had never truly been favored in Yue Jingfeng's eyes. The one who shone the brightest was Feng Chang'an.

Her throat felt tight as she got out of bed to pour some water. As her delicate hand grasped the bed curtain, she froze. She had personally chosen this curtain, in her favorite color, for her own chamber in the Phoenix Duke Mansion.

Suddenly, she pulled the entire curtain aside, revealing a scene once so familiar. She slowly rose, stepping off the bed, seemingly oblivious to the cold December stone floor—or perhaps it was the biting chill that reminded her she was still alive.

Trembling, Feng Changge picked up a teacup from the rosewood table, but suddenly, her body gave way. She collapsed to the floor, leaning weakly against the table, unable to utter a word as tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.

Hearing the commotion, the maid waiting outside rushed in.

"Miss! Miss! Why are you sitting on the floor? It's cold; you might catch a chill!" Biying hurriedly helped Feng Changge up, but she remained despondent, sitting on the ground.

“It's true... everything is true...” Feng Changge stared blankly at the intricately carved wooden window shutters, the light streaming in feeling like it was from another lifetime. Memories from her past life flashed vividly in her mind.

Her brother, Feng Changtian, had been beaten to death on Yue Jingfeng's orders while pleading for her. Her own child, Qing, was executed by Feng Chang'an before even reaching a month old. And she herself had died in that great fire, the one that sealed her fate in the cycle of reincarnation.

“Ha ha ha...” Feng Changge's laughter rang out again, causing Biying, who stood nearby, to worry. She quickly asked, “Miss, are you feeling unwell?”

Hearing the gentle call, Feng Changge turned sharply to look at Biying. It was her, Biying. Through all the hardships in the palace, Biying had never left her side. Even when Feng Chang'an framed her and she was banished to the cold palace, they tried to take away her only confidante. The palace kitchen and the internal affairs office were full of sycophants, mistreating her meals and withholding her allowances.

In the cold palace, Feng Changge barely survived. One day, Biying secretly brought her lunch, but that night, Feng Chang'an had her beaten to death. Feng Changge learned of this half a month later from a young maid, who soon disappeared as well.

Everyone around her vanished like clouds in the wind, leaving nothing behind. Feng Chang'an's ruthless tactics were meant to drain Feng Changge of her life. But trapped in the cold palace, Feng Changge cared little for her broken body, merely enduring day by day.