Rebirth of the Phoenix Queen

Beyond those gates lay the road to Tianlong, and at the end of that road, the man she would soon call her husband. Emperor Tian, a

, handmaidens, and ministers surrounded her, all speaking in hushed tones as they prepared for d

one respectful but laced with urgency. "The pre

e would stand within the walls of Shenzhou as its princess. When she returned,

ast rays. The people of Shenzhou had gathered outside the palace gates, their eyes filled with

This place, her home, had been her sanctuary for so long. Now, she was st

ourney

ts. Lin Yue sat in the ornate carriage, her gaze fixed on the passing landscape. The air was th

her spoke of the political advantages of the marriage, of the strength it would bring to Shenzhou, but none of

mfort in the midst of uncertainty. But even Mei's reassuring smile could not

in Yue asked quietly, her v

ised by the question. "Ab

to the world outside the carriage. "Th

, Your Highness. Stronger than anyone realizes. And whatever awaits you in Tianlon

were clouded with doubt. "Courage and

erous E

pe, the royal procession came to a sudden halt. The sound of shouts and clas

s she saw a group of masked figures descending from the fores

r Wei shouted, his sword drawn as he

en trained in the art of combat, a skill her father had insisted s

iage, her eyes scanning the chaotic scene. The guards were holding their own

dagger, her heart pounding in her chest. As the bandit lunged at her, she sidestepped his attack with practiced ease

intercepted him, cutting him down before he could reach her. Lin Yue's pulse ra

andits, seeing their numbers dwindle, fled into the for

ght before, but never in a situation like this, never with her life truly at

face pale but composed. "Yo

the adrenaline still coursed

r feet, his eyes narrowing. "They were

e between her and Emperor Tian was a significant political m

Wei said grimly. "The road to Tianlong is fraught wi

r Tian, she would need to be even more vigilant. Her enemies were not just the masked figures in t

ard. She would survive this journey, and when she reach

ht of Res

e sat by the fire, her mind racing with thoughts of the attack. Who

ckering shadows on her face. Mei sat

bition, his cunning, but what if there was more to him than that? What if

n that her life was not her own, but now, more than ever, she felt the full burden of her du

uld not le