The faint scent of plum blossoms drifted on the icy breeze.
Wind chimes clinked softly—like the melody of fate itself.
Xianlan jolted awake, her body drenched in sweat, hands trembling.
The first thing she felt… was the warmth of a soft cotton mattress, and the faint fragrance of freshly laundered bedding.
"I… I'm not dead?"
Her voice came out as a whisper, as light as the wind.
She opened her eyes wide and sat up, scanning the room around her.
A small carved wooden chamber, a window letting in the gentle morning light and birdsong.
On the table lay a familiar red bean pastry, and a delicate jade teacup engraved with her mother's name—Yi Fei.
This was… the Hualan Pavilion.
A secondary residence for princesses who had not yet been formally granted a title.
She remembered it clearly—this was where she had lived in her early childhood, before being banished to the Cold Palace on Noble Consort Su's orders.
If that was the case…
"I'm back… I've returned to ten years ago!"
Xianlan bit her lip, eyes trembling with a mixture of fear and joy.
⸻
The time of sorrow, betrayal, and pain—
had not yet come.
Her mother had truly passed away,
but her father, the Emperor, still looked at her with gentle eyes.
Noble Consort Su had not yet bared her fangs.
And Xianlan… still had a chance to change everything.
"This time, I won't let her deceive everyone in the palace again."
"I will never be used as a pawn again."
⸻
In the days that followed her rebirth, Xianlan observed everything in silence.
She remembered every detail of the past with absolute clarity—
Who had sided with Su Zhen, who would later betray her.
Even the quiet maid who would one day become a spy in the imperial kitchen—she remembered them all.
"If the pieces on the board are the same… then I simply have to play the game differently."
She began with small adjustments.
Speaking kindly to the head eunuch so he would reduce his reports to Su Zhen.
Feigning weakness, gentleness—so no one would suspect her change in behavior.
And as she carefully adjusted each part of the chessboard,
one day… the perfect opportunity arrived.
⸻
The annual Grand Banquet of the imperial palace was approaching.
The Southern Yan Kingdom was sending envoys—led by none other than Crown Prince Feng Yuhan, a man she had met only once in her past life… yet never forgot.
In that previous life, he had merely glanced her way before walking past.
But this time, she had a plan.
⸻
Beneath jade lanterns and cascading silk drapes,
the young princess sat near the end of the banquet hall—ignored and unnoticed.
But her eyes were locked onto a man dressed in black, standing beside the Emperor of Southern Yan.
"Feng Yuhan…"
His name echoed in her mind.
A man who would one day become a great emperor.
Feared for his cold heart, sharp mind, and unshakable distrust—even of his own brother.
And just one year after the border war… he would mysteriously vanish without a trace.
She knew—this was a man who could not be bought.
He was no easy ally, but if she could gain his trust—he would become an invaluable force.
And just then, their eyes met.
⸻
"Princess Xianlan, is it?"
He spoke softly when they encountered each other after the banquet, as she quietly slipped away from the crowd.
"Yes, Your Highness. I don't much enjoy noise and revelry,"
she answered sweetly, pretending to be a shy palace girl.
But Feng Yuhan stared at her—unblinking.
As if seeing through silk and grace, down to the secrets she hid beneath her calm.
"You don't seem like a child raised in a lavish palace,"
he said.
"You seem more like a pawn… planning to bite someone."
She smiled faintly—
a smile honed through blood and tears.
"If I am a pawn… then perhaps you are the board."
"So shall we play a game, Your Highness?"