The Silent Flame A Princess Reborn for Revenge

“The brocade zither has fifty strings, each string and fret evokes memories of the years.”“Zhuangzi dreams of butterflies at dawn, the longing heart of Emperor Wang entrusted to the cuckoo.”“Bright moon over the sea sheds tears on pearls, warm sun over Lantian raises mist from jade.”“This feeling was once full of longing, now only regret remains.” Ya-ya leaped into the sea.Yes, she was committing suicide. It was supposed to be a day of joy—she had just received her third university diploma. But her boyfriend of three years suddenly announced he was engaged… and not to her. How cruel.Three years of love, discarded as “we’re not right for each other”? Then what was he doing with her for so long? Orphaned since childhood, Ya-ya was raised by her aunt and uncle. She had worked tirelessly to gain recognition—studying at three different universities. And yet, her first love betrayed her at her proudest moment. Everything suddenly felt meaningless. The sea was cold. Salty.It rushed into her eyes, ears, nose, and throat. Her body wanted to resist, but her limbs were weak. Survival instinct kicked in, but she could grasp nothing. She wanted to die quickly.But fear crept in.All she could see was darkness… and pain. She tried to scream, but only seawater filled her mouth. She was helpless. Fear drowned her sadness and sobered her.She felt something was wrong… but couldn’t think clearly anymore… Her consciousness slipped away—until it vanished completely. 🕯️ Reborn... When Ya-ya woke again, she found herself in a strange room surrounded by unfamiliar faces—young girls in ancient silk robes with their hair coiled high, rushing around carrying basins. "Where am I? A historical film set?" she muttered. Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream came from within the room, full of pain and despair. “Call the royal physician!” a middle-aged man shouted as he hurried past. He looked dignified and imposing—likely someone of high status. “Your Highness, I can't do this anymore... the pain...!”Another scream echoed from inside. Ya-ya’s heart clenched. Somehow, she felt a deep ache for the woman screaming. She was too distracted to even process the ancient setting. She stepped forward to comfort someone—only to realize... She was floating. Was she... a ghost? Had she really died? Then—“The princess is born!” shouted a midwife.And at that moment, Ya-ya heard crying—not just from the room… but from herself. “What's going on?!” she gasped—only to hear no sound from her mouth.Instead, what came out was a loud infant’s wail. She was… reborn. Reincarnated as a newborn baby. In a flash, she understood:The afterlife was real.But the underworld had been too busy to give her a bowl of memory-erasing soup. This was not a hospital. Not a movie set. She had been reborn into another era. The woman in pain? Her new mother.The dignified man? Her father. In this life, her name was Ouyang Fei. She had an elder sister—so beautiful, it was as if she had stepped out of a painting. Her name was Ouyang Cui. Her parents and sister had always cherished her deeply. Everything was perfect… until the year Ouyang Fei turned twelve—the year her sister died. Two years earlier, Ouyang Cui had been summoned to the palace for a political marriage. The emperor was stunned by her beauty and quickly favored her above all others. In just two years, she rose to the highest rank among the four principal consorts: the Noble Consort. So favored was she that the emperor allowed the women of the Ouyang family to enter the palace and reunite with her—an unprecedented honor, even the Empress had never received such favor. The Ouyang family treated this gesture with utmost caution and gratitude. But they never knew… it was all a trap. A secret report had already accused the Ouyang family of treason. Ouyang Fei and her mother were brought into the palace only to be used as hostages. At that moment, Ouyang Fei—who was just beginning her journey toward the imperial palace—knew none of this. “Mother, would you like something to drink? The weather is terribly hot,” Ouyang Fei asked as she gently handed a cup of cool tea to her mother, the Princess Consort. In these years, she had grown used to ancient customs and language. The Princess Consort received the tea with a warm smile. “Feifei, you’re truly considerate.” Though only twelve, Ouyang Fei had become refined and graceful, her beauty already beginning to bloom. Yet traces of childish innocence still lingered on her delicate face. “Mother, even though our eldest sister is favored in the palace, I fear staying too long may offend others. So I’ve only brought a few embroidered works as gifts,” she said, lightly tracing patterns on a piece of cloth in her hands. In her previous life, she had lived as a talented woman. In this life, she only sought to uphold virtue. That’s why she worked tirelessly at embroidery and needlework—never touching books. “This is imperial grace, Feifei,” the Princess Consort said gently. “We cannot refuse. If His Majesty insists on keeping us, we may have to stay longer.” “You’re right, Mother,” Ouyang Fei said softly again, offering her arm. “Would you like to rest? The heat and the bumpy journey must be exhausting.” The Princess Consort looked at her daughter's radiant cheeks and youthful beauty, feeling a deep pang of sorrow. She didn’t know why, but this daughter never truly smiled. She always seemed distant, polite but guarded—never warm, never carefree. She was too perfect. So obedient. So quiet. If not for her stunning appearance, she might have faded into the background entirely. They continued on for several more days, and finally, in the peak of the summer heat, they arrived at the capital. But before they could even enter the palace gates, Ouyang Fei and her mother were abruptly taken by a group of fierce-looking eunuchs and brought to Ouyang Cui’s palace. Ouyang Cui lay pale as paper on her sickbed, her eyes barely open. When she saw her mother and sister, she forced herself upright and whispered weakly, “Feifei… Mother…” “Elder Sister! What happened to you?” Ouyang Fei rushed to her side, her brows furrowed. Since childhood, Ouyang Cui had been the one she was closest to—an equally gifted, elegant woman of great insight. “Feifei… Mother… Things are very wrong. Our Ouyang family has been accused in secret. They brought you here… I fear you’re to be held as hostages...” Ouyang Cui coughed violently, her breath shallow and labored. “What?!” Both Ouyang Fei and the Princess Consort froze in disbelief. Tears streamed down Ouyang Cui’s cheeks. “Mother… It’s my fault. I failed to convince His Majesty of Father’s innocence…” Ouyang Fei bit her lip hard and turned away, her eyes falling on the window. Outside, the lotus leaves shimmered in the sunlight. The morning dew that once adorned them had long evaporated under the blazing sun.The fierce, dry winds swept over the palace, but they could not carry away the scorching heat.