Revenge of the Phoenix Beauty

Hua Qingyan took a deep breath, forcing herself to steady her trembling hands. The reality of her rebirth had settled in, no longer just a fevered illusion.

She was truly back.

A sharp knock interrupted her thoughts.

"My lady?" A familiar voice called from outside the door. "Are you awake?"

Qingyan's breath hitched. That voice—

"Meixi?"

The door slid open slightly, and a young girl peeked in. She was exactly as Qingyan remembered—bright, cheerful, and fiercely loyal. Unlike in the past, before life had worn her down, she still had an innocent glow about her.

Meixi blinked in surprise. "My lady, are you alright? You look pale…"

A flood of emotions rushed through Qingyan. This was the girl who had stayed by her side even when she was branded a traitor's daughter. The girl who had followed her even in death.

This time, I will protect you.

"I had a strange dream," Qingyan murmured, shaking off her daze. "That's all."

Meixi sighed in relief. "You worried me! I'll have the kitchen send some ginseng soup to make you feel better."

Qingyan's lips twitched. Meixi had always fussed over her. That much had not changed.

"I'll be fine," Qingyan reassured her. But even as she spoke, her mind was already moving.

She was thirteen again. That meant she had five years before the engagement with Wei Chen would be solidified. Five years before he would use her father's power to his advantage. Five years before he would destroy them all.

She would not give him the chance.

The first step was to gather allies—discreetly.

And her first ally? Meixi.

"Meixi," Qingyan said softly. "Do you trust me?"

Meixi tilted her head. "Of course, my lady."

Qingyan's smile was gentle, but there was an edge to it now. "Good. Then you must never question what I ask of you from now on. No matter how strange it seems."

Meixi hesitated. She was smart, but her loyalty overpowered her doubts. "Alright… but my lady, what is going on?"

Qingyan reached out and took her hand. "Nothing you need to worry about yet. Just trust me."

She needed Meixi's help for the next step—establishing her secret network.

If she was going to dismantle the second prince's plans, she needed eyes and ears everywhere.

And she knew exactly where to start.

---

That evening, Qingyan sat in the quiet study, flipping through a stack of scrolls. They were records of merchants, scholars, and officials who had visited their estate in the past year.

One particular name caught her eye.

Guo Liang.

A low-ranking official with ties to foreign merchants. In her past life, he had betrayed their family, selling military secrets in exchange for wealth.

But why had he betrayed them?

Qingyan closed her eyes, recalling the past. His only son had fallen gravely ill, and it was Wei Chen who had provided the cure.

A slow smile curled on her lips.

This time, she would get there first.

"Meixi," she called.

Meixi immediately stepped forward. "Yes, my lady?"

"Find out where Guo Liang's son is being treated. Keep it quiet."

Meixi blinked. "Why him?"

Qingyan's fingers tapped against the table. "Because I intend to give him something far more valuable than Wei Chen ever could."

Meixi nodded, though her confusion remained. "I'll do as you ask."

As Meixi left, Qingyan leaned back in her chair.

The first step was in motion.

If she wanted to crush Wei Chen, she had to start taking his future allies away from him—one by one.

And Guo Liang would be the first to fall into her hands.