Chapter 8: The Phoenix Rises

A year later, the wedding of Lin Wan’er and Pei Ziqi, who by then had been named General of Swift Cavalry for his service guarding the frontier, was held in grand style at the Duke of Zhenguo’s residence, with the blessing of the Emperor and every official of the court.

With Wan’er’s wise counsel behind the scenes, the Lin family grew ever stronger and became one of the most important pillars of the Great Jin court, no longer dependent on anyone, and no longer pressed or used by any faction as it had been in her past life.

After Xiao Yichen took the throne, he kept a respectful relationship with the Lin family, but without the self-serving schemes of before. Perhaps watching Wan’er’s courage and decisive choice back then had taught him a precious lesson: to value the real person behind every relationship, rather than only what that person could be used for.

On their wedding night, standing high in a tower and looking out at the bright moonlight spread over the capital, Wan’er rested her head on Ziqi’s shoulder, her heart filled with a peace she had never once known in her past life.

“What are you thinking about?” Ziqi asked softly, holding her tighter.

“I’m thinking,” Wan’er smiled, her eyes shining in the moonlight, “that for a phoenix to be truly reborn in all its glory, it isn’t enough to pass through the fire of fate. It also has to know the right place to land.”

Ziqi squeezed her hand and gently kissed his wife’s forehead. “Then from now on, the place you land will always be by my side.”

The night wind stirred the beaded curtains, carrying the soft scent of flowers from the garden, as if bearing witness to the complete happiness that Lin Wan’er, after two lifetimes, had finally found through her own courage and her own true heart.

— THE END —