Tales of Phoenix Palace

Chapter 3 - The Little Phoenix

From the ashes of the Sun Palace, the Phoenix Palace rose.

The Fourth Prince established the Phoenix Empire.

He became the First Emperor and the Little Phoenix became the First Empress.

She was elated that she could finally live happily ever after with her beloved.

But she was gravely and painfully mistaken.

Like all the Empires in the continent, the Emperor married many wives to appease the subjects and keep the ministers and officials in check.

As the Empress, she was the Mother of the Empire and the Head of the Imperial Harem.

Unfortunately, she was unfit for the role.

Naïve and young as she was, she wasn't prepared to take on the Palace drama where every smile was poison and every teardrop was acid.

"In this pretty cruel world, love is not enough." She had often remarked.

The Empress who only longed for the Emperor's love fell into despair.

She was not meant to be in a Palace Harem or any Harem for that matter.

And on the seventh year of the Phoenix Empire, the Empress burned to death and vowed to be reborn and take revenge on all who wronged her.

It was the day of the Great Phoenix Festival.

The Empress ditched her servants and disguised herself as a commoner.

She roamed around the Festival just as she did when she first came.

It was like reliving her youthful days as the Little Phoenix.

She waited in line for her Phoenix Dates and when she was about to take a bite, a man bumped into her.

The Emperor and the Empress, both dressed in commoner's clothing, stared at each other. 

It was just like how they first met.

But, this time she was the one who turned away.

When she looked back, he was no longer there.

"What did you expect?" She sighed.

The fireworks lit up the night sky and it was not as magical as it was when she saw it for the first time.

Earlier that day, when the Emperor heard that the Empress was missing, he knew at once where she was.

Like the years before, she disguised herself as a commoner and went to the festival.

He followed and protected her but he did not dare approach her.

He knew how much the Little Phoenix had to endure in the cruel palace.

He wanted her to enjoy the Festival because if he showed up, he would only ruin the mood.

But today, too many people came and he accidentally bumped into the Empress.

Before he could say anything, she ran away.

"What did you expect?" He said sadly.

When the Empress arrived in the Palace, she was greeted by the Head Maid.

"Your Highness, the Emperor would like to see you." Said the Head Maid.

"Very well." Replied the Empress.

She was brought to the throne room.

"You may leave." The Empress ordered the Head Maid.

She looked at the throne and remarked, "Why do men fight for this cold seat?"

She remembered how the Emperor had killed his father who sat on the throne.

So she did the same, "Will he kill me too since I am now sitting on the throne?"

Then she smelled something burning.

She smiled and laughed hysterically.

"In the end, he wants to burn me. What a fitting death for a Phoenix!" 

Her laughter echoed through the room as the flames continued to burn.

"Little Phoenix, you are a fool. Love is nothing in this cruel world." She said to herself.

She recalled all their memories together and wept.

"This life I dedicate to you. In the next life, we shall meet again and I shall take revenge on all who wronged me." She vowed to herself.

She released her Phoenix fire and she burned along with the earthly flames.

Although it was the dead of the night, the sky was as bright as daytime.

"And that was how the Little Phoenix went back to the heavens." Narrated Lady Jemina, the Head Imperial Historian, to the little kids listening to the story.

"Will she come back?" asked Miss Cerpen, the Granddaughter of Empress Dowager Vee.

"That's for us to see. Who knows? Maybe she's here with us already."

"I want to meet her!" exclaimed Miss Cerpen.

"Go on now, we don't want to be late to the wedding of the century. The Royal Wedding of Crown Princess Saeran is about to start."

***to be continued***