Chapter 1: Phoenix Nirvana (1)

The Fengyun Continent, starting from the East State. The Prime Minister's Estate.

It was a fragrant and enchanting season, with flowers in full bloom. A woman dressed in simple, coarse cloth approached a patch of peach trees with great caution. It was the beautiful month of March; the peach blossoms bloomed profusely upon the branches, butterflies danced among the flowers, and birds chirped melodiously. At a single glance, one would be captivated, as if immersed in a world of pink.

The small figure carefully selected a peach tree and sat beneath it, her eyes, like those of a young deer, filled with affection. Indeed, she loved these peach trees very much. Although they bloomed so brilliantly, bringing the spirit of spring to the branches, she knew that the peach tree was a lonely, solitary, and bitter flower.

The small figure was the Third Miss of the Prime Minister's Estate, Xue Linglong. She was fourteen this year, but her face was so thin and small it was barely the size of a palm, and her complexion was sallow. One could tell at a glance that her life in the Prime Minister's Estate was not an easy one.

Just as this small figure was lingering on the beautiful scenery before her, a sudden, piercing, angry shout rang out: "You little wretch! You've run off here to slack off again! Is the *Classic of Filial Piety* I told you to copy finished yet?"

Upon hearing that shrill voice, Xue Linglong's face turned deathly pale.

Following that piercing voice, a rattan cane struck Xue Linglong's exposed arm without mercy, instantly leaving a bloody welt upon her fair skin.

Her thin and frail body, already dressed in meager clothing, huddled beneath the peach tree, trembling uncontrollably. Her pale red lips trembled as she spoke: "I... I'll finish it soon... I'll... I'll bring it to you in a moment..."

A burning, stinging pain radiated from her arm. Xue Linglong covered her struck arm with her intact hand, her eyes filled with terror as she looked in fear at the Second Miss of the Prime Minister's Estate, Xue Qingcheng.

That exquisite beauty truly lived up to the name "Qingcheng" (city-toppling). To outsiders, the Second Miss of the Prime Minister's Estate was a lovely and filial woman. However, in private, she was as hideous as a night demon.

Xue Linglong's heart was filled with bitterness. Why, despite being daughters of the same Prime Minister's Estate, did she have to live such a miserable life? She suffered abuse from her aunts, bullying from her sisters, and even the servants could climb over her head. What exactly had she, Xue Linglong, done wrong? Why must she be treated this way?

"Hmph, I gave it to you yesterday and you still haven't finished it? Tomorrow, Prince Ming is coming to the estate!" As Xue Qingcheng mentioned that peerless and elegant man, her exquisite face instantly flushed with pink clouds. She looked at the little wretch before her with the arrogance of a proud peacock; how could she not feel jealousy and hatred?

That weak and useless Xue Linglong was actually the legitimate daughter of this Prime Minister's Estate. If it hadn't been five years ago, when that flower-dancing dancer was caught in the act of debauchery with a man, causing their father to be so enraged that he threw the three of them into this abandoned courtyard, how would they have had the chance to trample Xue Linglong under their feet or bully her like this?

However, what infuriated them was that no matter how much they bullied her, her status as the legitimate daughter remained an ironclad fact before them, and that was what they hated most. No matter what, it could not be changed. At the thought of this, Xue Qingcheng lashed the rattan cane against Xue Linglong's body with resentment, using all her strength as she barked, "You little wretch, you're clearly doing this on purpose! Deliberately stalling me! I'll beat you to death!"

Xue Linglong lowered her head and bit hard on her pale red lips, crying out in her heart: *Mother, Linglong is in so much pain.* But she only dared to scream this in her heart. She was in pain, her life was so bitter, and she was so afraid.

She did not dare to call for her mother, for she feared that calling out would only make her mother more heartbroken. If her mother argued with others, the result would be that something terrifying would appear in her mother's medicine.

It would only bring even more miserable days for the three of them, and she would be abused even more cruelly.