Feathers of Vengeance
In the winter of the 27th year of the Southern Dynasty, Shang Que, the disgraced daughter of the Prime Minister’s household who had feigned madness for ten years, suddenly regained her senses during the imperial consort selection. With a mesmerizing display of butterflies, she captivated the court and secured her place in the palace—revealing that her entire ordeal had been part of an elaborate scheme. A decade earlier, Shang Que and her mother, Concubine Jiang, endured humiliation under the cruelty of the Prime Minister’s wife, who despised Jiang for her beauty and lowly origins as a dancer. When the Prime Minister’s wife sought to eliminate them, Shang Feng, the legitimate eldest daughter, intervened—only to deceive Jiang into teaching her the legendary "Feather-Skirt Dance." Once she mastered it, she shattered Jiang’s legs and beat her to death before Shang Que’s eyes. From that day on, Shang Que survived by pretending to be mad, even using her act to accompany Shang Feng into the imperial selection. On the eve of the selection, the Prime Minister’s wife forced Shang Que to consume her mother’s ashes to test her sanity—only hardening Shang Que’s resolve for vengeance. In the palace, Shang Feng rose to favor with the Emperor through her dance, while Shang Que, knowing beauty alone could not last, shrewdly observed the power struggle between the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. Time and again, she thwarted the Dowager’s schemes against the Emperor, earning his trust and affection. Through countless trials, their bond deepened, and Shang Que ultimately won the Emperor’s heart, ascending as Empress. With power as her blade, she exacted vengeance upon her mother’s killers. From then on, she stood by the Emperor’s side—helping him reclaim authority from the Dowager, balancing court politics, and ruling the inner palace. Together, they forged a glorious dynasty, shaping an era of prosperity.
