A northern wind swept through the Yuhe Courtyard, scattering pale plum blossoms across the stone pathway.
Its breeze carried a faint floral fragrance, brushing past the noses of those who passed by.
But today… the signature scent of orchids, long associated with the Xianlan Residence, bore a new note — something unfamiliar.
And it was no accident.
⸻
Xianlan sat quietly in front of a fragrant water pot, distilling scent from the rare Yu Su orchid — a special breed her birth mother once cultivated before her death.
At her side stood only her loyal maid and the court's official perfumer,
who often accompanied the sending of secret messages.
For in the inner palace… "scent" could mean more than words ever could.
⸻
"Xiao Jun, have you noticed anything strange in the scent of our residence lately?"
The maid flinched slightly before nodding slowly.
"Forgive me, Your Highness… I feared the scent may have been… intentionally altered."
Xianlan smiled coldly at the corners of her lips.
"Intentionally altered? You mean — a threat from Consort Su Zhen."
⸻
Ever since the orchid fragrance had subtly changed, rumors began spreading throughout the palace —
Whispers of a "secret son of Consort Yu" began to emerge.
Some claimed her mother had borne a hidden child — a son — before Xianlan.
Others whispered of a romance with a military general outside the palace.
And some… began to question whether Xianlan had any rightful claim to her title at all.
But what was most telling—
was that the scent drifting alongside those rumors
was the very one now laced into the air of her residence.
⸻
Scent was a mark.
And the altered fragrance of orchids…
was a clear signal—the start of a psychological war initiated by Consort Su Zhen's palace.
⸻
"Have our people track the entire scent distribution route — from the fragrance storage warehouse to every tea room in the inner court,"
Xianlan ordered calmly.
"Understood, Your Highness. And… what about the Obsidian Shadow from Nan Yan?"
⸻
She paused a moment before replying,
"Let Jiang Xinluo's people follow the shadow.
But as for me…
I'll draw it out myself."
⸻
That same evening,
a small fragrance box was delivered to the residence of Consort Su Zhen.
Inside, it carried the soft, original scent of the Yu Su orchid —
alongside a single slip of paper:
"The wind may thin the scent,
But its roots remain beneath your shadow."
⸻
Su Zhen read the message with chilling stillness.
She understood instantly — the game had begun.
And Xianlan — the girl she once belittled —
had become a threat that could no longer be underestimated.
⸻
"Mengyu, do you smell it?"
Su Mengyu stood by the window, expression unreadable.
"It's pleasant… but smells like the original fragrance of Xianlan's residence."
"Exactly. It's the scent of a past you've tried to erase,"
Su Zhen replied coldly, before crushing the box in her hand.
⸻
Elsewhere in the palace,
Jiang Xinluo was hurriedly shedding her diplomatic robes.
She disguised herself as a palace maid and hid a dagger beneath her sleeve.
Tonight was the night when the "Obsidian Shadow" would send a secret message at the Moon Gazing Pavilion.
But Jiang Xinluo intended to intercept it first.
⸻
At the Moon Gazing Pavilion,
a dark figure appeared without a sound.
Before they could complete their handoff,
another shadow leapt from the darkness.
There was a faint clash of blades,
and the black-clad figure fled —
leaving behind a tiny bottle of perfume that rolled across the ground.
⸻
Jiang Xinluo picked it up, opened the cap,
and the familiar orchid scent touched her nose.
But something was wrong.
It smelled like Yu Su… yet not quite.
The Obsidian Shadow was using scent to spread rumors.
And behind it was…
⸻
By morning, Feng Yuhan received a secret report from Jiang Xinluo,
sealed in an envelope laced with the altered orchid scent.
He inhaled deeply, then murmured:
"The wind has changed the orchid's scent…
It means they've begun attacking the minds of the palace."
⸻
He lifted a single chess piece and placed it at the center of the board —
initiating a new psychological campaign.
"If they believe Xianlan will crumble under gossip…
Then I'll show them something far more terrifying."
⸻
And at the same time,
Empress Yun Qingyan,
who had remained calm for so long,
opened the old ledgers of the Yun family.
"I will not let the scent of the orchid she planted
be turned into a weapon against my daughter."
⸻
In the palace, fragrance was no longer mere decoration.
It had become a weapon—
a whispering poison of doubt etched into the hearts of those who inhaled.
And as the wind passed once more…
no one could tell which scent was real.
✨ Thank you for reading this chapter of Rebirth of the Phoenix Empress!If you're enjoying Xianlan's journey, please add this story to your Library, leave a comment, or tap a heart 💖 — your support truly fuels the fire!