Ashes to Crown

In her initial existence, Chu Zhao was merely a pawn. As the sole daughter of a border general, she was enticed to the capital by the captivating Prince Xiao Xun, who professed his love for her. Trusting him, she married him and assisted him in claiming the throne, ultimately becoming his Empress. However, he brutally murdered her entire family and poisoned her in the cold palace. As she lay on the verge of death, she uncovered the truth — her mother had sacrificed her life for her sake, her father's army had been betrayed from within, and every instant of her marriage had been a meticulously orchestrated deception. Now, she awakens on the eve of that very wedding. This time, Chu Zhao escapes. She flees the capital under the cover of night, making her way to the frontier. During her journey, she encounters a young soldier at a secluded outpost — Xie Yanlai, a discarded son of a noble family, living under an assumed name. He is intelligent, perilous, and loyal to no one. Until he meets her. Together, they fight their way from the outskirts of an empire to its very heart. She rescues the young crown prince, forges alliances, outsmarts court adversaries, and earns the title of Grand Princess Regent — ruling from behind the throne where she once perished. Yet, Xiao Xun has not given up. He gathers foreign armies, incinerates border cities, and will plunge the entire nation into chaos before allowing a dead woman's spirit to claim what he believes is rightfully his. In her first life, she was his queen. In this life, she will be the one to bring about his end. The tale commences at the North Cao Town posthouse, where several posthouse soldiers encounter a girl in need of assistance.