Palace Prison of the Phoenix: The Concubine Daughter Insists on Fighting for Favor
Qingying is a concubine-born daughter of the Grand General's府, yet she enjoys the favor usually reserved for a legitimate daughter. Her grandmother dotes on her, her father spoils her, her elder brother treats her like a treasure, and she has a beloved companion with whom she shares a mutual understanding. Everyone says Qingying is blessed, and she believes it herself.
Until the appearance of Liu Shushu, everything changed. Liu Shushu is the lost pearl returned to the Grand General's府, a true legitimate daughter. She is skilled in everything, understands medical principles, excels in horseback riding and archery, and can even don armor and go to the battlefield. Her return stole away all the attention that had once been focused on Qingying.
Her father used to say: 'Women should be nurtured like delicate flowers in a greenhouse, while tasks of facing wind and rain should be left to men.' Later, he said: 'The daughter of the Liu family should be like Shushu, a woman who is not outdone by men.' Her elder brother used to spoil her; if she cried, he would almost offer up all the treasures of the world with both hands. Later, he said that Shushu was his true sister, the direct bloodline of the Liu family, and told Qingying not to compete with her.
She refused to accept her fate and chose to strike back, but suffered setbacks time and time again. He once promised her a lifetime of exclusivity, yet later held beauties in his arms within the three palaces and six courts. She promised him she would live to a hundred, yet died with regret just before turning twenty. That spirited and ambitious young man had, in the end, had his edges smoothed away by time. She longed for freedom her entire life, yet was trapped in the deep palace forever. Qingying, Qingying, in the end became a bird locked in a cage.
