C1 A Crippled Concubine

The intense sunlight filtered through the thin window paper, casting its glow on the disheveled dress of Nan Yanwu, leaning against the mahogany table. Her gown was marked with old stains, a mix of gray and brown, their origins unknown.

“Hmm...” Nan Yanwu furrowed her delicate brows, her once smooth and soft hands gently lifting a carved wine cup to her lips. She sighed softly, “Another day... How will I get through this one...”

After speaking, Nan Yanwu glanced around the empty room and called out, “Hongxiang?”

There was no reply. She smiled slowly, a hint of relief in her expression. Hongxiang had been with her for so many years, from one place to another, through her rise and fall. While many had betrayed her, Hongxiang remained by her side, asking for nothing. Despite Nan Yanwu's inability to offer much in return, Hongxiang chose to endure hardships with her. Leaving might not promise luxury or wealth, but at least Hongxiang wouldn't have to stay in this dark and desolate palace with her.

“Gone? That's good—may you find a better place, a better life,” Nan Yanwu murmured with a bitter smile as she stood and sat before the bronze mirror, silently tending to her face, untouched by water for who knows how long.

She carefully combed through her tangled hair, unfazed by the occasional bite of a louse. The ornate bronze mirror before her was covered in a thick layer of dust. Suddenly, a few drops of water fell onto the carved wooden frame. Nan Yanwu looked up slightly and noticed a missing tile on the palace roof.

It seemed the palace had fallen into disrepair over the years, and now, in early spring, perhaps it had rained last night, leaving some water behind. With this thought, she dismissed the curious drops and absentmindedly brushed the dust from the mirror with her sleeve.

In the dim reflection of the bronze mirror, Nan Yanwu's weary face appeared, hinting at the beauty she once possessed. Her eyes were shadowed with dark circles, and her pale lips, devoid of color, masked the prime of her youth—a youth that seemed destined to fade away silently in the cold, distant corners of the palace.

Perhaps exhausted beyond measure, Nan Yanwu lay back on the couch, closing her eyes to rest. Her senses, dulled by the stale air of the palace, faintly detected the lingering scent of alcohol, bringing a strange clarity to her weary mind.

After a long while, she heard the sound of hurried footsteps approaching. It wasn't him.

Nan Yanwu's eyes snapped open to see an old acquaintance, Qin Fuzi, standing before her. Her gaze turned icy, and her words were sharp with disdain: "What brings you here, Qin? Didn't you say this place was beneath you? Yet here you are. Please, come in."

"Ha, who do you think you are? If it weren't for the emperor's orders, do you think I'd set foot here?" Qin Fuzi spat, his tone dripping with contempt for Nan Yanwu's demeanor. "But never mind, seeing as you don't have much time left, I'll spare you the argument. Take care of yourself."

"Spare me? Qin Fuzi, have you forgotten how you once begged for my mercy? You're nothing but a sycophant," Nan Yanwu retorted with a cold laugh, her hands clenching into fists within her sleeves. She never enjoyed verbal sparring, but Qin Fuzi's condescension was too much to bear.

How could this be? How could she have lost so completely?

"Ha, you still think you're the empress of old? You're nothing more than a discarded consort now," Qin Fuzi sneered, his eyes filled with disdain as he looked down at Nan Yanwu.

"You think you're still the Empress?" Qin Fuzi's words echoed in Yanwu's mind. She fought back tears, forcing a smile that was both sorrowful and triumphant, though it only made her look pale.

To Qin Fuzi, this scene was nothing but absurd and laughable. He remained indifferent.

"The Emperor decrees that the former Empress's conduct has been found lacking. Fearing her resentment might bring disaster to the palace, she cannot be allowed to stay. In recognition of her past role as the palace's mistress, she is granted a cup of poisoned wine and will be buried in the royal tombs," Qin Fuzi announced, clapping his hands as the attendants brought forth the wine.