C2 Jiu Wine Gave Her a Death Sentence

Nan Yanwu couldn't bear to look at the glaringly dark red wine on the tray held by the palace servant. She gently turned her head away.

"Fine, if you don't drink it, you'll be hanged tonight. It's your choice—drink the poison or face the noose," Qin Fuzi said, unwilling to argue further with Nan Yanwu, and promptly left.

"Xiao Zhen, so you've finally decided you don't want to keep this last remnant of Xiliang around?" After Qin Fuzi walked away, Nan Yanwu let out a self-mocking laugh. She took a silk handkerchief embroidered with a pattern of mandarin ducks from a nearby box and caressed it, murmuring, "Only a fool like me would take your feigned affection seriously."

She reminisced about that night under the full moon when she handed Xiao Zhen the handkerchief she had spent over three months embroidering. Xiao Zhen had folded it and placed it over his heart, smiling as he promised a lifetime together, envying the love of mandarin ducks rather than immortals.

A lifetime together, but with someone else, not her.

Even at the brink of despair, she couldn't leave—not because she didn't want to, but because she couldn't. Xiliang was long gone, and there was no place for its people in this world. As a princess of Xiliang, she shouldn't have survived, but her selfish desires had brought ruin to Xiliang, leaving her isolated and betrayed.

Perhaps this was heaven's punishment for her.

In the distance, the sound of drums and laughter drifted into the desolate palace. Hongxiang had told her yesterday that today, Consort Su Yilan would be crowned Empress.

Su Yilan. Nan Yanwu repeated the name, belonging to the woman who had brought nightmares into her life.

If it weren't for her, she might be living in harmony with Xiao Zhen; if it weren't for her, Mo Ruyan might not have died defending the border; if it weren't for her, Xiliang might not have faced annihilation; if it weren't for her, her child... her unborn child... might not have died in her womb.

All of this trouble began with her, Nan Yanwu. If she hadn't brought Su Yilan into the palace, Xiao Zhen wouldn't have developed feelings for Su Yilan, let alone taken her as a concubine. Her once happy life wouldn't have shattered.

In the end, it was Nan Yanwu's own doing.

Nan Yanwu was lost in thought when someone gently pushed open the slightly ajar door and walked toward her with light steps.

"Sister, long time no see." The elegantly dressed woman stood before Nan Yanwu, the difference between them stark.

"Yuvyi." Nan Yanwu snapped back to reality, the brightness of Nan Yuvyi's meticulously applied makeup and luxurious attire making her own eyes dim even more.

"Today, Consort Yan was crowned Empress, and I found some time to visit. I heard the Emperor ordered you to be given poisoned wine?" Nan Yuvyi said slowly, her face not showing sadness but rather a satisfied smile, which left Nan Yanwu momentarily stunned.

"Yuvyi... are you well?" Nan Yanwu's voice suddenly turned hoarse. Was her beloved younger sister now going to kick her while she was down?

"Why worry, sister? If I weren't well, how could I be dressed so splendidly? Or do you think—Yuvyi would end up as destitute as you?" Nan Yuvyi adjusted the jade hairpin in her hair, her usual gentle smile now seeming deeply ironic to Nan Yanwu.

"Yuvyi..."

Nan Yuvyi noticed the wine jug on the table. Always perceptive, she understood the situation at once. Her gaze turned to Nan Yanwu, now carrying a hint of unspeakable darkness. "Sister, I haven't seen you in so long, I've missed you dearly. It's just a pity this is our last meeting."

"Yuvyi... don't hate your sister..." Tears finally welled up in Nan Yanwu's eyes.

"Oh, sister." Nan Yuvyi's delicate hand caressed Nan Yanwu's face, a faint smile playing on her lips. "How could Yuvyi not hate you?"

Nan Yanwu remained silent, her lips parted slightly, unsure of what to say. She couldn't defend herself against Nan Yuvyi's resentment.

"If it weren't for you, how would my husband have died? Even if it was Yilan who did it, weren't you there, fanning the flames? Sister, how could you bear to let your own younger sister become a widow at such a young age?" As Nan Yuvyi spoke, her expression twisted with anger. "Even if you don't like me, how could you be so cruel to someone like Ruyan, who admires you so much?"