In the Cold Palace, devoid of any sunlight, Shen Yuzhen collapsed on a pile of damp straw, with rainwater occasionally dripping onto her body from a leak in the roof.
Her once glorious phoenix robe was smeared full of stains now, and blood traces turned to a dark brown color, amalgamating with the dirt on the floor. Yet, the flamboyant yellow sheen and the luxurious embroidery still manifested a past full of elegance.
With a creak, the door opened, and numerous eunuchs and maids filed in, standing respectfully on two sides. A beautiful woman dressed in a phoenix robe just like Shen Yuzhen's entered slowly, floating over like a fairy atop a lotus. Her striking appearance took everyone's breath away.
As Shen Yuzhen looked at the phoenix robe on her body, the dazzling yellow struck her as inappropriate - a stark contrast, portraying wealth and decay at the same time in the cold palace.
The woman stepped into the hall, and on seeing Shen Yuzhen lying on the straw, she couldn't help but sneer. Her eyes were filled with undisguised contempt and disgust.
"Look at what a lowly creature she is," she taunted, "Is she even worthy of wearing the phoenix robe? Take it off!"
The woman's venomous attitude was worlds apart from her beautiful exterior. This disparity left the eunuchs and maids terrified, and with trembling hands, they hurriedly stripped Shen Yuzhen of her robe. Shen Yuzhen didn't resist. She was too weak to resist.
"Tsk, tsk, isn't this my own sister - the young mistress of our Prime Minister's mansion, even the granddaughter of Prince Zhong's mansion? How did you manage to fall into such a sorry state? Ah, it truly pains me to witness this." The woman, Shen Mingqiu, spoke with a tone of compassion, but the arrogance and disdain in her eyes gave away her true feelings.
Shen Yuzhen lifted her head. Her legs were now useless, with the bones shattered; she lost both her hands to Chu Xudong who wielded his sword mercilessly. Her side profile was extraordinarily graceful, almost otherworldly. But if one saw her entire face, one would fear and wonder how the world could host such a gruesome visage.
After Luo Meiren died from poisoning, Shen Mingqiu accused her of jealousy, asking why as a queen, she lacked such tolerance. Shen Yuzhen, with an incredulous look in her eyes, could hardly believe those words. And now, if she still didn't understand the reality, she was unfit to be a person.
"Why? Shen Mingqiu, I have remained faithful to you. Why?"
Her last words were full of desperation. Nonetheless, Shen Mingqiu simply responded with a sneer, as one would to a clown's performance.
The eunuch had already brought over a carved wooden chair. She sat down with grace and elegance, looking like a noblewoman who gazes at a beggar.
"Shen Mingqiu, we are sisters. You plot against me. Aren't you afraid that our father will get angry?"
"Heh..."
Shen Mingqiu laughed incredulously.
"Dad..."
Shen Yuzhen could not understand. Over the years, even though Shen Mingqiu was his half-sister, she always treated her like her own sister. If it wasn't for Consort Luo being poisoned to death, and the Emperor came to seek justice, Shen Mingqiu questioning herself why she poisoned the favored consort. Andit was her, who desperately pleaded to the Emperor on her behalf. Yet, that man did not even give her a chance to explain.
"Why? Haha, Shen Yangzhen, aren’t you stupid? You still call him 'Dad'. Haha, do you think Dad really likes you? He can't wait to hate you. Oh right, you didn't say it, I almost forgot, I brought you a big gift today."
After he finished speaking, a palace lady from the side handed a letter up. Shen Mingqiu's fingers were slender, her nails dyed with cardamom were as bright red as blood.
"You take a look!"
A letter was thrown forward by Shen Mingqiu and fell to the ground. Shen Yuzhen wanted to look, to see what it was, but unfortunately, she couldn't move.
"Oh dear, look at my memory."
Shen Mingqiu seemed to suddenly remember something, touching the hairpin on her head.
"I forgot, sister’s legs were broken and even arms were cut off."