STIGMA

A deep wintery night, in a frozen landscape.

As the cold winter wind passed through, the candle that was set on the table flickered before ultimately going out, as it was unable to defend against the strong winds.

"Your Highness, you should go rest." A girl in ragged garments came over to help up the woman sitting on the ground.

"No matter." A faint trace of melancholy shown through the woman's voice, as she didn't hold the girl's hand but merely said, "Yizhu, you go and rest, I want to sit here alone."

After hearing the woman's orders, Yizhu withdrew without turning her head.

As she watched Yizhu leave, her lips helplessly burst into a smile. Perhaps, today will be her death anniversary.

She, Qilian Qingyan, was the granddaughter of General Qilian Jingyu, who was a founder of this country.

At 13 years old, she married the Crown Prince as his wife, becoming the Princess Consort that everyone envied, with a lifetime of endless glory and wealth. After the Crown Prince succeeded the throne, she furthermore, became the Empress that was only second to the Emperor, ruling over the expansive six palaces, often covered in wealth.

She'd never thought that this would all end on something called the 'Prophecy Stone'. In the end, even she was charged with the crime of insurrection and sentenced to the Cold Palace*.

(*TN: Literal translation of it's name, it's the palace where wives that have lost favor with the Emperor are sent.)

The day and night change, an endless cycle.

Qingyan walked up to the window. The landscape outside the Cold Palace was beautifully adorned in silver by the snow, perhaps everything will come to an end today.

This snowfall was sure heavy, so heavy that it could cover up all the sins in this world.

And she too, was destined to fall during this snow.

She wasn't afraid of death. She just wished that her husband, on behalf on their past love, be kind to their son and daughter.

"Oh, isn't this elder sister, the Empress? How did you end up like this?" A sarcastic voice entered Qingyan's ears.

The woman was wearing a long dress with a Luanniao* facing the Phoenix embroidered on it in silver and gold threads. Her skin was as smooth as cream, and in her light smile and low tone was an indescribable kind of elegance.

(*TN: A mythical bird similar to the phoenix))

Before her was Qilian Qingyi, her younger sister, who once had always liked her husband. And now with that dream having come true, she became the current Emperor, Weisheng Junyan's, most precious treasure.

As for her, Qilian Qingyan, she was only an abandoned old shoe!

The vows 'a pair for life', made in the past, have ceased to exist.

"Elder sister, are you getting used to living in the Cold Palace?" Qingyi while looking at the expressionless Qingyan, mockingly opened her mouth, "You have to know, for you to have ended up like this, it was all masterminded by myself."

Upon hearing this, Qilian Qingyan stared at her with a face full of shock.

It was......actually her!

Seeing the change in Qingyan's expression, Qingyi, looking pleased, lifted the corner of her mouth: "The assassination of the Empress Dowager, the previous Emperor's death, even the prophecy stone, were all by my design. Just so I can steal everything away from you!"

After these incidences had occurred, she had thought of almost everyone, but of all people, overlooked her kind and understanding younger sister. She had always thought she'd treated her well, yet in the end, she was defeated at the hands of this woman.

How could she be content with this?

Thinking this, a shadow of resentment began to grow on her face.