“Your Majesty, this cup of poisoned wine is a gracious gift from the Emperor.” The eunuch’s shrill voice pierced the silence of the cold palace as I stared blankly at the frostbite sores rotting on my palm. Memories of my previous life overlapped perfectly with the scene before me: the forged letter accusing me of adultery, placed on the table by Su Wanrou; the fading trace of Xiao Jingyao’s imperial-yellow robes as he passed through the doorway, burned into my eyes; and in the glass cup Xie Jinglan had handed me himself, strawberry-flavored poison glimmered a sweet pink
