The atmosphere was cheerful, but I touched my belly, learning about my pregnancy, and shed tears all night.

　　Jadiel told me that he had broken his promise, but he would never betray the child and me.

　　In the mud flows that day...

　　I shivered in the temple, but he didn't look for me and my child. He only looked for Vanessa.

　　She died in the mudflows.

　　I lost my child because of this.

　　However, he placed the so-called evidence in front of me coldly.

　　"To prevent her from marrying me, you did anything."

　　"How vicious."

　　I replaced Vanessa as the crown prince's wife.

　　I even became the empress.

　　After more than ten years, it would be difficult for me to get pregnant.

　　Blessings were used as a pretext.

　　I'd be trapped in the palace for the rest of my life.

　　The next day, I picked a gift and went back to my parents' home.

　　I greeted them respectfully, but what greeted me was Vanessa's mother's wary gaze.

　　Vanessa excused herself to see me.

　　Father even ordered me to kneel in the study.

　　"You're so short-sighted and mean. You failed my education."

　　After kneeling for half an hour, he let me up.

　　"Don't play tricks. Go take care of Vanessa."

　　"It'll be good for you to have another helper in the crown prince's Mansion. Both of you are my girls. You should always be on the same side."

　　I lowered my head respectfully. "Yes."

　　Jadiel was conferred the title of crown prince.

　　My father had bet on the wrong candidate and wanted Vanessa to marry Jadiel. He was afraid that it would be too late to remedy it.

　　Her arrival at the palace was planned.

　　Vanessa was talented and had a peerless reputation, so, people flocked to her.

　　Everyone was happy to see her. No one cared about my presence.

　　Without the unwillingness from my previous life, I returned to the crown prince's Manor peacefully.

　　It wouldn't be long before they were engaged.

　　I tried my best to stop it.

　　I cried and pleaded, but it was useless.

　　My family acted quickly, after just a few days...

　　The news of the crown prince and Vanessa appreciating the water lily was released.

　　Everyone praised them for being a natural match.

　　In their eyes, the crown prince had no legal wife.

　　I calmly sat by the window with a book in my hand.

　　Under the window frame, there was only the sound of pages turning.

　　Occasionally, a few wisps of cool breeze came to me. I read the book carefully and studied hard.

　　I was afraid that I would not do a good job when my child was born.

　　At night.

　　Jadiel came.

　　When he saw me, his cold eyes softened a little.

　　"Margaret."

　　He sat by the window with me and thought of all kinds of rumors, but he didn't know what to say.

　　I started our conversation considerately.

　　"Your Highness, do you want to talk about my sister?"

　　After pausing for a moment, he returned to normal.

　　"Yes, she and I..."

　　I smiled. "If you can be with her, that would be great."

　　As soon as these words were spoken, his brows didn't relax.

　　"I promised you that I would make you my legal wife, but now, it's not up to me..."

　　I gently said with concern, "Your Highness, you did that for the sake of our future, so, there is no need to say such words."

　　He looked at me with disappointment in his eyes.

　　"Don't worry. Except for the title, I can give you everything. Although she will be my legal wife, I won't ignore you."

　　"I don't have feelings for her, and I know how hard your life was when you were a child. The oath is still effective. We will meet every day."

　　He looked at the jade bracelet on my wrist and held my hand.

　　My heart ached. It wouldn't be long before he fell in love with Vanessa.

　　After she died, she would become your first love.

　　He conferred Vanessa a posthumous title, built a temple for her, and neglected me for ten years.

　　All sorts of oaths were nothing in the end.

　　I smiled and said, "Okay."

　　He held me in his arms.

　　My body stiffened and I forced myself to calm down.

　　I made an excuse that I was not feeling well and declined his offer to stay.

　　After he left, I took off one pair of jade bracelets and put them in the brocade box.

　　I asked a maid to send it to the Treasure Pavilion. I said that the jade bracelets were dirty and needed to be cleaned.

　　Then, I asked someone to bring the accounts of the mansion.

　　I was pregnant for less than one month.

　　I didn't know if it was a psychological effect or something else, but I always felt a bit sick.

　　I asked someone to bring the accounts over and thought to myself.

　　How should I plan everything without anyone knowing it?

　　Fortunately, the accountant was someone I trusted.

　　I fired him on the pretext that there was something wrong with the accounts.

　　In fact, I asked him to take my private property far away to the south to buy a house for me and get prepared for my and my child's future.

　　I was too calm, which exceeded many people's expectations.

　　My father's legal wife sent people to get me back for a meal. After testing me a few times and seeing that I was normal, she was relieved.

　　The relationship between Jadiel and Vanessa grew deeper and deeper...

　　When I was learning embroidery, they were hiking.

　　When I was learning how to cook, they were reading together in the study.

　　When I was sick, they paraded in the streets and alleys and celebrated the festival together.

　　The wedding was set to be in three months.

　　Many people in the mansion began to worry about me.

　　Vanessa was doted on so much.

　　Once Vanessa entered the manor, there would be no place for me.

　　I touched my belly. I was worried that my pregnancy would be obvious after three months, and it would be difficult to hide it.

　　As I was lost in thought, Jadiel came.

　　A gust of wind blew, and the pear blossoms in the courtyard fluttered.

　　He was dressed in brocade black clothes embroidered with bamboo patterns, and his lips were straight.

　　"You sent gifts to Vanessa under my name?"

　　I nodded. "Yes."

　　Seeing his gloomy eyes, I quickly explained.

　　"Your wedding is around the corner. It's natural to send her some gifts."

　　"You really don't mind it?"

　　When I at the scrutinizing eyes of the person in front of me, my heart skipped a beat.

　　Why did he care about my feelings?

　　I smiled. "Vanessa and I are a family. How could I mind it?"

　　He looked up at me with a complicated expression. "Vanessa said that there were a lot of stains on the brocade. They were left by the servants. Be careful in the future."

　　The smile on my face faded.

　　Jadiel didn't care about my feelings at all. It turned out that he was here to deter me for her future wife.

　　My heart was calm. "Since the servants are incompetent, I will punish them severely."

　　"Not this time."

　　My smile was superficial. "I have to. Otherwise, Vanessa will think that you have opinions on her and I will be caught in between."

　　Jadiel stared at me with an indescribable expression. "Margaret, are you blaming me?"

　　The person in front of me was the future emperor.

　　I didn't dare to be careless. Soon, I lowered my eyes and pretended to be sad.

　　"Your Highness, as long as you have me in your heart, I don't mind it."

　　He seemed to be moved and held me in his arms.

　　The pear blossoms fell on us.

　　He sniffed the fragrance of the pear blossoms and was in a good mood.

　　"If you mind it, just say it."

　　Behind him, the smile on my face was a little ironic.

　　All my care for him in the past was exchanged for indifference.

　　The wedding was approaching.

　　I used sickness as an excuse to cancel the wedding preparations and left everything to the housekeeper.

　　Quite a few people revealed looks of confirmation.

　　How could I not be jealous?

　　However, Jadiel accepted it.

　　Compared to my previous life...

　　I didn't want to compete with Vanessa in this life. Instead, Jadiel cared more about me. From time to time, he would send people to deliver treasures and visit me in his spare time.

　　However, I had to be careful.

　　I learned embroidery and cooking at the same time.

　　Everyone thought that I was trying to curry favor with him by learning these crude jobs.

　　My future life wouldn't be rich, so, I was thinking about how to make my child live a comfortable life.

　　It was almost time for the delivery.

　　Wearing loose clothes, I said with a smile, "I had a nightmare recently. I want to go to the temple to pray after three days."

　　Jadiel worried about me and wanted to send someone to follow me, but I refused.

　　On the day of the departure, the carriage was stopped not long after it started.

　　Sure enough, just like in my previous life, Vanessa lifted the curtain and said gently, "I heard that you want to go to the temple. Why don't you go with us?"

　　I nodded.

　　The carriage headed south.

　　The mountain was steep and we had to walk.

　　I asked someone to help me get out of the carriage.

　　Vanessa inadvertently glanced at my loose clothes.

　　"Margaret, your clothes are so loose. Did you lose weight?"

　　I pretended not to care. "I don't have a good appetite recently."

　　There was a hint of pride in her gentle smile.

　　"I have a cook from the south. When I am married into the mansion, I'll let him serve you. He's good at cooking. Maybe, you'll have a better appetite."

　　I didn't reply and continued walking.

　　After arriving at the temple...

　　Sure enough, the sky was dark.

　　We were forced to stay overnight.

　　In the afternoon, it rained heavily.

　　I picked up my packed luggage and looked at the temple. In the end, I felt sympathetic for Vanessa.

　　I asked someone to send a letter to ask Vanessa to meet me in the hall at noon. I had something important to discuss with her.

　　Then, holding the umbrella, I stepped forward to the wooden house on the top of the mountain that had been prepared for a long time.

　　At night, the mountain collapsed, and the mud flows happened as scheduled.