I've lived soundly for two years. Why must they appear now?

The crown prince and Yuan entered the jewelry shop as I exited. I saw him look in my direction. I looked away as reflex to the other side so he couldn't see me.

But, the crown prince never seen my face once during our marriage. So there's no chance that he could have recognize me right? 

Wait, let me explain, I found out from Xiaoping's wife that I was still pure. I never had contact with the crown prince, even during the night of the wedding. We never consummated. I thought just by sharing the same bed once meant that we could have a child. 

I was told that I can conceive a child just by sharing my bed with my husband by the Chang concubines. I think I was very easy to trick when I was young. 

After the wedding night, I tried meeting the crown prince everyday, but I could never see him. Only in my dreams can I see him. I was so infatuated with the crown prince enough to see him in my dreams!

Even to today, he still looks as handsome as when I first saw him, but I can't think of him anymore. I've decided to lock--No, throw this feeling away.

It was the day of the Imperial family's banquet at Jasmine Tea House and a week since I've come across the crown prince and his lover. They must have went to get Yuan accessories. 

"Xiaoping, ask the cooks to make the foods the Imperial family ordered. Prepare the tables, decorate the tea house, and tell the entertainers to prepare as well. The imperial family will be our only customers for today until the evening. Also, I won't be returning for a few days because of some business so you're in charge."

"Yes, Madam."

After telling Xiaoping, I left for the jewelry shop. Although the jewelry shop was under construction, I am still selling jewelry on the first floor. Because I am the shop's owner, I can't always be gone. 

Dong Jufei is the manager here while I am gone. He's an old jewelry maker that had been taking care of the shop for my mother. He's got no wife, a bachelor for life. 

"Lady! Last week, just after you left, a couple came in and saw the new designs you brought! They loved it and asked when they were going to be ready. I wasn't sure if I could just sell it to them when the items aren't even made yet. We don't put people or their items on hold either. So I just told them to come back when the they are made"

"Hmmm. Good. Anything else?"

"Also, they say they'll pay a big value for it! And they pay in GOLD! Lady, in GOLD, they say!"

"Grandpa Jufei, it's just gold. It doesn't matter. It's money that they could thrown away at any moment."

"Young lady, gold is valuable!"

"I know it is. The purchaser must be the crown prince and his lover."

"Y-you knew?!"

I did. I saw them walk in, actually. After the Dong Jufei's report, I went to look at the repairings upstairs. The Ji siblings did a great job. All the designs are very well made. The flowers on the walls looks alive and so does the animals.

A month went by fast and the construction of the second floor of the Jewelry shop was finished. I haven't been to the tea shop at all for the month. For some reason, a lot of ideas came to me for the designs of my next batch of jewelries. 

I met the crown prince at the Jewelry store and he did not recognize me at all. We had eight years of marriage and he couldn't recognize me at all? I am very annoyed but relieved at the same time. 

I only stood by the counter looking at the newly made jewelries as the crown prince talked to Dong Jufei about the accessories he saw last time. 

Then I heard something.

"Is she your daughter?" The crown prince asked.

I was shocked. My heart was beating very fast. Why talk about me?

"My daughter? You can say that." Dong Jufei replied looking at me.

I sigh of relief and put back the jewelries I was holding. Then, I went down to the first floor.

Is he interested in me? No, that can't be. I thought to myself, denying that fact.

Then, Dong Jufei came down stair stumbling. He whispered to me, "Madam, the crown prince wants to have a chat with you!"

I only nodded but on the inside, I was freaking out. Does he remember? Does he? DOES HE?

I went back upstairs to meet the crown prince. He smiled. He smiled? Why?

"I heard you are the one who made these designs," he said.

Damn Grandpa Jufei! Why did he have to tell the crown prince that?

"I did."

"I would like for you to come to the palace. These designs are very unique."

Can I please not go?  This was the first time we had a real conversation! But I don't want to go there. 

"I am a widow. I do not want to taint the palace." 

Widows are not usually invited to the palace because it was said that because the Emperor always marry, a widow is bad luck for the wives.

"A widow? You've married?" He questioned.

"Yes. I was." 

The crown prince seemed shocked then he looked at me up and down, giving me chills. 

"I see," he said, "I'll marry you then."

"E-Excuse me?! I am a widow! Mister, we barely just met. I don't know who you are nor do you know who I am. I am also too old for marriage... I still grieve for the death of my husband!" The last sentence, I just blurt out. It's not even true. My husband before is the crown prince. We already divorced! Yet, he wants to marry me?

"Let me introduce myself. I am the crown prince Ye. I ask for your hand in marriage." 

Of course, I already know that! 

"No. No. Crown prince Ye, I deeply am grieved with the death of my husband! I don't think I can love anyone else than him!"

"Tomorrow morning, I'll send for you," he said and left me on the second floor.

I couldn't sleep at all. I got up with dark eye circles. Is he for reals? I looked outside and a luxurious sedan was waiting outside. But am I seeing things? It's still only three in the morning. 

I grabbed my things and prepared to leave the jewelry shop. I don't think I could work there when the crown prince is trying to get me. I left a note for Dong Jufei so that when he comes to the jewelry shop, he'll understand. 

I went downstairs, but to my surprise, the crown prince was already waiting for me. But it's three in the morning! Shouldn't he be at the palace? 

"You're awake," he said.

"Crown prince Ye, what brings you here in the early morning? We haven't opened yet."

"I decided to come check on you, my bride."

"I'm sorry? I thought you were joking--"

"I never joke about marriage."

"Then what about our first marriage?" I blurted out. My face was flushed red and ran back upstairs.

Me and my mouth! I just blurt it out again! Arggh!!! Why-why-why-why-why-why!!!!

I locked myself in my bedroom and calmed myself down. Then, I went onto my bed and said everything is nothing but a nightmare.

Too soft. The bed is too soft. I didn't like my bed this soft. My back hurts also. Sleeping on soft beds makes my back hurt. Uncomfortable! 

I woke up and saw differences about my room. It's too glorious. I couldn't afford it. I didn't even ask the Ji siblings to make my room this glorious. 

I stood up automatically and saw maids in front of me.

"Crown Princess is finally awake!" One of the maids yelled. "Go and tell Crown Prince Ye!"

I'm back in the palace?! It can't be! I tried to get off the bed but I couldn't. I fell back down onto the bed. My head feels dizzy. 

"Chang Su Jin, I've finally found you after two years," I heard a man's voice. My eyes was blurred and I couldn't see the man's figure. 

"Crown Prince?" I tried to clear my mind and squint to see the figure in front of me.

"Chang Su Jin, my wife. Why did you run away? Am I not a good husband?"

"Crown Prince."

"You said I was dead? Your husband was dead and you are grieving?"

"Crown--"

"I love you!"

I got up and looked at the crown prince. What did he just say? Why is he blaming me? 

"I left because you love another!" My brain was aching and I was irritated that the crown prince was blaming me. "You've never paid me any attention nor sent me anything. You love my sister!" Tears flowed out from my eyes like a river.

The crown prince looked at me and wiped my tears away. 

"Why now..." I cried.

"Chang Su Jin. I've never loved your sister--"

"You lie. I saw it. You can talk to her but you can't talk to me. You can laugh with her but you can't laugh with me. I asked for too much and now I can't have anything."

"Listen, Su Jin. I don't know how to talk to you. You are my wife. I don't know how to make you happy. I want to make you to be happy. I asked your sister to help me to get to me to get to know you. I learned that you were very close with your sister so I asked her to help me."

"Excuses. Only excuses."

Then, I felt a something touch my lips. A kiss, he gave. A push, I did. 

"I don't trust. I know I am dumb. So dumb that I've been played all my life by my family and you. I don't want to do this." I said and left the room. 

The crown prince took hold of me. He hugged from behind. I struggled to get him off me. I couldn't. Something in me made me stop struggling. 

"Give me a chance, my princess."

That was all it took to bring out that feeling that I've thrown away.

Two years already went by. I still don't believe his words. If he really loved me, he would show it, even if he is the emperor now. 

But, now that I'm his empress and is pregnant with his child, what should I do? It was only by mistake that I became pregnant. I shouldn't have.

Nine months pregnant. I don't know how to bring this child into this world. living in this palace is not good at all. After all, I believe I was given poison many times already. I don't even want to eat the palace food. I feel like everything is just trying to kill me and the child I have.

At last, I gave birth to a boy, who was now called crown prince. 

Four years passed and my little baby's grown. I let him sit on my lap.

"A-Li, my baby, your mama wants to tell you a story... There was once a daughter...."

~The End~