A few steps away Emilia stood watching her lady whose gaze was unfocused and cheeks withdrawn. The image before her was a far cry from the young lady of two years ago. A sigh barely escaped her lips as she tried to recall that proud beauty.

Lady Fae was born into wealth, and power. However she was born a girl. The fate of a female has always been indistinct. At birth every household whether rich or poor would test the child's spiritual roots. Hers just happened to be of an inferior quality, mediocre at best. In wealthy households children with no talent in cultivation would be given away in order to hide the family's flaws. However if the child was female and just happened to be able to cultivate, albeit at a slower pace, then they were raised with the intention of becoming a cauldron. One that could help the family gain social or political advantage in a society ruled by the strong. This was exactly the fate of Fae, she was given away in exchange for a few mediocre connections. Her cultivation had stagnated but at least her husband had not disposed of her cultivation entirely, as he was ent.i.tled to do.

She came from the Willow Clan, a clan steeped in rich history, however she had come to marry into new money, into the inferior Darten family. To be fair her family wished her to have a good life as the head of a household, something she was only ent.i.tled to in a family such as the Dartens'. However her familys goodwill fell short as only a year after marriage she has now been demoted to a concubine, while her husband, a Mr Edward Darten has decided to bring in a low borne as his official wife. The Dartens truly had the guts of a lion, daring to make the fool of herself as the low born woman is pregnant with his child.

Of course it must be noted that it is difficult for a cultivator to have children even with the longer life expectancy. However her husband Edward just had to be blessed. Two women pregnant with his offspring. His family was celebrating and would continue to do so. The chances of the child being a cultivator increases with a lineage of cultivators. Which is why it was so hard for Fae to understand how he could discard her a week after finding out that Fae was pregnant as the other woman was not a cultivator. Yet was this not to be expected. Her eyes drifted to the balcony. Ever since she was born her future held little prospects.

--

When the sun started to set a gentle breeze drifted through the room. Fae turned to face her sister who had come through uninvited. Her sister of course was younger then herself and yet had amazing talent, her spiritual roots were purple which was the highest it could be. Spiritual roots decided how much qi could be cultivated and how fast. They were ranked by colour, which in descending order were purple, blue, red, orange, yellow and white. Purple and blue being high grade spiritual roots, while red and orange are medium followed by yellow and white which is low grade.

So while Fae was born with orange graded roots and was allowed to cultivate, her sister was praised and allowed the best elixirs and cultivation manuals. The biggest factor in Fae's jealousy was that her sister could marry who ever she wants or she could even opt to find her soulmate. Her jealousy was what kept the two sisters apart and yet here her sister was.

"Why are you here?" Fae did not expect her voice to sound so broken so she turned away from her fairy like sister in hopes of hiding her misting eyes.

'How are you? I read the letter you wrote mamma.'

*At least she didn't ask about my marriage.* "I had that dream five days ago."

'Yes but it's a bad omen. A women looking just like you, dying while pregnant. I read your stars.'

"And?"

'You will have 2 sons and a daughter. However your daughter has ill faith. She will die young or cause your family to die, that includes your sons.'

"How heartless can you be-"

'I spoke to my master, she says there is a way to save the child...'