The entire Fu family went silent.
Aunt Fu's jaw dropped as she stared at the mountains of bundles being carried down from the Su family carriage. Fine cloth. Food. Medicines. Thick cloaks. Tools. Even boxes of sealed containers.
It looked less like exile preparations…
And more like a royal dowry.
I stepped forward.
The carriage curtains lifted, and my parents, Master Su and Madame Sucame down together. Their faces were pale with worry. Right behind them, my two elder brothers, Su Yan and Su Zhan, followed closely.
They surrounded me immediately.
"Long'er!"
Mother pulled me into a firm embrace.
"Did you eat? Are you hurt? Did anyone bully you?"
Father cupped my face, scanning me from head to toe, eyes dark with fury and heartache.
"You've lost weight."
My brothers said nothing, but their expressions were stormy.
Then Master Su turned… and walked straight toward Fu Sheng.
Master Fu and both his sons bowed respectfully.
But Master Su ignored them completely.
His gaze fixed only on Fu Sheng cold and cutting.
"I entrusted my daughter to you," he said slowly. "I told you to protect and cherish her."
His voice sharpened.
"Not send her to exile."
The air froze.
"Even after hearing about your demotion, I did not break the marriage out of respect for my years of friendship with Old Master Fu." His jaw clenched. "But now my daughter must suffer exile alongside you?"
Fu Sheng lowered his head slightly.
"I apologize, Father-in-law," he said calmly. "This matter… is my responsibility."
He glanced at me briefly before continuing.
"But I give you my word. Even in the Barren Lands, Su Long will not suffer. I will protect her. I will provide for her. Whatever life she desires, I will make it happen."
Silence.
Then Su Zhan let out a sharp laugh.
"Save your empty promises."
Everyone turned toward him.
"Just be ready," he said coldly. "When the annulment papers reach the Barren Lands... sign them immediately."
The Fu family gasped.
Madame Fu's hand trembled.
"A–annulment?"
Master Fu looked shaken. "Brother Su… let's discuss this calmly—"
But Master Su cut him off.
"There is nothing to discuss."
His voice was ice.
"My daughter will NOT live in hardship because of you."
Aunt Fu burst into laughter.
"Oh my, so the mighty Su family is finally waking up? Hah! That useless girl is finally being sent back where she belongs."
Uncle Fu smirked openly.
"Good. Less trouble for us."
Grandma Fu said nothing.
She just watched.
Expression unreadable.
Meanwhile, Bai Ming's smile stiffened.
If Su Long leaves… then all those supplies leave with her too and she would leave them as they suffer while she gets an easy life back in her mansion.
That thought clearly hurt more than the annulment itself.
Fu Sheng didn't argue. He didn't defend himself. His face remained calm… resigned.
Obviously unbothered, he was tied of Su Long but because he was a man with principle he never brought up annulment even with all her evil acts towards him and his family, especially his boys.
But I—
I frowned.
Hard.
Then stepped toward my father.
"Father," I said evenly. "What annulment are you talking about? Why will I annul my marriage?"
My father went completely still.
My mother stared at me like she misheard.
Both my brothers slowly turned their heads toward me.
Because instead of crying or begging to leave…
I calmly asked,
"Father, why are you talking about annulling my marriage?"
Master Su frowned in confusion.
"Long'er, of course we will annul it. We will bring you home. You don't have to follow them into exile."
But I shook my head.
"Why would I do that?"
Silence fell over the entire gate.
Everyone Fu family, guards, servants just stared.
I glanced at Fu Sheng for a second, then looked back at my parents.
"Didn't I promise to stay with my husband through thick and thin?" I said softly.
"Now that his family is in trouble, how could I walk away?"
The reaction was instant.
Fu Li leaned toward Fu Fei and whispered loudly,
"Did she hit her head?"
Fu Fei looked just as stunned.
"I don't know anymore… she has been acting so strange since last night, I didn't think she'll do anything more shocking but I was dead wrong."
Madame Fu and Master Fu exchanged speechless looks.
Even Grandma Fu frowned deeply.
"Has that girl finally gone crazy?" she muttered.
Fu Jia's jaw dropped open.
Bai Ming stared at me like she forgot how to blink.
And Fu Sheng…
He looked at me as if he'd never seen me before.
He was obviously surprised, probably asking himself what was going on in my little head and why is was just acting different and strange.
My mother stepped closer, still stunned.
"Long'er… you hate discomfort. You panic when things get hard. How can you choose exile?"
My eldest brother Su Yan added gently,
"You don't need to act strong. We can take you home."
Su Zhan scoffed slightly.
"You complain when tea is too hot... and now you're talking about hardship?"
Their confusion was real.
Because the daughter they raised…
Would never have said such a thing.
But I just met their eyes and smiled slightly.
"I'm not leaving my husband or his family."
Silence fell again.
Su Long's parents were wealthy.. and her father had a lot of connections so getting an annulment wasn't going to be much of a problem.
All she had to do was wait and reach the barren lands in one piece where she could get annoyed and return back to her princess lifestyle
Yet her stupidity cost her, her life. She never got to reach the barren lands and died in the hands of a bear.
But this case will be different. I won't annul this marriage. I won't die and I will surely reach the barren lands.
I raised my hand toward Fu Sheng, frowning.
"Are you really just going to stand there and say nothing while my parents talk about separating us?"
My voice shook slightly.
"Even if you don't care about this marriage anymore, you could at least pretend you do."
Everyone just kept quiet and watched us quietly, the guards simple enjoying this family's drama.
Fu Sheng looked straight at me really looked then calmly took my wrist and lowered my hand. My fingers slipped out of his grasp as he let go.
His face stayed calm.
Then he turned to my father.
"Father-in-law," he said slowly, "I will make sure Su Long reaches the Barren Lands safely. No danger will come to her while she is with me."
Master Su's eyes narrowed.
Fu Sheng continued,
"But when we arrive… if she still wants to end the marriage, I won't stop her."
His words were sharp and final.
Like a door closing.
He truly believed I would leave him. That, in the end, I would choose comfort over him just like the original Su Long
Master Su finally sighed.
"That's enough. We'll discuss this later."
Then he waved to the servants.
"Unload everything."
And they did.
Food. Warm clothes. Thick blankets. Boots. Medicines. Tools. Lanterns. Cooking pots. Meat. Dried fruit. Rice. Knives. Rope. Herbs. Water skins. Even soap, oil, and brushes.
More and more things piled up in front of the Fu family.
Everyone stared.
Uncle Fu started counting in disbelief.
Aunt Fu's jaw dropped.
Bai Ming froze.
Grandma Fu's eyes widened.
Even the guards were shocked.
And I stood there quietly…
Watching the proof of how much my family had prepared to protect me.
How much they valued me.
Fu Sheng looked at the supplies.
Then at me.
For a second, something complicated flashed in his eyes.
But he said nothing, probably still thinking all the supplies will be given to Fu Fong and His family.. well lucky for him, he got a new wife delivered to his Doorstep.