Bai Ming stood frozen in place, staring at my bundles in disbelief. There was nothing inside them. No dagger. No hidden weapons. No evidence at all. Her face slowly drained of color as the reality sank in.
I let out a small, calm laugh and stepped closer to her.
"Since you were confident enough to accuse me," I said evenly, "why don't we check your bundles too? After all, only someone familiar with such tricks would think of them so quickly."
The courtyard instantly fell silent.
My brothers immediately supported me.
"She's right," one of them said sharply. "If Su Long can be suspected, then everyone should be. Search Bai Ming's belongings as well."
The Head Guard hesitated only briefly before nodding.
"Search her things."
His men moved at once.
The Fu family watched tensely.
Meanwhile, Bai Ming's lips trembled as she panicked.
"W–Wait… why are you searching mine? I didn't do anything!"
But no one listened.
The guards opened her bundles carefully, checking through everything: some clothes, foodstuffs, and personal items.
Then suddenly, there was a sharp metallic clink.
Everyone froze.
Slowly, the guard lifted his hand.
And in it… was a dagger.
The same dagger she had planted in my belongings.
Gasps rippled through the courtyard.
Grandma Fu's eyes widened in disbelief.
Fu Jia covered her mouth.
Even Fu Sheng's expression darkened as he stared at the weapon.
Bai Ming took a shaky step backward, shaking her head desperately.
"N–No… that's not mine. I don't know how it got there! I swear!"
But her voice sounded weak. She couldn't even stand straight as she staggered slightly.
The Head Guard's expression turned cold.
"This weapon was hidden inside your bundles," he said firmly. "Explain yourself."
Everyone turned to look at her.
No one defended her.
Not even Fu Fong. He simply stared at his wife in silence, his face unreadable.
I stood calmly to the side, saying nothing. I didn't need to.
The truth was already clear.
And in that moment, Bai Ming finally understood…
The trap she had set for me
had snapped shut on her instead.
"I-I-I didn't put it there… I swear… please b-believe me…" She was already in tears as she got hold of my bundles. She immediately walked toward them, emptying them out as she poured everything that was in them onto the ground.
"You… what the hell are you doing?!" Fu Li shouted.
"She's mad, I tell you, completely mad…" Su Zhan said in complete disgust.
"N-no… it can't be possible." She was absolutely confused about how on earth the dagger disappeared from Su Long's bags and appeared in hers.
"You dared to sneak in a dagger and still try to frame someone else… you will be punished for this," the Head Guard said, his voice deep and sharp.
He signaled his men to take her, but she quickly ran toward Fu Fong, gripping his arm desperately.
"Fu Fong, y-you know I didn't do it. Please explain to them…" she muttered, but Fu Fong just looked at her with disgust and pushed her away as she landed hard on the ground.
"You are just a big fool… don't you dare touch me!" he said angrily. Despite trying to please me, his hatred for Bai Ming wasn't even an act.
Bai Ming trembled where she stood, tears streaming down her face as the guards stepped toward her. Her mind was spinning, and panic clawed at her chest.
This wasn't how it was supposed to go.
Her plan was perfect.
So why… why was the dagger in her bundle?
She looked at me and something inside her snapped.
"You!" she shouted, her voice cracking as she pointed straight at me. "You did this! You set me up!"
Before anyone could react, she charged forward like a madwoman, eyes blazing with desperation and hate.
But she never reached me.
Fu Sheng stepped in front of me instantly, his arm out like a shield. His expression turned icy.
"Enough," he said coldly. "You will not touch her."
Bai Ming glared at him through her tears.
"Move!" she screamed. "She's the one—!"
But before she could finish, I gently pushed Fu Sheng aside and stepped forward on my own.
If she wanted me so badly…
Then she could face me directly.
Her eyes widened for a brief second, just before my hand came down across her face.
The slap echoed.
PA!
Bai Ming's head snapped to the side. Her already swollen cheek turned bright red as she staggered backward, nearly falling.
The entire Fu family went silent.
Even the guards paused.
I looked at her calmly, my voice low and steady.
"That," I said, "is for trying to frame me."
Bai Ming stared at me in shock, one hand slowly lifting to her burning cheek. She opened her mouth like she wanted to scream back…
But no words came out because my hand landed on her face once again.
"And that is for still having the guts to lay your hands on me!"
Everyone was frozen.
Even the wind seemed to stop.
Fu Li pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh. But a small giggle still slipped out, followed by Fu Fei's amused snort.
They quickly lowered their heads, pretending to be serious, but their shoulders kept shaking.
Fu Tong blinked, then leaned toward Fu Teng.
"…I think I like our new sister-in-law," he whispered.
Fu Teng nodded slowly. "She's… frightening. But in a good way."
Fu Sheng didn't say a word, but the corner of his lips curved ever so slightly. For once, he didn't hide it. He looked satisfied.
Very satisfied.
Madame Su and Master Su exchanged a proud glance from the side.
"We raised her well," their eyes seemed to say. "Our daughter will never be bullied."
Meanwhile, Bai Ming stood trembling, cheeks swollen and eyes watery not just from the pain, but from humiliation.
The same woman she had mocked and targeted had just slapped her in front of everyone.
Twice.
And no one stepped in to save her.
Not even her husband.
The Head Guard broke the silence first. His voice was cold and firm.
"That is enough. Bai Ming, you brought a forbidden weapon into an exile convoy and attempted to frame someone else for it. This is a serious offense."
He signaled to his men.
"Take away all her belongings. She goes with nothing. And her food portion will be reduced to once a day. Take her and give her fifteen strokes. That will be for framing an innocent person."
Two guards stepped forward and seized her by the arms.
Bai Ming finally broke.
"No! Let go! I didn't do it!" she cried, struggling desperately. "Fu Fong! Say something! Help me! Mother! Father!"
But Fu Fong simply looked at her with disgust, then turned away.
He didn't spare her another glance. His mother, however, just looked red with anger not angry that her daughter-in-law was being taken away, but because all the supplies were now gone. How would they survive?
Bai Ming was dragged away, the same woman who thought she could control everything.
Now reduced to nothing.
I stood there quietly, calm and composed.
The storm she created…
Had drowned her instead.
**** NEXT CHAPTER PREVIEW****
"Is sister in-law truly giving us her supplies... No way?"
"Yes way!"