After a long time, Bai Yunxi stirred beneath the soft sheets, her brows twitching slightly as she began to wake. Pale morning light streamed through the window, casting a gentle, ethereal glow across the room.
Her lashes fluttered open, and she sat up slowly, instinctively drawing the silken covers closer to her chest. Turning her head, she saw Su Kang sitting in a chair nearby, watching her quietly with a tender expression.
"Why didn't you wake me up sooner?" she asked, her voice still thick and warm with drowsiness.
Su Kang walked over to the bed. "I didn't want to disturb your rest," he replied gently, his voice a low murmur. "You were utterly exhausted. I thought it best to let you sleep a little longer." He climbed onto the bed beside her and presented a small, intricately carved storage ring.
Bai Yunxi blinked, puzzled. "What is it?"
"I received this after visiting my parents this morning. They gave it to me—no," he corrected himself, a soft smile playing on his lips as he placed it carefully into her palm, "they gave it to you. A gift from them to their daughter-in-law." His smile was light, but his eyes lingered on her, observing her reaction intently.
Her breath caught sharply. For a moment, she didn't speak, simply staring at the ring as her mind raced to process his words. Then, without a word, she lunged forward, throwing her arms around him and burying her face deeply in his chest.
Su Kang gently embraced her, his hand caressing the smooth skin of her back as she trembled slightly, overwhelmed, in his arms.
She had braced herself for polite distance, perhaps even veiled disapproval from his parents. But this… this was profoundly different, an unexpected gesture of welcome.
"I thought... I thought they saw me as a shame, something to be hidden away," she whispered, her voice cracking with emotion.
"But even if they can't show it openly… they still acknowledged me, truly recognizing me as their daughter-in-law." Her fingers clutched tightly at the fabric of his robe. "Husband… thank you. This finally feels like a real home," she murmured against his chest, tears welling.
Su Kang kissed the crown of her head tenderly. "You don't need to thank me, Xi'er. This is your home now—no, it's our home." He hugged her warm body tightly, a silent promise in his hold.
They remained like that until her emotions calmed. She wiped her eyes, cheeks flushed from the sudden outburst, and offered him a gentle, tear-streaked smile. He met her gaze meaningfully. "I don't cry often," she said softly, "but sometimes I can't help it."
He nodded silently, refraining from teasing her. Shifting their focus, he said, "Shall we see what's inside?" and poured the contents of the storage ring onto the bed.
A luxurious red robe emerged, woven with intricate blue patterns that seemed to flow like water. The embroidery shimmered faintly, revealing a phoenix and a qilin dancing gracefully across the fabric.
The craftsmanship was exquisite, far surpassing anything found in an ordinary market.
Next came a blue jade pendant, cool to the touch and pulsing gently with spiritual energy, its edges lined with delicate inscriptions forming protective defensive seals.
There was also a slender jade hairpin, its tip shaped like a blooming lotus, and a vibrant green bangle carved from pure spiritual jade, its surface smooth and gleaming with elegance.
The symbolism of the lotus hairpin was unmistakable: though her past was difficult and muddy, she was to bloom despite it, like a lotus rising pure from the mire. She was no longer just a tragic widow.
Su Kang smiled softly and reached out, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "They're yours now," he said. "My mother must have chosen them herself with great care."
Bai Yunxi cradled the robe in her lap, her fingers tracing the intricate stitching of an embroidered qilin. A soft swallow was the only sound she made.
The phoenix, vibrant and soaring was a clear mirror of her own journey—from grieving widow to cherished wife.
The qilin, however, carried a heavier implication than mere auspiciousness or nobility. It pointed directly towards legacy— Su Kang's legacy, his future children.
It also meant her children with him would be considered noble, carrying the Su family's name not as a stain, but with pride and honor.
Did they send this intentionally, or was it whatever they could quickly gather? Bai Yunxi wondered, her heart fluttering. She couldn't imagine her mother-in-law would be eager for her to become pregnant now, with the future so uncertain.
It was something neither she nor they desired at this moment. Given Mother-in-law's cautious nature, it couldn't be mere coincidence. It must be intentional.
Having experienced much in life, Bai Yunxi soon understood the deeper meaning. It was a symbolic gesture, expressing a hope that she would bring fortune and children to the family in the future.
Dong Yue was not asking her to become pregnant; instead, she was hoping Bai Yunxi would help Su Kang navigate the dangers ahead, allowing his legacy to continue.
They were counting on her to handle the situation with Li Fang peacefully. In their eyes, she now bore the weight of Su Kang's survival—and the continuation of his legacy.
This quiet gesture from her in-laws meant more than a thousand words. They were entrusting their son's life and legacy into her hands, hoping she would bring fortune for him, not disaster.
And in that silent moment, surrounded by gifts of acknowledgement and trust, Bai Yunxi felt the last remnants of her fear finally melt away, replaced by a burgeoning sense of belonging and determination to protect her husband.
"Let's try them on," Su Kang said with a chuckle. "I want to see you in these clothes."
He took her wrist and pulled her out of bed. Bai Yunxi laughed quietly and let him do as he pleased. The afternoon passed in quiet joy, filled with light touches, laughter, and tender, affectionate moments.
….
Evening had fallen by the time Su Kang finished his cultivation. He stepped out of his room and changed into a lavish navy-blue robe embroidered with intricate golden patterns.
The fabric shimmered faintly under the warm lantern light, and on his chest, a small golden lion emblem—the Su family's insignia—gleamed with understated pride.
Tonight marked the return of many Su family members, a rare gathering. Guests were not permitted, so Su Kang didn't bring Bai Yunxi; moreover, he knew his First Uncle—the current family head—might not approve of their relationship if he discovered her identity.
He made his way toward the main clan hall. Bright light spilled from its tall windows, and the lively sound of voices and hearty laughter drifted through the crisp evening air.
Distant courtyards echoed with merriment, and the scent of festive cooking mingled with the night's coolness. The Su Manor, recently subdued, now pulsed with vibrant life and anticipation.
Inside the grand banquet hall, long tables were arranged according to age and status. The main seats for the elders were still conspicuously empty, but the tables reserved for the younger generation were already bustling with familiar, animated faces.
Su Kang walked toward the designated area, a faint smile playing on his lips.
A man in his early thirties, dressed in elegant white and blue robes adorned with the golden lion emblem, his shoulder-length hair neatly tied back, looked up and spotted him first, his eyes lighting up.
"Su Kang! Finally, we're seeing you again after such a long time," the man called out with a wide, welcoming grin. It was his eldest cousin, Su Liang—the family head's eldest son, and the next in line to lead the family.
Several others turned to look as well, their conversations momentarily pausing. Among them was Su Feng, dressed in a lavish white robe laced with intricate golden patterns, his short hair framing a handsome, composed face.
He was the eldest son of his youngest uncle, and the elder brother of Su Cheng and Su Ying.
Su Kang smiled as he approached. "I've been at the manor for months. You all were the ones missing—don't blame me for not showing up sooner."
Su Feng chuckled, a rich sound. "I had to go to the Cangwu Region for work."
Nearby, Su Wei let out a deep sigh. A sharp-eyed, lean youth with a calm demeanor, he was dressed neatly, radiating the aura of a shrewd merchant more than a cultivator.
"While you were off with Fifth Elder, and Aunt Dong Yue left too, I was left handling all the family's business matters. Everything fell on me, as usual. I didn't even have time to breathe."
"No wonder you've lost weight! I thought you'd found a girl and were working day and night to give the Su family some new blood!" a young man burst out laughing, a playful and carefree smile plastered across his face. He was Su Jiao.
Laughter erupted around the table, a warm and familiar sound. Su Kang took his seat, then glanced toward Su Liang. "By the way, where were you? I didn't see Sister-in-law or children either."
Su Liang adjusted his sleeve, his tone calm but pleasant. "I was tasked with personally visiting several clans for negotiations and formal talks. My wife wanted to visit her maternal family, so I also brought her and children to the Lin Clan."