The moon was big and bright in the sky, shining over the Shu Family estate. Inside, Shu Yi knelt on the cold floor, facing a bunch of old, grumpy elders. Her hands shook a little, but she wasn't scared.
"I'm not marrying into the Bai Clan," Shu Yi said loudly.
The oldest elder, Shu Zheng, leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. His beard swayed as he spoke. "You don't get to decide, Shu Yi. The Bai Clan will make our family stronger. Your job is to listen to us, not talk back."
Shu Yi clenched her fists but stayed calm. "And what if I say no?"
The room went so quiet you could hear a pin drop. The other elders started whispering angrily until Shu Zheng slammed his cane on the ground.
"If you refuse, you are no longer part of the Shu Family," he said sharply.
Shu Yi lifted her head and stared him right in the eye. "Fine," she said, her voice steady. "Kick me out. I'd rather be on my own than be treated like some bargaining chip."
Gasps filled the room. No one had ever dared talk to the elders like that.
---
As Shu Yi walked out of the hall, her heart felt heavy, but her steps were firm. She glanced back at the giant house where she had grown up. It didn't feel like home anymore.
She touched the small pouch tied to her waist. Inside were her most important belongings: a few rare herbs, her notebook of alchemy recipes, and a jade pendant she'd had since she was a baby.
The night was cool and quiet as she walked past the gates. Her chest tightened, but she muttered to herself, "I'll show them. They'll regret letting me go."
---
Later that night, Shu Yi was sitting in a quiet forest. She was tired and decided to make a potion to give herself more energy.
She lit a small fire and got to work, mixing her herbs carefully. After a while, the potion started glowing faintly. "Perfect!" Shu Yi said with a smile. She poured it into a small bottle and drank it in one go.
At first, nothing happened. Then, her legs started shaking.
"Wait… what's this?" Shu Yi yelped, stumbling around. Her arms flailed wildly, and she fell face-first into a bush.
She groaned and pulled herself up, twigs and leaves stuck in her hair. "Seriously?!" she muttered. "I grabbed the wrong herb. This is a shaking potion, not an energy one!"
She sighed and dusted herself off. "Well, at least I didn't poison myself. Small wins, I guess."