Chapter 924: Forced Marriage 1

"I still want you."

Ji Yingjie's gaze was burning hot.

"Pah! Shameless!"

Shi Yucheng said with disdain: "You're at such an age, yet you still act like a young person, hanging love and affection on your lips all day long; aren't you ashamed?"

"Shi Yucheng, this is my territory. I do whatever I want. It is your good fortune that I have taken a fancy to you; don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit."

Her patience had already been worn thin.

Ji Yingjie had held power in the Ji Family for decades; she had always had everything go her way, and as long as she set her sights on something, there was nothing she couldn't get her hands on.

Now, she had merely taken a fancy to an old man, so why was it proving to be such an effort?

She decided not to waste any more breath on him.

"I will ask you one last time: do you agree to be my man or not?"

"I do not agree; I wouldn't agree even if I died." Shi Yucheng was exceptionally firm.

If the two of them were just keeping each other warm as companions, he would agree.

But she wanted him to be one of her many men; Shi Yucheng was furious—at his age, he was still to be kept as a mistress?

No, absolutely not.

Ji Yingjie: "If you don't agree, you will grow old and die here; don't even think about leaving the Ji Family for the rest of your life."

"Hmph! So what if I'm not willing? What can you do to me? The worst that can happen is grinding soy milk; how big of a deal is that?"

However, this time Shi Yucheng had guessed wrong.

Grinding soy milk was indeed hard work, and Ji Yingjie was indeed very angry, but she did not punish him by sending him back to continue grinding soy milk; instead, she kept him in her own Bedchamber to serve as the lowest-ranking palace man!

Those petty people who had originally framed Shi Yucheng were also transferred over, and Ji Yingjie, with a malicious heart, made them work together.

She also laid down the word: "Do whatever you want with him, make him suffer a little."

Those people had already been jealous and envious of Shi Yucheng, so naturally, they would not let such an opportunity pass.

Every day they thought of new ways to torment him, making his life miserable.

Doing the dirtiest and most tiring work, lack of sleep, not getting enough to eat—actually, none of these were the main issue.

What Shi Yucheng couldn't stand the most was—every day, these men would scramble to fawn over Ji Yingjie!

Men putting on a "coquettish and charming" act in front of a woman was as disgusting as it could possibly be.

Shi Yucheng didn't want to watch, but he couldn't help it.

Ji Yingjie deliberately let him see these scenes, and the men would even fight to compete for her favor.

It wasn't the kind of fighting where you give me a punch and I return a punch!

It was scratching with fingernails, crying while fighting, making a scene, and threatening suicide.

Living in such an environment was torture for Shi Yucheng every single minute; he really couldn't take it anymore, and the thought of escaping became incomparably intense.

He didn't adapt to the environment as Ji Yingjie had expected; instead, he ran away time and time again, only to be caught and brought back time and time again.

……

Lao Qi had never left; he lived in the Forest not far from the Ji Family.

He had built a simple little house out of wood and thatch in the Forest; although the house was simple, it was not small, and Xiaobai's family of three lived with him.

Every day, the three wolves would sponge off Lao Qi in his shack, and in return, they would go to the Ji Family to inquire about the situation within the clan and then tell him.

Therefore, although Lao Qi was in the Forest, he knew everything that happened in the Ji Family every day like the back of his hand.

He also knew that during these days, Ji Yingjie's entire attention was on Shi Yucheng, and she had no mind to manage Meiyin and Nianyin.

A bold plan took shape.

On a dark and windy night.

Lao Qi snuck into Nianyin's room.

"Who?"

Nianyin was very alert; hearing a slight movement in the room while in her sleep, she immediately leaped up from the bed and accurately clamped her hand around Lao Qi's throat in a chokehold.

"It's me."

She let go and said in astonishment: "Why is it you? How did you get in? Has anyone discovered you?"

Lao Qi pulled her into his arms: "Don't speak, just let me hold you."

Everything outside was as usual, without a sound, which meant he hadn't been discovered; Nianyin felt a bit more at ease.

"I miss you, Nianyin, do you know? I miss you so much, every moment, not stopping for even a second..."

Her hands wrapped around his waist, and she said softly: "I miss you too, but you are too bold. Since you ran out, you shouldn't have come back. It's very dangerous here, do you know?"

"You are different from Uncle Shi; Mother won't do anything to him, but if she discovers you, you won't survive."

"It doesn't matter, she can't discover me."

Lao Qi said: "Come with me, take our child, and let the three of us fly far away to live a free and unfettered life outside. No one will boss you around, I will listen to everything you say, you can do whatever you want, okay?"

Such a life had always been what Nianyin longed for; she wanted to agree, but she couldn't!

"No, what kind of nonsense are you talking about? In the Ji Family, I am below one person but above ten thousand, possessing supreme power and countless jewels and wealth. Would I go out there with you to suffer and endure hardship? Stop dreaming, leave quickly."

"Come with me, take the child, and we will go to the Shi Family to exchange back our son." Lao Qi was very stubborn.

"Don't think that just because you speak harshly, I will believe you. I have already lost you once; this time, no matter what, I will not let go."

Nianyin shed tears: "Why must you be like this?"

"There are so many good girls outside, and your conditions are so excellent; wouldn't it be better to marry a wife whose maternal family doesn't have so much trouble and give birth to a few children who belong entirely to you..."

This was the most ideal state: a family living together.

A home with only a father, mother, and children, with no one else bossing them around, and even less chance of anyone forcibly swapping their child for someone else's.

A complete and whole family.

"Mmm..."

She hadn't finished her sentence, and could no longer go on.

Lao Qi sealed her lips with his.

Outside, a storm raged, while inside the room, the scene was filled with amorous splendor...

Near daybreak, Lao Qi left, feeling fully satisfied.

The Square.

People gathered all around, in groups of three or five, whispering to each other.

"Good heavens! Is this a divine oracle from the heavens?"

"It must be; I have never seen such a spectacle before."

"The Bai Lang are intelligent and possess spiritual energy; do you think they are doing this under someone's instruction?"

"Could it be..."

"It's possible!"

Under the gaze of the people, Big White, Beautiful White, and Little White were not the least bit flustered, gracefully carrying branches, stones, and leaves back and forth between the Square and the Forest, and before long, they had arranged them into a pattern of two hearts joined together, pierced by an arrow.

This pattern was clearly a confession of love; ordinary people would not be qualified to disturb the Bai Lang.

Thus, everyone guessed that it was a confession from Shi Yucheng to the Clan Leader!

It was simple to think this way: the Bai Lang family had a very good relationship with Miss Xuan and could follow her commands, and since Shi Yucheng was Miss Xuan's foster father, it was not strange that he could mobilize the Bai Lang.

This rumor spread and spread, until it reached the ears of Ji Yingjie.

"Really? I'll go take a look."

She had been deeply troubled by Shi Yucheng during this time, and now that she heard of such a thing, she immediately perked up.

Recently, Shi Yucheng had been frequently running to the Forest, and although he was caught and brought back every time, could he have made contact with the Bai Lang during this period?

Could his cold attitude toward her every day just be a smokescreen?

To give her a surprise?

The more she thought about it, the more she felt it was possible, and the probability was quite high.

As Ji Yingjie passed by Shi Yucheng, she gave him a meaningful look.