Chapter 248 - 100: Forced Marriage (Part 2)

Words : 1386 Updated : Sep 27th, 2025

Qin Gang whispered for a while, and after listening, Fa Xiaoyun pondered for a moment and looked at Qin Gang again, cursing inwardly, "You old rascal, it’s just that you can’t let go of your lust for the beautiful widow Lie Rou and want to force her into submission with this incident. Well, she’s just a woman, if I want her to marry, she’ll marry – a royal decree from me will ensure that Lie Rou has no choice but to comply." An hour later, a royal decree was delivered to the Lie Family Mansion. These past few days, the Lie Family Mansion was shrouded in misery and sorrow. The delivery of the royal decree plunged Jingxin Courtyard into immediate chaos. Lie Changshun and Lie Chang’an, the two old rascals, were like cats that had caught the scent of fish, suddenly full of energy. The assessment of the Imperial Alchemist this time had caused the Lie Family Mansion, with decades of foundation, to suffer a severe loss. Lie Sisi’s appearance was completely ruined, and after she was sent back to the Lie Family Mansion, Fa Xiaoyi did not send any greetings. Yue Jinghua was imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison for poisoning Sha Fei. If this matter was pursued, it was feared that everyone in the Lie Family Mansion would be implicated. After an anxious wait of three days, this royal decree was not a sentence but a marriage grant, bestowing Lie Rou in marriage to General Tianwei Qin Gang before noon tomorrow. "Rourou, you have to agree to this marriage even if you don’t want to. That beast Yue Jing poisoned the Noble Consort and led to Yongchun Hall being closed, causing the entire Lie Family Mansion to suffer the repercussions. Fortunately, His Majesty has shown mercy, and you have also caught the favor of General Qin. The royal decree has made it clear—if you are willing to marry General Qin, not only will the entire Lie Family Mansion be safe, but that little beast Yue Jing will also be spared from the death penalty," Lie Changshun, bending over obsequiously, sent away the eunuch who had come to announce the decree from the palace and, with an immediate change of face, came to make the demand. Lie Rou sat quietly while Hongling stood by her side, with the royal decree laid out in front of them, observing the seals of the King of Shang and the Empress Dowager on it. Over these three days, she knelt daily in front of the Little Shang Palace, begging the Empress Dowager to remember the past relationship with Feng Wanwan and to spare Huahua this time, but she was driven out each time. Huahua was right; to the adoptive mother, their lives were like extinguished lamps, never truly seen in her eyes. With Huahua’s life hanging in the balance in the Heavenly Prison and her only relatives in Shang, standing in front of her now were threatening and tempting her. Lie Rou suddenly felt a bone-chilling coldness in her heart. In this country that had raised her, she could no longer feel a trace of warmth. "Lie Rou, your second brother is talking to you. Have you understood?" Lie Chang’an cursed. Suddenly, Lie Rou in front of them opened her eyes, and an unprecedented sharp aura emanated from her, "Hongling, take the royal decree and see the guests out. However, from today onwards, Rourou owes nothing more to Lie Family Mansion." Lie Changshun, who was closer to her, felt a subtle, stirring Dark Power approach him, yet he did not know where this unstable power was coming from. "Indeed, like mother like daughter, Lie Rou, how dare you talk to us like this," fumed Lie Chang’an, stepping forward to teach Lie Rou a lesson. "Clang, clang," before Lie Chang’an could make a move, the stone tiles beneath his feet exploded, and Hongling drew the Jade Bi Bow, releasing a few fingers of Dark Power into the air. "The Dark Earth Realm?" Both Lie Changshun and Lie Chang’an were shocked. One at a High-level Jade Dark, and the other at a Dark Earth Small Achievement, they immediately recognized the pure Earth Dark Power of Hongling. In just a few short months, how Hongling’s cultivation managed to break through from Dark Human to Dark Earth. Yue Jinghua? It was Yue Jinghua, remembering that the outside world wildly spread the news of Yue Jinghua, who became famous with a single pill as an Imperial Alchemist, refining the Jade Infant Pill. Could it be that she also concocted some other Spirit Pill that could enhance cultivation? Danlu, Divine Court, mercenaries, when exactly did she start getting involved with several major organizations on the main road? Lie Changshun after all was an old fox; he shot a look towards Lie Changshun, "Rourou, Uncle knows this matter is unfair to you, but you should also think about it, Qin Gang is a Heavenly General of a nation, his wish to marry you, even if your elder brother were alive, might not have been able to stop it, let alone now with Jinghua still in the Heavenly Prison. For the sake of Lie Family Mansion, for Jinghua, you must agree to this marriage." Having said that, he took Lie Chang’an away in a dejected manner. After the two left, Lie Rou’s frail body shook, and she stared at the imperial decree for a long time without saying a word. "Lady, they are pressuring too hard, I am going to the Heavenly Prison now to tell Miss everything," Hongling said in exasperation, not knowing why the young lady had always been inactive, yet she could not bear to see the Lady being so wronged. "Hongling, promise me, do not tell Huahua about this. I have two Sleeping God Pills here, give one to Chenchen three days later. After Huahua is released, we shall find a way for Huahua to take it. Afterwards, you take them both and leave Polo City, flee to Fengdan County where the Duke used to be, and find your father, the Old Steward Hong Shan." Lie Rou took out a Dan Xuan Card and handed it to Hongling, "This was the dowry given to me by the Old Castle Master when I married into the Duke Mansion, from now on it will be in your care." Without letting Hongling speak again, Lie Rou waved her hand, signaling for Hongling to leave. Hongling hesitated, speechless, from Lady’s tone, Hongling sensed something unusual. The Lady’s feelings for the Lord were clear as day and night, but now they were coercing her with the Miss’s life at stake, Hongling worried that if this continued, the Lady might do something foolish. But she dared not defy the Lady’s wishes, fearing that the Lady would do something foolish. Moreover, these past few days, no matter how much money she offered, the prison guards in the Heavenly Prison had refused to let her go in to visit Miss. She couldn’t get the message in, and in a few days, the Lady would be marrying off, what should she do? She took the Dan Xuan Card, and just as she stepped out of the courtyard, she saw the young master, Yue Chen, looking around at the doorway. "Young master, why aren’t you staying in the side room?" Hongling forced a smile. "I’m going to the Heavenly Prison to see her," Yue Chen said boldly. "Young master, what are you talking about? That’s the Heavenly Prison, not somewhere just anyone can enter," Hongling felt a headache coming on, thinking that it’s probably better for her to find Miss Shalman, perhaps with her Dark Beast, she might be able to bring the message into the Heavenly Prison. "I’m going to find her. You keep a close eye on mother, I’ll be back soon," Yue Chen said and was gone in a flash. By the time Hongling came back to her senses, Yue Chen was nowhere to be seen. Inside the room, Lie Rou stared at the oil lamp flickering dimly before her, her eyes as dull as ashes, devoid of any brightness. She closed her eyes in agony and murmured: "Yue Nian, where are you? It’s been three years, Rourou has been waiting so painfully, so tired," and crystal tears started falling.

Chapter 248 - 100: Forced Marriage (Part 2)

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