Bai Jing, who had been sleeping comfortably, suddenly felt pain in his right leg. The pain was intense, like thousands of ants were biting his leg. He began to fight and cry in his sleep. He could not open his eyes even if he had wanted to. Two hours later, the pain subsided, and Bai Jing finally fell asleep again.
.....
The next day at the Bai Family residence.
Lord Bai was sitting on the table with his seven wives discussing Bai Jing's matter. Lord Bai was sitting at the top of the table; his wives were seated to his right and left. The only girl among them sat at the end of the table. She was dressed in a light, elegant robe. This person is Xin Ying, known as Lady Bai since she is the main wife of Mater Bai. She looked like a young lady from a wealthy family as she sat there sipping tea. "So, according to the discussion with the Ye family, the engagement will take place this evening. " Lady Bai said with a smile in her voice.
"This won't do. Xiao Jing has not gotten over the trauma yet; and his leg has not fully healed yet. Why don't we wait for two more days?" Zhu Ping said with an air of concern in his voice.
"No way! " Yu Hui was angry that he had to say that. "If he can be ready before the ceremony even begins, what's the point of waiting?" Yu Hui is the youngest wife of Master Bai, and he is the only one without a child yet, so his value was not much. If there is an opportunity to curry favor with Lady Bai, he would not miss it.
"What do you mean?" Zhu Ping had a bad feeling
"It doesn't matter. Bai Jing leg is already healed I assure you." The whole table became silent and Lady Bai continued "I asked a servant to apply the grade-three, level two bone rejoining medicine on his leg last night."
Zhu Ping immediately stood up furiously and slammed the table: "How dare you?! Don't you know how painful the high grade bone rejoining potion is? How could you use it on my son without my concern?" Zhu Ping was furious; this is the first time they would see this mad. Lady Bai was at a loss for a moment.
Zhu Ping was always quiet and easy going. He was not the type to argue about anything or even have an argument at all. He simply accepted things as they were and did what he could with what he had. He tries to avoid trouble as much as possible. So, seeing him suddenly getting angry, it caught them by surprise but no matter how accepting someone is, they will not accept someone doing harm to their child.
"Stop!" Lord Bai, who has not spoken from the beginning shouted angrily. "My wife has already done enough for your son; and don't blame her for such an insufficient matter. She was just worried that the Ye family would blame us."
Zhu Ping was immediately heartbroken. 'What do you mean your wife? Am I not your wife as well?'
But he knew the answer more than anyone that he could only rely on himself.
Why were they doing this to him and his son? Why won't they leave them alone? The Bai family was already so evil. Zhu Ping could not bear another day of their cruelty. "Forgive me, my lord." Zhu Ping said with a bowed. "I wasn't thinking clearly when I lashed out. Please forgive my insolence."
Lord Bai nodded and signaled him to sit. "It's settled, in the evening, Jing will be taken to the Ye family. After all, no pregnant ger will stay in his father's house." Lord Bai said with a smug tone in his voice. "I hope you're not too disappointed, Zhu Ping."
How could he not be disappointed? He'd been married here for seventeen years, and the person he married to doesn't care about him and his child.
Zhu Ping just sat there and did not respond. Zhu Ping did not want to lose Bai Jing, his only child; but he also hate to see Bai Jing suffer any more than he already had. He could not bear watching him endure again and again. But there was nothing he could do.
Lord Bai has many children. Apart from Zhu Ping who only has one child and Yu Hui with none, the rest of his wives have three to four children. Losing one would do him no harm.
After the meeting was over, everyone left the table leaving Zhu Ping alone there. He felt very lost. All these things happened in such a fleeting period and now they have come so close to ruining everything. Zhu Ping was sitting there alone when he heard a knock on the front door.
His servant came in. "Master, the young master is awake. I think you should take this opportunity to stay with him a while longer before he leaves." the servant said.
Zhu Ping stood up and sighed. "You're right, I'll go take this chance." Zhu Ping said walking towards the bedroom where Bai Jing was staying.
...
After he woke up, Bai Jing felt his legs had already healed. A servant came in and brought his breakfast. He was surprised when the servant told him, "Young master, your engagement will be this evening. This servant wishes you a good marriage."
Bai Jing did not say anything because this engagement was supposed to be in a few days. He ate the breakfast slowly, not really tasting it, as if something were bothering him. After the servant left, he heard footsteps coming closer and saw a young man standing against the wall.
Bai Han, the third young master looked at Bai Jing as if the other party were a dirt under his feet. The moment their eyes met; Bai Jing knew this person was up to no good. His expression turned cold, but his voice was not. "What do you want?"
"You should thank me. If I had not interfered with that accident the other day, you would have been in a much worse situation by now. You know what happens to those who do not follow my rules and get in my way." Bai Han sneered at him. "So why are you looking so miserable when you should be celebrating?"
"Who said I am miserable? You were the one that set me up! I did not think you would play such a nasty track!" Bai Jing did not even try to hide his hatred for Bai Han. "You were just using me to get a chance at getting close to Zhao Yuyuan, weren't you?! I bet if you had asked him first, he would not have agreed. You are such an asshole!"
Bai Han snorted out. "So what? Ye Cheng is just a bastard child of the Ye family that the main wife cannot wait to kick out. What is so good about him? Do not think that entering the Ye family will make you enjoy wealth and luxury. I hear that as soon as you enter the door, you and Ye Cheng will be sent to a distant village."
As he heard Bai Han words, Bai Jing's heart was beating faster, he clenched his fists unconsciously. His breathing gets heavier as well. But before he could retort, he was interrupted by Bai Han. "Your senior brother Zhao Yuyuan that you love so much will become my betrothed in a few days."
"What did you say?!" Bai Jing immediately stood up from where he sat, causing his chair to fall to the floor along with the porcelain cup that he used. His chest heaved as his face grew hot. His eyes were burning with fury and murderous intent.
Bai Han just watched him with amusement. "Actually, Father intended to arrange a marriage with the Zhao family, since Zhao Yuyuan has also taken interest in you. After all, the Zhao family has the most influence in Qingzhou and if our families were to combine forces, we will be able to surpass the Ye and Chen's power."
He chuckled then added, "But who knew you'd be so impatient that you slept with Ye Cheng and even carried his child? Such a lustful person like you does not deserve Zhao Yuyuan! Therefore, father has replaced your name with mind."
"You Bastard!" The next second Bai Jing attacked. The tea in the ceramic cup flew towards Bai Han's face. Bai Han stumbled back and dodged it easily. The porcelain hit the floor and broke into pieces. Bai Jing followed up with another attack but was no match for Bai Han. Bai Han moved like lightning and Bai Jing was struck by two powerful punches on the chest that sent him flying. He crashed hard against the wooden table behind him, causing some porcelain to fly everywhere and smash onto the floor.
Bai Jing groaned in pain after hitting his head against the table. It hurt so bad.