novel-bin Chapter 285 Toast and Penalty Drink
Chapter 285 Toast and Penalty Drink
Hearing this, Kang Xiaorong's face changed drastically and he exclaimed, "What?"
Eunuch Lian then continued, "Give me another sword to sever love..."
Just as he said this, a eunuch came in, holding a lacquer tray covered with red silk. When the eunuch lifted the red silk, a dagger with a sharp green sheen was revealed. Kang Xiaorong felt as if he had been stabbed in the heart, and was so frightened that he lost his mind.
Eunuch Lian said with a half-smile, "The Queen Mother used this item to help the General cut off his emotional ties and sever his old love, so that he and the princess can stay together forever."
"What a great way to cut off all feelings and sever old love..." Kang Xiaorong suddenly felt a sweet taste in his throat, almost spitting out blood, and laughed hoarsely, "Is this the Queen Mother's reward to me? I saved Princess Tianning's life, and she gave me a sword?"
When Eunuch Lian saw that Kang Xiaorong was angry, he quickly put on a flattering smile and said, "General, the Queen Mother did not give you the dagger, but asked you to give this love-breaking sword to the person you love most..."
Although the expression on his face was good, the words he said still made Kang Xiaorong feel suffocated and he could only let out a sarcastic dry laugh.
"General..."
"Don't call me General!" Kang Xiaorong interrupted Eunuch Lian loudly, pointed at the door and shouted, "Go back immediately and tell the Queen Mother that her reward is too expensive and that I can't afford it. Tell her to take it all back!"
Even the eunuchs who were carrying treasure chests outside the house heard Kang Xiaorong's roar. They were all stunned by the roar that sounded like a volcanic eruption. They stood there like a fool, forgetting that they still had to carry the treasure chests.
Lian Gonggong had served the Empress Dowager for many years and was a well-known figure in the palace. Many dignitaries would bow their heads and salute him when they saw him. But today, he was scolded by Kang Xiaorong. Even though the other party was Princess Tianning's savior and the future consort, Lian Gonggong's smile gradually faded. However, he did not force himself to get angry with Kang Xiaorong. Instead, he chuckled twice, then waved his hand gently and summoned a young eunuch who was waiting outside the door.
The young eunuch was also holding a lacquer tray covered with red silk, but no one knew what was inside.
As Eunuch Lian unrolled the red silk, he said, "General, the Queen Mother had long anticipated that you would not accept the order, and she specially ordered me to prepare something. Even if you are unwilling to accept the gold and silver, please drink this toast from the Queen Mother."
As soon as he finished speaking, the red silk was lifted up, revealing a jade wine jar underneath.
Kang Xiaorong sneered and replied, "Please go back and tell the Queen Mother that I have just recovered from a serious injury and I don't drink a drop of alcohol."
Eunuch Lian asked, "Young General, if you don't accept the Queen Mother's toast, do you want to drink a penalty drink?"
He changed his address to Kang Xiaorong from "General" to "Major General" and his expression changed from sunny to cloudy in an instant, and was shrouded in a chilling coldness. There was no doubt that this was a threat to Kang Xiaorong.
Kang Xiaorong had been about to explode for a long time, and even his father-in-law's threat ignited his anger further.
"Whether it's a toast or a penalty drink, the Queen Mother wants to force me, Kang Xiaorong, to accept something I don't want to accept. She's just dreaming!"
"Major General, are you really not afraid..."
"Enough, no one can threaten me." If Kang Xiaorong had a flying knife in his hand, he would have thrown it over long ago.
The first thing he heard after escaping death was that bunch of bullshit. He really suspected that this was a trap set by the Queen Mother to anger him to death, rather than to recruit him as a consort.
"In that case, Young General, I will go back and report exactly what I said just now to the Empress Dowager." Seeing that Kang Xiaorong had made up his mind and there was no possibility of persuading him, Eunuch Lian wanted to go back and report as soon as possible to avoid being a target for flying knives here.
At this moment, a loud and angry voice came from the door: "Eunuch Lian, calm down and don't argue with the kid."
"Dad?" Kang Xiaorong was stunned. He didn't expect the old general to show up at this time.
The old general had come here to visit a sick patient, but as soon as he reached the door, he heard Kang Xiaorong's earth-shaking roar.
When Eunuch Lian saw General Kang, he knelt down and saluted. The general helped him up and said, "Eunuch Lian, you are angry. I am young and hot-tempered. I will regret what I said today tomorrow. Please don't take it to heart."
In other words, just pretend that what happened just now never happened, and don't let the Queen Mother hear about it.
Seeing that the general was about to compromise with the queen mother, Kang Xiaorong hurriedly shouted, "Dad... why are you here?"
The general glared at Kang Xiaorong fiercely and scolded him coldly: "If I hadn't come, you would have been in big trouble!"
Although Kang Xiaorong was furious in front of Uncle Lian, he was still as obedient as a kitten in front of his father. After being scolded, he didn't dare to say a word, and lowered his head with a suffocated breath and grievance.
The general ignored Kang Xiaorong for the time being and escorted Eunuch Lian to the door and said, "Eunuch, you have worked hard on this trip. I would like to thank the Queen Mother for her kindness on behalf of my son. Whether it is the wine or the treasure chest, please leave them all. But regarding the matter of the son-in-law, can you please allow me to think about it again?"
The Queen Mother decided overnight to recruit Kang Xiaorong as her husband, and issued an imperial decree without informing anyone in advance. If the general had not heard the conversation just now, who knows how long it would have been kept secret. The Queen Mother acted tyrannically, and the general was also very angry, but now was not the time to lose his temper, and he could not lose his temper.
"Please rest assured, General. I will definitely convey your message." Eunuch Lian bowed deeply.
The eunuchs who were responsible for carrying the treasure chests moved the remaining boxes into the room before leaving one after another.
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After the yard was quiet, the general returned to Kang Xiaorong's room.
As soon as he saw his figure appear at the door, Kang Xiaorong asked, "Dad... why?"
The general did not answer immediately, but slowly closed the door and sat on a round stool beside Kang Xiaorong's bed.
"Dad... do you really want me to be a princess consort?" Kang Xiaorong asked impatiently.
"What else?" The general asked expressionlessly, "Do you think you have a better choice?"
"Dad...I can't marry Tianning..." Kang Xiaorong was so anxious that he almost choked.
"Why?" The general was calm and relaxed, as if he was just chatting casually.
"Why else? Dad, you know that the person I like is Hua Rong... We have an engagement with the Xi family..."
"You also know that it was with the Xi family? So where is the Xi family now? Is it still there?"
"Dad..." Kang Xiaorong's face turned pale. From the three questions asked by the general, he had understood the other party's mind. The "consideration" the general just said to Eunuch Lian was not to reject the Queen Mother, but to spend time to persuade Kang Xiaorong to agree to the marriage.
The general continued, "Since the Xi family has disappeared, the engagement has also disappeared. At this point, do you still think you can marry Hua Rong? It's been three years, why don't you face reality?"
"What reality? What reality do I need to face?... I only know that I love her and she loves me, so why can't we be together?" Kang Xiaorong was almost driven crazy. He didn't know what he was saying, and his words had begun to become confused.
"You love her? Your love will only kill her." The general pointed at the sword of love that Eunuch Lian had left behind and said, "Now the Queen Mother wants you to give this dagger to the one you love. You said you love Hua Rong, do you want to give this sword to her and let her commit suicide?"
"No...no..." Kang Xiaorong covered his head, and the wounds all over his body began to hurt again.
The general completely ignored Kang Xiaorong's mental state and said sternly: "You keep saying that you love her, but do you love her to marry her spirit tablet and worship it at home, or to see her live well in this world? ... You say you love her now, just to let her die. Is this what you call love? Is this how you feel about her?"
Every word the general spoke was as sharp as a sword, and every word he spoke was as sharp as a knife, all of which pierced Kang Xiaorong's heart accurately.
Kang Xiaorong covered his face in pain, and through the gaps between his fingers, he stared at the dagger in the lacquer tray.
The cold and sharp edge of the dagger kept getting bigger and bigger before his eyes...
He stared at the dagger so intently that he had the illusion that his eyes were stained red with blood.
With a cry of "Ah", Kang Xiaorong let out a heart-wrenching scream.
He didn't want Hua Rong to die, absolutely didn't want Hua Rong to die. But the price of Hua Rong's survival was to be heartless... to be heartless... This was more painful than death, and more difficult than death... But other than that, there was no other choice...
After yelling, Kang Xiaorong finally calmed down. He put down his hands that were covering his face, and his eyes became calm.
"Dad...even if I really become a consort to the emperor, I will not fall in love with Princess Tianning. Even if I can be heartless and cut off all feelings for Huarong, I will never fall in love with anyone else..." If a marriage is forced, no one will be happy.
"Whether you love her or not, you must marry her." The general said firmly, not giving Kang Xiaorong any chance to defend himself. "...I heard that you took off the princess's clothes?"
The sudden question caught Kang Xiaorong off guard. He was so flustered that he explained in a panic, "Dad... the situation was special at that time. The princess fell into the river and suddenly had a high fever. I couldn't let her wear wet clothes..."
The general said calmly: "No matter what the situation was, I only ask you, did you take off the princess's clothes?"
He did take off his clothes, the evidence was irrefutable, Kang Xiaorong had no way of making excuses.
Under the general's suddenly stern gaze, Kang Xiaorong could only lower his head guiltily.
"You took off the princess's clothes and hugged her for a whole night, and now you want to let it go? Do you think the Queen Mother will let you let it go?" At this point, the general sighed, "If the Queen Mother asks you to dig out your eyes that you have seen the princess, and cut off your hands that have touched the princess, what will you do?" The Queen Mother's so-called "drinking penalty" was probably a similar method.
Kang Xiaorong endured the severe pain in his chest and shouted, "She can't repay kindness with enmity and confuse right and wrong!"
"Didn't she also give you a toast?" The old general pointed with his chin at the jade wine jug still on the table.
"I, I..." Kang Xiaorong has been forced into a desperate situation. He didn't expect that saving someone would lead to this result.
The general said, "Xiao Rong...if you refuse to drink the toast and insist on drinking the penalty wine, you should realize that you will lose something. These things may be the person you love or your own future..."