Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 65 Banquet
Seeing that the other guard did not move, King Kang shouted angrily, "Get lost too. Do I need you to guard my brother when he comes to visit me?"

"Yes."

"This is their job, so please stop blaming them."

Prince Kang nodded and said loudly: "If it weren't for my brother's plea, I would have kicked you out of the palace today!"

After this little episode, the three of them entered the hall.

The main hall of Prince Kang's palace is magnificent.

What caught my eye were several huge red painted pillars, with dragons and phoenixes carved on them, and cloud patterns as a backdrop, which seemed lifelike. Below them were colored glaze palace lanterns, which were placed everywhere in the hall, illuminating the hall brightly.

The floor was exactly the same as that in the palace, paved with white marble, and covered with a huge gold-thread carpet with exquisite patterns. Even if it was reduced by ten times, it would still be a rare item worth more than a thousand taels of silver on the market.

There were two tables on both sides of the carpet.

King Kang lowered himself to a lower position and did not sit in the main seat facing south in the center of the hall, but sat in the guest seat, which was really a show of respect.

After the King of Qin took his seat, Yue Ling stood by his side.

Prince Kang seemed to notice Yue Ling at this moment. He was stunned for a moment, then said enthusiastically: "Isn't this Commander Yue? This is not the first time we have met. I didn't even notice it just now."

Yue Ling bowed and said, "Greetings to His Royal Highness Prince Kang."

After laughing twice, Prince Kang ordered the servants in the palace, "Prepare another table for Commander Yue."

The King of Qin waved his hand and said, "Forget it, no need to bother. Just get another set of bowls and chopsticks."

After the palace servants brought him over, Yue Ling sat down at the same table with the King of Qin, and listened to the King of Kang across from him saying, "Commander Yue is indeed from the family of the Emperor's younger brother. We met at Tiekan Temple some time ago, and he was upholding justice for the poor people. When it comes to compassion for the poor and the weak, and not fearing the powerful, it's something that most people can't do."

King Qin pretended to be surprised, glanced at Yue Ling beside him, and asked in confusion: "There is actually such a story, but I have never heard him mention it before."

King Kang smiled but said nothing, clapped his hands, and the maids on both sides filed in. Each of them was wearing a short top and a long skirt, swaying in a gorgeous manner, with powdered rouge on their faces and red lips, dragging brocade plates in their hands, and placing all kinds of delicacies on a table, which was really dazzling.

King Kang stood up again, holding an empty wine glass, and came to the table of King Qin and Yue Ling. He picked up the glass wine pot on the table and sighed, "I know that my brother is still wary of me. This is understandable. I did do some bad things before. Today, I will punish myself with a glass of wine to apologize to my brother."

After saying that, he poured himself a glass and drank it all in one gulp.

The wine glass was hung upside down, with only a drop of wine hanging on the edge. King Kang raised his hand again and said, "Royal brother, please."

Seeing that the King of Qin also poured a cup, King Kang smiled.

But Yue Ling on the side remained unmoved, with a frown on his face, and no one knew what he was thinking.

King Kang said again: "Commander Yue, can't you drink? I will pour you a glass."

As he was about to take the wine pot, Yue Ling bowed and said, "Ling doesn't drink. Thank you, King Kang, for your kindness."

King Kang tilted his head to look at King Qin, who also replied, "Yue Ling really never drinks, even when he is at home, so please don't make things difficult for him, my brother."

King Kang smiled and withdrew his hand. "That's right, that's right. How could I make things difficult for Commander Yue? If time is limited, we should enjoy it while we can. This wine is a great pleasure. Those who can control themselves and not drink are the most capable of the capable. How can I force Commander Yue to break his vow?" King Kang returned to his original seat, and the sound of stringed instruments began in the hall.

Another group of dancers came in from outside the hall, dressed in colorful silks, as thin as cicada's wings, with fluttering sleeves. They walked into the center of the hall with graceful steps, without any sound under their feet, as if they were real fairies floating in.

The leading dancer was even more eye-catching, looking like a Hu woman with blonde hair and blue eyes, and a pearl on her forehead. She was even more dazzling in the brightly lit hall. She also covered her face with a pink veil, leaving only a pair of enchanting eyes, which aroused endless reverie.

With the gentle music, the Hu woman led many dancers to stretch their bodies gradually, like the wind blowing through the willows, dancing gracefully, with their skirts blooming like flowers. If it was midsummer, it might attract colorful butterflies, but it was a pity that it was cold autumn now.

King Kang seemed to be in great spirits. He drank a few more sips of wine and his cheeks flushed slightly.

After the song was over, he said to the King of Qin: "Brother, it is difficult for me to see through vanity. No matter how long I eat vegetarian food in the temple, I always think of coming back to enjoy myself. If I don't indulge in pleasure, youth and glory are only fleeting..."

After drinking another cup, King Kang continued, "Royal brother, you don't know how I have survived these three months. It was really a hard time."

The King of Qin smiled and drank a cup from him, saying, "You and I are just ordinary people. How can we really cultivate immortality and become Buddhas, eliminate the seven emotions and six desires, and follow the precepts? Everyone loves to enjoy themselves. This is not my brother's fault."

Prince Kang laughed happily, "I knew my brother would understand my thoughts."

With a wave of his hand, King Kang dismissed the dancers and said, "I just watched the dancers perform for my own pleasure. I know that you are a martial artist, so I also prepared a sword dance for your entertainment."

At that moment, a man as white as snow and as cold as ice came into the hall with a sword in his hand. He looked to be about the same age as Yue Ling, also in his prime.

He bowed to Prince Kang first, then turned around and bowed to Prince Qin before he said, "I am Liu Xianglian, a member of the Liu family of the Duke of Liguo's Mansion. I am honored to meet you two princes."

As soon as he opened his mouth, what came out was like cold air, ringing in the ears like a cold wind blowing past, making people frown unconsciously.

King Kang said, "Don't be polite, let's get started. It's said that you are the best martial artist among the younger generation of the four kings and eight dukes, so don't lose face."

Liu Xianglian nodded, shook his wrist, and the long sword with a silver-white hilt spun in his palm, drawing a perfect sword arc.

He took a few steps forward, his momentum became more and more rapid, and the long sword danced like a long snake, combining sharpness and beauty, which caused the King of Qin to applaud again and again.

"I didn't expect that there were such children in the families of the four princes and eight dukes. I just didn't know it."

Yue Ling said: "Your Highness, you have seen the calluses on his hands. This is not something that a noble son would have. He is most likely a collateral family member who has been wandering around for a long time. It is normal that Your Highness does not know about it."

As the two were discussing, they saw Liu Xianglian's sword tip pointing at the table from time to time, which seemed like a provocation.

The King of Qin put down the wine cup in his hand, reached for the sword at his waist, and his eyes gradually became sharp.

Yue Ling said: "Your Highness, please let me do it. Do you really want Your Highness to protect me?"

The King of Qin smiled and nodded. Yue Ling then stood up and left the table. He said to King Kang, "It's hard to tell how good a person is when he dances with a sword. He still needs someone to teach him the moves. Your Highness King Kang, do you mind if I go up and compete with Young Master Liu?"

King Kang was in high spirits and said with a smile, "I once told him that there was a top-notch young master in the capital, but he refused to believe it. Commander Yue will teach him a lesson today, which will be a good opportunity to liven up the banquet."

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(End of this chapter)