Kiyomi Tsuki and His Fox

Chapter 81

"So, it's all thanks to Young Master Jianyue. Only today do I understand why my cousin favors him so much." Tong Kang leered at Qing Jianyue and laughed, "Young Master Jianyue, you can't refuse this cup of wine anymore."

Qing Jianyue felt extremely uncomfortable, thinking to herself: This person is no good. His words are like honey, but peel away the honeyed shell, and you'll find a murder weapon. I need to be careful. Having made up her mind, Qing Jianyue smiled like an innocent child: "Master Tong, I don't drink alcohol. Whenever I drink, I get red rashes all over my body, and they itch terribly."

Tong Kang laughed and said, "It doesn't matter if Young Master Jianyue doesn't drink, just pretend to..."

"You're telling me to put on an act, aren't you teaching me to lie?" Qing Jianyue interrupted before he could finish, "From childhood, my late father taught me to be honest. Children who lie get spanked. So, I absolutely cannot drink this cup of wine. Even if I could, I cannot accept it. Why? Although I have performed a small service, the Lord has already rewarded me. Since I've been rewarded, there is no more merit. If I want to be rewarded again, I should perform another service. Lord, am I right?"

Seeing Tong Kang's face turn from red to white, and then from white to green, Lu Qingcheng felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction. She suppressed her laughter and said loudly, "That's right."

Qingjian Yue said earnestly, "The Lord of the Fortress is the wisest. He said that this cup of wine should be toasted to everyone. Why toast everyone? Because the credit is not earned by one person alone. So I think that the Lord of the Fortress should toast everyone, and then everyone should toast the Lord of the Fortress. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Tong Kang's face turned ashen.

Lu Qingcheng stood up with a smile, “The seeds of good and evil are sown in pride and boasting; the time of death is determined by pride and extravagance. What if we do not heed the words of the sages? Just now, when Master Tong offered you a toast, none of you boasted of your own merits. Instead, you declined each other's toasts, always remembering the good others had done for you. I am proud of you all. Come, let us drink this cup together.”

Everyone excitedly echoed in agreement.

Qing Jianyue glanced sideways at Tong Kang's gritted teeth. After drinking the celebratory wine, the banquet hall erupted in hearty laughter. Tong Kang's face, like a chameleon, quickly returned to its rosy hue, and he joined in the laughter. Qing Jianyue couldn't help but click her tongue, thinking to herself: This man's cunning is truly terrifying. Compared to him, Tong Lei is child's play.

Just as people were filled with excitement and jubilation, Tong Lei returned from outside with a gloomy expression. When Madam Tong saw her son, her previous disdainful look immediately turned into a beaming smile. She called out, "Lei'er, where have you been? Come sit down and have a drink to warm yourself up."

Tong Lei ignored his mother and went straight to Madam Lu's seat, saying indignantly, "Aunt, there is something I don't understand and would like to ask you for advice."

Madam Lu put down her ivory chopsticks, took the hot towel Xu Yun handed her, wiped her delicate hands, and asked casually, "What is it?"

Tong Lei's eyes burned with rage as he shouted, "This afternoon, you publicly betrothed Miss Zhao to Qing Jianyue, but just now, I saw Miss Zhao having an affair with that scoundrel He Zhiqiang in the grove. What kind of behavior is this?"

As soon as he said this, the banquet hall fell silent.

Madam Lu asked in surprise, "Is that so?"

"That's true." Tong Lei sneered, "If Aunt doesn't believe me, feel free to send someone to the grove..."

"No need, we're already here."

He Zhiqiang's powerful voice interrupted Tong Lei. With the sound of footsteps, He Zhiqiang entered, half-supporting, half-carrying Zhao Yu. Mrs. Su's face changed drastically. She rushed out of her seat towards them, snatched her sister back, and cursed, "You brat, how dare you bully my sister! I'll beat you to death!" As she spoke, her fists rained down on He Zhiqiang.

"Sister, no, don't hit him."

Zhao Yu was alarmed and tried to stop her sister, but was pushed down by her sister. Su Haibo, who arrived shortly after, quickly helped her up.

"Hey, don't hit my brother. It was your sister who seduced him. If you want to hit someone, you should hit your sister. If you hit him again, I'm going to hit him back." He Yunya came over, swaying and waving her pink fists like a flower dancing in the wind.

"Yunya, don't worry about it." He Zhiqiang pulled his sister aside and threw her to the back. Liu Xicheng took the opportunity to come over and flatter He Yunya, helping her back to her seat. Zhou Jie, who was not far away, saw this and felt jealous.

Su Haibo grabbed his wife, "A-Jing, be quiet for a while."

Madam Lu frowned. "What's going on?"

Zhao Yu rushed towards He Zhiqiang, who embraced her. Zhao Yu said in a trembling voice, "Madam, I don't want to marry Qing Jianyue anymore."

Madam Lu angrily retorted, "You were the one who wanted to marry Qing Jianyue, and you're also the one who didn't want to marry Qing Jianyue. How dare you! Do you think I'm someone you can just toy with?"

Zhao Yu said, "You forced me to do it all back then."

"How dare you!" Madam Lu rebuked angrily.

Zhao Yu shuddered in fright. He Zhiqiang hugged her tightly and said softly, "It's alright." Then, he looked at Madam Lu and said firmly, "Madam, please forgive Yu'er. If you must punish someone, please punish me. Three years ago, I promised Yu'er that I would marry her. But after returning to the fort, I felt inferior and unworthy of Yu'er, so I didn't dare to propose. What shames me is that Yu'er not only didn't resent me, but also waited for me without any regrets."

The banquet hall suddenly erupted in a buzzing and commotion, as if a hornet's nest had been stirred up.

He Zhiqiang gripped Zhao Yu's hand tightly, gazed at her affectionately, and declared loudly, "Today, I, He Zhiqiang, swear before everyone that I am willing to marry Miss Zhao and will never betray her in this life. If I break this vow, may I, He Zhiqiang, be pierced by a thousand arrows and die a horrible death."

Looking into He Zhiqiang's loving eyes, Zhao Yu couldn't help but shed tears. Someone started clapping, and the entire banquet hall was instantly filled with a thunderous roar of applause.

Tong Lei was burning with jealousy. "Auntie, they are openly provoking you."

“This is outrageous!” Madam Tong retorted coldly, “Eldest sister, we cannot tolerate these servants. If they are not punished, they will all follow suit.”

Mrs. Su glared angrily, pinching her husband's arm. Su Haibo patted his wife reassuringly, telling her not to be impatient.

Madam Lu snorted, "I don't need you to remind me. I am the matriarch of Lu Family Manor and I know how to handle this."

Mrs. Tong looked embarrassed.

Madam Lu said calmly, "Su Haibo?"

"Your subordinate is here." Su Haibo bowed.

Madam Lu said coldly, "You saw everything that just happened. I initially thought you were a talented person and wanted to arrange a marriage between our families, but your sister-in-law refused on the spot and insisted on marrying Qing Jianyue. I gave in to her because of you. Now, she has gone back on her word in public. No matter how much I tolerate this, I still have my temper."

“What you say is true, Madam,” Su Haibo said calmly. “Xiaoyu is willful, and I hope Madam will forgive her. Since Madam has decided to give Xiaoyu to Young Master Jianyue, then Xiaoyu belongs to Young Master Jianyue. Why doesn’t Madam ask Young Master Jianyue for his opinion?”

Tong Lei couldn't help but curse, "Su Haibo, you old fox!"

Tong Kang scolded, "Second brother, you mustn't be rude. Chief Supervisor Su is one of the three most trusted supervisors under my cousin. Even the madam respects him. How dare you, a junior, be so presumptuous?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Lu snorted angrily and said, "Qing Jianyue?"

Kiyoshi Tsuki jumped out like a little deer, smiling broadly, and said, "This subordinate greets Madam. May Madam be blessed."

A flash of lightning, and the white fox, reeking of perfume, tumbled back from the soft, warm embrace of some beautiful woman. It proudly wagged its large tail and crouched at its master's feet. No matter what, it would always stand by its master; even the sweetest embrace couldn't compare to its master's safety.

Madam Lu glared at the grinning Qing Jianyue, annoyed. "You heard everything?"

Kiyomi Tsuki replied loudly, "Yes, I heard every word and remembered it all."

Madam Lu stared at him menacingly and said, "Zhao Yu is your wife. Now she has publicly refused to marry you and committed such a despicable act. What do you suggest we do?"