Chapter 32 Three Years to Start
1382 Words
Hearing Liu Bei's words, Mi Zhen's heart sank to the bottom.
Liu Bei wanted to annul the engagement, so what should she do?
Mi Zhen knew perfectly well why her family had wanted to marry her off to Liu Bei.
This was actually a common practice among powerful families—a classic case of prioritizing wealth and status.
As the saying goes, don't put all your eggs in one basket; otherwise, if the basket tipped over, all the eggs would break.
The best example is the Zhuge family in the south.
The eldest brother, Zhuge Jin, joined Eastern Wu.
The second brother, Zhuge Liang, joined Liu Bei, while the youngest brother, Zhuge Jun, joined Cao Cao.
You fight fiercely, no matter how you fight, even if you suffer heavy losses or achieve a great victory, in the end, whoever wins, one member of the Zhuge family will still survive, and that survivor will be the next head of the family.
This is the common method of prioritizing wealth and status used by powerful families.
And Mi Zhen, frankly speaking, was nothing more than a discarded pawn of the Mi family.
The reason they married Mi Zhen to Liu Bei was merely to keep him as a pawn. Of course, they didn't think highly of Liu Bei either; they simply had many sons and could throw one away—it was dispensable.
So, if Liu Bei were to break off the engagement now, he wouldn't suffer any loss, but Mi Zhen's life would be ruined.
In ancient society, where reputation was paramount, a person without honor would not be accepted by their family, and even if they were, returning home would only mean death.
At this moment, Mi Zhen panicked and immediately knelt down. "Husband, Mi Zhen knows she was wrong! Please don't send Mi Zhen away!"
"I say, Xuande!"
"You've really gone too far!"
Kang Lin also stepped in to smooth things over!
"Didn't you consider me a brother?"
"Alright, I'll call you Big Brother from now on, but you can't call me Fourth Brother. You still have to call me Brother Kang," Kang Lin said.
"Brother Kang," Liu Bei called out.
"Brother, please listen to my advice. Mi Zhen is such a wonderful girl. Are you really willing to throw her away?"
At this moment, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei also came over and said, "Brother Kang, from now on we're family. What do you think?" Kang Lin understood their meaning and immediately called out, "Second Brother, Third Brother!"
"Haha, I, Zhang Fei, am finally not the third brother anymore! Haha, I, Zhang Fei, have become the third brother!"
"Come on, Brother Kang, there's no time like the present. Let's become sworn brothers!"
Liu Bei said, pulling Kang Lin along.
"Brother, there's no rush. I think you should apologize to Mi Zhen first!"
"Soothe your sister-in-law properly."
"Since I've called you 'Brother,' then naturally I'll call Mi Zhen 'Sister-in-law.'"
"Brother Kang, you have to listen to me on this matter. Zhen'er is seducing you. I can see it. So for the sake of our brotherhood, we can't keep her. I don't want this matter to cause conflict between us brothers."
Liu Bei said.
If you ask me whether my brothers or people are more important, I'd answer: Wang Hong is the most important.
My people are the most important.
This is Kang Lin's thought, though of course she wouldn't say it aloud.
"Brother, isn't this a bit too cruel? It's so unfair to Mi Zhen!" Kang Lin said.
"Zhen'er, do you like Brother Kang?"
"If I gave you to Brother Kang as a concubine, would you be willing?" Liu Bei asked Mi Zhen.
Uh… Kang Lin was stunned. Was Liu Bei waiting for this?
After going around in circles, he actually shoved Mi Zhen into his hands.
Mi Zhen was also taken aback, not quite understanding!
At this moment, Mi Zhen completely lost faith in Liu Bei.
She had previously heard that Liu Xuande was a benevolent and righteous ruler, but now she saw clearly that his benevolence was only for his brothers and the people under his rule, and had nothing to do with his wife.
After thinking it through, Mi Zhen stood up and walked to Kang Ge, saying, "Kang Ge, Mi Zhen is willing to become your concubine."
Uh… This!
Is this really okay?
Kang Lin didn't know what to do at this point.
At this moment, Zhu Ling and Zhao, who had been watching the drama unfold, also came over and said,
"Brother Kang, you're so lucky!
Today you can finally take your bride.
We'll take our leave now, we won't disturb you any longer."
After saying this, Zhu Ling and Zhao also left.
Finally, unable to resist Liu Bei's earnest persuasion, they insisted on completing the sworn brotherhood ceremony?
"Damn it, what do you mean, 'We don't ask to be born on the same day, month, and year, but we ask to die on the same day, month, and year'?
Seriously, I'm only 15 years old!
I'm only 17 by the traditional Chinese age reckoning.
Who the hell wants to die with you guys?!
Kang Lin couldn't help but curse inwardly!
Liu Bei insisted on making him swear a death oath, which really annoyed him.
But then he saw Mi Zhen. Well, at least he could sleep with Liu Bei's wife this time, so it wasn't a huge loss. He could consider it interest from Liu Bei.
Gan Qian must be Liu Bei's first wife!
And the mother of Liu Shan (Liu A Dou). He wondered if Liu Bei would be willing to send Gan Qian away too!
Ugh!
How did he become so despicable? Never mind, never mind, he didn't want to think about it anymore.
"Brother, even though we're brothers now, even close brothers need to keep clear accounts. You can't go back on your 1000 coins you owe me!"
"Brother Kang, don't worry!"
"Am I, Liu Bei, the kind of person who doesn't keep his word?"
"I'll pay you back as soon as I have the money."
"Okay, I'm relieved to hear that, brother."
Kang Lin said.
"It's getting dark, so I'm going back to my room to rest," Kang Lin said.
"Okay!"
"We're going back too," Guan Yu and Zhang Fei said simultaneously.
"Um...aren't you staying together?"
Kang Lin asked in surprise.
"Big brother and sister-in-law staying together?"
"We each have our own rooms," Zhang Fei said.
"Alright!"
"Alright!"
"Maybe I'm overthinking it. Every time I come, I see you two together."
Kang Lin said.
Kang Lin went back to her room, and Mi Zhen followed.
"Um...this is really troublesome."
"The inn's room only has one bed."
"Oh well, I'll just be a gentleman!"
"Zhen'er, you sleep on the bed!"
"I'll make do with the chair."
Kang Lin said.
"Brother Kang, are you looking down on Zhen'er?"
" After saying that, Mi Zhen hugged Shuang, squatted down, and started crying.
Uh…wait, what's going on here?!
Alright, alright, Zhen'er, don't cry. Brother Kang didn't dislike Zhen'er.
Since Brother Kang doesn't dislike Zhen'er, then let Zhen'er serve Brother Kang!
Saying this, Mi Zhen began to loosen her belt.
No, Zhen'er, listen to me, you're still young. Let's talk about it when you're a little older, okay?
Waaah…Brother Kang still dislikes me!
Uh…Kang Lin was helpless, okay?
He didn't say he disliked her!
She started crying again. How was he going to comfort her?!
Although this little girl was pretty and cute, even if he took her all, he wouldn't lose out. But couldn't he do something illegal?
It was like a 14-year-old little girl beckoning to you, "Big brother, come quick! I'm doing this willingly!"
"She doesn't mind!"
Then, after you've done it, that little girl suddenly tells you, "Big brother, although I did it willingly, I'm a 'female' (unlucky person), meaning I face at least three years in prison, and at worst, the death penalty!"
Damn it! Thinking of this, Kang Lin shuddered and rushed to the wooden basin, immediately burying her head in it to cool down!
Damn, she almost fell for the trap! Luckily, she managed to restrain herself.
No wonder Liu Bei, despite the marriage agreement, didn't attack her; even royalty is afraid of going to jail!
(End of Chapter)
- Writer
