Chapter 250

But the question is, should I actively accept this fate? What will happen if I decide not to drink a single drop of alcohol?

Amidst this unease, Kunti spent five peaceful days.

From the anticipation of the first day to the disappointment of the fifth, it's hard to describe the emotional rollercoaster Kunti felt. She sat blankly in her room, watching the distant sunset dramatically plummet below the horizon, casting a blood-red afterglow across the sky.

"He's just a fraud!"

Kunti cursed viciously, took out the piece of paper with writing on it, tore it to shreds, and threw it into the blazing fire.

Looking at the leaping flames, she felt genuinely foolish.

That astrologer must have done his research beforehand, which is why he was able to reveal his identity and use a series of information to scare me into a daze... that's how he scammed me.

At this moment, Kunti felt not only anger, but also a sense of panic after his lust for power had been exposed.

While caught in a state of uncertainty, the sky had darkened before our eyes, and the moon quietly appeared in the clouds.

Noisy footsteps sounded at the door, and then a maid appeared outside the palace gates of Kunti.

"What's up?"

Kunti looked somewhat flustered.

"Madam, it is Kuru King who has summoned you to the palace."

"I, I'll get ready right away!"

Kunti nodded hastily, then quickly lit a candle and began to dress and groom herself in front of the mirror.

By the time she finished dressing up, Kunti had completely forgotten about the "astrologer's scam".

Guided by her maids, she hurried through the long corridors of the Elephant City Palace, past pools teeming with colorful fish, and over swaying golden lotuses on the ground... Finally, just as the moon emerged completely from the clouds, she arrived at the brightly lit palace of Elephant City.

The palace was filled with the fragrance of water lilies, and golden flames flickered on the candlesticks.

Around the magnificent palace, the sounds of various musical instruments could be heard.

In the center of the spacious hall, sixty-four male and female dancers were dancing—the male dancers opened their robes, exposing their bronze chests to the air, with drops of sweat sliding down the curves of their muscles; the female dancers had graceful figures, and the silver bells on their ankles fluttered up and down to the rhythm of the music, their bells ringing crisply and loudly.

This was the night banquet in Elephant City, where even the blind King Dhritarashtra was drinking heartily with the help of his attendants.

Even Tianshi looked happy at this moment.

The old man, wearing a silver crown and silver armor, was sitting alone at his table, pouring himself a drink.

His gaze was slightly unfocused, as if he were thinking of something while observing the graceful figures of the dancers, and a slight smile played on his lips.

However, upon seeing Kunti arrive, the expressions of the many princes present became somewhat subtle.

It was extremely awkward for Kunti, the widow of King Pandu, to be present here.

The king had invited her before, but Kunti always wisely declined.

But why is she here today? This is just too illogical.

When Kunti saw the scene around him, he knew that he had mistakenly entered the heavenly realm, but it was too late to leave.

The music gradually faded during the banquet.

A servant approached the king and whispered something to him.

"Oh, it's Mrs. Kunti."

The king gave a somewhat stiff smile. "Guards, bring me a seat."

He really didn't arrange a seat for Kunti.

Kunti stood there, feeling a burning sensation on her face.

Before long, the new seat was set up—right below Tianshi.

Once Kunti was seated, King Chi waved his hand and said, "Continue the music, continue the dance!"

Then the music started again, and the princes and nobles resumed their drinking and merrymaking.

Not long after Kunti sat down, he heard a commotion coming from not far away.

It turned out that it was Shakuni who stood up.

The foreign crown prince, who had stayed in Elephant City for many years, rubbed the long dice in his hand with a smug expression.

It looks like they won by a large margin.

In this era, gambling is an extremely common form of entertainment.

Especially among the Kshatriya class, gambling and fighting were equally important sacred activities.

It can be said that gambling is inevitable at any banquet.

Kunti watched the lively gambling game in the center of the palace and felt a little itchy to join in. But since it was a men's game, she, as a woman, was not allowed to participate according to custom.

Among the crowd, the sharp-eyed Shakuni noticed Kunti's expression.

—To be precise, from the moment Kunti entered the palace, he had been keeping a close eye on this woman.

The reason is simple: Shakuni wanted to support Duryodhana to ascend the throne, he had to get rid of the Pandavas.

The best way to control the Pandavas is to control their mother, Kunti.

This was indeed a despicable act, but Shakuni didn't care.

He didn't retaliate immediately, but instead squatted down and played a few more rounds, making the surrounding princes grit their teeth in anger.

Just then, Shakuni sighed, "It's no fun with just the few of us going back and forth."

"Then what do you think?"

"I say, if the King and the Regent agree, why don't we let other people participate as well? That would be more fun."

Shakuni closed his left eye slightly, like an owl.

"Haha, great! Just listening to you roll the dice, I know this is definitely going to be a very intense game!"

The king said, "It's a pity I can't participate, but it's alright, Shakuni, I agree!"

"What does Uncle think?"

"I have no objection."

Tianshi nodded slightly, his gray beard trembling.

Gambling is a form of entertainment that conforms to the Dharma of the Kshatriya.

Unfortunately, Tianshi's status was too high, and no one usually gambled with him.

"Good!"

Shakuni jumped out and said, "Great job, everyone is really great. I'll be the host then."

He gestured to the maids to carry trays and walk around the palace with everyone who was willing to participate in the gambling, so that they could put their bets on the trays.

As the maid walked past, Tianshi also put a few silver coins inside.

If Kunti was still hesitant, then Tianshi's actions were the final straw that broke the balance.

Following Tianshi, she also took out her own money without hesitation and placed it in the tray.

Shakuni saw this and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

After all the participants had confirmed, he shook the dice and threw them on the ground.

"Four, six, ten points in total, big!"

Immediately, cheers and curses erupted in the palace, creating a chaotic scene like boiling oil being poured into a hot pan.

Kunti acted impulsively and won her bet.

The woman secretly glanced at Tianshi out of the corner of her eye.

The old man's expression was unreadable, but the slight downward turn of his lips suggested that he was not happy about losing the bet.

Kunti just won seventy coins in a bet, which, combined with his initial investment, brings him to exactly one hundred coins.

Seeing this, Shakuni smiled slightly; the fish had taken the bait.

As the musicians plucked the strings, the second round of the betting began.

Having tasted success, Kunti not only bet all one hundred coins but also took out a few extra silver coins.

The rectangular dice rolled to the ground, and all the guests craned their necks to look at the center.

But then Shakuni announced the numbers, "Two, two, four points in total, small!"

Sure enough, the palace erupted in noise once again.

Kunti felt a rush of heat to his head, but a chill ran through his chest.

I lost. And the amount of money I just lost was quite substantial!

Before Kunti could think any further, the third round of betting had already begun. Looking at the tray that had been turned to him, Kunti quickly pulled out more money.

I must break even, and then I'll stop! Kunti thought to himself.

However, as Shakuni's dice continued to roll, the numbers that appeared were once again contrary to his expectations.

The fourth round of betting has begun.

Kunti felt his mind go completely blank.

In this lively atmosphere, although she didn't drink any alcohol, she seemed drunk.

Round after round, sometimes you win, but most of the time you lose.

It wasn't until she reached into her waistband that she was horrified to find her bag completely empty.

She had lost all her last gold coin.

The maid stood before Kunti, somewhat at a loss.

People near and far, emboldened by alcohol, let out sharp and mocking laughter. Shakuni walked up to Kunti with an air of nonchalance and bowed.

Do you still want to participate in the betting?

Kunti pursed her lips; she was already beginning to regret it.

Although the Kuru King provided for her food, clothing, and daily necessities, the conditions were not very luxurious, and they would always be stingy with certain corners of the house.

This money was what she had saved up herself, and now most of it was gone in one go. How could Kunti not feel heartbroken?

"No need to rush."

Shakuni said with a grin, "I can lend you money—it's just for fun after all."

"No."

Kunti turned around in surprise and found that it was Tianshi who had spoken the words of refusal.

Shakuni's expression froze.

As Tianshi rose from his seat, the music in the hall paused once more, and the nobles who were arguing about the betting quickly fell silent.

"Gambling is an act in accordance with the Dharma of the Kshatriya because it requires luck, cunning, and wisdom, all of which coincide with war."

Tianshi looked around and said, "That's why a qualified Kshatriya warrior needs to know when to attack, when to pursue, and when to withdraw from the battlefield."

"I think we should call it a day for today's betting!"

After saying this, Tianshi turned around and bowed to the King: "Your Majesty, I'm going to rest now."

The king dared not disagree and could only order Tianshi to leave the banquet.

With the regent's interference, both the gambling game and the banquet had to be hastily concluded.

Shakuni's expression was uncertain. He had intended to use round after round of gambling to gain control of Kunti, who had borrowed money. But he hadn't expected that Tianshi would intervene and disrupt his plans.

He wasn't sure if Tianshi had seen through his plan, or if Tianshi had simply lost too many times in the betting and was angry.

"Tch, that old bastard..."

Shakuni cursed inwardly.

Kunti didn't even know when he returned to his palace.

But when she saw the grayish-black embers at the edge of the brazier, even her hands and feet began to tremble.

Behind the beaded curtain, the mysterious astrologer's voice rang in her ears once more.

"When the moon is full in the sky, we drink several dozen cups of wine."