"I'm sorry, I really don't drink, and according to the teachings of the True Lord, we're not allowed to drink." Perhaps because she was flustered, Aman's little face was rosy pink, making her look especially enticing.
Bo'olghu swallowed, but still put on a stern face and snorted. "Nonsense. Which one of your father and Suluk ever didn't drink? You're deliberately lying to me. Do you take me for an easy target?"
"No, no," Aman hurriedly waved her hands. "My father and the others haven't been completely enlightened by the teachings of the True Lord yet, which is why they still drink."
"What kind of nonsense is that? Eternal Blue Sky has no such rule. Are you drinking or not? If you don't, you're disrespecting me!" Bo'olghu glared at her viciously.
Seeing the bearded, ferocious-looking man before her, Aman was terrified. Still, she gathered her courage and said, "These are the teachings of the True Lord. I hope the general will respect them."
Bo'olghu snorted. "Now that the Mongol Empire's army has conquered the world, forget your True Lord—even the Roman Curia farther west has its Pope personally sending cardinals to curry favor with our Great Khan. Don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a penalty one. Are you drinking or not?"
Though Aman was kind-hearted, his words stirred the stubbornness in her heart. She lifted her little face, her expression resolute. "No!"
Bo'olghu immediately flew into a rage. With one hand, he seized her cheek; with the other, he raised the wine jug and tried to force it into her mouth. Aman cried out and frantically used both hands to pry him away, but how could a frail young girl compare in strength to a broad-shouldered, burly general? All she could do was clamp her lips shut