The Black Chamber Dream: Daiyu's Revenge

"Third Sister-in-law, who is that person?" Xiao Lin asked curiously, her gaze falling on the young man beside Xiao Tingjun.

Daiyu followed her gaze and smiled slightly: "It must be General Peng."

The young man appeared to be in his early twenties, with a tall and straight posture, clear and bright features, a high nose bridge, and a natural upturn at the corners of his lips, carrying a hint of a smile. Unlike the pale and frail young men of the capital, his skin was a healthy wheat color, clearly the result of years of training under the sun.

"He's not annoying at all," Xiao Lin commented casually, her gaze never leaving him.

The polo match began, and the princes galloped on their horses, displaying royal majesty with each swing of their mallets. Xiao Tingjun took the lead, scoring two goals in quick succession, drawing thunderous applause from the stands.

However, what was even more eye-catching was Peng Huaiyuan in his silver uniform. His horsemanship was superb, and he moved with ease on the field, intercepting the ball from the opponent several times and passing it accurately to his teammates. What was even more remarkable was his elegant posture and clean, crisp movements, without any sense of roughness.

During a fierce scramble for the ball, a prince's horse suddenly became startled, rearing up and nearly throwing its rider off. A gasp rippled through the crowd.

In a flash, Peng Huaiyuan rode close behind, controlling the reins with one hand and firmly grasping the bridle of the frightened horse with the other. With some skillful maneuver, the horse gradually calmed down.

"Bravo!" Cheers erupted from the stands.

Xiao Lin stared intently at the composed figure on the field, a slight thought stirring within her.

During halftime, Xiao Tingjun brought Peng Huaiyuan to pay their respects.

"Your Highness, Lin'er, this is Lieutenant General Peng, whom we specially invited to lend his support today," Xiao Tingjun introduced with a smile.

Peng Huaiyuan bowed respectfully, his manners impeccable: "Greetings, Your Highness, Princess and Consort."

His voice was clear, steady, and neither arrogant nor humble.

Daiyu gently helped him to his feet and asked him a few questions about the customs and scenery of the Northwest. Peng Huaiyuan answered fluently, displaying knowledge without being overly boastful.

Xiao Lin remained silent until Peng Huaiyuan took his leave, at which point she suddenly spoke up: "General Peng's horsemanship is quite remarkable. May I ask who your teacher is?"

Peng Huaiyuan turned around and respectfully replied, "Your Highness, I grew up in the Xiliu Camp since childhood. My horsemanship was taught by my father and the generals in the camp, so I cannot be considered to have a specific teacher."

"How are the horses in the Northwest different from those in the capital?" Xiao Lin asked again, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Peng Huaiyuan's eyes lit up: "Northwest horses have greater endurance and are not afraid of wind and sand, making them suitable for long-distance runs; Beijing horses, on the other hand, are more particular about their demeanor and gait, making them suitable for ceremonial processions. Each has its own merits."

He paused, then added, "However, I believe that horses, like people, each have their own temperament. There is no distinction between high and low, only whether they are compatible."

His words were quite unique, and Xiao Lin couldn't help but glance at him again.

As the second half of the polo match began, Xiao Lin's gaze remained fixed on that silver-white figure.

She saw him galloping across the field, saw his calm smile after scoring a goal, saw his hearty high-fives with his teammates, and saw his humility in helping up a fallen opponent.

My heart, without me even realizing it, has begun to pound.

After the match, Xiao Lin went straight to Consort Qiao's palace.

“Mother,” she said bluntly, “your daughter has found someone she wants to marry.”

Consort Qiao put down her teacup in surprise: "Which family's young master is he?"

"My second aunt's nephew, Peng Huaiyuan."

Consort Qiao was taken aback: "Although the Peng family is a prominent family, they are military families after all, and they are stationed in the Northwest for many years. Your father may not be willing to let you marry so far away."

“My daughter doesn’t care,” Xiao Lin said firmly. “If it were him, she would go to the ends of the earth.”

Consort Qiao looked at the unprecedented brilliance in her daughter's eyes, feeling both joy and worry: "This matter needs to be considered carefully, and we should see what your father thinks."

That evening, Consort Qiao informed the Emperor of the matter. The Emperor pondered for a long time, and finally smiled and said, "I saw that young man from the Peng family at the polo match today; he is an outstanding talent. If Lin'er truly likes him, I will grant her wish."

Three days later, the emperor summoned Peng Huaiyuan to the palace.

No one knows what they discussed, but five days later, the emperor bestowed a marriage upon them.

The news caused an uproar in the capital. No one expected that a princess of noble birth would marry a general from the Northwest, let alone that General Peng would willingly accept the condition of "not taking concubines."

Daiyu, however, knew from Xiao Tingjun that Peng Huaiyuan had said to the emperor, "To find a soulmate and stay together until old age is the greatest fortune of my life."

(The extra chapters will be a maximum of 10 words, so there's still a tiny bit left!!! Thank you all for your continued support.)