The Black Chamber Dream: Daiyu's Revenge

With a hole-in-one shot, Song Huilan immediately clapped and praised, "Princess, you're really amazing!"

Daiyu smiled gently and chose a golf club.

As everyone watched her, club in hand, her movements light and graceful, like a butterfly in flight. She bent slightly, her gaze fixed intently on the small ball, then with an elegant swing, the club traced a beautiful arc through the air. The small ball, propelled by the force, rolled rapidly, resembling a delicate jade bead on the grass.

Those around held their breath, their eyes fixed on the small sphere's trajectory. The sphere first rolled over a small slope, then straight towards the carefully crafted hole in the distance. Just as it was about to reach it, the sphere's speed slowed, as if it were about to stop. A collective gasp of regret escaped the crowd, but the sphere, seemingly unwilling to give up, used its last bit of momentum to tumble and roll into the hole.

Song Huilan and Ge Xijia were both somewhat surprised: they had thought that the Crown Princess was not good at the game of Chuiwan.

Meanwhile, Zuo Jiangqiu, who was accompanying Jin Jiaxi on her horseback ride, gracefully leaped onto the horse's back and skillfully grasped the reins. The horse, as if sensing its owner's emotions, slightly shook its head and snorted. She gently squeezed the horse's flanks, and it began to trot. A small cloud of dust rose from the horse's hooves, but it did nothing to diminish her elegant posture.

Jin Jiaxi couldn't help but admire them; the girls of the Central Plains Dynasty were indeed so capable. Then she saw the Grand Princess riding horses with Princess Gao Xin. Although the grandmother and granddaughter were riding slowly, she realized that the girls of the Central Plains were not like she had imagined, all of them being scholars of poetry and songs. It turned out that there were also women who enjoyed riding horses.

What left Jin Jiaxi even more dumbfounded was the princess's horsemanship. She would sometimes tighten the reins to control the horse's direction, skillfully turning at bends; at other times, she would loosen the reins and let the horse gallop freely for a distance. There seemed to be an invisible tacit understanding between her and the horse; every change was so smooth and natural, and the person and the horse were as one.

He's even better than Kim Ga-hee's horse riding instructor.

Jin Jiaxi couldn't help but think of what Wang's father had told them the night before they set off.

The Central Plains dynasty is currently at its peak, its army is highly capable, and it has defeated the southeastern island nations, making them submit to its rule. The court is wealthy, and it is practically the only celestial empire in the world.

In contrast, in Goryeo, several tribes are now restless, and it is only through his prestige that they are kept in check. In a few years, he will grow old, and the throne will pass to a prince. The fear is that the new king will not be able to control those small tribal leaders.

Therefore, gaining the recognition and support of the Central Plains dynasties was very important to them. And marriage alliances were a good alternative to tribute and homage.

The king's father also said that the emperor has four sons who are all of suitable age. The crown prince is of course the best choice, but if the emperor of the Central Plains is not willing, then other princes are still good options if the crown prince is not chosen.

The king's father also sent people to inquire about the four princes, and then told the sisters that apart from the crown prince, the best choices were the fourth prince and the fifth prince, because the second prince already had a concubine.

The woman who had volunteered to accompany him on this horseback ride was none other than the Princess Consort of the Fifth Prince, Prince Cheng. She wore a simple red riding outfit with a black belt around her waist, which accentuated her agile figure. Her starry eyes gleamed with a sharp and determined light, and beneath her high-bridged nose, her lips were slightly pursed, exuding an undeniable decisiveness.

I heard that her grandfather was a great general who led troops to victory in the southeast and was granted the title of first-class duke. I also heard that her father and uncle were both military generals. I'm afraid that it wouldn't be easy for such a princess to marry Prince Cheng and become his concubine.

While Kim Ga-hee was assessing Zuo Jiangqiu in front of her, Kim Ga-joo was also sizing up the Crown Princess and the other two Princesses.

If we're talking about polo skills, then Princess Li is definitely the best. However, Princess Li is impatient and not as calm as the other two.

Kim Ga-joo spotted several men in the distance; judging by their attire, they must be princes.

So, by accident, the little ball spun through the air, flew over the cradle, and headed straight for the edge of the court.

"Oh no—this is really bad." Kim Ga-joo looked annoyed, then she ran over with the ball.

Ge Xijia was stunned for a moment, then followed.

Song Huilan glanced at Daiyu and said, "Why doesn't the Crown Princess go and take a look?" She then added, "Perhaps this princess will become the Crown Prince's concubine."

When she said the last sentence, her voice was very low, and only she and Daiyu could hear it.

To everyone's surprise, Daiyu only said one word: "Oh."

Then Song Huilan stared blankly as the Crown Princess walked in that direction.

Oh, what does that mean?

Chapter 205 The Archery Competition: King Li Shines

Regardless of what Song Huilan and others thought, the next day was the day of the archery and horsemanship competition.

Daiyu was shocked to see such a spectacle for the first time. The women of the household followed the Emperor and Empress, sitting on the viewing platform to watch the competition.

Below, the ranks stood in perfect order, men in military uniforms seated upright on horseback, each exuding a heroic and dashing air. Above, blue skies and white clouds hung in the air, horses trod the yellow earth, and flags fluttered in the wind. In this atmosphere, even ordinary-looking soldiers appeared handsome and dashing.

The emperor smiled at the crown prince and said, "Are you really not going to participate today?"

In truth, the emperor was well aware that the King of Goryeo had brought his daughter, clearly intending to arrange a marriage. A princess from a vassal state as a concubine was acceptable. But if she were to become the Crown Prince's concubine, things would be quite different.

When the emperor met the two princesses from Goryeo, he knew that they had been carefully groomed, but he still felt that they were not quite suitable to be the crown prince's concubines.

So he was quite satisfied that the Crown Prince didn't leave the stage.

“Second Brother and Fourth Brother are already more outstanding in horsemanship and archery, so it’s better to let them take the field this time.” Xiao Tingjun didn’t mind praising his brothers.

All the people saw were Prince Rui and Prince Li, dressed in long trousers and leather boots, their clothes tight-fitting, which made their figures stand out like bamboo.

However, to be fair, Prince Li was more outstanding. He rode a chestnut horse, and his eyes were bright as stars, deep and spirited. His lips were slightly upturned, forming a faint smile, and he had the confidence to win.

As the first drumbeat sounded, Prince Rui rode in first, hitting the target with a single arrow. The crowd naturally cheered.

Immediately afterwards, the two princes of Goryeo and Prince Ri also easily hit the target.

The emperor and the king of Goryeo exchanged pleasantries. After one round, they changed the target, increased the shooting distance, and started again. The rules were set from the beginning, and the distance for the second round was much farther than that for the first round.

For those skilled in mounted archery, it was still no challenge. After several rounds, the target was finally moved a hundred paces away. The drumbeats grew increasingly intense, and hitting the target within a short period of time was extremely difficult.

At this moment, only two people remained: Prince Shin of Goryeo and Prince Xiao Tingfeng.

The Goryeo prince, who went first into battle, launched himself onto his horse like an arrow released from a bow, his movements swift and agile.

He swiftly drew back the bowstring, pulling it taut like a full moon hanging in the air. At that moment, everyone's gaze was drawn to the bowstring in his hand as if by a magnet, and even the faint sound of the iron ring rubbing against the tough ox sinew seemed to reach everyone's ears clearly.

However, as the drumbeats gradually subsided, their echoes still lingering in the air, people were astonished to find that the hooves of the horse beneath Prince Xin, which had been galloping like the wind, were slowly slowing down. Only then did everyone realize, as if waking from a dream, that the appointed time had arrived.

Even the emperor couldn't help but feel sorry for him.

Next up was Prince Li, Xiao Tingfeng.

Amidst the rapid, thunderous drumbeats, Xiao Tingfeng rode his steed into the arena like a bolt of lightning, his hooves kicking up clouds of dust, as if the earth itself was shaken by this powerful force.

He sat steadily on the horse's back, his posture as upright as a pine tree, holding a hard bow tightly in his hand, the bowstring taut as a full moon.

Before anyone could react, Xiao Tingfeng had already swiftly drawn an arrow and nocked it on the bowstring. His eyes were like torches, locked on a distant target, his arm muscles bulging slightly, brimming with immense power. In an instant, he released his grip, and the arrow shot out like a wild horse.

With a sharp "whoosh," the arrow pierced the sky with a clanging sound, its speed astonishing. The arrowhead gleamed coldly, like a shooting star streaking across the heavens, hurtling towards its target with the force of a thunderbolt. This arrow was incredibly sharp, seemingly capable of piercing through anything in its path.

Everyone held their breath, their eyes fixed on the center of the field, waiting for the soldier's report confirming a bullseye before cheers erupted like thunder.

The King of Goryeo immediately congratulated the Emperor, saying, "Your Majesty's son is truly a blessing to the nation and its people."

The emperor was very pleased and immediately promised a generous reward, but not just for Xiao Tingfeng; all four received rewards. However, the reward for Xiao Tingfeng was the most substantial.

Ge Xijia felt honored and listened to everyone's praise with a smile. However, she did not notice the complex emotions that flashed across Jin Jiazhu's eyes.

At first, Jin Jiazhu didn't think she really had to marry into the royal family of the Central Plains Dynasty, since ultimately, she could only be a concubine. Her birth mother was the Queen, and she had seen that most of her father's concubines were unhappy.

For example, her sister Kim Ga-hee's birth mother was already considered a favored concubine, but she was under the control of the Queen and often had to endure and yield.

Yesterday, she deliberately hit the small ball out of bounds to test the princes. However, today, she was completely won over by the fourth prince.

This was far more formidable than any of the rest of Goryeo. He rode on horseback, his posture as upright as a pine tree, seemingly one with the horse. Sunlight streamed down, outlining his strong features, every line exuding power. When he shot an arrow, he was like a hero of ancient times, single-handedly wielding his might, yet possessing boundless majesty.

Jin Jiazhu originally thought that if it didn't work out, she would let her sister get married, but now she has changed her mind.

She wanted to be the wife of Prince Li, although she could only be a concubine for now. But the Princess Consort of Prince Li didn't seem very smart; she was impulsive, arrogant, and relatively easy to deal with.

So after the banquet, Kim Ga-joo went to find her father.

Unexpectedly, her older sister was also there. Jin Jiazhu subconsciously thought that her sister wanted to marry into the Central Plains Dynasty, so she quickly stepped forward and took her father's arm, acting coquettishly: "Father, I think Prince Li is brave and mighty, so amazing."

The King of Goryeo favored his youngest daughter. However, his eldest daughter was not there to discuss marriage. Instead, she came to analyze things for her father. She had interacted with the Crown Princess and several other princesses and found them all to be quite capable. Only Princess Li was impetuous.

So when the King of Goryeo heard his youngest daughter's words, he guessed what she was thinking: "Then, Zhu'er, do you think it's okay for you to become a concubine of Prince Li?"

“But that requires the Emperor of the Central Plains to agree.” Jin Jiazhu made no attempt to hide her thoughts.

The King of Goryeo wasn't entirely confident, but he was willing to share his thoughts with the Emperor of the Central Plains.

Chapter 206: Xi Jia Feels Suffocated After Betrothing a Concubine

The Emperor was pleased with the Goryeo King's proposal to send his youngest daughter to Goryeo for a marriage alliance, and to offer her as a concubine to Prince Li. He did not wish to wage war against a vassal state like Goryeo; it was good enough to maintain friendly relations and have them as subjects. This way, the border people could live in peace and prosperity, free from the suffering of war.

It just so happens that the fourth prince has been chosen. In comparison, the second prince already has a concubine, the Crown Prince's concubine. The emperor felt that he should choose carefully, as the daughter of the King of Goryeo was not a good candidate.

As for the fourth prince's side, the emperor was well aware of all the troubles that had befallen his household. His wife was thoroughly spoiled and intolerant of others, which was not a good thing. While it wasn't right for Consort Xu to send a palace maid, the fact that she not only caused the loss of her child but also murdered the maid was simply too much.

This is a good opportunity to teach the fourth son's wife a lesson.

So the emperor readily agreed to the Goryeo king's proposal and praised the Goryeo king's daughter for being innocent and lively: "After I return to the capital, I will issue an edict that officials from the Ministry of Rites will be sent to Goryeo to personally welcome the bride."

Although she was a concubine, the other party was a princess of a vassal state, so she still had to give her the respect due to her.

The emperor didn't intend to keep this news a secret, and the King of Goryeo certainly wouldn't either, so the news spread quickly.

Song Huilan breathed a sigh of relief, while Ge Xijia was furious: that day, Xiao Tingfeng was clearly putting on a show on purpose.

Inside the young couple's tent, Ge Xijia immediately became angry: "You knew all along that the King of Goryeo brought the princess here because he wanted to arrange a marriage, didn't you?"

Xiao Tingfeng was no longer willing to even bother with perfunctory responses to Ge Xijia. Seeing that she was about to throw another tantrum, he immediately turned to leave. At the door, he turned back and said, "I advise you to rein in your temper. If you continue like this in the future, this is not Chunmei, whom you can mold as you please."

Seeing that Xiao Tingfeng left without even offering an explanation, Ge Xijia burst into tears.

Cuifen, the maid who had accompanied her out, came up to comfort her, and it took her a while to calm her down. Ge Xijia thought for a moment and decided to go see Jin Jiazhu.

But Ge Xijia never expected that Song Huilan would also be there.

Upon seeing Ge Xijia arrive, Song Huilan, still acting like the protagonist, smiled at Jin Jiazhu and said, "My fourth sister-in-law is the most straightforward and generous. You will all be family from now on."

Ge Xijia was even angrier. How could Song Huilan really forgive her for framing her back then? Look at her, she can't wait to see the joke.

However, we must not let Song Hye-ran laugh at us.

Thinking of this, Ge Xijia put on a smile and stepped forward to Jin Jiazhu, saying, "The princess is younger than me, so I'll just call you 'little sister.' Do you mind?"

“Of course, Princess Rui just introduced my sister to me, praising her family’s rich academic tradition and telling me to learn from her in the future.” Jin Jiazhu also smiled warmly.

Ge Xijia then looked at Song Huilan: "Sister-in-law, I have something to say to the princess. I think you wouldn't mind giving us some space to talk, would you?"

"Of course, of course, my two sisters, I'll be going now." Song Huilan didn't forget to say to Jin Jiazhu, "When the princess marries here in the future, you must come to my mansion often. Our two mansions are right next to each other."

Upon hearing this, Ge Xijia made an even bigger fuss about Song Huilan.

“Princess sister, I didn’t know what gift to give you in such a hurry, so I’ll give you this pair of jade bracelets with a double phoenix holding a pearl and twisted rope pattern as a greeting gift.” Ge Xijia took out a pair of bracelets. The bracelets had a warm and lustrous color and were exquisitely crafted. They were cleverly designed with a double phoenix holding a pearl and twisted rope pattern.

Jin Jiazhu couldn't help but think that it was no wonder Princess Rui had said that Princess Li came from a wealthy family. According to the Central Plains culture she had studied, bracelets were believed to possess spirituality, capable of accumulating vital energy, nourishing the spirit, warding off evil, and bringing good fortune.

This pair of bracelets features two phoenixes connected in a ring on one side, with openwork relief carvings of the two phoenix heads, their mouths open and eyes bulging, exuding a powerful aura. The two phoenixes face each other, separated by a pearl in the middle, depicted as two dragons holding the pearl in their mouths. The craftsmanship and the quality of the jade clearly indicate that this is no ordinary piece.

Jin Jiazhu quickly accepted the gift with both hands, smiling sweetly: "Thank you, sister. I also have something to give you."

What she gave him was an amber bracelet, the most precious bracelet in Korea. It was the finest blood amber, deep red, translucent and pleasing to the eye. Moreover, for the Koreans, amber is also called "tiger soul" or "beast soul," and is regarded as "the spirit of a dead tiger entering the earth and turning into stone." The tiger is considered the most auspicious mythical beast by the Koreans.

Seeing that Jin Jiazhu was so sensible, Ge Xijia felt a little better: since she understood that she was here to be a concubine, she should abide by the rules from now on.

As the legal wife, I have nothing to worry about.