In the garden, Concubine Liu’s table was placed below Gu Yi’s position, separated by a distance of several feet. She had witnessed the interaction between Concubine Rou and Consort Zhao, and couldn’t help but laugh coldly to herself.
The Emperor had punished her because of Consort Zhao, and now people at court were clamoring to establish Zhao as Empress.
Concubine Liu irritably drank a cup of wine. The Lady-in-Waiting beside her softly said, “Concubine Liu, not many dishes have been served yet. Drinking on an empty stomach might harm your digestion.”
She turned her head and met the smiling Lady-in-Waiting.
“Lady-in-Waiting, you’d better mind your own business.”
The Lady-in-Waiting wasn’t offended, “Concubine Liu speaks truly.” After saying this, she turned back to admire the flowers under the garden lanterns.
Concubine Liu still didn’t understand.
Given the Emperor’s temperament and the current situation, they wouldn’t be staying in the palace for long. It would be better to make other plans early.
Gu Yi heard the sound and glanced sideways. Suddenly, drums and music erupted from the music pavilion. Amid the thunderous drumbeats that were almost deafening, dozens of powerful, imposing men with bare upper bodies took the stage.
This was something new!
She looked carefully. The men’s muscular upper bodies were well-developed. It wasn’t clear if they had secretly applied oil, but as the lanterns flickered, their bronze torsos gleamed with a pearly luster. Everyone on stage was tall and strong, with long hair flowing down their backs. Only their sideburns were braided into thin plaits with blue-green beads embedded in their hair. Each man had strong, deep-set features.
Gu Yi leaned forward slightly, watching more intently.
This dance was offered by the Dantat people.
The dance on stage had a rhythm as heavy as a war song. The drumbeats became increasingly ponderous with each movement, then suddenly stopped at the climax. Dozens of strong men simultaneously prostrated themselves on all fours in a gesture of submission.
The sound of a zither suddenly rose, each note long and mournful.
A slender figure in sheer red stepped onto the stage following the music.
The newcomer wore gold and silver tassels on her head, with a silver crescent moon ornament on her forehead embedded with three clear pearls.
Her face was like a crescent moon in the sky—bright, beautiful, and radiantly pure. The silver lock around her neck jingled softly as she danced.
Her slender waist was exposed, swaying like a willow branch.
She had arrived! Princess Duozhu had arrived!
Gu Yi instinctively looked toward Xiaoyan on the imperial throne. She saw him in his black, gold-threaded dragon robe, his face half-hidden behind the strings of beads, looking down at her from the high platform with a cold, clear gaze.
Gu Yi: ???
The next moment, she saw Xiaoyan turn his gaze away to focus on the stage.
She had no choice but to look at Duozhu as well.
Princess Duozhu, the adopted daughter of the Dantat Lord.
According to the book, Princess Duozhu, as this generation’s “Prairie Pearl,” was comparable in beauty to the previous “Prairie Pearl,” Tazhu. However, she was voluntarily sent by the Dantat Lord for a marriage alliance with the Great Mu.
The music in the garden continued. Duozhu suddenly approached the front of the stage and jumped down, heading directly toward Zhao Wan.
Here she comes! Princess Duozhu was coming to challenge the female protagonist to a dance battle!
Duozhu stopped before Zhao Wan’s table, smiled coquettishly, and said, “I heard you are the highest-ranking consort in the imperial palace. Do you dare to compete with me?”
Gu Yi glanced sideways and saw Zhao Wan’s face stiffen before she slightly shook her head.
In this kind of setting, considering propriety, Zhao Wan couldn’t possibly compete with Duozhu.
Duozhu gave a laugh and didn’t press the issue. She simply waved her hand, and the music stopped abruptly.
She spoke with feigned petulance, “How disappointing. The Consort Zhao I heard about on my journey wasn’t like this.”
Duozhu was indeed somewhat provocative. Gu Yi noticed Zhao Wan’s expression darkening.
Duozhu immediately turned and walked back to the stage with light steps. Facing the imperial throne, she crossed her hands over her shoulders and bowed with her head lowered. “Duozhu greets Your Majesty.”
“Rise.”
Duozhu blinked her eyes and looked up at the Emperor on the high platform, saying word by word, “Duozhu has come from Dantat because she wishes to marry into the Great Mu royal family. Would Your Majesty fulfill Duozhu’s wish?”
Then the Emperor on the throne called out, “Prince Shen, what do you think?”
Xiao Lü was seated not far from the royal platform. Hearing this call, he immediately stood up and bowed, “Imperial Brother.”
Duozhu followed the sound and glanced at Xiao Lü, then frowned, “Duozhu wishes to marry a true warrior of the Great Mu, not this Prince Shen.”
The face of Xiao Lü, who was “not a true warrior,” visibly stiffened. Nevertheless, he maintained his composure and turned back to smile at Duozhu. His smile was dazzlingly handsome, but Duozhu no longer looked at him.
The atmosphere suddenly cooled, and the garden fell silent.
A slightly plump middle-aged man from the Dantat embassy stepped forward casually and bowed deeply, “Dantat envoy Hamu’er greets Your Majesty. Princess Duozhu is still young and has given much offense. I hope Your Majesty and Prince Shen will forgive her.”
He wore a dark blue robe and had his hair styled in the Dantat fashion, but with half of it tied in a bun at the back of his head. His temples were slightly gray, his figure portly, and his face seemed to carry a perpetual smile, though the wrinkles between his brows were deep.
Hamu’er.
Gu Yi’s heart skipped a beat, and she raised her eyes to observe him closely for a moment.
Although his features were regular, there wasn’t much resemblance upon looking at him. She had never seen Yu Dai; perhaps Hamu’er and Yu Dai looked somewhat alike.
Xiaoyan’s lips curved up almost imperceptibly, his eyes cold. “The envoy’s words are too heavy. Neither I nor Prince Shen would blame Duozhu. However, the Dantat Lord sending Duozhu, who is not a true Dantat princess, truly surprises me.”
Hearing this, Duozhu’s face paled. She bit her lip and was about to speak when Hamu’er interrupted her, “Your Majesty may not know that the Great Lord’s daughters have all been married off, and most don’t match Princess Duozhu’s beauty. Princess Duozhu is our Dantat Prairie Pearl. Although she is an adopted daughter, she has been raised as the Great Lord’s daughter and has the support of the great Dantat clans behind her.”
Duozhu, who was standing nearby, turned to glance at Hamu’er before lowering her eyes and remaining silent.
Xiaoyan laughed softly, “I see.” He clapped his hands several times, and the music resumed as dancers took the stage again.
Hamu’er and Duozhu stood in place for a moment before turning to go back to their seats.
The banquet lasted until the Hour of Hai (9-11 PM) before it ended.
After a not particularly pleasant evening banquet came a series of not particularly pleasant meetings.
The Dantat were supposed to pay tribute according to old customs, but there were many shortages in the cattle, horses, and furs the embassy had brought.
The embassy took the opportunity to explain that it was because the Great Mu had banned private tea trade this year and established official tea trade, resulting in poor tea-horse trade. They earnestly requested the Great Mu to reopen the private tea trade so that the Diecheng tea-horse market could resume.
The Emperor refused.
A few days later, the embassy mentioned again the matter of Duozhu’s marriage alliance, wishing to offer this woman to the Emperor.
The Emperor refused again.
June arrived quietly, and the tense atmosphere eased slightly. Officials suggested that, as it was the right season, they should invite the Dantat people to the Southern Park for a day of horseback riding and archery, and hold a farewell banquet for the embassy.
Gu Yi had been learning to ride for so long and finally waited for this day.
Today she rose at the Hour of Mao (5-7 AM) and changed into riding attire. She first took a carriage to the foot of the forest hills, where the imperial horse officials brought her the white horse she often rode at the stables.
After stepping into the stirrup and mounting the horse, Gu Yi first took a quick circle around and then skillfully began galloping.
The Southern Park forest was on a gentle slope. In midsummer, the meadows were lush, suitable for horse riding and polo. The forest backed onto a large mountain, its trees lush and verdant.
The morning sunlight wasn’t harsh, and there was a cool breeze blowing. Sitting on her horse, Gu Yi gazed at the green fields, her emotions stirred.
At this moment, the other female attendants who had come together also mounted their horses. Gu Yi looked around and saw that Zhao Wan had already mounted her horse and was stopping under a tree at the edge of the field. The imperial horse officials were helping her secure her stirrups.
Gu Yi slowly let out a breath. As she turned back, she saw a fiery red figure galloping toward her on horseback.
It was Duozhu.
Her horse was moving very fast. Gu Yi gripped the reins tightly, intending to avoid her. However, as Duozhu approached, she suddenly pulled the reins, causing the horse’s hooves to rise, swerving past and stopping right beside Gu Yi.
This was showing off.
Gu Yi understood. “Excellent horsemanship!”
Duozhu raised her eyebrows and smiled, “Are you Concubine Rou? I just saw you ride well. Why are you called Concubine Rou? Doesn’t ‘rou’ mean gentle in the Great Mu language?”
This question was too tricky. Gu Yi thought for a moment, “I am outwardly gentle but inwardly strong.”
Duozhu may or may not have understood, but she just smiled, revealing a dimple on her cheek. Today she wore a red riding outfit, looking brilliantly beautiful.
Duozhu looked Gu Yi up and down and praised, “Your hairpin is beautiful.”
Gu Yi touched the black wood handle beneath the red gemstone and also smiled, “Thank you.”
Duozhu asked again, “Will you also join the horse race later?”
Gu Yi nodded, “Of course.”
The horse race, as the name suggests, was a competition to see who could ride faster. The gentle slope connected to the mountain area, and the track had been marked out in advance.
Today’s female attendants included not only palace consorts but also officials’ family members, who rarely gathered together to play polo and enjoy horse racing.
Duozhu nodded, looked ahead, and then turned her horse around. “I’ll go first. See you later!”
Gu Yi looked in the direction she was heading—it was where Zhao Wan was staying.
She turned her gaze away and urged her horse forward a few steps.
On the grounds, men and women were separated by a wooden fence. Gu Yi spotted Xiaoyan sitting on horseback.
Today he wore a black robe with his crown high above. Only the brocade belt at his waist bore dragon patterns.
Xiao Lü followed behind him.
The members of the Dantat embassy were also each seated on horseback.
Xiaoyan turned his head to look and saw Gu Yi by the wooden fence.
Gu Yi saw him say something to Xiao Lü before riding over.
The two were separated by a wooden fence. Xiaoyan looked up at the clear sky and high clouds, and advised, “When the sun is directly overhead, remember to go to a shaded area.”
Gu Yi laughed, “This concubine wishes Your Majesty victory.”
Today on the grounds, the two sides formed their teams to play a game of polo.
Xiaoyan nodded. Gu Yi tightened the reins, “Then this concubine will go to the horse race.”
“Go ahead.”
Gu Yi turned her horse around, looked back at him once more, and then galloped away.
Xiaoyan felt that Gu Yi was somewhat strange today, but he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was strange about her.
On the grounds, horns sounded, and palace attendants brought polo mallets and bamboo balls onto the field.
Xiaoyan had no time to think further and had to return.
The sun rose to its zenith.
An imperial horse official rode up to Gu Yi, “Concubine Rou, the horse race is ready. Please follow me.”
Gu Yi followed him to the starting point of the race.
The female attendants were already prepared, about twenty or so. Gu Yi looked around and saw that both Zhao Wan and Duozhu were among them.
Before them stretched flat grassland, which, farther in the distance, became winding paths up the mountain slopes.
The imperial horse official held a blue flag and announced loudly, “In today’s horse race, the first to obtain the red silk from the green pine on the mountainside is the winner.”
As his words fell, he waved the blue flag in his hand. The horses moved in unison, darting forward like arrows.
Duozhu took the lead, turning her head to give Zhao Wan a provocative look.
Among the female attendants were some outstanding riders who were familiar with this forest field. Seeing the situation, they sharply turned their horses and headed toward a steep part of the forest.
This was a shortcut through the mountains that would allow them to reach the mountainside more quickly.
In the forest, branches were densely layered. The shortcut below was not prepared in advance, with abundant vegetation and rugged rocks.
Riders needed to be more cautious.
Duozhu gave a cold snort, quickly whipped the air, and followed.
Zhao Wan, having been publicly humiliated by Duozhu several times, had bottled up anger in her heart. She closely followed Duozhu’s horse.