Rise of an Empress

The Royal Stable

Life in the palace is not going so bad for Concubine Seo. Nowadays, she can also go outside the area of the concubines' palace with Prince Yeong. Concubine Park doesn't like the fact of her getting closer to Prince Yeong.

Even once Concubine Park said to Yun Hee, "You are a mere concubine. Getting closer to the royal family is dangerous. If anything happens in the future, you will be the one to pay for it. After all, he is a prince. Don't get so close with him."

But what can Yun Hee do, if prince Yeong badly wants her to accompany him? 

Today, Yeong says he has something to show her.  

"What do you want to show me?"

"For that, you have to come with me," Yeong takes one of Concubine Seo's hands and drags her to a part of the palace where she has never come before. But seeing the horses she can understand, it's royal stables. The best stallions, geldings, and mares are kept here.

( A/N: stallion - male uncastrated horse, mare - female horse, gelding- male castrated horse)

Yeong takes her to a specific stable. After opening the door, it reveals a snow-white mare.

A finely chiseled head, long arching neck, and high tail carriage indicate the royal features of this mare. Concubine Seo has seen a lot of stallions and mares before, but none of them was like this one… A purebred Arabian horse!

"It's yours, Prince Yeong?" She asks, still looking at the beauty.

"It's a gift from my brother for my upcoming birthday, although it's still 3 months later. Few purebred Arabian horses have arrived at the port today for royal stables. The Queen Mother said I can select any one of them. I selected this one instead of taking a stallion. She is a beauty, isn't she?"

"Yes... She is amazing," Concubine Seo moves towards the mare. She has liked to ride horses since childhood. She has spent a lot of time in Yongsan stable and she knows better how to pet a horse.

"What a beauty you are! How soft your snow-white furs are!" She starts to talk with the mare while rubbing the side of her body to her shoulder. She continues to scratch on the neck just behind the ear, as the mare seems to like such scratching behind the ear.

Now she moves towards the head of the mare. If you start petting the head of a horse at first, then it's wrong. The mare lowers her head and moves more towards Concubine Seo to get more rubbed. She kisses her head and says, "Such a good girl you are!!!"

Yeong is amazed at seeing the bonding between the concubine and the mare. "Really?... Have you done it? How?"

"I have petted horses before in our Yongsan palace."

"I have given her a name … Bulpae... She is so picky... She doesn't even like others to touch her except me. Right, Bulpae?"

The mare responds to Yeong's speech and moves towards Yeong to get more affection...

"I am curious now to see other horses of the royal stables. I heard most of them are unbeatable" Yun Hee laughs.

"The best horses of Goryeo stay in this stable. But among them, the best is my brother's black stallion. I will show you one day. The stallion's name is Dongja. That's a wild stallion. Only my brother can ride on him."

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"Do you know how to play archery?"

"No, I was never interested in that. My elder brother used to practice. I never practiced. Can you? For every royal prince it's a must as far as I know," Concubine Seo frowns. Archery makes her annoyed.

"Yes, but I haven't done so recently. Brother was talking about going on a  winter hunt yesterday. He will take me with him. I want to hunt something larger. So, I have to practice. I will teach you, concubines of higher rank also play archery in royal festivals."

Prince Yeong takes Concubine Seo to a large arena-like field. On the other side of the field, which is quite a large distance, dirt boards can be seen. It's a royal archery arena.

The Prince orders the royal guards to bring arrows and bows for them. He takes a large bow and arrow from the arrow rest. He aims the arrows towards the target. As he shoots the arrow, it follows an arched way and perfectly hits the center of the target board.

"You are even better than what I expected," Concubine Seo claps.

"But not as good as my brother. He can do it even with his eyes closed. He can even hit a bird's eye target from a running horse. He is amazing. I need to practice a lot to be like him." Yeong says while aiming another arrow at the target.

"His Imperial Majesty is the best in every aspect!!!" Concubine Seo can't hide the happiness in her voice. Her husband's praise has made her so happy.

"Do you want to try, Concubine Seo?" 

" No… No, I can't. I am better at watching than playing. You better play." 

" No, you have to. Let me teach you. It will be fun. Then we two can go to the royal forest sometimes to prey on birds together."

Despite her unwillingness, Concubine Seo gets up and takes a bow and an arrow. She tries to target the arrow, but it's too hard for her even to control the bow. Suddenly she feels a body closer to her. 

Yeong's chest is now touching her back. He helps Concubine Seo to target the arrow and also how to control the bow. After doing that, Yeong keeps hands on her waist.  

"You can do it. I am watching you... Shoot now..."

But suddenly a deep voice makes both of them frozen,

"What are you doing, Yeong?"

Yeong turns back. It's the voice of the almighty Emperor Sinjongl!... He bows towards his brother, Sinjong.

"Brother Ryung!... I was teaching Concubine Seo how to target an arrow."

Yun Hee has already sat down on the ground and bowed down towards the Emperor.

"Concubine Seo Yun Hee, you can stand up now," Sinjong laughs and says towards the bowing concubine. Yun Hee blushes after hearing her full name from her husband. She keeps her head lower.

"Carry on with your practice, Yeong. Mother was saying she hasn't eaten baby boar very recently. Hunting a baby boar is so tough. I want you to at least be able to hunt a bird-of-paradise. " 

Hunting a bird-of-paradise is regarded as glory for a prince. It's a bird that is used in every ritual of royal princes. Even all princes are not allowed to eat their meat. Yeong is a lucky prince to stay under the shadows of Emperor Sinjong and Queen Mother Gongwon.

"I will try my best, brother Ryung," Yeong bows towards his brother.

"And Concubine Seo, you will stay at my palace tonight. Prepare yourself to meet the queen mother in the evening. Go back to the concubines' palace right now. Royal guards will escort you," Sinjong says while not looking at Yun Hee.

He didn't like that Yeong touched his concubine. From the first night, he thought Yun Hee was a bit different. He was giving time to her to prepare for him. But today's simple incident is making him crazy. Yun Hee needs to know that Concubine is the only emperor's property to be touched.

"Praise be Your Imperial Majesty for your most generous actions, for this Concubine is not worthy." Concubine replies in a timid voice and doesn't know what to reply more. She has to stay tonight with the emperor, making her heart miss a beat. She leaves as she is escorted by the royal guards.

"Practice harder, Yeong."

Saying these Sinjong leaves. But Yeong can feel something is wrong. He didn't like how his brother made Yun Hee leave from here and also to take away from him. 

"So, she will stay in the emperor's palace with brother Ryung. That means!" Yeong mumbles. The pictures of special books of sexual knowledge keep flushing in front of Yeong.

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