A Wish Colored in Black and White
Jo Ri hesitated at first the task was no mere casual drawing, but a public confession of what dwelt within the corners of her soul. Yet, when she recalled the look of contempt with which De Lan had pierced her, a fierce desire ignited within her to shatter that royal vanity. She gripped the brush firmly, determined not to grant him a single opportunity to reject her or slight her intelligence ever again.
Suddenly, a wish she had hidden in the deepest point of her heart flashed in her memory a wish that summarized everything she desired in this life. She began to trace in black with boldness, sketching the structures and boundaries with confident strokes, then set about filling the spaces with vibrant colors. In the intensity of her fervor and her immersion in the painting, she did not notice her hand staining her cheek with a smudge of color, appearing as she always did: disheveled, spontaneous, and brimming with life.
The Protocol of Hearts and the Lion's Silence
Queen Li Yan noticed the smudge and let out a barely audible sound to catch her attention. Jo Ri looked toward her aunt with concern, fearing for the Queen's health amidst the other contestants who cared for nothing in that moment but winning the final round. She saw the Queen gesturing toward her own cheek with a mixture of royal dignity and maternal tenderness. Jo Ri wiped her cheek, smiling faintly, ensuring no one had noticed that minor slip in the "protocol" of beauty.
Once the Queen reassured her with a subtle smile that her face was clean, Jo Ri returned to apply her final touches. She then took up her pen to write a description for her painting words that were like projectiles poised to breach the fortresses of the prince's pride.
As soon as the ink dried, the palace maids began collecting the paintings with utmost care. Jo Ri's canvas was placed among those of the high-born ladies, and the small procession set off toward the Crown Prince's palace. There, the "Lion" waited in his den to pass judgment on souls whose identities were unknown to him, never suspecting that the true "danger" lay within the painting that carried the scent of his cousin's colors.
The Trap of Assumptions
The artworks were moved to the Crown Prince's palace for the final selection. Di Lan sat behind his desk, waiting. Despite his inner curiosity, he maintained a cold, indifferent facade as the paintings were placed before him. At his command, the servant began to show them one by one, along with the messages attached to each.
The first painting displayed a comb, exquisitely detailed and encrusted with brilliant jewels. The note beside it read:
"I wish for you to comb my hair with a beautiful comb like this one".
A bitter, mocking smile crossed Di Lan's face. He immediately thought of Ju Ri. Who else but a girl raised in the luxury of the palace would dream of such superficial vanities?
"A shallow girl" he thought.
Thinking only of herself and useless luxuries. These are exactly the traits of Ju Ri. Disqualified. I have no need for a doll who only cares about her reflection.
He flicked his hand for the servant to move it away, unaware that his assumptions were completely wrong, and that the next paintings would challenge everything he thought he knew.
The second contestant's painting depicted a lush garden filled with flowers and butterflies, with the palace walls looming in the background. The note read:
"I wish to have my own garden where I can plant whatever I desire".
Di Lan felt a pang in his chest. He vividly remembered how Ju Ri loved planting flowers as a child, often dragging him along to help her. But as he examined the artwork, he noticed the lines were shaky and the technique was amateurish.
Of course, he thought bitterly.
A girl like Ju Ri couldn't possibly paint with the grace of a true princess. She has the passion, but lacks the refinement.
He dismissed the painting with a wave of his hand, trying to push away the memories associated with it. He was fighting a lonely battle against his own assumptions, unaware that the next masterpiece would challenge his very soul.
The Blue Suit Trap
The third painting was revealed, and Di Lan was startled to see a portrait of himself in his royal blue robe with silver threads. It wasn't just a painting; the details suggested the artist had seen him in this exact attire very recently. Beneath it, a single sentence was written with unprecedented boldness:
"I wish to have you"
Di Lan's eyes widened at the girl's audacity. Instantly, Ju Ri's image flashed in his mind. She was the only one who had seen him in that specific suit yesterday, and no girl in the city was bolder than her.
A wicked smile played on his lips as he thought to himself:
What a deceiver you are, Ju Ri. Yesterday you were shouting that you didn't want me, and now you're painting me, begging in your own way to make me yours?
Feeling a surge of triumph, as if his bruised ego had finally been healed, he looked at the two remaining paintings. He tossed aside the one he assumed was Ju Ri's and stroked his chin, wondering which of the last two he should open first.
The White Protest
He reached for the painting on his right and lifted it slowly. As he turned it over, he was stunned into silence. There was no drawing just a blank canvas, as empty as the void in his heart from the day before. Beside it was a short, piercing note:
"If I had known... I would never have come here"
His features hardened as doubt gnawed at his mind again. Was this Ju Ri's true work? Was this the girl who shouted that she didn't want him, now laying out her disappointment and desire to escape on a white sheet?
"So, she still hasn't changed," he thought with suppressed rage. "She won't choose me, even in her dreams."
A dark, vengeful look flashed in his eyes. For a moment, he plotted: "What if I choose her? What if I turn this blankness into her prison and force her to live in agony under my shadow forever?" The idea of crushing her rebellion tempted him, but his princely pride stopped him. He deserved a woman who saw him as a dream, not a mistake she wished she'd never made.
He gripped the frame tightly, muttering:
"I will never choose you, Ju Ri. I will not grant you the honor of staying in my palace"
The Fake Smile
He picked up the fifth and final painting. As he turned it over, his eyes widened and his breath caught. Before him was a masterpiece that rivaled the works of great artists. The lines were harmonious, the composition was perfect, and the colors danced in complete unison.
The painting depicted a girl on a swing, with someone pushing her from behind. Her face beamed with a joy so vivid it felt real. Cherry blossoms surrounded her, their petals filling the sky of the canvas with poetic beauty. He picked up the note and read:
"The feeling of the breeze brushing my cheek, as I fly toward the sky to touch the sun"
Di Lan delved into the meaning. He saw a subtle ambition the "sky" meant ruling, and "touching the sun" meant taking the throne by his side. She had crafted her desire to be Queen with exquisite wit. Most importantly, the girl's face bore the delicate features of Mei Fa.
Di Lan smiled with relief, thinking:
This is the Queen I deserve intelligence, beauty, and unrivaled talent.
Confidently, he pressed his royal seal onto the painting, declaring it the winner, and ordered the results to be sent back to the Testing Palace immediately. He believed he had chosen Mei Fa and cast Ju Ri out of his life forever.
The Red Seal and the Palace Shock
The paintings returned to the Testing Hall, and the air was thick with tension. Every girl waited with bated breath, except for Ju Ri. She stood with a strange calm, gazing at the distant trees outside the windows, as if her soul were wandering far from palace conflicts.
Queen Li Yan sat with her usual dignity and ordered the girls to hold their paintings before them. A heavy silence fell when the Queen asked in a steady voice:
Which of you received the Crown Prince's Red Seal?
Seconds felt like eternity. None of the girls moved even Mei Fa looked stunned that her canvas remained unmarked. Suddenly, a faint but clear voice pierced the silence. Ju Ri raised her hand, which was visibly trembling, and said with a mix of hesitation and pride:
Your Majesty, I am the one who received the seal.
The Queen froze, her eyes flashing with a spark she couldn't entirely hide. She wanted to leap for joy, but remembering her position, she straightened her posture and said with a calm, commanding tone:
Show me the painting, Ju Ri.
Flying Towards Freedom
The Queen gestured with her hand, and a maid rushed to bring the painting to her. She gazed at the artwork, her heart overflowing with joy, and asked tenderly:
What do you mean by this painting, Ju Ri? What is the secret behind the joy on this girl's face?
Ju Ri responded firmly, looking directly into her aunt's eyes:
I mean flying toward freedom, Your Majesty.
The Queen's smile faltered, replaced by a look of confusion and concern. A single thought haunted her:
"Did I make a mistake choosing her as my son's wife? Will she try to fly away from the bars of this throne?"
But it was too late to turn back. The official announcement echoed through the hall: Ju Ri would be the Crown Princess and the future wife of the Prince. Mei Fa was appointed as the First Concubine, and Du Ri as the Second Concubine. The royal message was sealed with the Great Seal and sent immediately to the King's Palace. Ju Ri was now officially bound to the kingdom's destiny whether she liked it or not.
The Forbidden Gift
No sooner had Jo-Ri stepped out of the testing hall than the maids and young ladies swarmed around the painting like moths to a light. Their gazes were a strange mixture of suspicion and envy, underscored by a hushed admiration for a talent no one expected from that disheveled girl.
The maid allowed no one to touch the masterpiece. Instead, she carried it with immense reverence and headed straight to the Crown Prince's palace. The royal decree had been issued: this painting would not be tucked away in the archives it was to be hung in De-Lan's private wing. It would be the first wedding gift from his future bride a gift carrying the scent of cherry blossoms and a message of freedom whose true meaning the Prince had yet to grasp.
What will the first meeting between Di Lan and Ju Ri look like, now that he realizes he fell into the trap of her brilliance and chose her himself?