In February in Shengjing, the city was still shrouded in a blanket of white snow. The midday sun would melt the snow, which would then form icicles under the eaves after sunset.
At nightfall, to prevent the dangerous icicles from falling and injuring someone, the nimble palace maids would climb up to break them off.
Sumala hurried over from behind and softly said, "Hurry and come down, be careful not to fall and disturb the Great Khan's sleep."
In the bedroom, the kang (a traditional heated bed) was burning warmly. After a long sigh of relief, Hong Taiji gently pecked his beloved and said tenderly, "Good Yuer."
He turned over and sprawled out, letting the warmth of the heated kang ease every bit of his fatigue. Da Yuer got up, wrapped herself in a brocade quilt, and took a silk handkerchief sent from Jiangnan in the Ming Dynasty.
Hong Taiji was being attended to comfortably and softly murmured, "Yuer's skin is like jade."
"Great Khan, you should go to sleep early. You've been tired these days."
Da Yuer said, covering him with the quilt. Seeing him close his eyes and fall asleep, Da Yuer then took several pillows, stacked them together at the foot of the bed, and lay down with her long legs resting on top.
After a while, Hong Taiji, having dozed off, turned over comfortably, only to see that his companion had raised her legs high.
He immediately became more alert: "What are you doing?"
Da Yuer had not yet fallen asleep. She opened her eyes to see her companion abruptly rise, roughly pulling her legs off the pillows. His brows were deeply furrowed as he asked in a low, deep voice, "Do you want a child?"
Da Yuer quickly scrambled up and curled herself into a ball.
"Khorchin is fixated on having you give me a son, but you only listen to them and ignore everything I say," Hong Taiji sneered coldly. He swiftly got off the bed and shouted, "Someone come!"
Hearing the call, the people outside hurried in. They saw Hong Taiji standing with outstretched arms in front of the bed, and they quickly helped him get dressed. In no time, Hong Taiji swept out of the room.
Da Yuer's personal maid, Sumala, who had not dared to approach, ran over only after the Great Khan had left. With concern, she asked, "Miss, why is the Great Khan upset?"
Da Yuer shook her head, slowly laid back down, and continued to rest her legs high on the pillows.
She said to Sumala, "Bring me a few more pillows. My aunt said I need to raise them higher."
Sumala, kneeling beside the kang, felt a pang of sympathy. "Miss, didn't the Great Khan ask you not to…"
"Sumala, I'm tired," Da Yuer said, closing her eyes. It was unclear if she was speaking to Sumala or to herself. "Just do as you're told."
This year was the seventh year of Tiancong in the Late Jin, and the sixth year of Chongzhen in the Ming Dynasty.
The Ming Dynasty was gradually heading toward decline, with political chaos and constant factional strife within the military. To secure their own safety, Ming generals such as Kong Youde, Geng Zhongming, and Shang Kexi, who were in a weak position, all submitted to the Later Jin.
Hong Taiji treated all surrendering Han officials well and personally led the
Due to the busy military affairs, Hong Taiji was often on the move. By the time he returned to Shengjing in late autumn, it was already the eleventh month of the winter.
On this day, Hong Taiji, accompanied by numerous officials, was testing the newly improved red-coated cannons in the outskirts. The earth trembled and mountains shook, but the newly constructed palace remained as solid as a rock.
At this moment, Da Yuer, who had conceived in early spring, was in labour.
Amidst the thunderous sounds that made everything shake, the Great consort Jeje stood outside the delivery room. Seeing the Soran pole behind the screen swaying in the air, she silently gripped the prayer beads in her fingers and instructed the maids beside her, "Send a few people to steady the Soran pole properly."
As her words fell, another deafening roar erupted. The wind and waves whipped up stone fragments, stinging the faces of those nearby. The timid maids covered their ears and huddled in the corners.
Jeje saw this and scolded, "What are you panicking for? It's your master testing the red-coated cannons; this is the majesty of our Jin Dynasty."
As the smoke and dust cleared and the earth settled, a sacred crow landed on the Soran pole. Jeje looked up and clasped her hands in prayer, "Yuer, you must give birth to a little prince this time."
Inside the delivery room, Da Yuer was experiencing her third labour. The midwife had said that labour with the third child would not be painful, but each time Da Yuer felt as if she was about to die.
"Aunt, Aunt…"
Da Yuer cried out in agony. Suddenly, there was a release of pressure and the pain subsided.
The cry of the newborn baby came from the delivery room. Jeje's heart was in her throat. A maid hurried out, and Jeje anxiously asked, "How is it?"
But seeing the maid's timid expression, she already knew the answer in her heart.
That evening, when Hong Taiji returned to the palace covered in the smell of gunpowder, Jeje had long been waiting at the gate of Qingning Palace.
Upon seeing his wife, Hong Taiji remembered that his side consort was about to give birth when he left. He asked casually, "How is Yuer?"
Da Yuer, the side consort, was the niece of the Great consort Jeje, a member of the Khorchin Borjigin family, younger sister of Buhe Beile. Originally named Bumubutai.
She was affectionately called "Da Yuer," a name resembling that of Han people, which had been used by Hong Taiji and Jeje since her arrival, because she was young and delicate, like a piece of
At that moment, Jeje, feeling somewhat guilty, said, "Yuer has given birth to a little girl. Although both mother and daughter are safe, she could not provide the Great Khan with a son."
Hong Taiji smiled inwardly but maintained a neutral expression as he replied, "A daughter is not a bad thing. She will marry into various tribes in the future and serve the Jin Dynasty's interests. I will change my clothes and accompany you to see Yuer and the baby."
Seeing her husband's response, Jeje felt somewhat reassured and said quickly, "Thank you for your understanding, Great Khan. Yuer has truly endured much hardship."
Hong Taiji took Jeje's hand and led her towards the door. However, after just a few steps, she suddenly swayed and began to collapse. Quick to react, Hong Taiji caught her in his arms and asked with concern, "Jeje, what's wrong?"