Jeje felt a heavy, suffocating pressure in her chest and was weak all over. She weakly said, "Great Khan, I feel extremely dizzy and can't catch my breath."
Hong Taiji immediately ordered someone to fetch a doctor and carefully carried his wife into the palace. He placed her on the southern kang and stayed by her side, never leaving her for a moment.
In the side palace, Da Yuer, who had just woken up from her postpartum sleep, saw the wet nurse bringing the little princess to her. The weak Da Yuer reached out to gently stroke the child's cheek.
The wet nurse informed her, "Side Consort, the little princess's cries are strong and she's very healthy."
Da Yuer smiled softly, "Let me hold her."
When Da Yuer first arrived in Shengjing, she was only thirteen. Eight years had passed, and she was now the mother of three children.
The toddler Atu was still under two years old, and four-year-old Yatu was playing somewhere. Da Yuer carefully took the frail baby from the wet nurse's arms. At that moment, the curtain at the door lifted, and Sumala rushed in, wringing her hands.
She should have gone to get medicine for the consort, but returned empty-handed. She leaned by the kang and said to Da Yuer, "Miss, I heard that the Great Consort was unwell, so I went to Qingning Palace to take a look. Before I even entered, I heard the Great Khan laughing. Guess what?"
Da Yuer immediately felt anxious, "What happened to my aunt?"
Sumala smiled with delight and said, "Miss, don't worry. The people at Qingning Palace said that the Great Consort is pregnant. It's truly something to celebrate."
Da Yuer was stunned, "My aunt... is pregnant?"
Years ago, the thirteen-year-old girl, innocent and naïve, had been sent to Shengjing as the side consort to her uncle. At that time, Hong Taiji was still a Beile, and Da Yuer, still too young herself, was viewed as merely a child by her husband, who was also her uncle.
It wasn't until the second year of the Tiancong era that her aunt gave birth to another princess and tearfully said to her, "Yuer, I may be useless, but you must bear a son for the Great Khan and for the Khorchin."
That night, Da Yuer officially became her uncle's woman.
Yet, just like her aunt, she could only bear daughters.
The baby in her arms made a fuss, and Da Yuer quickly unbuttoned her clothes to breastfeed. As she watched the baby nurse contentedly, she said with satisfaction, "Little sweetheart, you've just been born and already you'll have to be a big sister."
Sumala smiled and said, "Miss, if the Great Consort gives birth to a son this time, you will be able to..."
Da Yuer placed a finger over Sumala's lips, shaking her head to signal her to stop.
Just then, a voice was heard from outside the door— it was Adai, the Great Consort's attendant.
Sumala let her in, and Adai set down some gifts before speaking kindly, "Side Consort, as you know, the Great Consort is expecting. The Great Khan has instructed that she must rest and cannot visit you and the little Princess at the moment. The Great Consort has asked you to take good care of yourself, and she will come to see you in a few days."
Da Yuer smiled and replied, "Please convey my congratulations to the Great Consort and ask her to take care of herself. Once I am out of confinement, I will go to attend to her."
Adai agreed and reminded the wet nurse and attendants to take good care of the Side Consort and the little Princess before respectfully taking her leave.
After Sumala sent Adai out, she returned to find the consort handing the satisfied baby over to the wet nurse. Once the wet nurse took the baby to the other side of the kang, Sumala gently advised, "Since the Great Khan and the Great Consort have chosen a wet nurse for you, you shouldn't feed the baby yourself. Otherwise, the Great Consort might be displeased, thinking we're not maintaining proper decorum."
Da Yuer covered her chest, lowered her gaze, and after a long pause, said, "I understand. I will let the wet nurse handle the feeding."
In the following days, Hong Taiji was occupied with state affairs, and Jeje remained indoors to rest. Apart from a few secondary consorts coming to offer their congratulations, no one else came to visit.
By the time Da Yuer completed her confinement, it was already late December. The snow in Shengjing had turned the world into a winter wonderland of white.
Sumala had sewn a new red cloak for the consort, made of crimson satin lined with lamb wool. The cloak was both festive and warm, with a white fur collar highlighting Da Yuer's delicate face. However, after staying indoors for so long, her complexion appeared pale and lacking in color.
"It's just a few steps, why go through all this trouble?" Da Yuer said, touching the cloak with a smile. She praised Sumala, "Your needlework has become even more skilled."
"Miss, praise me later, the Great Consort is waiting. Let's hurry," Sumala urged as she helped Da Yuer outside. The maids lifted the cotton curtains, and the bright sunlight flooded in. After lying in the room for a whole month, Da Yuer felt a bit dizzy from the sudden light.
"Miss, watch your step," Su Mala said as she supported Da Yuer. They made their way along the path cleared of snow by the palace servants toward Qingning Palace, situated in the centre of the palace grounds.
At that moment, Hong Taiji, clad in armor, was coming out from Fenghuang Tower. The armor made a crisp clinking sound. He was about to unfasten and hand over his armor to an attendant when he noticed a flash of red against the white snow in the palace garden.
Da Yuer, hearing the noise, turned around and saw the Great Khan. She quickly stepped back to clear the way, but as she did, she stumbled and fell into a snowbank.
"Miss..."
Su Mala started to help but then saw the Great Khan approaching. She promptly stepped aside. The Great Khan reached out a hand to the figure nestled in the snow.