Hairanju is the elder sister of Da Yuer, a few years older than Qiqige. After her marriage, she never returned to Khorchin. The last time the sisters saw each other was when Da Yuer was only eight or nine years old.
In recent years, the two sisters had gradually started exchanging letters and learned about each other's circumstances. Qiqige sighed, "Sister Hairanju has really had a tough time." Jeje, holding the letter, read it over again carefully. Her face showed hints of hesitation and conflict, which didn't escape the perceptive Qiqige. But Da Yuer was oblivious to this; she sat nearby, speaking to herself sorrowfully, "Sister must be very heartbroken now. She loved her husband so much."
Jeje slowly folded the letter and responded to Da Yuer's comment, "Given the situation, those of us who are still alive need to live well. Perhaps after summer, we could bring your sister here to Shengjing to help her feel better."
Da Yuer looked at her aunt in confusion and asked, "Will she come?" Jeje locked the letter in a cabinet and said, "If she's willing, she'll come. If she's not, can we force her? There's no need to worry; it's just a matter of asking."
Da Yuer, feeling distressed, was unable to think clearly. When she heard her aunt's words, she numbly nodded in agreement. After being urged by her aunt to rest, she sat in her own side palace, still overwhelmed by thoughts of her sister's sorrow, and remained in a daze for a long time.
Qiqige had lunch with the Great Consort and was about to return home. On her way out, she passed by the side palace of Consort Doutumen, which was eerily quiet. She then noticed that the meal intended for Yuer had been returned untouched.
"Why hasn't the Side Consort eaten?" Qiqige asked as she approached.
"The Side Consort said she has no appetite," the maid replied awkwardly, holding the food tray and quickly withdrew.
Qiqige walked to the door, lifted the curtain, and saw Da Yuer sitting blankly by the window. A little girl climbed to her side, and Da Yuer showed some response, but Qiqige wondered if Da Yuer could not bear the loss of her long lost sister and a brother-in-law she had never met.
"Fourteenth Consort," Sumala approached with a cheerful smile. "Why aren't you going in?"
Qiqige shook her head and said, "I need to go home. I was concerned about Yuer, so I came to check on her, and as expected."
Sumala also looked helpless and said, "Consort, you know how Miss is."
"Take good care of her," Qiqige said as she walked away, adding, "Being too kind-hearted can be quite tiring."
Sumala, who only partially understood and did not dare to ask more, watched the Fourteenth Consort leave before entering to attend to her own mistress.
Time passed quickly. The Great Consort finished her postpartum confinement, and the little girl celebrated her first month. Jeje did not neglect her daughter, which was a reflection of her own authority and status as the Great Consort.
Qiqige was active outside the palace and knew that Da Yuer wanted to hear Han Chinese operas. So, she arranged for a troupe to come into the palace specifically for that day. However, Da Yuer was distracted and could not properly appreciate Qiqige's thoughtful gesture, as her mind was occupied with the letter from her distant sister.
But the response from Khorchin was delayed by a full month. It was not Hairanju's own letter, but Wukeshan indicated that he was willing to send his sister to Shengjing for recuperation and asked Aunt Jeje and Da Yuer to take good care of her.
Da Yuer could not clearly express whether she was happy or not; her mind was full of plans on how to accompany and care for her sister.
That day, Qiqige was also present. Holding a sky-blue porcelain tea bowl that her husband had taken from the Ming Dynasty, she gently skimmed off the foam, glanced up at the Great Consort, then looked down, giving a meaningful smile.
In early August, news arrived that the Great Khan was on his way back to Shengjing. The anniversary of the death of the Great Ancestor was approaching, and the mausoleum built for Nurhaci, the Great Ancestor, had been completed.
The palace was equally busy with this matter, with Jeje personally overseeing it and not daring to show any negligence. However, at this time, someone from Khorchin arrived saying that Hairanju had already set out.
Jeje was puzzled and irritated, saying, "Why is she arriving now? She should have come earlier. There's no time to attend to her now."
Da Yuer remained silent, thinking to herself that she would take good care of her sister. Besides, there was another thing that made her happy: the return of Hong Taiji.