Hong Taiji gave her a mock look of disdain, scanning her from head to toe, but his exaggerated expression only made Da Yuer burst into laughter. Her laughter was light and infectious, full of joy. She was purely and genuinely happy just from his return.
"Go back now, there's still much to do. Or do you want me to lose sleep?" Hong Taiji playfully tapped Da Yuer's forehead, praising her, "You've taken care of yourself well this time, I wasn't worried for nothing."
"If I hadn't, I wouldn't have dared to face you," Da Yuer replied, smiling. She thought about how all the meals she had carefully eaten over the summer hadn't gone to waste. She wanted nothing more than to lazily curl up in Hong Taiji's arms, but her mind quickly shifted to her sister. She hurriedly added, "Great Khan, my sister is in my room. If you come back tonight, then my place..."
Hong Taiji, remembering the events of the day, didn't show any sign of blame. "I should go visit the new arrival's quarters anyway. I was worried you'd be jealous, but now you can't blame me for it, right?"
Da Yuer lowered her eyes, muttering, "That's still up for debate..."
Hong Taiji smiled and gently pinched her slightly fuller cheek. "Be generous. We'll talk in detail later. Now, go on back."
With that, he placed a soft kiss on her forehead, his eyes full of affection. Da Yuer, feeling as if she were blooming like a flower, happily cradled the empty bowl of ginseng soup and left, her heart light and joyful.
Da Yuer returned to the side palace as if she carried sunlight with her, brightening the entire room the moment she stepped inside. Even the usually quiet and solemn Hairanju could feel the joy radiating from her sister. Hairanju had just been reminded by their aunt not to say anything to Da Yuer that shouldn't be said.
Watching her younger sister's radiant smile, Hairanju thought about the words Da Yuer had once written in her letters. She knew her sister loved Hong Taiji deeply, and she also knew how much Hong Taiji cherished her. The two of them had often shared in their letters that all their happiness came from their husbands and their children.
"Spineless women,"
That's what their brother Wukeshan called them.
Her heart sank as she sat up and asked, "Bumubutai, with me staying here, what about the Great Khan?"
Da Yuer smiled, a little unwillingly. "He's going to the other side palace tonight." But her mood quickly lifted again. She knelt by the edge of the kang, her eyes curving into crescent moons as she looked up at her sister and said, "Let's sleep together tonight, sister. I've missed you so much."
When Hairanju was five years old, Da Yuer was born. The five-year-old Hairanju had treasured her little sister like a precious gem, and as the years passed, the two grew up inseparably. In Da Yuer's world, her sister was the person who loved her the most.
Da Yuer had once complained about why her sister, after marrying, never returned to Khorchin. Now she understood—it was too far. But now she understood even more deeply: when you are deeply in love with your husband, how could you ever long for home?
But her sister had lost her husband.
That night, Da Yuer didn't ask anything. She simply nestled close to her sister, talking only about Yatu and Atu's mischievous antics. She couldn't even remember when she fell asleep. When she woke up the next morning, she saw a beautiful woman sitting in front of the vanity, curiously holding a handheld mirror of Han design.
Seeing that Da Yuer was awake, Hairanju asked, "It's just a small mirror, but the patterns on the back are so intricate and exquisite?"
Da Yuer hugged her knees under the blanket, smiling as she watched her sister. Hairanju had slender, gentle eyebrows, a petite, well-defined nose, and lips that, though unpainted, were a soft pink like delicate spring cherry blossoms. Her skin was so fair that it seemed almost translucent in the morning light, and her figure, though slender, was graceful and lovely.
Da Yuer couldn't help but blurt out, "Sister, you are truly beautiful."
Hairanju was startled for a moment, then shook her head and set the mirror down.
The doctor came again to check Hairanju's pulse and confirmed that she was no longer in any danger. Hairanju herself also insisted she was fine now. As for why she had fallen into the water, Da Yuer never asked, which gave Hairanju a warm and secure feeling in her heart.
Early in the morning, Adai arrived with a message from the Great Consort, inviting both Da Yuer and Hairanju to have breakfast at Qingning Palace. Da Yuer asked, "Where is the Great Khan having his meal?"
Adai smiled and replied, "The Great Khan left the city early this morning, before dawn. He won't be back until after midday. Tomorrow is the anniversary of the Great Ancestor's passing, and there's much to be done."
Da Yuer instinctively glanced towards the opposite residence. The frail Consort Doutumen had just stepped out. Their eyes met briefly, but Doutumen quickly looked away and hurried off.