Hairanju stared blankly at the women converging towards her, instinctively taking a step back. Unlike Da Yuer, they didn't need her protection or affection, leaving her without the heart to even lie.
"I was with the Princess all night. Surely someone is spreading rumours," she said, at a loss. Baoqing, Hairanju's sharp-witted maid, stepped forward with a cheerful smile and said, "These days, strange rumours always seem to circulate in the palace. The Great Consort is already upset, so it's best not to cross her now."
"Right... ah..." the women immediately backed down, aware of the Great Consort's formidable authority.
Relieved, Hairanju nodded slightly and then led her group back to their quarters.
The courtyard was small, and the women's whispers could still be heard rustling outside. Hairanju sat weakly at the table as Baoqing set down their meal and closed the window, saying soothingly, "Don't take it to heart. Those women love to stir up trouble, and even the Great Consort can't be bothered with them anymore."
Hairanju nodded, took a sip of soup, and said to Baoqing, "There's too much food; I can't finish it. Sit down and eat with me."
Baoqing chuckled, "Where do you see masters and servants dining together? You really are like sisters with Consort Yu. She still insists on eating with Sumala sometimes. Once, the Great Consort caught them and punished Sumala harshly. Now, Sumala refuses to do it anymore."
Hairanju was stunned, "Is my aunt that harsh?"
Baoqing smiled, "Apart from Consort Yu, there are so many other concubines in the palace. There were even more before, but they are no longer around. If the Great Consort wasn't strict, how would she keep everyone in line? Princess, when you were a Great Consort, didn't you oversee your subordinates?"
Hairanju shook her head slightly, "My husband only had two concubines, both gentle and considerate, almost like sisters to me. Our household affairs were simple; how could I compare to my aunt?"
Baoqing replied, "That's true, our household keeps growing larger. I hear them say..." She chuckled, trailing off, not daring to continue.
Hairanju, lacking the energy to probe further, simply focused on her meal, wondering when someone would next inquire about her. With Hong Taiji deciding not to leave this winter, she pondered how she would navigate the season peacefully amidst the palace's complex dynamics.
The rest of Baoqing's half-spoken sentence were now said at the residence of the Fourteenth Beile, Ajige was venting his concerns to Dorgon, saying, "Everyone is saying that Hong Taiji plans to declare himself Emperor."
Dorgon sipped his drink silently as Ajige continued relentlessly, "His building of a mausoleum for our father was the first step, abolishing the joint administration of the Four Beiles was the second. Next, as soon as the Great Consort of Lin Dan Khan delivers the imperial seal, he will surely ascend the throne."
Dorgon remained unperturbed, "It's just a change of title. The relationship between ruler and subject remains the same."
Ajige, growing agitated, retorted, "By what right does he aim to be the founding Emperor? Does he even qualify? This empire was won by our father and secured with the lives of all his sons. What right does he have? If father were still alive, he would have the right to declare himself Emperor, and he would surely pass the throne to you."
Dorgon glanced at his brother and said calmly, "Don't say these things to Dodo. He has a fiery temper, and speaking like this could lead to trouble."
Ajige sneered, "Our mother was father's most beloved, and it's natural he would pass the throne to a son she bore. What is Hong Taiji compared to that? How dare he bury his mother next to our father?"
Just then, Qiqige arrived to bring more wine. Overhearing the conversation, she approached her husband without a flicker of emotion, placed the wine jug down, and said, "This is the wine Aunt gifted us; I've been saving it for when you returned. Try it."