Dorgon accepted the wine with a smile and gracefully poured a cup for Ajige, who toyed with his cup as he spoke, "Fourteenth Brother, your Qiqige is becoming quite formidable. The other day, she blocked me at the door, and I had no choice but to return home defeated."
Qiqige laughed, "Is Twelfth Brother lodging a complaint, expecting Dorgon to discipline me?"
Ajige responded, "He wouldn't dare. A man who beats women lacks honour. If Dorgon ever mistreats you, you come tell me, your Twelfth Brother."
Hearing Ajige speak earnestly for once, Qiqige felt a newfound respect for him. Knowing it wasn't proper for her to linger while the men talked, she excused herself after a few jests, leaving them to their conversation.
As Qiqige stepped outside, she overheard Ajige speaking to Dorgon, "I heard that last night Hairanju was at the Fenghuang Tower. Hong Taiji really can't resist, as the Han people say, 'A wife is not as good as a concubine, a concubine not as good as a stolen moment.' He's quite funny, Wukeshan openly sends him beauties, yet he prefers sneaking around."
Qiqige sighed inwardly; she knew Hairanju would eventually be the Great Khan's woman. Poor Da Yuer was oblivious for now, but how heartbroken she would be when she realized. Da Yuer's devotion to the Great Khan was clear to everyone; was there anyone who didn't know it?
At the wine table, Dorgon was struck by the conversation, pondering how this matter would develop. Would Hong Taiji keep Hairanju hidden forever, or would he eventually bring her into the light? Did he not realize that no matter his choice, Da Yuer would be hurt?
Dorgon gripped his wine cup so tightly it was nearly crushed, the precious porcelain of the Ming Dynasty under immense pressure.
Ajige then switched topics abruptly, "That aside, Dorgon, don't mind me being nosy, but you should also think about your own situation. You and Qiqige have been together for years without a child. If there comes a time to compete for power, having no heirs could be problematic."
Dorgon, snapping back to reality, responded coolly, "No rush. Qiqige and I are still young. As for power struggles, it's best you don't always speak of such things. Be careful not to court disaster."
Ajige scoffed, "What do I have to fear? But you, even if you're young, time flies in the blink of an eye. Don't take it lightly."
That night, Dorgon drank excessively, perhaps feeling unburdened by the absence of travel pressures, allowing himself a rare indulgence. He woke in the middle of the night, sick and vomiting, leaving Qiqige exhausted from tending to him.
The next day, sober and remorseful, Dorgon apologized profusely. Qiqige sternly warned, "I can't control what you do outside, but now that you're home, if you dare drink like this again, I'll throw you out by the city gate to freeze."
Dorgon laughed and said, "In this life, I'm doomed to be firmly under your thumb."
Despite her scolding, Qiqige meticulously took care of her husband, sending him off to participate in court politics. Dorgon, who was rarely in the capital due to his duties, brought a different atmosphere to the Grand Politics Hall that day.
Hong Taiji, sitting calmly at the head of the hall, looked at his vibrant brother, imagining the future decades.
Eight years ago, he should have let Dorgon disappear with his mother; now, eight years later, Hong Taiji couldn't afford to lose such a formidable warrior.
Dorgon's development and his innate talent for warfare, inherited from their father, were remarkable. If Dorgon had been his son instead of his brother, how proud he would be.
Huang Taiji resolved himself, remarking, "We must rest and recuperate; we can't keep the bow drawn too tightly."
From below, someone warned, "Great Khan, I fear this gives the Ming Dynasty a chance to breathe."
Hong Taiji dismissed concerns with a gesture, asserting, "The Ming Dynasty is already at the end of its strength; a few months or even a few years more wouldn't make much difference. Instead, let's use this time to thoroughly review and improve the livelihood of the people in Liaodong. Liaodong is the foundation of our Great Jin. If the people here live in peace and prosperity, the Han people in the Central Plains will eventually be persuaded of our governance."
As the serious topics continued in the Grand Politics Hall, the atmosphere in the inner palace was markedly different, infused with the daily intrigues and conversations of the court ladies. Consort Doutumen, hurriedly accompanied by her maids, was seen making her way out of the gate, sparking immediate gossip among the women.
The whispers among the women in the palace hinted at suspicions and intrigue, typical of the court's complex dynamics. "She arrived so quickly?" they murmured among themselves, speculating whether she had been waiting nearby all along, possibly inspired by recent events where beauties were sent from the Khorchin as tributes. "Could it be that she saw how the Khorchin sent beauties and decided to follow suit?"
Despite the rumours and speculations that reached the Qingning Palace, Jeje maintained her usual demeanour, outwardly ignoring the gossip while internally she was fully aware of the nuances of each development. It wasn't long before Consort Doutumen appeared, her cousin in tow—a woman in her mid-twenties with a vivacious beauty and eyes so expressive they almost seemed to speak.
As they departed, Da Yuer and Hairanju emerged from the side palace, and from across the courtyard, they watched the scene unfold. Consort Doutumen was as reserved and compliant as ever, but her cousin's eyes roamed eagerly, taking in every detail of the palace, almost as if they could soar into the sky with curiosity.
Both Hairanju and Consort Doutumen were widows, known for their quiet restraint, but this new cousin brimmed with a life and energy as if she had been reborn. She walked boldly across the courtyard, her radiant face lifted confidently. Approaching Dayuer and Hailanzhu, she inquired, with a mix of curiosity and boldness, "Is this Consort Yu?"