She recalled that day when Hong Taiji had jokingly said he would stay at home for several months and forbade Da Yuer from making him angry. At the time, it was just light-hearted banter, and she had been proud, teasing him about how he couldn't bear to leave.
How things had turned into this, she didn't know. As Jeje had said, Da Yuer herself couldn't remember how she'd lost control and lashed out.
Hong Taiji kicked the ruler on the ground, and the ordinary sound it made now seemed terrifying. Da Yuer visibly flinched, finally realizing the seriousness of the situation.
Though her mind had gone blank, a sense of fear gradually returned, but her conscience remained. Despite her fear, she mustered the courage to ask, "How is Aunt? Is she seriously ill?"
"Aunt?" Hong Taiji responded with a cold, biting tone.
Da Yuer felt even more wronged, her voice rising uncontrollably as she retorted, "Does not calling her 'Aunt' make her any less my aunt? It's just a title! Why do you keep holding onto it? I've never even called you 'Uncle'!"
Hong Taiji stepped forward, his towering figure casting a shadow over her as he said sternly, "Yell again, go ahead—louder!" Da Yuer immediately shrank back, her defiance crumbling. Her hand wavered between grabbing his sleeve or pushing him away as she whimpered, "Don't be harsh with me... I'm scared... I'm not a child anymore, just talk to me properly."
Hong Taiji, both angry and amused, gave her a firm pat on the forehead. He knew that Da Yuer hated being treated like a child.
When she first married him, she was barely thirteen or fourteen, not only younger than Hooge, but also smaller and younger than all his three sons.
Back then, Hong Taiji was focused on wars and securing his claim to power. What he needed from the Khorchin tribe was their political support, not their women. To him, Da Yuer had been like a little niece that Jeje had brought from home to be taken care of.
But one day, he came home and found that Da Yuer had grown into a tall, graceful young woman, smiling at him with warmth in her eyes. It was then he realized that this tender and gentle person had become an irreplaceable part of his life.
Hong Taiji cared deeply for her, though he never fully examined whether it was romantic love. Still, during his military campaigns, he found himself missing her.
Even though he knew she was bound by the Khorchin's expectations to bear a son, he never resented her for it. Instead, he slowly drew her heart closer to his.
"You hate it when Jeje calls you a child, but you act more childish by the day," Hong Taiji said, his face stern. "All these years, no one dares to stand tall in front of me, but you—you let everyone laugh at me. You think because I won't truly harm you, you can treat our relationship this way?"
Da Yuer shook her head frantically, her eyes wide with fear and regret, her voice trembling with sincerity as she looked up at him, her heart laid bare. "I just don't like having other women around you. I don't like it, I just don't…"
"Yuer, there are many things I don't like either—people I don't want to see, things I don't want to do," Hong Taiji replied. "But when we're with the ones we care about, shouldn't we focus on the things we love? Do you think I enjoy hitting you or scolding you? Do you think I want to see you cry?"
Da Yuer, who always softened in the face of gentleness, felt overwhelming shame and regret wash over her. If Hong Taiji had truly raised his hand to her, she might have even thought of ending everything. But his words now cut deeper than any punishment could. She realized how selfish she had been—this man risked his life on the battlefield, shedding blood to secure his throne. Every campaign could have been his last, and yet, here she was, causing chaos during the few precious months they had together.
"I'll go apologize to au... to the Great Consort," Da Yuer said, determination in her voice. "I'll admit my mistakes right now."
Hong Taiji helped her down from the bed, noticing her unsteady gait. He rolled up her pant leg to reveal a bruise on her delicate skin, feeling a mix of pity and anger.
"You deserve it," he scolded. "Once this is over, I'll slowly settle the score with you. Don't think you can just get away with it; you never learn your lesson."
"You wouldn't really do that," Da Yuer muttered, pouting. "You just like scaring me."
Despite his formidable presence, a mere glance was enough to make her behave, yet she also felt supported. She loved her man, and she knew he loved her too.
"I want to go with you," Da Yuer said softly.
"I'll only take you to the door; you know that," Hong Taiji replied.
He opened his arms and carried her, feigning impatience, yet his steps led them toward Qingning Palace. Once they arrived, he gently set her down and adjusted her clothing, coldly warning, "If you dare to upset Jeje again, I'll send you back to Khorchin."
Da Yuer shot him a defiant glance, only to receive a playful smack on her backside as he pushed her inside.
She limped forward and soon saw her aunt, Jeje, propped up on the couch, wearing a headscarf. Given the time, Jeje had yet to rise; if she weren't ill, she would never be this lazy.
"Aunt..." Da Yuer felt a wave of sorrow and regret.
"What are you doing here?" Jeje asked worriedly upon seeing her. "Is your knee badly injured? Come, sit down."
Outside the door, Hong Taiji heard Da Yuer's muffled sobs and shook his head helplessly. The anger that had been etched on his brow dissipated, and he sighed with relief, turning to leave. Just then, he caught sight of Hairanju standing at the side palace door, holding Azhe and looking in their direction. The moment she noticed him, her expression turned tense. But just as Hong Taiji was about to look away, he saw her beautiful smile.
He glanced again and noticed that Hairanju was smiling as she bowed gracefully, her gentle eyes filled with approval, affirmation, and gratitude. After she finished her greeting, she took Azhe inside. Hong Taiji couldn't help but smile in response, feeling a warmth spread through him, even as he walked purposefully toward Fenghuang Tower.
In the side palace, once Azhe was well-rested and happily eating her porridge, Da Yuer returned from Qingning Palace. Hairanju informed her that Yatu and Atu had gone riding with Dorgon, and Qiqige would bring them back in the afternoon.
"Those two little girls must be having a blast," Da Yuer commented, a hint of a smile on her face.
"How about you? Are you okay?" Hairanju asked, concern etched on her face.
Da Yuer sat down, rubbing her knee. She nodded but couldn't shake off the tension in her expression.
"I saw the Great Khan carry you to see aunt," Hairanju remarked. "The Great Khan truly is broad-minded; how could he hold a grudge against his beloved woman?"
Da Yuer recalled the earlier incident, searching for the ruler everywhere. Hanranju smiled. "I already ask them to take it away. I was so scared when I saw it on the floor, I thought the Great Khan hit you. But then I thought he shouldn't have, otherwise why would he carry you to Qingning Palace."
"He just wanted to scare me," she sighed. "But I know he was genuinely angry. Aunt said I brought this upon myself. I could have avoided keeping that Zarut woman around, but now I have to for the Great Khan's dignity."
"Is that so?" Hairanju replied softly. "I suppose so. Otherwise, people outside would say the Great Khan is afraid of his wife, and that's not something to be taken lightly. He is the ruler of a nation, after all, unlike Qiqige and the Fourteenth Beile, which can be joked about."
Da Yuer bristled at that. "You're helping them too, sister."
Hairanju laughed, "I was just trying to reason with you. Fine, if you don't want to hear it, I won't say more." She resumed feeding Azhe, teasing her little niece, "Don't take after your mother's temper; Azhe must be good."
With a soft tone, Da Yuer asked, "Sister, did I really do something wrong?"
Hairanju smiled, "It's not about being right or wrong. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't be able to handle it either. It's just that it's not appropriate. If Qiqige caused a scene with the Fourteenth Beile, it would just be a joke among friends. But your husband is the Great Khan, Yuer; the stakes are entirely different."
"That's why everyone respects Aunt; she can endure anything," Da Yuer replied wistfully.
Hairanju nodded, "Aunt is truly remarkable."
Leaning against her sister's shoulder, Da Yuer felt a mix of regret and sorrow. "In the end, I dug my own grave. Why didn't you stop me back then?"
Hairanju chuckled, "Not even ten oxen could hold you back! Next time, I promise I'll stop you."
"Let's not have a next time. I don't like him being close to other women," Da Yuer stated openly. "I just can't stand it—no matter who it is, whether it's genuine affection or just a game, I can't bear it."
Hairanju continued to gently feed Azhe, opting for silence as she understood her sister's feelings.
However, before she came to Shengjing, she had heard Wukeshan say that there was still a Consort of Lin Dan Khan who had not yet married over and would eventually be with Hong Taiji. She wondered if her sister already knew; when that day comes, Yuer would surely be sad again.
After Azhe had her fill, she clung to his mother. Da Yuer seemed to have forgotten her earlier discomfort and was teasing her daughter, and the two of them were laughing together.
Hairanju handed the small bowl to a palace maid and went back to her room to change clothes. After passing by the Fenghuang Tower, she ran into Zarut and her cousin.
Consort Doutumen was quite polite, smiling and intending to walk around, but Zarut deliberately blocked Hairanju's path, sneering coldly: "Princess Lan, we are the same kind of people, so we should treat each other better."
Hairanju was unwilling to deal with such a person and wouldn't engage.
She simply smiled lightly and actively made way, but Zarut relentlessly pursued her, blocking her at every turn and provoking her with words: "Why hide it? Isn't the purpose of Princess Lan's visit to Shengjing the same as mine? I've heard you're already a frequent visitor to the Fenghuang Tower. Sister Lan, what is it like in the Fenghuang Tower?"