If Hairanju were to start arguing with Zarut, it would be one problem after another. The Great Khan had only just mediated the conflict between aunt and Yuer with great difficulty. If this stirred up more trouble, not only would the Great Khan lose face, but aunt and Yuer would also be dragged into the mess.
Although Hairanju had a gentle disposition, she had been managing her household for her husband for over ten years and understood how to handle people and situations. It was just that her temperament made her avoid arguments.
Seeing her silence, Zarut became even more impatient, and her words grew harsher: "We're both widows, so I know exactly what you are thinking. Comparing to stay in the husband's family and letting the brothers and uncles humiliate and abuse you at will—it's better to run away and find yourself a powerful man. I chose the Great Khan for myself. And you? Didn't Khorchin chose for you? How wonderful! Even more legitimate than me. You actually have someone backing you."
Hairanju glanced at her. A person with a bitter fate was pitiable, but a bitter and mean person was deserving of contempt.
"What nonsense are you spouting?" Consort Doutumen stepped forward, forcefully pulling her cousin away, smiling apologetically at Hairanju. "She drank wine early this morning and is talking nonsense."
"Why are you pulling me?" Zarut resisted her cousin, and the two started pulling and tugging at each other noisily.
Seeing the opportunity, Hairanju quickly left with Baoqing.
They hurried back to their courtyard, and as they ran, they bumped into several concubines basking in the sun under the eaves. The women looked Hairanju up and down, then touched their own faces as if studying why her skin was so fair and delicate.
It felt like passing through many obstacles before finally reaching her room. Hairanju sat by the table, physically and emotionally exhausted.
Baoqing suggested, "Why not ask the Great Consort to let us live in the palace gardens? The room next to Consort Yu's is still empty."
Hairanju quickly replied, "That won't do. That's where the Great Khan's side consorts live."
Baoqing laughed, "Don't be upset, I was just saying."
Hairanju smiled as well, "Why would I be upset? If anyone should feel exhausted, it's them. They spend their days scheming. I don't bother with it at all."
Baoqing fetched clothes for Hairanju and helped her change. After tidying up, they heard that Yuer wanted to have lunch with aunt, so they hurried back. Fortunately, Zarut had already left, sparing them a lot of trouble.
As they passed by the Fenghuang Tower, they suddenly heard someone calling from behind: "Princess Lan, Princess Lan."
Hairanju stopped and looked back, seeing it was Niman, who served at the side of the Great Khan.
Niman hurried over, holding a food box, and respectfully said, "Princess, I'm returning this food box to you."
Baoqing smiled and said, "Chief Steward, you could have just sent someone to deliver it to the kitchen. It's not Princess's personal item."
Niman was momentarily stunned, then chuckled, "Look at me, getting forgetful in my old age."
Hairanju didn't mind and asked gently, "Did the Great Khan enjoy the food?"
This question put Niman in a difficult spot. How was he supposed to answer? Seeing how kind and gentle Princess Lan was, he couldn't bear to make her feel upset, so he replied, "The Great Khan found it very delicious. He couldn't finish it all, so he gave the rest to the servants, saying it shouldn't go to waste."
Hairanju smiled faintly, "That's good. Aunt enjoyed it too, and so did Yuer. I'll make more in the future."
She had Baoqing take the food box, and they continued on to her sister's palace.
Niman breathed a sigh of relief and returned to Hong Taiji's side. Having witnessed so much while serving the Great Khan, he couldn't shake the feeling that he might have said too much earlier.
After thinking it over repeatedly, he mustered the courage to tell Hong Taiji about the small lie he had told Princess Lan. Hong Taiji, however, didn't seem to care at all. With a simple "I know," he sent Niman to summon Yoto and others to the palace for discussions.
Outside the palace gates, Yoto arrived on horseback and met Dudu, who had arrived just before him.
Dodo was the eldest grandson of Nurhaci, and his father, Cuyen, was Nurhaci's first son. Cuyen and Yoto's father, Daisan, were brothers born of the same mother.
As cousins, the two were naturally closer than others, and more importantly, Cuyen's death was closely tied to Hong Taiji. Both of them harbored resentment toward him.
Walking side by side into the Ten Kings Pavilion, Dodo asked Yoto about losing a fight to Dorgon. Yoto cursed, "That bastard born of a lowly woman, thinking he could beat me? We didn't even finish the fight before Jirgalang pulled us apart."
Dodo said, "I thought so. Dorgon's still wet behind the ears. How could he have beaten you?"
Yoto spat on the ground, "Beat me? He can try after nursing on his mother's milk for a few more years."
Dodo sneered, "Yet Hong Taiji buried that lowly woman next to Grandfather, while our grandmother doesn't even get close. Grandmother was Grandfather's rightful wife, after all. Without her family's support, where would Grandfather have started his rise?"
As for the two brothers, Yoto and Dodo, they often referred to Dorgon's mother, Consort Abahai, as a "whore." This stemmed from an old event when Abahai had been deposed from her position at Nurhaci's side. Later, Nurhaci, missing her, disregarded past grievances and summoned her back, restoring her as the most honoured consort among his wives.
The reason for her initial fall from grace was due to accusations that she had an illicit affair with Daisan, which caused Nurhaci to completely lose trust in Daisan as well.
In Yoto's view, besides suspecting that Hong Taiji had been behind this scheme, he also believed that Abahai was the reason his father, Daisan, had fallen out of favour. If it weren't for that, his father would be the Great Khan, and Yoto would be the heir, the future ruler of the Jin nation. As a result, Yoto deeply resented Dorgon and his brothers.
As they neared the Grand Politics Hall, Dodo said, "It's obvious that Hong Taiji is trying to win over those three brothers. He's openly and secretly favouring and grooming them. If those three bastards truly become loyal to him, Hong Taiji will pay even less attention to us."
Yoto sneered, "I understand, cousin. How can we let them have their way?"
Dodo asked, "Do you have a plan?"
Yoto shook his head, "Not fully figured out yet, but did you see what happened in the hunting ground that night? That Da Yuer beside Hong Taiji, such a fierce woman—it doesn't seem hard to provoke her."
Dodo frowned, "What do you mean?"
Yoto chuckled, "How did Hong Taiji use that whore to bring down my father back then? I plan to return the favour, using the same methods."
At that moment, Niman arrived at the hall entrance to greet them. The two immediately composed themselves and respectfully entered the Grand Politics Hall, where they later joined Hong Taiji for lunch.
In the inner palace, Jeje was having lunch with her two nieces. They talked about Atu and Yatu, who hadn't returned from the Fourteenth Beile's residence. Jeje said, "They still don't have any children. Let's hope that during these months while Dorgon is at home, Qiqige will finally have her wish fulfilled."
Da Yuer felt conflicted hearing this. For a long time, her aunt had always shown great care for Dorgon's family, likely due to her affection for Qiqige. But there was no doubt that she paid special attention to the Fourteenth Beile's family. Even for Qiqige's sake, she should be wary of Dorgon. Even Da Yuer herself understood Hong Taiji's intentions—how could aunt not?
Since her sister was present, there was no need to hold back too much. Da Yuer asked Jeje, "Aren't you afraid of offending the Great Khan when you speak of Dorgon?"
Jeje merely smiled, "So, you've been thinking about this? I've underestimated you. Our Yuer has really grown up."
Da Yuer blushed, feeling embarrassed, and said, "Are you praising me or mocking me?"
Jeje continued to serve food, giving some to Hairanju and then to Da Yuer. "I take care of everything for the Great Khan. I don't care about anything else. What I do is what the Great Khan would do. Do you understand?"
Da Yuer pressed her lips together. She thought she understood, but couldn't quite put it into words. She turned to Hairanju and asked, "Sister, do you understand?"
Hairanju shook her head, "What do I understand?"
Jeje glanced at her and thought, if Hairanju were to stay, how would she fit into Hong Taiji's life in the future? Would Hong Taiji like her?
Forget it.
Jeje decided not to dwell on it. No matter how things would turn out between Hong Taiji and Hairanju, it was certain that Yuer would be heartbroken. Hairanju couldn't stay.
Yuer couldn't bear having other women by Hong Taiji's side. In her heart, Yuer couldn't even fully accept her aunt. And what did Hong Taiji cherish the most? It was Yuer's passionate love for him.
"Auntie, next time I make a mistake, please don't punish me by making me kneel outside. I'd rather you beat me inside, just don't send me out. It's so embarrassing, I could die from shame," Da Yuer pleaded softly.
Jeje gave her a side glance, "Remember this: if you mess up again, I'll throw you to the Ten Kings Pavilion. Don't think I'm just trying to scare you."
Da Yuer pouted, mumbling something under her breath. Hairanju laughed and coaxed her, "Just behave and don't act foolishly. You're grown up now—do you need Yatu to teach her own mother how to behave?"
Da Yuer softly asked, "Auntie, do you still like me?"
Jeje looked at her with feigned annoyance, and Hairanju chuckled, "No wonder Auntie spoils her. She's so grown up and still knows how to act cute."
Jeje sighed and gently took Da Yuer's hand, softly stroking the back of it. "Yuer, there are many things Auntie has done that wronged you, but now, Auntie only hopes for you to live well. Our husband isn't an ordinary man, and Jin is constantly growing stronger. Your little temper, the Great Khan may find it endearing, but that temper isn't suited for the wife of a ruler."
Da Yuer listened carefully and, no longer acting playful, earnestly said, "Auntie, I really know I was wrong. That night, I wasn't thinking straight. I'll never act foolishly again."
The three women spoke openly with one another and enjoyed a good meal. After dinner, while having tea, a letter from the Khorchin family arrived from outside the palace.
At that moment, Hairanju was holding Azhe and heading back to the side palace. Just as she returned, she overheard her younger sister asking their aunt, "Is brother here to take sister back home? Why the rush? Wouldn't it be better if she stays until next spring? Auntie, please don't let brother take sister away. I want to spend more time with her."
Hairanju froze in place. She understood what this meant—Wukeshan's intentions were not kind. He was growing impatient and had likely come to force her into becoming Hong Taiji's woman.
Meanwhile, in the Fourteenth Beile's residence, the concubines had come to the main courtyard, but they didn't see Qiqige. Instead, they were given instructions to send the two young princesses back to the palace.
The two concubines obeyed without question, knowing that whatever Qiqige asked of them, they would follow without hesitation.
In the bedroom, Qiqige sat curled up beneath the window, her face full of sorrow. Her maid approached timidly, holding a basin of warm water. "Consort, would you like to wash up?" she asked carefully.
Tears streamed down Qiqige's face. Just now, her monthly cycle had come again. Despite the sweetness between her and Dorgon these past few days, nothing had come of it. Last night's tenderness, too, was all for nothing.