That day, when Dorgon returned home, the house was unusually quiet. It wasn't as lively as the previous day when Yatu and Atu had been around. Even Qiqige didn't come out to greet him as she usually did.
"Is the Consort still at the palace?" Dorgon asked the servants, assuming Qiqige had gone to send the children back to the palace and had been asked to stay by the Great Consort.
"Consort is resting in the bedroom. She hasn't gone out today," the maids responded as they took Dorgon's coat, handed him a water basin and towel, and brought tea and snacks.
Dorgon didn't bother with the tea and headed straight to the bedroom. He noticed the window in the bedroom was pitch black—it was already late, and no lights had been lit yet.
"Is Qiqige feeling unwell?" Dorgon asked one of Qiqige's maids. "Has the doctor been called?"
"No, Beile..." the maid began hesitantly.
After listening to the maid's explanation, Dorgon felt a heavy weight in his heart. Though he hadn't been home long, and their moments of affection were few, Qiqige was clearly anxious. She had endured years of frustration, and her inner suffering was something no one else could truly understand. He couldn't blame her for feeling this way.
Dorgon entered the room and silently began lighting the candles one by one. Qiqige, sitting dazed on the bed, looked at him. Her tears, unstoppable, began to fall.
"Foolish girl," Dorgon muttered, squatting beside her. He gently pinched her cheek, and the warm tears slipping through his fingers tugged at his heart.
"I'm so useless..." Qiqige sniffled as she threw herself into his arms. "Dorgon, cheer me up, make me happy."
Dorgon chuckled, as he lifted her onto his lap and embraced her. "If it happened so easily," he teased, "how would we stay close in the months ahead while I'm home?"
Qiqige quickly responded, "I'd rather you endure it! Let me have the baby first!"
He kissed her lips tenderly. "We'll have children, don't worry. But I care more about you than children."
Her heart warmed at his kindness and affection.
As she often told her aunt and Yuer, if Dorgon didn't care about her, if she couldn't see him or bear his child, she would have given up long ago. But that wasn't the case—Dorgon treated her with such love and care.
"Those two..." Qiqige began, hesitating. "I'm inconvenient at the moment so I can't be with you for a few days. Why don't you go to the other courtyard tonight?" she suggested. "Not that I'm trying to be generous, but I think... even if I can't give you a child, our family needs one. Dorgon, you... you should go tonight."
In the other courtyard, lived the two concubines chosen by his mother years ago. Though he barely remembered their faces—since he rarely came home and because of Qiqige's possessiveness—he still valued them because of his mother's wishes.
"You should go," Qiqige urged, giving him a gentle push. "For the sake of our family, for you... I don't want to feel like I've let your mother down."
"You won't be upset?" he asked, concerned.
"I won't. I'm not Dayuer," she replied.
At the mention of Dayuer, Dorgon's heart sank. Every time her name came up, something within him stirred... deeply and painfully.
"I'll go," Dorgon said softly. "You get some rest."
Seeing her husband leave to be with another woman made Qiqige's heart twist painfully. Along with the dull ache in her abdomen, she felt unwell all over and turned away, burying herself in the quilt, deeply saddened.
She didn't know how much time passed when someone entered the room, bringing with them the aroma of food.
Hearing the sound of dishes being set on the table, Qiqige turned around and saw that the maidservants had left. Dorgon was standing by the table, smiling as he said, "Come eat. They just finished cooking, and it's still hot. I'm starving."
Qiqige was dazed. Dorgon came over, took her hand, and said, "Since I'm home for these few months, I'll only accompany you. Although I feel sorry for them and for Mother's wishes, I can't bear to let you down. You mustn't push me away again. If you do, I'll take my bedding and sleep in the army camp."
"Are you threatening me? Dorgon, have you grown some courage?" Qiqige's tone, filled with tears and dominance, was both endearing and pitiable, yet she felt incredibly happy.
That night, although Hong Taiji went to Consort Doutumen's side palace, Da Yuer no longer made a fuss, and Hairanju returned to her own room to sleep. However, thoughts of Wukeshan coming made her restless and unable to sleep.
Though Jeje avoided Da Yuer and promised Hairanju that she would never assist Wukeshan in forcing her, Wukeshan was too malicious. If he couldn't achieve his wishes and force her away, would her future under his control be even more miserable?
Hairanju felt frightened, unable to imagine the tragic fate that awaited her if she fell into her brother's hands. Would he give her to other nobles? Would he treat her like a plaything, allowing men to humiliate her at will?
Today, when Zarut had stopped her, although her words were harsh, they contained the truth. For widows like them who had lost their husbands, if they had no adult sons to protect them, life would not be easy, whether staying in their in-laws' or natal families. To be taken by an uncle would be the easier way, the most horrible fate would be having nowhere to go, becoming a plaything that anyone could toy with.
And for Hairanju, let alone having an adult son, she didn't even have a child.
"Why can't you take me with you…" The fearful and lost woman covered her mouth and cried in terror, her tears drying up and her voice becoming hoarse, before falling into a deep sleep.
The next day, Hairanju woke up with swollen eyes. Baoqing asked her what was wrong, and she just shook her head.
She had to go greet her aunt every day, and today was no exception. She planned to leave early, see her aunt, and then hide in Da Yuer's room to avoid idle gossip. However, she ended up leaving too early and unexpectedly ran into Hong Taiji, who had just finished breakfast at Qingning Palace.
Even with her red and swollen eyes from crying, she was still beautiful.
Seeing her, frail and pitiful standing in the autumn wind, Hong Taiji involuntarily remarked, "It's getting cold; the autumn in Shengjing is very cold."
Hailanzhu didn't know how to respond and lowered her gaze.
Behind Hong Taiji stood Adai, who had come to see him off. He then instructed, "Get a garment for your princess."
Although it was just a brief encounter, it became a significant matter in the eyes of others. Zarut stood under the window, watching the entire scene with a sinister expression.
Wrapped only in a thin gauzy robe, she had lazily remained in bed until now without getting up.
Although Hong Taiji had come last night, nothing had happened. She could sense that he was a man of strong desires; though not young anymore, his vigour was still robust. With her skills, pleasing Hong Taiji at night would be easy.
However, he was different from other men; to him, women seemed not merely to be playthings.
"Why haven't you put on your clothes? We should go greet the Great Consort," Consort Doutumen urged her cousin. Seeing her standing at the window like this, she anxiously said, "Don't let anyone see you like this."
Zarut chuckled and disdainfully replied, "I don't have a status yet. I'm a guest; have you ever seen a guest bowing and scraping before the host?"
As they spoke, someone from Qingning Palace arrived, bringing breakfast gifted by the Great Consort, saying that the Side Consort did not need to greet her today. After the maidservants left, Zarut picked at the pastries on the table, clucking her tongue, "A breakfast this rich and exquisite, I must stay here; I will never go back to a hard life."
Meanwhile, in Qingning Palace, Da Yuer was watching her sister closely and asked, "Are you thinking about brother-in-law again?"
Hairanju nodded and gently pushed her sister away, saying, "Stop staring; I'm fine."
Jeje continued with her breakfast, listening to her daughters chattering and making noise. Soon, Da Yuer took the children out to play, leaving Hairanju with her.
"When you first came to Shengjing, I scolded and threatened you, saying many unkind things, and I regret it very much," Jeje said gently, feeling guilty toward her niece. "If you trust your aunt, you can tell me anything; I will definitely help you if I can."
Hairanju felt an immense sadness in her heart, one that was nearly numbing. Having her sister by her side these days, amidst all the noise and events, had somewhat eased her bitterness.
But suddenly, with Wukeshan arriving, she realized that her fate was still a bitter one.
"Aunt, I don't want to be the Great Khan's woman, and I don't want to go back with Wukeshan," Hairanju said with tears in her eyes. "If he takes me back, he will just continue to send me to other men. If he hates me for ruining his good fortune, he might even mistreat me..."
Jeje said, "No, no matter what, he is still your biological brother."
Hairanju knelt down and said, "But Aunt, he is the one who poisoned the child in my womb. Please, save me."
Jeje felt a deep pain in her heart and helped Hairanju up, saying, "I understand now. I won't let Wukeshan bully you; you can rest assured."
Meanwhile, Yatu ran to Da Yuer, anxiously saying that she saw her aunt crying. Da Yuer became worried and ran back to her aunt's quarters alone, and indeed found her sister wiping away tears.
Jeje didn't want Da Yuer to know about those matters and brushed it off, saying, "Don't make such a fuss. Can't your sister feel sad?"
Hairanju composed herself, forcing a smile, and replied, "I'm fine. Why do you keep staring at me?"