"It's Suhebat Taiji of the Zhalite tribe," Dorgon said calmly. "Wukeshan sent Princess Lan to his camp, giving her to Suhebat."
"I'll kill that bastered!"
Da Yuer shouted, turning and rushing for the door. Her anger and heartbreak transformed her, the usual sweetness replaced by a furious determination to tear Wukeshan apart.
"Yuer!"
In a panic, Dorgon called her name, letting go instinctively, watching as she bolted out of the courtyard.
Overcome with rage, she didn't notice how he'd addressed her. She was too focused on finding and confronting the men who had harmed her sister. But just as she reached the threshold, a strong hand pulled her back, nearly making her fall.
She stumbled into Dorgon's arms, but he quickly steadied her, releasing her as soon as she was upright. "Calm down," Dorgon said firmly, his face tense. "Let the Great Khan and the Great Consort handle this. There are numerous tribes from south of the desert camped outside the city—do you think you could storm in there and confront them? Can you wield a long sword or draw a powerful bow?"
Da Yuer was breathing heavily, glaring at Dorgon, but her eyes began to redden. Choking back tears, she said, "My poor sister…"
Dorgon's heart softened instantly, but he had to keep his distance. Taking a few steps back, he spoke with calm resolve: "If you trust me, I promise you will get justice. But first, you need to wait for the Great Khan's judgment. If his punishment isn't enough to ease your fury, I'll settle the matter for you myself."
"You?" Da Yuer was stunned, a realization snapping her back to the present. She was speaking to Dorgon—the man Hong Taiji feared most. And here he was, offering to avenge her sister.
The thought of Hong Taiji quickly sobered her, and she gave a slight nod. "Alright, I'll wait for the Great Khan's decision. I… I'll go back now."
She took a few steps through the corridor before finally finding her way back inside. Just then, Qiqige opened the door, smiling. "Have you calmed down? Don't go freezing yourself before cooling off. Come in; Sister Hairanju wants to see you."
Da Yuer nodded and quickly went inside. Noticing Dorgon had followed her, Qiqige walked over, asking, "Is there something you need? Why are you home at this hour?"
It was possible that the servants had seen what happened just now, and Dorgon, feeling guilty, couldn't resist explaining what had just transpired, even though Qiqige knew nothing about it.
She chuckled, saying, "That girl—give her a knife, and she'd truly go for blood. Good thing you stopped her. If something had happened, both the Great Khan and Aunt would blame us." However, she did scold him, "Did you really have to tell her everything?"
Inside, Hairanju, calmed by her aunt and sister's comforting words, managed to recount the events.
She told them that while she had been injured, Suhebat hadn't actually succeeded in violating her, as the Great Khan had arrived in time to save her.
"There are too many prying eyes and loose lips in the palace; we have no idea how this might spread. For now, you should stay here," Jeje decided. "But it's not a long-term solution to stay at the Fourteenth Beile's residence. I'll find a safe, stable place for you to settle soon."
Qiqige, listening nearby, immediately understood her aunt's intent: she didn't want Hairanju to remain in the Great Khan's inner circle. But Da Yuer, still blissfully unaware, innocently suggested, "Wouldn't it be better for Sister to live in the palace?"
Qiqige sighed inwardly. Perhaps this unawareness was Da Yuer's blessing; the day she would understand and need to guard herself, even from her own sister, would surely bring her much heartache.
Meanwhile, Wukeshan was frantically searching for Hairanju, shuttling between the palace and the encampment outside the city, but he had no luck. After all, he was on Aisin Gioro territory, where not everything went his way.
his woman mentioned they had seen someone resembling the Great Khan last night. Alarmed, he returned to his camp to inquire, finally confirming that Hong Taiji had indeed been there.
As for Suhebat Taiji of the Zhalite tribe, he'd been too drunk to remember anything and only recalled, with satisfaction, thinking he had taken Hairanju.
When Wukeshan confronted him, Suhebat could vaguely recall getting punched, but his memory was hazy.
Wukeshan tried once more to see Hong Taiji at the palace but was denied again. Desperate, he then requested to see his aunt, but Jeje, following the Khan's orders, also refused to meet with any clan members.
After yet another failed attempt, one of his men brought news to Wukeshan: Hairanju was rumoured to be in the residence of the Fourteenth Beile. Wukeshan frowned, muttering, "Dorgon is more troublesome, a man who kills without a second thought."
The Khorchin people did not dare to go to the Fourteenth Beile's residence to retrieve Hairanju. However, they had promised to send her to Suhebat Taiji, a lecherous fool, and if they couldn't fulfil their end of the deal, it was uncertain what troubles might arise.
As dusk fell, Wukeshan sat brooding in his yurt. His wife came in, bringing him mare's milk and roasted lamb. In a fit of rage, he knocked the food and drink to the ground, scolding her, "Fool! How did you not recognize Hong Taiji?"
His wife trembled, stooping to pick up the mess. Suddenly, a thought struck her. She looked up, saying, "Why did the Great Khan come to rescue Hairanju? Yesterday in the palace, when he saw me with Hairanju, he seemed quite kind and warm. Do you think… could it be that he likes her? Wouldn't that be a good thing for us?"
Wukeshan's expression shifted; he sat down to think. Indeed, Hong Taiji's behaviour was odd. Why would he rescue Hairanju? If it was merely a coincidence, how could he have known that she had been taken to Suhebat's camp? Or that she would face abuse there?
"If the Great Khan hadn't intervened last night," Wukeshan's wife continued, her voice trembling, "Hairanju would have been given to the Zhalite tribe, helping us gain more livestock. But instead, the Great Khan came... perhaps he took back a woman he desires. Either way, this is to our advantage."
Wukeshan's brows unfurled, and he embraced his wife, giving her a fierce kiss as he laughed heartily. "I knew it—I just knew it! With Hairanju's beauty, how could Hong Taiji not be interested?"
Night had fallen, and Hairanju, who had slept through most of the day, woke up once more. Her aunt and younger sister had returned to the palace; they could not stay, bound by the customs and decorum increasingly upheld by the mighty Jin.
Hairanju was grateful that Qiqige was thoughtful, Dorgon courteous, and the servants here warm and friendly. But no matter how considerate the Fourteenth Beile's household was, she was ultimately still a guest.
Since leaving her husband's house, she had drifted from place to place, like a petal floating along a river, as though sinking into the depths was her final destiny.
Just then, the door opened, and Qiqige entered with her maids. They brought in a large wooden tub and began filling it with steaming hot water, the room soon filling with fragrant steam. Qiqige opened a small box and sprinkled dried petals into the water.
Smiling, she said to Hairanju, "These petals—Dorgon brought them back from the Ming lands. He's always bringing home unusual things. But using these petals in a bath makes your skin smooth and wonderfully fragrant. Yuer says she's trying to find a way to grow such flowers in Shengjing."
She approached Hairanju and gently offered her arm. "Sister, take a bath; you'll feel much better afterward."
Hairanju nodded, grateful to Qiqige. As her sore body was enveloped by the hot water, and the soft fragrance soothed her nerves, she closed her eyes, finally escaping the horrible scenes in her mind and the sickening stench of alcohol.
It felt as if she were a child again, nestled safely in her mother's warm embrace. She even thought back to the hands that had saved her from the abyss last night.
Suddenly, Hairanju opened her eyes. Why did she think of Hong Taiji? She ought to be thinking of her husband instead.
As night deepened, Dorgon stood alone at the entrance, his hands tightly clenched behind him.
He was waiting for Hong Taiji, who had arranged to meet him at this hour, away from prying eyes, to see Hairanju.
Only today did Dorgon suddenly realize—could it be that Hong Taiji had fallen for Hairanju? If that were true, then what about Yuer? The thought of her being heartbroken tore at him.
Why must Hong Taiji always put Yuer through pain? Did he not feel it or simply not care?
Soon, Hong Taiji arrived, punctual to the agreed time. Dorgon led him into the inner courtyard, where Qiqige had just finished having the maids clear the bath and hot water.
Hong Taiji, without asking Qiqige to announce him, boldly entered the room.
Inside, Hairanju, fresh from her bath, was combing her hair before a mirror. Her skin, still rosy from the hot water, glowed softly. She glanced back, startled to see Hong Taiji standing there, and dropped her comb in shock.
He looked at her—a figure so pure and bright, with glistening droplets clinging to her hair and a gaze that now held less despair, leaving her looking fragile and pitiful.
"Great Khan…" Hairanju lowered her head.
But Hong Taiji took a few steps closer and, without preamble, asked, "Was last night's ordeal something you and Wukeshan planned together?"