Da Yuer looked up, her gaze softening as she saw her daughter, and she pulled Yatu close, gently wiping the sweat from her brow before answering Dorgon, "Qiqige chased me out, saying I was too noisy."
Dorgon raised an eyebrow, confused, while Yatu, ever restless, wriggled free and darted off to find her aunts. Da Yuer sighed softly, taking a handkerchief from her sleeve and absentmindedly folding and unfolding it over and over again.
"Did you have an argument?" Dorgon ventured.
She shook her head, but her expression was sombre. "No, not exactly. But close enough, I suppose. Sister's saying she wants to go back to Khorchin. Nothing I say can change her mind."
Dorgon, too, was surprised; he thought that the Great Khan would keep Hairanju here.
"Doesn't she know what's waiting for her there?" Da Yuer said bitterly, a sad smile tugging at her lips. "She says Khorchin is her home. But what kind of home is that? She'll be walking right into the jaws of wolves. That place hasn't been home to us for a long time now."
"Why not speak with the Great Consort? Maybe she can help," Dorgon suggested.
"Unfortunately, Aunt…" Dayu'er started, then fell silent, realizing whom she was confiding in. She felt the familiar discomfort that she always did around Dorgon. Despite their ease in conversation, a reminder would suddenly appear—a boundary, however invisible, between them. After all, they were younger brother and older sister-in-law, not friends. They were family yet not family, and in some ways, even adversaries.
She managed a slight nod. "Thank you, Dorgon," she said, almost formally, before turning back to her sister's room. Her aunt can pretend to be his older sister-in-law, but they were of similar age, this made it difficult for Da Yuer.
Dorgon watched her retreating figure, her sadness pulling at his own heart. But he knew his melancholy wasn't for Hairanju.
He was growing painfully aware that Da Yuer had started deliberately distancing herself from him. He knew she didn't mean any harm. Their relationship shouldn't be close. And yet, he found himself foolishly hoping that someday, in some way, they might talk freely, without the weight of titles or boundaries.
He laughed at himself, low and bitter. He was a hardened warrior, known for his ruthlessness on the battlefield. And yet, here he was, wanting something so unattainable, so out of reach.
In the room, Hairanju gently watched Yatu chatter away, her tiny hands gesturing to describe what she saw while riding earlier. Not understanding adult matters, the little girl had been told by her mother that her aunt was staying here because she was sick. She touched Hairanju's stomach and said, "Auntie doesn't hurt, doesn't hurt."
Seeing her sister standing at the door, Hairanju beckoned her over, and once together, the sisters leaned into each other. Hairanju said softly, "Yuer, don't worry, I will take good care of myself. I'll come back to Shengjing to be with you after a while. But let me go back first."
But Da Yuer feared that her sister would leave and never return, and she choked, "Isn't Shengjing good enough?"
Shengjing was wonderful, but Hairanju felt she didn't deserve it.
Hairanju gently touched her sister's cheek and said, "Don't cry. You look best when you smile. Our Yuer is the most beautiful girl in the world."
Standing nearby, Qiqige felt sorrow, but she didn't want everyone to be in tears, so she joked, "Sister, what about me? I don't think I'm any worse than her."
Knowing Qiqige's intention to lighten the mood, Da Yuer teased, "You're like a tigress! Everyone's afraid of you, except maybe Dorgon."
Qiqige rolled up her sleeves, pretending to go after Da Yuer, and the three adults, along with Yatu, instantly burst into laughter.
The room filled with joy, and before leaving, Dorgon caught the faint sound of their laughter. These women were precious treasures—why was each of them burdened with such hardship? What were these men fighting for, and what were they truly gaining in return?
Later that evening, Da Yuer returned to the palace. As she entered, she saw red and blue fur coats lying on the kang, newly made by the palace ladies a few days ago.
She and her sister had chosen vibrant colours, and Da Yuer's red coat had become so striking in the palace that no one else dared to wear the same shade. Zarut had insisted on red as well, but had been stopped by Consort Doutumen.
At that moment, Da Yuer stood there, unable to step forward. She had envisioned herself, her sister, and the children wearing the coats together, playing in the snow. But now, her sister would wear the coat only to endure hardship upon returning to the Khorchin tribe. Why was she being so foolish? Why was she insistent on leaving?
Da Yuer was still lost in thought, not noticing someone had entered behind her. Hong Taiji saw her standing still and gave her a light tap on the back, asking, "What, has Jeje scolded you again?"
"Great Khan." Seeing her husband, Da Yuer threw herself into his embrace. Surprised, Hong Taiji paused, then gently comforted her, saying, "What has upset you this much? Who in this palace would dare to make you feel wronged?"
"My sister wants to return to Khorchin," Da Yuer replied, "I tried to persuade her, but nothing works. What should I do? Is she out of her mind, going back there to suffer?"
Hong Taiji felt a pang in his heart. Was it anger? Not quite—it felt more like distress. How could that be? Hairanju had willingly sunk herself into disgrace, even going so far as to side with her brother. He paused at the thought. Such harsh words, and yet, somehow he couldn't bring himself to apply them to her.
"What does Jeje think?" Hong Taiji asked naturally.
"I haven't told Aunt yet, she's upset enough already these days," Da Yuer replied, quickly covering her mouth. She pleaded, "I was at Qiqige's today, and all day I called her 'Aunt' and never corrected myself. Please don't be upset."
Hong Taiji gave her a sidelong glance and lightly patted her on the backside. "As long as you understand," he replied.
Da Yuer, feeling even clingier, wrapped herself softly around him and said in a tone full of grievance, "Please help me keep my sister here. I want her to stay. And if you choose not to punish Wukeshan and Suhebat, I won't hold it against you."
Hong Taiji frowned. "Oh? And how were you planning to hold it against me?"
Yet he found it hard to resist her pleas. Da Yuer rarely made unreasonable demands, and even beyond the intimacy they shared, he knew she was different from Zarut who fawned over men. Da Yuer's love was genuine; everything she said and did came from that love.
Eventually, the matter found its way to Jeje. Though she agreed to help, she knew it was unlikely to succeed. Hairanju wasn't one to feign weakness to stay; if she had decided to leave, she must have had her reasons.
Although Hong Taiji hadn't mentioned it, Jeje sensed that the night after the incident, he had visited Hairanju at the Fourteenth Beile's residence. What had passed between them, what words had been exchanged, she didn't know. But this was the first time she'd seen Hong Taiji conflicted over a woman like this.
A few days later, Hairanju had recovered her strength at Qiqige's residence, and with the end of discussions between Hong Taiji and the Southern Mongolian tribes, a grand banquet was being prepared just outside the city. After the festivities, they would be heading back to the steppe before the heavy snows set in.
On the day of the feast, Qiqige accompanied Hairanju outside the city. Originally, they were supposed to enter the palace first and then proceed to the banquet with Jeje, but Hairanju, uninterested in the trouble of going back and forth, asked Qiqige to take her directly to the meeting point.
And so, everyone finally gathered in the yurts outside the city. Hairanju wore a ceremonial gown borrowed from Qiqige—a simple, pale lotus-coloured robe embroidered subtly with gold and silver, exuding understated elegance.
Wukeshan's consort, who hadn't seen her in a long while, gave an awkward smile upon seeing her again. Hairanju, however, remained indifferent, as if nothing had ever happened. Quiet by nature, she had little to say in front of others, carrying herself with the same calm as always.
Today was Da Yuer's first time seeing Suhebat. Throughout the banquet, she glared at the man, her gaze fixed on him as the bonfire roared. In her heart, she yearned to plunge a burning torch into his heart.
During the festivities, Sumala discreetly approached her and whispered, "Miss, I found it."
Da Yuer raised her eyebrows, maintaining a calm and composed expression as she replied, "Understood."
About an hour later, Da Yuer silently slipped away from the banquet. With the celebrations in full swing, no one noticed her absence. Even Hong Taiji, who had matters weighing on his mind, saw her leave and thought she had merely gone to wash up or rest.
Following Sumala, Da Yuer made her way to the Zhalite camp and located Suhebat's yurt. Guards stood outside, though, and Da Yuer, frustrated, gave Sumala a light tap on the head. "How do we get in?" she whispered. "What good is finding the place if we can't enter?"
Sumala replied, aggrieved, "Miss, what could I do? I don't know any martial arts, and I can't overpower them!"
Just then, a voice behind them asked coldly, "Who are you two, and what are you doing here?"
Da Yuer turned to see an unfamiliar face and felt a slight apprehension. Yet, as Hong Taiji's side consort, she held her head high, "I must have lost my way. Where am I?" she replied with an air of authority.
The man regarded her with suspicion but, noting her expensive attire, dared not act rashly. However, his duty to protect his master's quarters was clear, and he couldn't allow strangers to approach.
The situation grew tense until some of Dorgon's men, who were patrolling nearby, happened upon them. Recognizing Da Yuer, they intervened, and, with the guards' deference to Dorgon's men, they managed to escort Da Yuer and her maidservant away smoothly.
As they neared the banquet, they ran into Dorgon himself. He was surprised to see his men with Da Yuer and overheard her muttering irritably with Sumala.
He ordered them to return Da Yuer to the festivities and, after receiving the report, learned they'd found her near Suhebat's yurt.
Dorgon chuckled knowingly, guessing that Da Yuer had intended to sneak into Suhebat's yurt to teach that scoundrel a lesson.
Better to let him handle this task for her. Teaching Suhebat a lesson would be easy and wouldn't even require him to act personally.
The banquet remained lively, with the Mongols revelling in their customary bold and hearty manner. Hong Taiji, who had drunk quite a bit, scanned the crowd and noticed Hairanju seated among the women.
By pure coincidence, Wukeshan's consort approached Hairanju at that moment, saying something that led her to silently follow her out of the banquet.
Hong Taiji's heart tightened as he gripped his cup, then downed the drink in one gulp, slamming the cup onto the table with force.
Meanwhile, Hairanju was led back to a yurt by her sister-in-law, who spoke to her soothingly, "Don't worry, sister. Nothing else will happen tonight; you have my word. Your brother just wanted me to bring you here. It's best if you just stay here peacefully."
Hairanju asked, "Who am I supposed to be waiting for?"
Her sister-in-law gave an awkward smile, "No one… you're just here to rest for a bit."
With a chilling gaze, Hairanju pressed her, "Are you using me again? Be honest with me, sister. Did you purposely set things up that day, to lure the Great Khan?"
Wukeshan's consort gave a light laugh. "Sister, you know best what's in your heart. How could we possibly know if the Great Khan would take a liking to you? Your brother isn't that powerful. But it seems the heavens were on our side, and who would have guessed the Great Khan's feelings were real?"
Stunned, Hairanju said, "What… what are you talking about?"