"Sister, could it be that you…" Wukeshan's consort leaned in closer to Hairanju, examining her beautiful eyes. "You don't know? Has Hong Taiji said nothing to you?"
Hairanju looked at her sister-in-law, confused, but her sister-in-law was overjoyed. Clapping her hands, she exclaimed, "This is unbelievable! If the Great Khan is keeping it in his heart, that's true love. Only love held deeply like that is genuine. How could that temptress Zarut match that? Oh, I must tell your brother…"
Seeing her sister-in-law about to rush off to her brother, Hairanju panicked, grabbing her arm. "What are you going to tell him? Are you planning to use me again?"
Her sister-in-law's expression turned annoyed, and she replied with a touch of irritation, "What do you mean, use you? We're doing this for your good—and for the good of Khorchin. We arranged for you to be with Hong Taiji so you could live a life of luxury! Why do you always think we're trying to harm you? And besides, now that he's fallen for you, could we have possibly forced that?"
"Don't go! Don't you dare!" Hairanju thought to herself that no matter what, she couldn't allow herself to be used to manipulate Hong Taiji again. She had already failed to live up to his kindness; she couldn't betray him any further.
The two women struggled, Hairanju adamantly preventing her sister-in-law from leaving. Just as they were getting into a heated argument, Da Yuer burst into the tent. She rushed over, shoving her sister-in-law aside, and shouted furiously, "You horrible woman! Are you trying to bully my sister again? Believe me, if you touch her, I'll have the Great Khan end your life!"
Wukeshan's consort fell back onto the ground, and soon, Sumala and Baoqing hurried in as well. She yelled at them, "Can't you see I've fallen? Help me up!"
But Da Yuer was faster, grabbing her sister-in-law's collar with a fierce glare. "If you dare to bully my sister again, even if you return to Khorchin, I'll come find you and make you pay. Don't think I'm bluffing. If you're not afraid of death, go ahead and try me!"
She shoved her sister-in-law's face to the ground, pressing it against the carpet. Though fine to walk on, the carpet was rough against the face, making her sister-in-law yelp in pain. Da Yuer forced her to swear never to harm Hairanju again.
Just then, Jeje arrived. She had noticed Hairanju leaving the banquet with her sister-in-law, and soon after, Da Yuer following in pursuit, so she had come, worried that trouble was brewing.
Adai and others pulled Da Yuer back, while Wukeshan's consort, terrified and in tears, clutched Jeje's skirt and cried out, "Aunt, Bumubutai is going to kill me! You have to protect me!"
Da Yuer glared at her with clenched teeth, and only with the firm hold of Sumala and Baoqing did she stay back.
Ordinarily, Jeje would have punished Da Yuer for such a rash outburst, but knowing how this woman and Wukeshan had thrown Hairanju into a pit of misery, she felt only a burning hatred.
Instead of scolding Da Yuer, she gave Wukeshan's consort a sharp kick, saying coldly, "You've brought this upon yourselves. Now go and wait for your punishment."
With that, Jeje led Da Yuer and Hairanju back to the banquet. Wukeshan's consort, still dizzy from the scuffle, sat on the floor, unable to grasp what had happened. Once she gathered herself, she quickly rushed to inform her husband.
Meanwhile, the three of them returned to the feast. Jeje resumed her place at the head of the gathering, where Hong Taiji, his expression mild, asked, "What happened?"
Jeje replied with a smile, "Nothing. I was only worried that Da Yuer would wander off playing, so I went to fetch her back."
Hong Taiji gave a slight nod, lifting his cup and slowly drinking.
Hong Taiji raised his hand to shield his eyes and looked down at the crowd. There was Hairanju, sitting quietly, seeming detached from the noise around her. She looked serene, calm, with no discernible emotion in her eyes, leaving him curious about what she was thinking.
"Great Khan," Jeje spoke suddenly.
Hong Taiji put down his cup and looked over.
Jeje spoke gently, "It seems we can't fulfil Da Yuer's wish to keep her sister here. I've tried to persuade Hairanju, but her mind is made up. We shouldn't force her."
Hong Taiji withdrew his gaze indifferently. "Understood."
In recent days, he'd learned that before arriving in Shengjing, Wukeshan had already agreed with the Zhalite tribe to give Hairanju to Suhebat.
Although that night's events made him suspicious and he could doubt Wukeshan's intentions, he found it hard to suspect Hairanju.
When did this woman come to occupy his heart? Was it the conversation in the Fenghuang Pavilion that night, the chance encounter in the yurt at the hunting grounds, or the time in the maple grove…? He could still remember the fragrance of the food box and regretted not getting to savour it fully.
How many years had it been since he'd felt moved by a woman? Jeje and Da Yuer each had their unique places in his life, but Hairanju was something different.
Hong Taiji, what's happening to you?
Slightly tipsy, he raised his cup and emptied it in a single gulp.
Jeje, watching him, already understood everything.
After the banquet, Da Yuer wanted to take her sister back to the palace, but Hairanju refused. As the two sisters argued, Qiqige intervened, taking her cousin back to the Fourteenth Beile's residence.
Hairanju's stay in Shengjing was now down to these final two days; by the early morning after tomorrow, all the tribes south of the desert would leave together.
Although Jeje had not criticized Da Yuer and her sister-in-law for causing a scene, she addressed her niece sternly back at the palace: "Your sister has her own will. She has endured so much. If even you force her, what's left for her to hold on to? You want what's best for her, but do you really know what she wants?"
Da Yuer, despite her words, understood deep down. She had tried so hard to persuade her sister, but Hairanju remained resolute. There was nothing left she could say to keep her.
"Aunt," Da Yuer said, holding back tears, "why is my sister's fate so hard…? I feel so much pain for her."
"Who knows? Yuer, who can predict the future?" Jeje gazed at her kind-hearted niece, her heart aching. She was uncertain about what would happen next; it seemed the heavens loved to play tricks.
Soon enough, it was time for the various tribes from the south to depart from Shengjing. Da Yuer received Jeje's permission to visit the Fourteenth Beile's residence to see Hairanju off. Hairanju remained gentle as ever, comforting her tearful sister, "Silly girl, are we never going to see each other again? I'll come back to Shengjing, and you can return to Khorchin. I'm still waiting to see Yatu and the others get married. I promised Yatu that I would style her hair for her wedding."
Qiqige thought Hairanju would become the Great Khan's woman, but to her surprise, Hairanju was leaving just like that. As she watched the sisters struggle to part, she reassured Da Yuer, "You should go back now. I'll see your sister off, and I won't return until she's far off. Will that make you feel better?"
"Thank you, Qiqige. You're so good to me," Da Yuer replied.
"Now you know how good I am. Don't bully me in the future," Qiqige said with a smile, directing the maids to bring out the belongings. She supported Hairanju and said, "Sister, let's go. Don't keep them waiting."
Da Yuer couldn't accompany them out of the city; as Hong Taiji's side consort, her status was too noble. Today, ministers and beiles were tasked with seeing the tribes off, and she couldn't reveal herself. Jeje had only agreed to let her go out after ensuring she wouldn't follow them, and Da Yuer dared not defy her aunt.
After the sisters parted and watched the carriage disappear from view, Da Yuer returned to the palace feeling lost and distressed. When she spotted Hong Taiji approaching from the Ten Kings Pavilion, she ran over and buried herself in his embrace.
"What are you acting like this for?" Huang Taiji scolded lightly.
But Da Yuer began to cry, "Sister has left! She's really gone, and I can't bear it."
Hong Taiji held her close, gently stroking her back, but his expression gradually darkened. He sighed and took her hand, saying, "You look tired. Let's go to your room and sit for a while."
Da Yuer didn't refuse and followed Hong Taiji to the side palace. However, just as Hong Taiji settled down, their daughter Azhe started to cry uncontrollably. To avoid disturbing her husband, Da Yuer took the child outside, strolling under the eaves, while Hong Taiji remained inside, lost in thought.
Throughout the day, he had stayed in the side palace, and some state matters were moved here for him to handle. He got so busy that he lost track of time, and when he finally looked up, the sun had already begun to set.
The early winter night arrived swiftly. Hong Taiji stepped outside to take a breath, the cold wind invigorating him as he watched the sun dip below the horizon and the darkness creep in.
"Great Khan, will you have dinner with me?" Da Yuer called out.
Before Hong Taiji could respond, Niman hurried over, anxiously saying, "Great Khan, we just received news that the troops from the Zhalite tribe is blocking the Khorchin tribe, and there have already been clashes between both sides. I heard that the Fourteenth Consort went to see off Princess Lan and hasn't returned yet. The Fourteenth Beile is worried and has taken people to pursue her."
Hong Taiji's brow furrowed deeply as he asked, "How long has Dorgon left?"
Niman replied, "Not long. As soon as I heard, I came to report to you."
Hong Taiji's mind raced as he realized that the Zhalite was blocking Khorchin to demand Hairanju from Wukeshan. Remembering the torment Hairanju had endured that night and the doubt and humiliation he had inflicted on her, his heart felt like it had been struck hard, leaving him gasping for air.
Da Yuer listened nearby and was about to plead to Hong Taiji for a solution, but her husband had already stepped out, striding away into the night.
His tall figure quickly disappeared into the darkness, and she stood there momentarily dazed, as if a piece of her was suddenly missing. But that thought flickered through her mind and vanished without leaving a significant trace.
Whether she was foolish or too naive, at this moment, Da Yuer only knew to turn and rush to Qingning Palace to inform her aunt that the Great Khan was going to rescue her sister.
Meanwhile, the standoff continued between the Zhalite and the Khorchin. Other tribes had already left, but some remained, poised to join the fight.
If they clashed here, it would be a tremendous embarrassment, bringing shame to Hong Taiji, yet neither side was willing to concede an inch.
Suhebat demanded Wukeshan hand over Hairanju, but Wukeshan had gone back on their previous agreement.
In truth, he could have handled this matter more wisely, but he wanted to outsmart Hong Taiji, intending to force the lovestruck man into this predicament.
Inside the carriage, Qiqige and Hairanju leaned against each other for comfort. Qiqige, bold and perceptive, was unafraid of the standoff outside. To her surprise, the seemingly fragile Hairanju was quite composed as well.
"Sister, are you cold?" Qiqige asked.
Hairanju shook her head. Just as she was about to speak, a voice came from outside, "Princess, Taiji requests your presence outside."
Hairanju closed her eyes, steadied her mind, then opened them and said to Qiqige, "If Yuer asks you in the future, you must tell her that I willingly married Suhebat. It has come to this, so don't let her be sad on my account."
Qiqige nodded, tears welling in her eyes. The two of them stepped out of the carriage together, but as soon as they steadied themselves, they heard the thunderous sound of hooves approaching. In the moonlight, they could only see a swarm of imposing figures, unable to make out any faces.
"Dorgon, Dorgon, I'm over here!" Qiqige called out, despite the dim light, she could easily recognize her husband among the approaching figures.
"Great… Khan…"
Hairanju murmured, she stared at the crowd rushing towards them, and she also recognized Hong Taiji. He was at the forefront of the crowd, riding fiercely, his presence commanding and unmistakable as he urged his horse forward, intent on reaching her.