Niman, following orders, instructed the palace servants to approach and assist the emperor in dressing. After that, he departed from Fenghuang Tower and proceeded directly to the Grand Politics Hall. On the way, he encountered Adai leading the kitchen staff with a breakfast cart. She exchanged a look with Niman, who subtly shook his head, and Adai understood.
In Qingning Palace, Jeje sat alone at the dining table. After the disturbances that went late into the night, Yuer would likely not wake up so early. Usually, Jeje would be irritated by her lively presence in the morning, but today, in the sudden quiet, she felt an unexpected sense of loss.
"Consort, please eat something," Adai urged gently. "Consort Yu and Princess Lan have Sumala and the others to attend to them."
Jeje shook her head. "Let's wait a while longer. I fear I may not have many more chances to sit here and have a meal like this with her." She paused. "Adai, tell the kitchen to prepare some of Yuer's favorite food. Wasn't she talking about those fried pastries a few days ago?"
Adai, understanding her mistress's thoughts, set a bowl of warm milk in front of Jeje. "Consort, don't be so pessimistic. Consort Yu is the most understanding and thoughtful; perhaps things will become even more harmonious. After all, sooner or later, the Great Khan would have had to take another consort. At least with her sister, she's better than an outsider."
Jeje shook her head. "Silly girl, you're not married yet; you wouldn't understand. Perhaps things will turn out as you say, but for now, I'm bracing myself for the worst so that no matter what happens, I'll be able to face it. They are both my nieces, and I can't favour one over the other. If I was against Wukeshan sending Hairanju here from the start and had stopped it then, none of this would have happened. But from the beginning, I thought it might be good if she came too, so that there would be another woman to bear a son for the Great Khan."
Jeje's regret was palpable. "That day, I told Wukeshan's consort that they would suffer for their wrongdoings. But thinking back now, could it be that this burden is one I've created myself?"
"Consort, please don't think that way," Adai said anxiously. "Though I don't fully understand, I know this much: even if Consort Yu is suffering now, she won't be in pain forever, will she? It's not as if the Great Khan doesn't care for her. No one in this palace is treated more dearly than Consort Yu."
With a weary smile, Jeje instructed, "Go then. Tell the kitchen to fry up some of those pastries for her."
Meanwhile, in the side palace, the blissfully sleeping Da Yuer was suddenly jolted awake when little Azhe plopped herself down on her mother's face.
As soon as she opened her eyes, her three daughters pounced on her, kissing and hugging her all over, causing her to laugh and call out for help.
Hairanju was already seated at her vanity, combing her hair. Baoqing, with a cheerful smile, held up a jewellery box and teased, "Side Consort, both Sumala and I have called you a few times. You slept so soundly! The Great Consort has already sent for breakfast twice. Sumala said only the little princesses can wake you up."
Da Yuer and her daughters were playfully tussling on the bed, pillows and blankets flying everywhere. Hairanju, feigning a bit of sternness, intervened, "Alright, enough. Someone might get hurt! Could you bear that?"
She scooped up Azhe and handed her to the wet nurse, then picked up Atu, who sat contentedly while her aunt braided her hair. Yatu, upon seeing this, clung to her aunt as well, asking her to make her a small braid.
Sumala took this opportunity to bring over warm water for the morning wash, while Da Yuer, yawning, remarked, "It's so nice with you around, sister. When you were at Qiqige's place for a few days, every morning here was chaotic. With these three little rascals, I don't know who to look after first!"
Hairanju chided her gently, "You've got wet nurses and attendants; what are you rushing about for?"
Da Yuer, ran over barefoot, hugged her sister around the waist, and rested her chin on Hairanju's shoulder, saying, "It's just busy. When you're not here, nothing goes smoothly for me."
"You…" Hairanju shook her head, noticing Da Yuer's bare feet and promptly ushered her back to the bed. Finally, after much fussing, everyone was ready. Stepping outside, they immediately caught the smell of fried pastries, which brought cheers from the young girls as they pulled Da Yuer, excitedly dashing towards Qingning Palace for breakfast.
Hairanju followed at a leisurely pace, but just as she reached the palace door, she spotted Zarut walking over with the assistance of her maid, looking quite proud and leisurely.
Jeje had already exempted her from the daily etiquette rounds, so it had been a while since she appeared before the Great Consort. Her sudden arrival today was a clear sign that she came to observe the drama.
"Greetings, Princess Lan," said Zarut's maid with a curtsey. As if on cue, Zarut scolded her, "What did you call her? She should be addressed as Side Consort now."
Hairanju turned pale, instantly grasping Zarut's intent, but she was at a loss for how to handle this.
Zarut stepped even closer, lowering her voice, "Sister, from now on, I'll really need to call you that. I'll be counting on you to look after me. Don't let the Great Khan forget about me entirely; spare me a bit of mercy, will you?"
Hairanju, startled, took a few steps back, just as Da Yuer, noticing her sister hadn't come inside yet, hurried out to check. Seeing Zarut intimidating her sister, she stepped between them, glaring. "What are you doing?"
Zarut sneered, "Bumubutai, you and I are equals now, so don't bark orders at me. I'm letting the past slide for the Great Consort's sake, but in the future, mind your manners when you see me."
Da Yuer looked pointedly at her belly. "Think about the child you're carrying. She wouldn't want to see her mother making a fool of herself in public."
"Bumubutai!" Zarut glared, about to lash out, but catching sight of Hairanju gently tugging her sister along, she suddenly sneered.
Just as she was about to hurl more insults, Hairanju quietly but firmly pushed Da Yuer past her, as if she anticipated what Zarut was planning to say. Zarut's eyes narrowed in realization as Hairanju's expression betrayed a hidden awareness—there were, apparently, things Da Yuer was still blissfully unaware of.
Zarut exchanged a glance with her maid, a silent understanding passing between them. If it were true, things would indeed become far more interesting.
Inside Qingning Palace, Da Yuer stormed in with a huff. Hearing it was another of Zarut's schemes, Jeje dismissed it, saying, "You're wasting your breath on her—she's not worth it. Don't worry; I won't let her stomp around the palace unchecked."
Da Yuer, still fuming, turned to her sister. "You shouldn't be afraid of someone like her, Sister. She's the type who only picks on the gentle. A few harsh words, and she'd back down."
Hairanju forced a smile and glanced toward her aunt, who watched her with an unsettling clarity that made Hairanju's heart race.
Jeje, however, took her time over breakfast, watching as Da Yuer and her children happily ate, their faces shiny with grease. Normally, she'd chide her niece for her lack of decorum, but today, she simply smiled gently, "Slow down, don't burn your mouths."
Hairanju, ever the light eater, sat quietly by, wiping her nieces' mouths and serving them more snacks. No matter what was stirring beneath the surface, her sister and the children enjoyed their breakfast thoroughly.
Afterward, with the children ready to play, Da Yuer washed her hands and wiped her face, saying to Jeje, "Auntie, I'd like Yatu to start studying. Do you think the Great Khan would approve?"
"Why wouldn't he?" Jeje replied. "It's the perfect time—she'll learn quickly, and she should study Chinese, too."
Da Yuer sat beside Hairanju, smiling, "Sister, did you ever study Chinese? I've been learning bits and pieces over the years, though Qiqige is the most diligent—she can read Han books now."
Hairanju shook her head. "I don't know Chinese characters and never planned on learning."
Jeje smiled. "Let's all study together. It'll be useful in the future."
Though she said nothing, Hairanju felt uneasy, as though every word her aunt uttered had a hidden meaning, making her feel increasingly restless.
"Sister, what were you going to say last night?" Da Yuer asked suddenly, recalling their conversation. "You called my name and then fell asleep. What was it?"
Hairanju was taken aback, then shook her head with a faint smile. "It's nothing. I don't remember, either."
Da Yuer asked, "Then tell me, how did the Great Khan save you last night? Did he fight that beast Suhebat? Did he curse Wukeshen until he was drenched in shame?"
Hairanju's heart raced, while her sister proudly replied, "He must have seen me crying and knew I couldn't bear it. He probably thought that if he didn't resolve it quickly, I'd keep bothering him. The Great Khan, whatever he does, he does it with such boldness."
"Yuer…" Hairanju said heavily.
"Yuer, go and ask if the Great Khan has had breakfast yet," Jeje interrupted Hairanju's words, casually giving orders. "The Great Khan was tired last night, so I told them not to serve him ginseng soup or meat dishes today. He needs to rest and regain his strength before he can replenish himself later."
Da Yuer took note of this. She loved running to the Ten Kings Pavilion, even if it was just to see the ministers showing utmost respect to the Great Khan, which filled her with pride. She happily went outside to call her daughters, taking them to the Ten Kings Pavilion.
Jeje took a few steps forward and stood by the window, watching as snowflakes had fallen a few times in recent days. A thin layer of snow had already accumulated in the palace gardens, signalling that winter was approaching. She couldn't remember what last winter in the palace looked like or when life had started to speed up so quickly.
"Hairanju," Jeje spoke up, "do you have something to say to me?"
"Aunt…" Hairanju rose, nervously intertwining her fingers.
"You've decided to stay, haven't you?" Jeje turned back, looking at her gently.
"The Great Khan wants me to stay with peace of mind," Hairanju lowered her head, her eyes already misting over. She couldn't bear to hurt her beloved sister, but…
"The Great Khan…" Jeje smiled and asked again, "What about you? Tell me, do you want to stay?"