The silent stillness in the Qingning Palace was profound; even the palace maids had followed Adai out, leaving only the aunt and niece facing each other in a prolonged gaze. Outside, a bird suddenly fluttered past the eaves, breaking the silence.
"Aunt, I… I want to stay," Hairanju finally spoke, her heart twisting as if being cut by scissors, each slice pulling away flesh and tendons, leaving her dizzy from the pain. She dropped to her knees with a thud, sobbing, "Aunt, I want to stay. Aunt, I've wronged Yuer…"
Jeje's heart sank. At this point, she couldn't tell who was in the wrong any more. Perhaps it is human instinct to evade guilt, to avoid bearing all burdens.
That's life, really; when looking back, we don't know at what step we went too fast, or at which point we went too slow, until those we met, and those we missed, are all blurred with time.
Was Hairanju wrong? Jeje couldn't tell. But at least, perhaps she had redeemed her sins.
"Wukeshan wrote to me, mentioning how neither Yuer nor I could bear sons, and proposing to send you here. Even if you couldn't bear a son either, at least we could bind the Great Khan's heart to us," Jeje said, extending her hand to help her niece up. "I was foolish enough to agree to his plan. Not until you were driven to throw yourself into the river, carried into the palace like that, did I realize my mistake. Now you wish to stay, because you've fallen in love with him. In a way, you have lightened the guilt in my heart."
Hairanju gazed at Jeje in confusion, as Jeje gently wiped away her tears. "When you become the Great Khan's woman in name and right, no one will fault you. In everyone's eyes, it will be entirely natural. But you, Hairanju—you'll always be at odds with your own conscience, won't you? You've already convinced that you've wronged Yuer, haven't you?" Jeje spoke with tenderness. "Listen to me: no matter what the Great Khan does in the future, and no matter what happens between you and Yuer, promise me you'll be true to yourself."
"Aunt?" Hairanju looked bewildered.
"It may sound cruel," Jeje continued, "but what wouldn't be cruel? Would it be less cruel to fulfil Yuer's wish, to send you away and let you spend your life alone? Or perhaps to let Wukeshan give you to some savage brutes, and die under their merciless hands?"
Tears clouded Hairanju's vision until her aunt's face became a blur.
She had been sleepless the previous night, imagining the words her aunt might say to her. Since her arrival in Shengjing, she knew her aunt didn't much favour her. Aunt preferred Yuer; after all, Yuer had grown up with her, they supported each other through thick and thin. It was only natural.
She hadn't thought of how to respond to her aunt's anger, yet she never expected that her aunt would set aside her care for Yuer to feel sympathy for her instead.
"I've been avoiding it, haven't I? I'm the one who, between Hong Taiji and Yuer, gave up on Yuer." Tears welled up in Jeje's eyes as she choked out, "I could force you to leave here, but how can I change his heart? It's been over twenty years, Hairanju, and this is the first time I've seen him like this."
Hairanju sobbed, her voice barely coherent: "Aunt, I was wrong. How can I face Yuer… she still doesn't know anything."
Jeje swallowed back her own tears, shaking her head. "Does she really not know? I can't say for sure."
Meanwhile, in the Ten Kings Pavilion, Yatu and Atu ran around in play, weaving through the stoic guards as if they were just pillars. The guards were long accustomed to the little princesses and, finding them so charming, would even steal a quick smile at them.
Da Yuer gently warned her daughters not to be so unruly, yet she never truly intervened. She knew that childhood was fleeting and, not knowing where life would take them in the future, wanted to protect these few happy years for them as best she could.
Just then, Niman arrived from the Grand Politics Hall, bowing deeply as he reported, "Rest assured, Consort Yu, the Great Khan has had his morning meal. He also mentioned that he would not take lunch today and will send for us if he finds time in the evening."
Da Yuer calmly passed along the instructions Jeje had given her, then called her daughters to prepare to leave.
While the nursemaids and nannies scrambled to round up the little princesses, Niman, with a friendly smile, remarked, "How quickly the little princesses have grown. I still remember when Princess Yatu was just a tiny thing."
But suddenly, Da Yuer asked, "Niman, did the Great Khan enjoy the pastries my sister made?"
Niman felt a jolt, caught off guard, his usually smooth words momentarily stuck in his throat.
Da Yuer continued to smile as she asked, "Which ones did he like best? They're all my favourites too. He's the type of person who would even snatch my food."
Niman quickly composed himself, replying, "The Great Khan has tried a few, though he hasn't mentioned any particular favourites… but I'm sure that whatever you enjoy, the Great Khan surely enjoys as well."
Just then, Yatu came running, laughing as she flung herself into her mother's arms. Holding her daughter tightly, Da Yuer smiled warmly at Niman. "I was just asking casually. Don't worry about it."
"Yes..."
"I'll make some pastries myself next time. After all, whatever I like, the Great Khan likes too." Da Yuer smiled, and as Atu ran over to join them, she led her two daughters, one on each side, toward the inner palace.
When Niman finally came to his senses, he found himself covered in sweat and let out a long sigh.
The events of last night, everything from before, all of it—it was clear that Consort Yu was neither deaf nor blind. She was the one by the Great Khan's side; of course, she knew his true thoughts.
Back in the inner palace, Da Yuer was heading to the Qingning Palace as usual when she heard Azhe's sobs. She hesitated, then turned and went back to her own quarters instead.
Meanwhile, Zarut was sipping tea with her cousin, admiring the delicate Ming dynasty porcelain in her hand. "Is it true that the Ming Emperor had three thousand beauties?" she asked her cousin.
"I wouldn't know," replied Consort Doutumen with a shrug. "But they say that every woman in that Forbidden City, aside from the elder relatives, belonged to the Emperor."
Zarut clicked her tongue. "They say we're the barbarians, yet look at those Han emperors, changing women every day. If one day Hong Taiji really went to Beijing, then all the women in that palace would be his, wouldn't they?"
"Who knows?" Her cousin replied, seeming content with a simple life. "As long as I can live in peace, I'm satisfied."
Zarut cast a long look toward the neighbouring side palace. "As for Hairanju, that Da Yuer seems blissfully unaware, doesn't she?"
"Don't get involved in other people's business," Consort Doutumen cautioned. "That's between those sisters. Even if Hong Taiji took a hundred more women, it's not for us to meddle."
Zarut shook her head, disdainful of her cousin's cautiousness, and chuckled coldly, "I want to tear through that veil of ignorance, make Da Yuer uneasy, and give her back that slap."
"Don't be reckless! She's been by Hong Taiji's side for so many years—how can you even compare?" Consort Doutumen warned her. "Don't end up ruining yourself. To the Great Khan, killing one of us is as easy as squashing an ant."
Zarut smirked. "Sister, I'm not a fool. Why should I act openly? There are plenty of people here, with plenty of mouths and eyes. Do you think everyone is as naive as Da Yuer? Just watch, sister—we just have to wait and enjoy the show."
Meanwhile, Hairanju had cried until her eyes were swollen. When Da Yuer saw her, she gently chided her sister for missing her late husband again, suggesting that she cheer up by going out to Shengjing for a walk or inviting Qiqige to tell stories.
Hairanju, feeling overwhelmed, couldn't find a chance to speak or explain herself, and so half the day passed by in a haze.
After lunch, in the warmest hour of the winter day, Qiqige came to the palace to deliver medicinal supplements to Dorgon. She was planning to leave after dropping them off, but she encountered Hooge's Consort, Hada Nara, by the palace gate.
As soon as Hada Nara saw Qiqige, she sidled up to her and asked, "Aunt, you were there last night when the Great Khan went to rescue Princess Lan, weren't you?"
Qiqige understood immediately—Hooge must have sent his wife to find out what happened. With his mother discarded from favour, Hooge had no support in the palace; he needed someone close to his father who could pass on news.
"Aunt, is Princess Lan going to be named Side Consort? Should I start calling her 'Mother' when I see her next?"
Hada Nara's eyes were filled with curiosity. To Qiqige, she seemed far from clever. Hooge could have chosen a more astute concubine to inquire on his behalf, rather than someone who would spread gossip and risk angering Hong Taiji.
Qiqige looked up at the bright sky and smiled, "The sun is so lovely today. I feel like sitting in the palace for a bit. Shall we go together?"
Hada Nara paused, confused, then quickly followed. Seeing Qiqige's cold expression and silence, she timidly asked, "Aunt, did I say something wrong?"
Though they were about the same age, Hooge had long served with merit, making their statuses hard to compare. But Qiqige, after all, was his elder. If she acted amiably, it was kindness; if she kept her distance, it was respect.
Qiqige smiled faintly and remarked, "In our Eight Banners, I don't think it's customary for daughters-in-law to meddle in elders' affairs."
Hada Nara hurried to reply, "Aunt, please don't take it that way, I was just…"
Before she could finish, they passed by the Fenghuang Tower, just in time to see Hairanju drawing back the curtain and stepping out of Qingning Palace.
Inside, the heated kang beds made it feel like spring, so she was only wearing a single layer. Her delicate figure stood against the cold winds and snowy landscape, her beautiful face and serene grace so captivating that even another woman would feel a pang of compassion.
Hada Nara sighed softly, "Princess Lan truly is beautiful."
However, as soon as Hairanju saw Qiqige, her heart tightened. She knew Qiqige must have figured out what had happened.
She lowered her gaze but then heard Da Yuer calling for Qiqige, a sound that made her heart pound in anxiety.