As night deepened, Hairanju sat curled up at the edge of the kang, lost in thought after washing up. The murmur of voices drifted in from outside, prompting her to lift her head, though the words were indistinct.
Before long, Baoqing returned, muttering disdainfully, "Those ladies insisted on coming to see you, bringing hand warmers and blankets, saying they were worried you might be cold."
"I'm not cold," Hairanju replied.
Baoqing paused, then chuckled, "Princess, it's not really about the cold. They know your status is about to change and are here to curry favour."
Hairanju merely responded with an "Oh," showing little interest in the matter.
After lying down, Baoqing tucked her in, and Hairanju instinctively glanced beside her.
Just last night, her little sister had snuggled close, seeking affection. But from now on, perhaps such moments would never return.
As Baoqing moved to extinguish the candle, she paused upon hearing Hairanju ask, "Baoqing, what do you think? Am I a bad person?"
"Princess, why would you say such a thing?" Baoqing returned to the bedside.
"Yuer has always treated me so well, yet I..."
"Honestly, ever since the first day you arrived—or even before, when we knew you were coming to Shengjing—we all thought you would become a side consort to the Great Khan," Baoqing admitted candidly. "But after you arrived, nothing seemed to happen, and we eventually stopped thinking about it. You see, if even we servants could think of such things, Consort Yu must have understood it too. It was just a matter of time."
"Did she really understand?" Hairanju wondered aloud, still haunted by the vacant look in her sister's eyes during their last encounter in the kitchen.
"Consort Yu has a childlike temper," Baoqing remarked. "In the past couple of years, the Great Khan and the Great Consort often said she acts like a child. Don't worry, in a few days, Consort Yu will come around. After all, you're her elder sister, which is far better than someone else."
Hairanju asked, "What about before?"
Baoqing thought for a moment, "Nothing special. The Great Khan only returned home a few times a year. I've been serving Consort Yu for a few years, and it's only this time that the Great Khan has stayed longer. When I first came, I could barely remember what he looked like. It was just at the beginning of last year, after the Great Khan left the side palace late at night, that Consort Yu became more lively. She started acting like a child, always smiling, which we all liked."
Hairanju recalled Sumala's words. Indeed, the Great Khan rarely stayed home, and even this time, it was an unexpected decision. She had even planned with Sumala to move into Yuer's quarters once the Great Khan left.
So much had happened in just a few months. The red leaves in the hunting ground's maple forest must have fallen by now. Could the grasslands sustain them until spring, when new life would sprout again?
"Starting tomorrow, I guess I'll have to change how I address you," Baoqing joked. "Oh, by the way, Princess, the Great Khan doesn't like it when Consort Yu calls the Great Consort 'Aunt.' Please don't mind my saying so, but perhaps you should change that too."
Hairanju replied, "I know. Yuer already told me."
Baoqing tucked her in snugly. "Princess, you should rest early."
Meanwhile, the story of the Great Khan bringing Hairanju back in the middle of the night was the talk of Shengjing all day. And so quickly, during that morning's court session, the Great Khan officially announced Hairanju of the Borjigit clan from Khorchin as a side consort. Henceforth, everyone was to treat her with respect.
After the court session, the ministers gossiped about it, with some even admitting they had bet on whether the Great Khan would take Hairanju.
They discussed the new consort, Khorchin, and even mentioned the Great Consort and Da Yuer.
These conversations irked Dorgon greatly.
In the inner palace, upon receiving the Great Khan's decree, the palace staff began preparing another side palace for Hairanju. Her belongings were few, so Jeje added some, and the Great Khan sent additional gifts.
The room gradually took on a more vibrant air, adorned with gold, silver, and jade, giving it the aura of a favoured consort's quarters.
Jeje came to inspect, glanced at the serene and gentle woman beside her, and then ordered, "Take these away. These gaudy items are too much of an eyesore."
Zarut and her cousin arrived, bearing congratulatory gifts. The flamboyant woman feigned curiosity and asked, "Why isn't Little Sister Yuer here? Is she too busy with the little princesses? Today is her elder sister's big day; she should come and offer her congratulations."
Jeje, unwilling to engage with her, quickly excused herself upon hearing her youngest daughter crying and returned to the Qingning Palace.
Hairanju walked to the door to see her off, but Zarut gently pulled her back and whispered coldly in her ear, "You're quite impressive, aren't you? Without making a fuss, you've completely captivated the Great Khan. You're much better than your sister. What man would like a brash, headstrong woman like her?"
Hairanju, not one for confrontation, calmly replied, "The Great Khan likes her."
Zarut was momentarily taken aback before letting out a mocking laugh, repeating, "Likes her, likes her..."
Throughout the morning, Da Yuer remained in her chambers. It was only when it was time for lunch that she emerged to meet Jeje, bringing Yatu along, saying she wanted to escort her daughter to the Fourteenth Beile's residence.
Jeje understood; in this vast palace, there was no peaceful corner for Yuer. Since last night, she had neither cried nor spoken, remaining indifferent to everything, leaving others at a loss.
"Go ahead and take a walk then," Zhezhe advised, adding, "Be back before sunset, and don't let Yatu ride too high a horse. Be careful she doesn't fall."
At the Fourteenth Beile's residence, Qiqige was stunned to see Da Yuer and her daughter arrive. Even as sharp and perceptive as her, was at a complete loss.
She had already heard the news about the Great Khan officially bestowing Hairanju the title of side consort, and she had even caught wind of what happened at Fenghuang Pavilion last night.
But she never expected things to unfold like this.
"Dorgon probably won't be back during the day. If you're okay with it, I can have the guards take Yatu to ride a horse," Qiqige suggested, realizing it didn't seem appropriate, so she added, "Or better yet, why don't we go together? We can take Yatu to the racecourse."
Two hours later, at the racecourse outside Shengjing, Yatu held her aunt's hand, staring in awe at her mother galloping around the track. She looked up at Qiqige and asked, "Auntie, will I be as amazing as Mother when I grow up?"
"You will, Yatu. When you grow up, you'll be just as amazing," Qiqige reassured her, patting her hand and asking if she was cold. She called for a maid to take the little princess somewhere warmer.
Meanwhile, Da Yuer approached after slowing her horse. Qiqige shouted, "Take a break; the wind is picking up."
Da Yuer reined in the horse, and it gradually slowed to a trot, bringing her to a stop before Qiqige. She asked, "Aren't you going to take a few laps?"
Qiqige said, "I don't like riding horses much these days; it feels too uncomfortable."
Da Yuer jumped down from her horse, tossing the whip to a waiting guard. She stepped on the dry grass and casually wiped the sweat off her face with her sleeve. "I heard that Han women don't know how to ride horses. They sit in sedan chairs from a young age, treated like precious jewels," she remarked.
Qiqige teased, "Are you making fun of me?"
Da Yuer shook her head. "Girls should be raised with care and treated like treasures."
She walked straight ahead, seemingly to find her daughter. Unable to hold back, Qiqige hurried to catch up and grabbed her arm, asking, "Yuer, are you alright?"