These past few days, Da Yuer has felt especially miserable. She can't bring herself to say it out loud; it's all bottled up inside.
But when Qiqige said those words, with tears shimmering in her eyes, Da Yuer suddenly felt that the blood she'd coughed up that day was an overreaction.
"Did you discuss this with Dorgon? Does he know?" Da Yuer asked.
"I make the decisions at home," Qiqige said proudly. "Do you think I'm like you, unable to decide anything for myself?"
Da Yuer turned her face away. "Why stab me where it hurts?"
Qiqige replied, "Who's stabbing you? You've been spoiled by the Great Khan and Aunt; you've lost your sense of limits, forgotten who you are, and worst of all, forgotten who your husband is."
The carriage shook violently, seemingly hitting a rock. The adults and children were all jolted, while Yatu and Atu burst into laughter.
The world of children is so simple—laughing when they're happy, crying when they're sad.
"Dorgon and I have already discussed this at home. And not just us; everyone inside and outside the palace has been talking about it," Qiqige said, comforting little Ahzhe, who had been frightened. "Everyone knows that Wukeshan sent Hairanju here so she would stay. But I told Dorgon, you surely didn't think that way—you're so straightforward. But now, I feel like I might have guessed wrong."
Da Yuer shook her head. "If you ask me now what I was thinking back then, I can't even tell anymore."
Qiqige asked, "If you'd sensed it before the Great Khan decided to keep Hairanju, would you have sent her away?"
Da Yuer stared blankly at Qiqige.
Qiqige continued, "If you'd sent her away, would Hairanju still be alive today? If the Great Khan hadn't come to get her that day, would she already be dead by now?"
Da Yuer suddenly remembered something and asked Qiqige, "Yanja once told me that on the day of the royal tomb ceremony, when Sister was held hostage in the main hall, she told the Great Khan to kill Wukeshan."
Qiqige nodded, "Yes."
Da Yuer asked in shock, "You knew too?"
Qiqige replied, "A lot of people knew. Of course, I couldn't speak out in front of you, so I never brought it up since you didn't ask. Don't hold it against me."
Da Yuer shook her head repeatedly. "But I asked Sister, and she said people misheard. She only asked the Great Khan not to worry about her and to kill that man."
Qiqige's mind worked quickly, and she immediately asked, "So who do you believe?"
Da Yuer was stunned.
Qiqige sighed, "If it's true, think about it. What must Wukeshan have done to Sister to make her, someone so gentle, feel such hatred as to wish her own brother dead?"
They sat in silence for a long time. Inside the carriage, only the laughter of the children could be heard, as they played happily with Sumala, oblivious to what their mother and aunt were discussing.
"What was it like that night when he went to get Sister?" Da Yuer asked.
"Do you really want to know?" Qiqige's fears had come true; she had known that Da Yuer would one day ask about that night.
Da Yuer pressed her lips together and solemnly nodded.
"The way the Great Khan looked at Sister Hairanju moved me deeply. I even dreamed that one day Dorgon might look at me that way, though sadly no one has come to take me away…" Qiqige half-joked, but spoke seriously as she continued, "There were so many people and carriages that night, but the Great Khan walked straight up to Sister, immediately spotting the one he was looking for."
Once she began, Qiqige felt relieved and went on, "People outside won't care if the Great Khan kept Sister out of love or politics. No one would think it odd; after all, even the emperors of the Ming Dynasty had three thousand women in their palaces. In this world, do we women even get a say? The Great Khan is like this, and Dorgon is, too. The only difference is that we're lucky enough to be the ones they choose to cherish in their hearts."
Qiqige looked at Da Yuer and said, "But we have to be clear in our hearts, Yuer. Even if you don't want to admit it, I can't sugar-coat things. From Dorgon's and my perspective, the Great Khan genuinely cares for Sister; that's why he kept her around. You don't know—on the night after Sister was almost raped by Suhebat, the Great Khan came again. I didn't hear what they talked about that night in her room, but on the day he brought Sister back to the palace, I heard him ask her to answer something she hadn't said that night. Sister told him she never conspired with Wukeshan, that she never deceived him."
"Never deceived him?" Da Yuer repeated those words.
"Exactly," Qiqige sighed with a smile. "So there must have been something between the Great Khan and Sister, things we don't know. They must have their own story."
Da Yuer leaned her head heavily against the carriage window, feeling the cold wind slip through the cracks, prickling her skin.
"If I were you, I wouldn't understand either," Qiqige continued. "But whether it's the Great Khan or Dorgon, the Great Khan can love both Aunt and you dearly, and Dorgon can keep the two women his mother chose for him. To them, adding another woman is just… normal, isn't it?"
Da Yuer's eyes filled with tears, which began to fall one by one. She looked at Qiqige, every word Qiqige said piercing her heart.
Qiqige asked, "Otherwise… what can you do?"
"Am I… not good enough?"
Da Yuer's tears broke free, and she began to cry uncontrollably. Yatu and Atu climbed into her arms, asking why she was sad, and as she continued, they cried with her. Sumala and Qiqige were at a loss, unsure how to comfort her.
Meanwhile, in the palace, Hong Taiji was discussing the New Year's court ceremony with his ministers. Amidst the smoke and iron hooves of war, the nation needed culture, and Hong Taiji, having stayed in Shengjing for a rare extended period, took it seriously.
After they finished the discussion, Hong Taiji left the Grand Politics Hall and saw Dorgon coming out of the Plain White Banner Pavilion. He called Dorgon over and said, "Have you forgotten the supply route map to the front line in Korea?"
Dorgon replied quickly, "I haven't forgotten. It's an important matter, and we don't dare make a careless map, Great Khan. Even here in the palace, I suspect there may be spies. After much deliberation with Dodo, we've decided to finalize the plans right before we set out."
As they spoke, someone hurried toward the Plain White Banner Pavilion, seemingly looking for Dorgon. Upon seeing the Great Khan and Fourteenth Beile speaking in front of the Grand Politics Hall, the person froze, not daring to move any closer.
Dorgon called him over and, aware of Hong Taiji's suspicion, asked openly, "What's the matter?"
The man, visibly embarrassed, bowed his head almost to his feet and said timidly, "Reporting to the Great Khan and Fourteenth Beile, Fourteenth Consort… Fourteenth Consort followed Consort Yu out of the city. Servants back home said she took her belongings and valuables, and it appears she's headed to Hetu Ala with Consort Yu."
Dorgon's face darkened in anger. "Is this true? Qiqige has left?"
The man nodded repeatedly. "Yes, I asked carefully, and the servants back home confirmed that Fourteenth Consort has gone with Consort Yu to Hetu Ala."
"Please forgive me, Great Khan," Dorgon said, bowing to Hong Taiji. "I was unaware of this. When I left this morning, Qiqige didn't mention anything. If I had known, I certainly wouldn't have allowed her to bother Consort Yu."
Hong Taiji coughed lightly, as if considering how to handle the matter.
Dorgon then offered, "I'll go immediately, on horseback, and bring Qiqige back."
Hong Taiji chuckled, "You can't bear to let Qiqige go?"
Dorgon paused, slightly embarrassed. "No, it's just… I'm afraid she might be a disturbance."
Hong Taiji replied, "If you're willing to let her go for a while, then let her accompany them. Qiqige is steady and reliable; with her by Yuer's side, I feel more at ease."
Dorgon said nothing, keeping his head lowered as he waited for further instructions.
"Let it be, then. If you're truly uneasy, I won't stop you from going," Hong Taiji continued. "For now, think about how to handle this. Whatever you decide, come see me with Dodo before sunset. I want to hear your specific plan for transporting the supplies."
"Understood." Dorgon cupped his hands in a respectful salute.
His mind was in turmoil, thinking about how best to show that he had no improper intentions. Hong Taiji was so suspicious—perhaps avoiding any interaction with Dayu'er was the only way to dispel any doubts. So, he decided not to interfere with Qiqige's trip.
As Hong Taiji walked back to the Grand Politics Hall, he glanced over his shoulder at Dorgon's departing figure. His gaze then fell on Niman, who immediately understood and nodded with a knowing look. "Great Khan, I understand. I'll proceed as usual."
Hong Taiji turned away indifferently and added, "Go inform the Great Consort that Qiqige has accompanied them."
"Yes."
"Niman." As he turned to leave, Hong Taiji called him back.
"Yes, Great Khan, do you have additional instructions?"
With his hands behind his back, Hong Taiji asked, "Has Jeje caused any trouble for Hairanju?"
Niman froze momentarily, realizing he shouldn't remain silent, and quickly responded, "The Great Consort has always treated Consort Lan kindly. Consort Lan spends most of her time in her own quarters and rarely leaves."
"Go on, then," Hong Taiji said, returning to his desk and calmly opening a memorial, as if nothing had happened.
Niman walked out of the Grand Politics Hall, still feeling uneasy. In all these years, this was the first time the Great Khan had asked him such a question, and it was so unusual that he hadn't known how to respond.
Inside the inner palace, Hairanju sat alone on the kang, continuing to embroider a hat for Yatu. Baoqing, who had returned from somewhere, approached and said, "My lady, Fourteenth Consort went along with Consort Yu."
Hairanju looked up at her. "Qiqige?"
Baoqing nodded, "Yes, my lady. I heard from Adai that Fourteenth Consort waited on the road and joined Consort Yu on the journey."
Hairanju set down her needlework, worry clouding her expression. "How long do they plan to stay? With Qiqige going along, will Yuer be even less willing to return?"