Baoqing leaned in and whispered to Hairanju, "It seems Consort Yu doesn't want to speak with you. Is she still holding a grudge?"
Hairanju smiled lightly, "It's fine; give it some time."
Baoqing muttered, "But how long? It's been over two weeks already."
Unbothered, Hairanju made her way to Qingning Palace with Baoqing. Inside, Da Yuer was already sitting by Jeje's side. Upon Hairanju's arrival, Da Yuer rose to her feet, standing to the side.
With a wave, the maidservants withdrew, leaving Jeje to look at the two women standing on either side of her. Jeje sighed, "So, are you two planning to never speak again?"
Hairanju held her peace, while Da Yuer cast her gaze slightly to the side, unwilling to respond.
Jeje's frustration boiled over as she spoke to Da Yuer. "You may feel deeply wronged, but the Great Khan has yielded to you and indulged you time and again. What more will satisfy you?"
Da Yuer continued to look away, her expression indifferent.
Turning to Hairanju, Jeje said, "You're the elder sister—give way to her. She's your sister; surely, you can find a way to reconcile."
Hairanju nodded and said, "Yes, Aunt," but before she could say more, Da Yuer interjected coldly, "From now on, you are you, and I am me. We each live our own lives without need to make concessions or show submission. I don't want him coming to blame me again, as if I've wronged you."
"Yuer! How dare you speak like that? Who is 'he'? Do you no longer respect the Great Khan?" Jeje's voice sharpened with reprimand.
At once, Da Yuer dropped to her knees with a resolute thud. "Aunt, I was wrong. Please, punish me."
"You—" Jeje gasped, nearly unable to catch her breath in her anger.
"Please, Aunt, don't be upset," Hairanju quickly interceded, stepping forward. She understood the complicated knot in her sister's heart. Hairanju spoke softly, "Yuer, please step back."
Without a word, Da Yuer obeyed, standing and walking away without so much as a backward glance. Whether out of regard for Jeje or in deference to her sister's words, perhaps even Da Yuer didn't fully realize.
Outside, palace servants were shovelling snow. Seeing Consort Yu emerge, they respectfully paused to bow. She strode deliberately through the snow, letting it cling to her robes and soak her shoes and socks.
"Yuer," came her sister's voice from behind. Hairanju was calling her.
Da Yuer stopped, hesitating briefly, then began walking again, but her sister caught up, reaching out to hold her hand.
Her sister's hand was cold, despite standing in that warm room for so long. Turning around, Da Yuer noticed a red flower tucked into Hairanju's hair.
She'd let go of her mourning for her late husband, hadn't she?
Da Yuer felt glad—she didn't want her sister trapped in grief forever. Yet, the man who brought her sister back to life was the very man she loved most.
Hong Taiji was truly amazing, but Da Yuer didn't want him to be amazing at this kind of things. With how things unfolded now, nothing really mattered any more.
"Yuer, I'm so sorry," Hairanju said, her voice quivering with tears. "I'll be sorry for you all my life."
"There's no need to say that," Da Yuer replied quietly. "Your tears will hurt his heart, and I don't want him questioning why I've hurt you." She gently pulled her hand away. "From now on, let us both live our lives well."
"Yuer…" Hairanju's heart broke as she clung to her sister's hand once more.
"Are you healthy?" Da Yuer asked abruptly. "After taking that kind of medicine, can you still have children?"
Hairanju stared at her, wide-eyed, her gaze brimming with guilt and sorrow.
"You stayed because you fell in love with him, didn't you?" Da Yuer continued, her tone steady as she pulled her hand back yet again. "I know you didn't mean to take my man. But he's the one I love most."
Tears rolled down Hairanju's cheeks. She couldn't bring herself to say the words that would cut her sister's heart even more: I love him too.
Da Yuer held back her tears, but her heart bled.
"When we're young, we love to stomp around in mud, but we grow up, and we stop. People are like that," she said, her voice low and reflective. "Maybe, just for these two years, I'm selfish. I see my love for him as greater than the heavens. And, just when I thought it could be everything, you appeared. But no matter what reality turns out to be, I won't regret this. I'll hold on, even if he leaves me tomorrow. I won't regret it."
Da Yuer stepped back a few steps. "From now on, you are you, and I am me."
Hairanju's trembling body slowly calmed as she fought to hold back her tears.
"Sister, don't feel regret either. I know he likes you."
A bitter smile appeared on Da Yuer's face; she thought she was smiling with nonchalance but didn't realize it was already laced with sadness.
She walked away, leaving her sister behind, and passed by a group of bewildered palace servants before returning to her small, secluded quarters.
Baoqing hurried over, draped a cloak over Hairanju's shoulders, and supported her, saying, "My Lady, let's go back. Many people are watching."
Hairanju came to her senses, seeing those curious and confused eyes. Fearing rumours would start and lead to misunderstandings about Da Yuer with Hong Taiji, she quickly followed Baoqing back.
Meanwhile, Consort Doutumen was about to step out but held back upon seeing the two sisters talking in the courtyard. Only after they parted ways did she rush to her cousin Zarut's room, where she found her standing by the window, looking pleased.
"Did the Great Khan give you a hard time?" asked Consort Doutumen.
Zarut showed a hint of fear but sneered, "Hairanju has that delicate look. Isn't that exactly why Hong Taiji treasures her so much, because of her gentle, pitiable demeaner? Someone like her wouldn't dare make complaints or speak harshly in front of him; that would ruin her own image. She wouldn't do it. Even if Hong Taiji asks, she'd probably find some excuse to brush it off."
Consort Doutumen advised, "Even so, don't act recklessly. Think about it: how much does Hong Taiji truly value you? We're just pawns, really. You were just lucky enough to get pregnant."
Zarut sat down, stroked her belly, and laughed smugly, "My bad luck is over; now it's time for good fortune. Maybe my son will inherit the throne one day, and I'll be Empress Dowager. Sister, don't worry; with me around, you won't lack for anyone to look after you."
Consort Doutumen replied coolly, "Next year, the great consort will arrive. There are only five rooms here; one will certainly have to be vacated for her. Hong Taiji won't let her live in poor quarters."
"The great consort?" Zarut frowned, pondering for a moment. "Do you mean Nam Jung?"
Consort Doutumen nodded, "She'll arrive soon. It would be wise for you to show her proper respect when she's here."
Zhalute sneered, "I'm not some concubine of Lin Dan Khan; you might fear her, but I don't." Then, with curiosity, she asked, "If she does come, will she bring the posthumous child with her?"
At this moment, Da Yuer returned to her room, where Sumala had already helped her change out of her snow-dampened shoes and socks, as well as the snow-dusted robe. Little Yatu wapped Da Yuer in her small blanket, then lay quietly in her mother's arms, holding still.
Da Yuer exchanged a glance with Sumala, signalling her to explain what had upset the child. Sumala leaned in and whispered, "Little Princess just asked me why you and Auntie aren't speaking."
Da Yuer paused, taken aback. Though she had reassured Yatu last night that everything was fine, it seemed her daughter, wanting to please her, had promised not to worry about adult matters. Yet her little heart was still troubled by the tension between her mother and aunt.
"What did you say?" Da Yuer asked.
"I told her she must have misunderstood, that you're on good terms," Sumala replied.
Not a perfect answer, but not a bad one either. Da Yuer signalled for Sumala to leave, then pulled Yatu close, giving her a kiss. The little girl hugged her mother back, softly patting her cheeks, saying, "Don't cry, Mommy."
Da Yuer chuckled, "Mommy isn't crying."
Yatu pouted slightly, "Mommy is lying. Daddy said lying is bad, and people who lie get spanked."
Da Yuer tapped her on the bottom. "You little rascal, daring to use your father to lecture me?"
As she held her daughter, Da Yuer recalled Yatu's words. Occasionally, Hong Taiji would teach his daughter a few lessons, and because his presence was so rare, every word he said became precious to the children.
Don't lie. Yes, she hadn't lied. Every word she'd said to her sister and Hong Taiji had been from her heart.
What might her sister be doing now? Was Baoqing there to comfort her? Had she cried? If Hong Taiji learned of it, would he go to check on her?
Unconsciously, Da Yuer tightened her embrace around Yatu, wishing deeply that her daughter would one day find a man who would love her and her alone for a lifetime.
Soon, the palace kitchen staff began bringing meals to the inner palace, carefully delivering hot dishes to the noble family members. In Da Yuer's quarters, where she was caring for three little girls, she always received extra provisions, but today there seemed to be even more than usual. Just as she was puzzling over it, her visitor arrived.
Hong Taiji entered, and little Yatu immediately ran to her father, pulling him inside and urging him to sit beside her mother. The five-year-old was so thoughtful it tugged at the heart; she even took her younger sister by the hand and said, "Let's go eat with Big Sister."
Hong Taiji immediately agreed, "Go to Big Mother's quarters, and be good, don't cause any trouble."
The wet nurses hurried over, wrapping the little girls warmly before carrying them off to the Qingning Palace.
Hong Taiji was hungry, probably because he hadn't eaten well in the morning or perhaps because Jeje's words had ruined his appetite. He stuffed two pieces of roasted lamb into his mouth and barely chewed before swallowing.
"Eat slowly, or you might choke," Da Yuer said, setting a bowl of rice porridge with sea cucumber in front of him. "Take your time."
Hong Taiji took a satisfying sip of the porridge and remarked, "I hear you've upset Jeje again?"
Da Yuer quickly lowered her head. "I wouldn't dare."
Hong Taiji scoffed. "What wouldn't you dare to do?"
Da Yuer replied, "Well, it wasn't on purpose." She lifted her head with a proud look, "Are you here to eat, or are you here to lecture me on behalf of Aunt? Are you planning to punish me again to soothe her anger?"
Lately, Da Yuer had stopped getting tangled up in what to call her aunt or the great consort, and Hong Taiji didn't seem to mind either. In fact, he had often wanted to speak honestly to Jeje about many things but couldn't bear to hurt a woman who had always looked out for him so selflessly. It wasn't a bad thing for Da Yuer to clarify things with her aunt.
"Let it be the last time," Hong Taiji said. "I'm here to show some face, but this afternoon, you'll go to see Jeje and make amends. Understood?"
"I'm not going."
"What did you say?"