Da Yuer didn't mention this matter to Qiqige, and she quickly forgot about it herself.
When Da Yuer left the Fourteenth Beile's mansion that day, Qiqige had promised to come to the palace every other day to teach her Chinese characters. At the time, Da Yuer thought Qiqige was joking, but to her surprise, Qiqige actually came.
Da Yuer thought to herself that she had nothing else to do these days anyway, so it would be good to have something to occupy her time. Thus, she earnestly began relearning the half-forgotten Chinese characters to pass the days.
On the day of Hong Taiji's birthday, the Beiles and ministers invited to the palace all presented gifts. Outside the banquet, a few close individuals gathered in Qinging Palace to chat. Jeje ordered a large trunk to be opened and said to Hong Taiji, "Great Khan, look at what the Fourteenth brother sent. Did Qiqige refuse to give him any silver, so he just sent all the things gathering dust in his study?"
Hong Taiji, holding his youngest daughter, glanced over casually. The trunk was filled with scholarly items from the study. Noticing Qiqige nearby, he asked her, "You didn't prepare a gift for Dorgon?"
Qiqige replied calmly and thoughtfully, "I did prepare some gifts, but Dorgon said he also wanted to add his own sentiment. He asked me for several hundred taels of silver to arrange something."
The wife of Daisan laughed, "Silly sister, these things don't cost hundreds of taels of silver. You should check on him when you get back."
The women burst into laughter. Jeje playfully scolded them, "The Great Khan is here. What are you all joking about?"
Hong Taiji stood up and said, "You'd all feel freer if I weren't here. I'll see you at the banquet later."
As he spoke, he glanced at Hairanju, who was gently handing out candy to the children by the window, and then at Da Yuer, who was curiously peeking into the trunk. With a faint smile, he led Yatu, who wanted to follow him, out of Qinging Palace, the father and daughter left together.
As soon as the Great Khan left, the women all relaxed, breaking into groups of four or five to joke and chat. Adai began organizing the gifts, while Da Yuer squatted by the trunk and called out to Qiqige, "Look at these two books. Aren't these the ones you mentioned to me before?"
Qiqige flipped through them and angrily said, "I asked Fan Wencheng for these, and he said he had noted it down. They've finally arrived, but now they've been given to the Great Khan."
Da Yuer cheekily said, "The Great Khan doesn't care about these. Let's just take them for ourselves."
Qiqige playfully scolded, "I'll have Auntie scold you."
Da Yuer glanced over; Auntie was busy. She quickly stuffed the two books into her arms. Adai noticed but just smiled. She understood—whether it was the Great Consort's belongings or the Great Khan's, there was nothing Consort Yu couldn't take if she wanted to. And these were just two books, after all.
"What's this?" Da Yuer fished out a small box from the trunk. She opened it to find a round object with a tiny moving needle. She thought she'd seen something like this before in the Fenghuang Tower.
"This is a pocket watch, like a small clock," Qiqige explained with a teasing smile. "Those blond-haired, high-nosed people use it."
"You've never seen one of these?" she added mockingly.
"I saw one in the Fenghuang Tower," Da Yuer replied, unwilling to back down. "I can't be as worldly as you are. You know, Auntie just set new rules a few days ago: people in the palace are not allowed to come and go freely. We have to report to our respective masters, and Auntie is, of course, my master. From now on, I can't even come to your house."
Qiqige laughed, "That's why I've come to keep you company!"
The two continued chatting and laughing. Over on Hairanju's side, the candy distribution was done, and the children had scattered. She stood up and, seeing how happily Da Yuer and Qiqige were laughing, couldn't help but smile herself.
At that moment, a palace maid hurried over to her and said, "Side Consort, there are a few sets of utensils missing for the banquet. The servants are waiting for your instructions—should they replace them with different ones?"
Hairanju quickly replied, "I'll go take a look."
She led her attendants out and happened to encounter Zarut emerging from a side palace. With a smile, Zarut said, "Sister, are you leaving already? I was just thinking of coming to join in the fun."
Hairanju's fingers still bore faint bruises that hadn't faded entirely. She didn't make a fuss over the incident, but that didn't mean she didn't care. Hong Taiji had warned her to stay away from Zarut, and she had kept that in mind.
"Let's go," she said briskly to Baoqing, ignoring the other woman as she hurried off to resolve the issue with the banquet utensils.
Zarut was furious. Supporting herself on the arm of a nearby palace maid, she sneered, "She really thinks she's something special, doesn't she? That woman is truly cunning—silently becoming the Great Khan's woman and then quietly taking control of the inner palace."
"You think everyone is as flashy as you?" a voice suddenly interjected from behind her. Zarut turned around to see Da Yuer and Qiqige emerging from the hall. Da Yuer glared at her coldly and stepped closer, saying, "The wind is so strong out here. Aren't you afraid it'll blow your mouth crooked while you're standing around talking?"
Qiqige followed and urged, "Let's go. Why bother with her?"
"Do you resent me, or are you standing up for your sister?" Zarut sized up Da Yuer, her gaze mocking. "Why are you pretending to be so sisterly in front of me? You should save that act for the Great Khan. Don't make him feel torn between the two of you."
"Yuer, let's go," Qiqige said, trying to avoid a confrontation. After all, this woman was merely being sharp-tongued and hadn't actually bullied Hairanju just now. Even if Da Yuer felt bad for her sister, there wasn't much reason to escalate the matter here.
Da Yuer knew her limits. She found even speaking another word to Zarut disgusting.
However, the woman unexpectedly stepped forward to block her path, her slightly swollen belly protruding. "Aren't you at all frustrated? Your man has been taken, the authority to manage the inner palace has been taken, and you're the laughingstock of everyone! Bumubutai, don't you see it?"
Da Yuer sneered. "Oh, you see it, do you? Your eyesight must be incredible. I've always thought you were blind, like a rabid dog, blindly biting at everyone."
Zarut, her belly puffed out, angrily yelled, "Bumubutai!"
Da Yuer glared back at her. "I remember how you stepped on my sister's hand and injured it. When you've given birth to that child, I'll take a silver needle and pierce each of your fingers one by one. Count the months; you've got time."
Zarut hadn't expected Da Yuer to say something so vicious. She stumbled backward, intending to grab the hand of her maid. But their hands missed, and with her feet slipping on the icy ground, she clumsily landed on her backside in the snow.
Inside Qinging Palace, Jeje was in high spirits, listening to Daisan's wife talk about finding a bride for her youngest son. Suddenly, cries of alarm came from outside, startling everyone. They hurried out to see what was happening.
Soon, someone came to report that Da Yuer had pushed Zarut to the ground.
Jeje's heart sank. She quickly ordered people to check on Zarut. Fortunately, the woman was sturdy, and her unborn child was unharmed.
It was Hong Taiji's birthday today, and Jeje didn't want chaos to disrupt the occasion. She forbade the matter from being discussed and, when she saw Da Yuer, refrained from scolding her. For now, the matter was quietly suppressed.
That evening at the banquet, Zarut didn't attend. Hong Taiji, naturally, paid it no mind. He had already heard about the incident in the afternoon but, seeing Da Yuer laughing and chatting as if nothing had happened, didn't dwell on it.
Meanwhile, Hairanju was frequently approached by people asking her questions. Though she handled what she could, there were limits to her ability and authority, and eventually, she had to trouble Jeje for assistance.
Seeing Hairanju so diligent, Jeje felt both comforted and helpless. If only Yuer could also stay by her side—together, the sisters could handle anything.
When Hairanju finally finished her tasks and returned to her seat, she noticed Hong Taiji watching her with a gentle smile. She returned a shy smile before lowering her gaze, then finally managed to take a sip of the celebratory wine.
Not long after, Baoqing brought over a hand warmer for her mistress and whispered a few words in her ear.
"Really?" Hairanju, having been busy the entire time, only now heard why Zarut hadn't shown up.
"She couldn't cause trouble with us so she'd gotten into another conflict with Consort Yu," Baoqing said angrily. "That woman is so hateful! Consort Yu's temper is nothing like yours."
"She's pregnant," Hairanju replied. "Yuer wouldn't lay a hand on her. The incident at the hunting grounds was a completely different matter. Yuer would never harm a pregnant woman."
"You never know. Everyone's saying it was Consort Yu who pushed her," Baoqing said.
"What does Qiqige say?" Hairanju asked.
Baoqing shook her head, having yet to find out. Looking across the banquet table, she saw Da Yuer laughing and chatting with Qiqige. She muttered, "To the others, of course the Fourteenth Consort would side with Consort Yu."
Hairanju silently reassured herself, Yuer wouldn't lay a hand on her.
This incident, however, didn't disrupt Hong Taiji's birthday banquet. The celebration proceeded smoothly and joyfully. The most satisfied person was Jeje, who later, in front of Hong Taiji, repeatedly praised Hairanju for her efforts.
For the next two days, Hong Taiji stayed in Hairanju's side palace. On the second night, just as they were about to sleep, a commotion arose outside.
The sudden noise made Hairanju's heart race with fear, but Hong Taiji remained calm. Before long, Niman arrived at their door to report, "Zarut is bleeding."