Outside the barracks, Dorgon's personal guards spoke to him in hushed tones, reporting that the white-clad, masked man had regained consciousness. With Hong Taiji now present, there was concern that the Great Khan might interrogate the captive himself.
Dorgon replied coldly, "If he doesn't bring it up, neither will we. Just make sure the prisoner is well-guarded."
Turning back, he noticed Qiqige and Sumala huddled beneath the eaves, rubbing their hands and stomping their feet against the cold. He frowned slightly, silently praying that the commotion on the mountain had gone unnoticed.
Moments ago, he had lost control of himself, shouting Yuer's name so loudly. If even half of it had reached Hong Taiji's ears...Fortunately, only his loyal guards had been present then, all sworn to absolute secrecy.
Meanwhile, inside the barracks, Hong Taiji called for people to come in. Qiqige and Sumala quickly entered. Not long after, Qiqige poked her head out of the door and called, "the Great Khan is returning to the palace. Prepare the carriage at once!"
Dorgon gave his orders, then turned back as Qiqige approached. She said, "I'll go to the palace to check on Yuer. Once I'm sure she's fine, I'll head home. Don't worry about me."
Dorgon's expression softened as he replied in a low voice, "I'll have someone accompany you. Otherwise, I won't feel at ease. Shengjing isn't as safe as it used to be these days. Qiqige, protect yourself when I'm not around."
Qiqige raised her head with a smile. "Everyone in Shengjing is afraid of me. Who doesn't know how formidable the Fourteenth Consort is?"
Dorgon scolded lightly, "Don't let your mouth get ahead of you. And don't sneak off to visit me again. If you want to watch me train troops, just tell me, and I'll bring you along."
While the couple spoke, the carriage was prepared. Concerned about the cold, a brazier was loaded onto the carriage for warmth.
Hong Taiji himself carried Yuer out, wrapped snugly in a wind cloak with her hood pulled up to conceal her face. Without delay, the two of them boarded the carriage. Hong Taiji then instructed Dorgon, "Enter the palace tonight."
Dorgon knelt with one knee to the ground, cupping his fists. "This minister failed to protect Consort Yu. I await the Great Khan's punishment."
Hong Taiji responded coldly, "Forget it for now. We'll discuss this in the palace."
With that, the entourage surrounded the Great Khan as they returned to the city. The carriage departed, leaving the training grounds eerily quiet. The bitter wind howled, and from afar, dark clouds slowly gathered. Snow seemed imminent.
Dorgon remained uneasy. The image of Yuer lying unconscious in the snow haunted him, as did her dazed expression when she woke and looked at him.
He knew deep down that Yuer must have heard his calls. When she recovered from her shock and fear, when she calmed down... would she finally distance herself from him completely?
Hong Taiji took Yuer back to the city. The carriage passed through the streets and headed straight for the palace. As the urgent clatter of horse hooves echoed, news of the incident quickly reached the residence of the first prince.
Hooge had been at home, waiting for news about Dorgon's combined artillery, infantry, and cavalry training. But instead, his men reported that the spy he had sent was discovered by Dorgon, leading to a clash and was captured. Worse, the captive had dared to attack Da Yuer.
"What was that woman doing at the training ground?" Hooge erupted in anger, slamming the tea table with such force that it rattled. "That woman is nothing but trouble. She's involved in everything, damn her!"
One of his confidants reminded him cautiously, "My Lard, now's not the time to talk about Consort Yu. You should focus on how to resolve this situation between the Great Khan and Dorgon."
Hooge's gaze turned dark and sinister. "Is that man keeping his mouth shut?"
The confidant frowned, his concern evident. "It's hard to say. With Dorgon's methods, it's unlikely anyone can keep a secret from him."
Hooge paced back and forth, veins bulging on his forehead as he bellowed, "Then tell me, what should I do?"
The confidant leaned closer and offered quietly, "My Lord, if you'll permit me, perhaps it's better to come clean to the Great Khan and let him shield you in front of Dorgon." Lowering his voice further, he added, "Or, conversely, keep it from the Great Khan and negotiate with Dorgon, offering him a favour in return."
"Rubbish!" Hooge roared, slamming his fist down. "I'd rather let my father beat me to death than lower my head to that bastard son of a concubine!"
The confidant pressed on, cautiously but insistently, "My Lord, if you wait for the Great Khan to summon you, at worst, you'll face his reprimand. But if you wait for Dorgon to act, think of how he might twist the situation—possibly even undermining the Great Khan's trust in you…"
"Enough! Enough!" Hooge snapped, his temper flaring. "Leave me alone, all of you, get out!"
At the palace, the imperial carriage drove straight to the Fenghuang Tower before coming to a halt. Hong Taiji was about to carry Yuer into the side palace when she protested, "I can walk on my own."
"What are you trying to prove?" Hong Taiji retorted, his stern expression surfacing again. But when he caught sight of the scratch on her chin, his heart softened. Gently, he asked, "Are you sure you can walk? You didn't sprain your ankle?"
Da Yuer smiled faintly. "My feet are fine. I can walk myself. I just don't want to scare the children if they see me like this. I'm really okay—falling into a snowbank was soft and cushiony."
Hong Taiji sighed, reaching out to steady her. He escorted her carefully all the way inside.
In the side palace, the frail Hairanju had been resting. Hearing the commotion outside, she leaned on Baoqing and walked to the window. From there, she spotted Yuer in a vibrant red wind cloak, slowly making her way in from the Fenghuang Tower. Curious, Hairanju leaned further forward, trying to get a better look.
"My Lady, be careful not to catch a chill," Baoqing cautioned from beside her.
"Yuer can walk on her own." Hairanju finally relaxed, murmuring softly, "She's fine… thank heavens…"
But as she spoke, a cough escaped her lips. Alarmed by the sound she'd made, she quickly covered her mouth and retreated back to bed, motioning for Baoqing to close the windows and doors. "Shut everything tightly. Don't go outside," she ordered.
Elsewhere in the palace, Jeje had arrived. Seeing the wounds on Da Yuer's face and hands, along with her timid, fearful demeanour, Jeje realized that Yuer was afraid of being scolded. This made her reflect on whether she had been too strict with someone who had already grown up.
Though Jeje often reminded herself that Yuer was a mother of three, she had never truly treated her like an adult. Even now, Jeje's restraint was apparent, but she wondered just how much more Yuer must have endured in the past, subjected daily to her constant admonitions.
Jeje stepped back and saw Qiqige waiting by the door. She asked if she was feeling well and suggested she go home early. Qiqige replied, "I'm going to see Sister Hairanju. She's been sick for two days, and I haven't had the chance to check on her."
Jeje glanced toward the side palace, its doors and windows tightly shut, and sighed. "Qiqige, if you have the chance, try to talk to Yuer. If she lets go, everything will calm down."
Qiqige was about to say something but, understanding her aunt's position and the inevitable helplessness everyone felt, she simply nodded in agreement.
Once Jeje returned to Qingning Palace, Qiqige went to Hairanju's quarters. Baoqing welcomed her inside, and she immediately noticed the sickly beauty lying on the kang.
Hairanju had lost significant weight over the past few days; her face, which had always been delicate, now seemed even thinner.
It seemed her illness was not just physical, but a reflection of the weight of her worries. While medicine could treat the cold, only someone could help heal the emotional burden she bore.
"Is Yuer all right?" Hairanju asked immediately. "Why did she walk back on her own?"
Qiqige reassured her, "Her feet aren't injured. She just didn't want to frighten Yatu and the others. Don't worry sister Hairanju, Yuer is very brave, she wouldn't even shiver if she was in front of a bear."
"Yuer is brave, but not fearless. She pretends, but deep down, she's terrified. She only acts brave because she wants to protect those around her," Hairanju said with a faint smile.
"You understand her so well," Qiqige said, smiling as she tucked Hairanju's blanket. "You should take better care of yourself. You've been so sick these past few days. I've been worried about you."
Hairanju smiled, "It's just carelessness. I'll be fine in a couple of days."
Baoqing brought tea for Qiqige, who took a moment to observe her before speaking. "You need to take good care of your Mistress. She's been fragile for a while. In a few days, I'll bring some snacks for you. You like sweet things, don't you?"
Baoqing smiled. "Thank you, Fourteenth Consort. But please have someone send them quietly. The Great Consort said the children aren't allowed to have sweets. She's worried they'll ruin their teeth. So we must hide the treats—if they see them, it will be a problem."
Qiqige chuckled. "Speaking of the children, since you've been sick, Yatu and the others haven't been able to come. I'm sure they miss their aunt."
Hairanju's gaze trembled slightly, and she smiled. "Yes, once I'm better, I can spend time with them again."
Qiqige didn't stay long, soon preparing to leave. Hairanju instructed Baoqing to see her out, leaving the room silent and still.
Hairanju leaned back against the soft cushions. From her position, if she looked through the walls and down a narrow path, she could see directly to Yuer's quarters. If Yuer was lying on the kang, she too would be facing her direction.
In the past few days, Hairanju endured the coldness seeping into her cotton boots, repeatedly trying to warm her soaked shoes with her feet. It was likely the constant cold creeping into her body, and every gust of wind seemed to push her toward collapse.
This was something even Baoqing didn't know about—who would care for shoes left in the corner? Yet each time, the cold shoes were put on by Yatu.
The sweet and innocent child, who would squat down and smile at her. The first time she put her feet into the freezing shoes, it numbed her to the core, freezing her stiff. But looking at the child's smiling face, she didn't find Yatu frightening. What frightened her was herself—she could go on, bearing the cold, continuing to play with the child as though nothing was wrong.
Later, when she was feverish and delirious, she vaguely saw Hong Taiji's face and heard his voice. She thought, if she were to leave like this, it wouldn't have been a life wasted.
In this life, she had been loved by two men, and she, too, had loved two men. Not every woman could marry the one who loved her and whom she loved in return. Fate, however, had pushed her into a corner but had also given her another path to follow.
But all of this, all of it, was soaked in the tears of her sister. Every night Hong Taiji spent here, passing through the walls, her sister must have been crying.
The cold that had seeped into her cotton boots was not snowmelt, but Yuer's tears.
"Great Khan, I'm afraid I can't hold on much longer…"
Hairanju's eyes filled with tears, and her head began to burn again. Everything in the room spun around her. The fever that had just subsided seemed to return.
She slowly lay down, pulled the blanket over herself, and allowed herself to fall asleep, thinking, even if just for tonight, she could no longer appear in the lives of Hong Taiji and Yuer.
When Baoqing returned after seeing the guest off, she saw that the consort was lying down and assumed Hairanju had fallen asleep. She glanced at her briefly and didn't disturb her.
Outside, the sky was darkening. Hong Taiji, having left Yuer's room, was heading toward the Grand Politics Hall. As he passed by Hairanju's room, he glanced inside and instructed Niman, "Keep an eye on both places. Yuer caught a chill in the snow, so she might develop a fever tonight. Make sure the doctor is on standby."
Having given the orders, he sighed wearily. In the Grand Politics Hall, Dorgon was waiting for him. Hong Taiji was also eager to find out who the person who had kidnapped Yuer was.
The winter night arrived swiftly, one moment the western sky glowed with a fiery red sunset, and the next, the world was shrouded in darkness.
Da Yuer was surprisingly resilient. Despite the turmoil she had been through, aside from the visible bruises, she had rolled around in the snow but hadn't caught a cold.
At this moment, she looked at the thick red sugar ginger water and waved it away. "Just smelling this makes me want to vomit, take it away quickly."
Sumala, looking concerned, replied, "Please don't be stubborn, Miss. I'll go tell the Great Consort right away, and we'll have Adai and the others come to attend to you."
The two of them stared at each other for a moment. Then Da Yuer changed the topic, asking, "What about Yatu and the others?"
Sumala responded, "They said you hadn't been gone long when the Second Beile's wife came by. They're gone to play with their aunt, and after the trouble you went through, the Great Consort instructed them to stay overnight and come back tomorrow."
Da Yuer let out a sigh of relief. "We've troubled Second Sister-in-law. You should send her some ginseng and bird's nest soup as thanks later."
Sumala nodded, "Yes, the older Princess is sick too. Otherwise, if she was here, we wouldn't have to trouble anyone else."
Da Yuer's heart tightened at the thought, recalling Adai's words to her. When she was being held captive on the mountain, her thoughts weren't on her own life or death, but on her children, her sister, and Hong Taiji.
"Miss, do you need to use the chamber pot?" Sumala asked as Da Yuer lifted the blanket to get up, quickly stepping forward to offer her support. "I'll have them bring it."
But Da Yuer replied, "I want to go see my sister."
Sumala froze in place, hesitant, then timidly asked, "Did you say you want to see whom?"
Da Yuer was insistent. She wanted to see her sister, and no one could stop her, not even Sumala or the other maidservants. She wrapped herself in a wind coat and slipped on soft shoes, making her way out. Baoqing was startled when she saw Da Yuer, frozen in place, unsure what to do.
The room was quiet. Da Yuer walked to the edge of the kang, but her sister didn't respond. She called out several times, but there was no movement from Hairanju.
Da Yuer climbed onto the kang and reached out to touch her sister's face. It was as hot as a fireball. She urgently called out, "Sumala, quickly fetch the doctor!"