On the last day of the first lunar month, Hong Taiji took Da Yuer out of the city to inspect the troops being trained by Dorgon and Hooge.
The two camps were stationed on opposite ends of Shengjing, requiring about a two-hour journey between them. Da Yuer accompanied Hong Taiji on horseback, riding steadily or swiftly as needed, always closely following him.
Hong Taiji occasionally conversed with the people around him, and when Yuer crossed his mind, he would turn to check on her. She was always by his side.
"Are you cold?" They were about to set off again when Hong Taiji drew his horse closer, touching Da Yuer's hand. As expected, her fingers were icy cold. If her hands froze and she couldn't grip the reins properly, it could be dangerous during the ride. His brow furrowed with concern.
"My hands are warm enough, just not as warm as yours," Da Yuer said with a smile. She playfully waved her hands in front of him, flexing her fingers. "Look, they're still quite nimble."
"Don't push yourself," Hong Taiji scolded lightly. "There's a carriage prepared for you at the back."
Ahead, Hooge arrived with his men to welcome them, but upon seeing Da Yuer among the entourage, a surge of anger flared within him.
Recently, he had been at odds with Bumubutai. If it weren't for her stumbling onto the training grounds and encountering his men, the trouble that followed might never have arisen.
Da Yuer, however, greeted him with courtesy. Though young, she held the rank of a senior consort, akin to a stepmother.
She felt a twinge of guilt toward Hooge, blaming herself for disrupting his plans. Yet, she recalled what her aunt had coldly remarked in the Qingning Palace: "He's no longer a child but still lacks any sense of propriety. His men injured you, and while it might not be possible for him to apologize openly, he could at least have asked the Great Khan to convey his regrets. Does he truly think he can sweep everything under the rug, as if no one knows? As a son, he shows no respect, yet we are supposed to go out of our way to appease him?"
Da Yuer understood that her aunt neither liked nor trusted Hooge.
She remembered overhearing conversations from years ago when Wukeshan visited Shengjing. Though they likely assumed she was too young to comprehend, some things stuck with her. What lingered most vividly in her mind was Wukeshan advising her aunt to keep an eye on her and ensure she didn't get too close to Hooge.
Now, she finally understood what "not getting too close" truly meant. At that time, Hooge was still a young boy, and she was equally naïve and innocent. But the old gossip about Consort Abahai and Daisan continued to circulate, even now, as a source of ridicule.
Seeing Hooge's cold demeanour toward her, Da Yuer knew he still resented her for what had happened. Since that was the case, she saw no need to be overly polite or feel guilty—after all, she hadn't done anything wrong.
At the training ground, the thunder of hooves and deafening roar of cannon fire filled the air. Hong Taiji praised Hooge, saying he had a natural talent for warfare. However, Da Yuer had already seen Dorgon's troops before and, comparing the two, found their capabilities equally impressive. As for the nuances of strategy, she couldn't claim to understand.
Hong Taiji brought her to inspect the red-cloak cannons, encouraging her to reach out and touch one. The icy coldness of the iron sent a shiver through her, filling her with awe.
Yet the Great Khan remarked, "These are all Ming dynasty technology. The Han people are truly the most ingenious in the world. If not for the Ming's internal decline, our Great Jin wouldn't have had the chance to confront them. But since fate has given us this opportunity, I will not let it slip away."
Da Yuer asked, "If you were to face Zhu Yuanzhang in battle, do you think you could win?"
Hong Taiji laughed heartily, placing his hands on his hips. "Of course! In Zhu Yuanzhang's time, these iron cannons didn't exist. With blades and spears, victory depends on strategy and intelligence."
He gazed at Da Yuer with satisfaction. "You even know about Zhu Yuanzhang?"
Da Yuer smiled. "If we're going to take their land, how could we not know who their founding ancestor is?"
But Hong Taiji's expression suddenly darkened, his face growing solemn. "Yes, taking someone else's land," he said gravely.
Da Yuer's heart tightened, fearing she had spoken carelessly in her excitement.
To her surprise, Hong Taiji continued, "Even here in Liaodong, after so many years, implementing reforms and suppressing dissent has been incredibly difficult. The Han people may appear gentle, but they are unyielding and resilient at their core. The hardest part isn't leading troops to breach the gates; it's what happens after we enter. That's when the real challenges begin."
Da Yuer listened intently, her expression serious. Seeing her growing tense, Hong Taiji gave a light-hearted smile. "That's still a long way off. For now, we should focus on how to break through the Ming borders. How could they truly be weak? Even with Yuan Chonghuan gone, nothing has changed."
The two of them rode ahead, seemingly lost in endless conversation. Sometimes Hong Taiji laughed; other times, his expression grew heavy. Those following behind naturally found themselves curious.
Hooge, however, glared coldly at Da Yuer, his resentment evident. He even felt as though bringing a woman along was Hong Taiji's way of bringing him bad luck. He didn't even want the red-cloak cannon touched by Da Yuer anymore.
After spending four hours at the camp, Hong Taiji set off with Da Yuer toward Dorgon's military encampment. Midway through their journey, they encountered a fast courier returning to Shengjing with urgent dispatches. Hong Taiji ordered the messenger to stop and read the letter on the spot.
Da Yuer had been admiring the scenery outside the city when she heard Hong Taiji say, "It's a letter from Chahar."
"Is Nam Jung coming?" Da Yuer asked calmly after a moment's thought.
"She has requested permission to travel to the capital," Hong Taiji replied, looking at Yuer. "I mentioned her to you before."
Though Da Yuer felt a trace of helplessness, she resolved herself to accept whatever came for the sake of the nation's greater interests. Smiling deliberately, she said, "Why do you feel the need to explain to me? Am I the only one who doesn't understand?"
Hong Taiji glanced at her. "So, you do have some self-awareness?"
It was a joke, and Da Yuer took it as such, not letting it upset her. They exchanged a few playful remarks before she followed him toward Dorgon's camp.
It was undeniable that Hong Taiji now enjoyed discussing everything with her, big or small. Whenever they were together, he seemed to have an endless stream of things to say. This filled Da Yuer with quiet joy. As for Nam Jung and the changes her arrival might bring to the palace, Da Yuer neither guessed nor dwelled on it. Whatever was destined to come would come. She, her aunt, and her sister all had their dignity and pride to uphold.
Before long, Dorgon came out to greet them. Naturally, he already knew Da Yuer was accompanying Hong Taiji. However, in Hong Taiji's presence, he did not dare steal even a single glance her way.
After the grand military drills, the training ground was filled with the lingering scent of gunpowder. Unlike the festive smell of firecrackers and fireworks in the palace during the New Year, the gunpowder here carried an unmistakable air of death and battle.
Hong Taiji and Dorgon were conversing nearby, while Da Yuer stood watching the soldiers standing tall and orderly in the cold wind. Thinking of the bloodshed and valour on the battlefield, she felt her blood boil with excitement.
Suddenly, a piercing cry echoed from the sky. A dark shadow swooped down rapidly, prompting someone to shout, "Watch out!"
Hong Taiji clenched his fists, immediately recognizing the figure—a goshawk diving straight at Da Yuer.
The bodyguards rushed forward to protect her, but to everyone's astonishment, Da Yuer calmly extended her arms. The goshawk didn't attack but instead perched gracefully on her arm.
The crowd erupted in exclamations of disbelief. Hong Taiji hurried forward, but the goshawk, sensing his approach, spread its wings and soared into the sky, disappearing into the clouds.
Da Yuer gazed up at the majestic bird before lowering her eyes to meet Hong Taiji's worried gaze. She smiled gently and said, "Great Khan, I raised a golden eagle when I was young. It was even bigger than this one, so I'm not afraid."
Hong Taiji relaxed, recalling how she had once mentioned raising eagles in Khorchin.
Beside them, Dorgon's face darkened. Though relieved that Yuer was unharmed, he had been moments away from rushing to her aid. That hesitation nearly risked drawing suspicion from Hong Taiji.
"Come see me tomorrow with Hooge," Hong Taiji said to Dorgon as he prepared to leave. "You each have your strengths. You'd be better off working together, complementing each other. It doesn't matter whose methods succeed; the soldiers you train will ultimately belong to both of you."
Dorgon, showing far more magnanimity than Hooge, bowed and replied, "Yes, Great Khan."
Just as they were about to depart, Hong Taiji added, "Earlier, we intercepted a courier on the way. There's news from Chahar—Nam Jung has requested to come to the capital."
"I see," Dorgon responded quietly, his gaze steady.
"Find someone suitable among your men to bring her here," Hong Taiji instructed. "You'll be heading to Joseon soon. Leave someone capable to handle this matter, and once it's done, they can re-join you."
Dorgon found this peculiar. Many were fit for the task of escorting Nam Jung; why insist on someone from his retinue? Reflecting further, he realized that numerous courtiers might vie for the chance to receive Nam Jung, just as they had when he escorted the Dowager Consort Doutumen to the capital. That incident had sparked rumours that Dorgon had benefited personally from the arrangement. At the time, his only concern had been to prevent Doutumen from bringing her old servants into the palace, ensuring that none of these women would stir up trouble or bully Yuer. He hadn't sought any gain. Could it be that this time...?
But Hong Taiji said nothing further, taking Da Yuer back to the palace.
That night, while Hong Taiji held discussions with his ministers in the Grand Politics Hall, Jeje arranged for his dinner to be sent over and then dined with Da Yuer and Hairanju. During the meal, she instructed Adai to send a few dishes to the Consort Doutumen. Da Yuer remarked, "Aunt, Nam Jung is coming. The Great Khan has ordered Dorgon to send someone to escort her."
Jeje set down her chopsticks and looked at them. "That woman has a calculating mind. Among Lin Dan Khan's eight consorts, she was the youngest, yet she managed to secure the position of great consort. Going forward, you must handle her carefully. Discuss any issues with me, and avoid unnecessary interactions with her whenever possible."