Hada Nara, though not a scatter-brained person, was someone Da Yuer didn't particularly enjoy associating with. As for Hairanju, she was good-natured and polite but never dwelled on anyone after a conversation.
However, Hairanju had a soft spot for children. When she heard the young prince's sweet, childish voice calling out, she couldn't help but beam with joy.
It was truly remarkable to think that Hong Taiji was now a grandfather.
The group eventually made their way to Qingning Palace. There, Hada Nara respectfully approached Jeje to report on her household matters. She spoke with decorum, saying, "This child has brought us much joy, but Hooge has barely been home to witness it. He's rarely at home, and now that we've recently had another son, we would like to celebrate his full moon next month with a small banquet. We plan to invite uncles and brothers to share the occasion. Over the years, our household has relied heavily on the help of our siblings and sisters-in-law, but we've never had the chance to express our gratitude properly. Hooge discussed this with me, and we thought it best that I seek your guidance, Mother."
Jeje spoke kindly, "This is a good thing, do as you plan, but the Great Khan dislikes extravagance, so try not to make it too showy."
Hada Nara responded happily, "Since Mother agrees, I'll start preparing. And please, Mother, Consort Yu and Consort Lan, come to share in the joy and have a drink with us."
Jeje smiled, "I can't promise you just yet. There's still a month to go, and who knows what may happen. If I have time, I'll definitely come."
Hada Nara stood and thanked her, adding that Hooge would invite the Great Khan and the uncles. Jeje just listened passively, then after a couple more cups of tea, she said the weather was turning bad and it looked like snow might come, so she sent Hada Nara on her way.
As soon as she left, Da Yuer spoke up, "Aunt, I don't want to go."
Jeje scolded gently, "No one's forcing you to go. Let's talk about it when the time comes."
At that moment, the rumbling sounds from outside faded, and it seemed the military drills had ended. The sky was dark and overcast, like it was going to snow.
Outside the city of Shengjing, the military camp was filled with a cold, intimidating atmosphere. As the smoke cleared, Hong Taiji frowned, waving his hand to dismiss the soldiers and bringing both Dorgon and Hooge to the large tent to point out their respective shortcomings.
Although Hooge was unhappy, every word his father spoke hit a nerve, leaving him speechless. Dorgon was more magnanimous and even engaged in discussions with Hong Taiji, sometimes offering counterarguments. The two brothers spoke with great enthusiasm, while Hooge struggled to find an opening to speak. Eventually, Hong Taiji scolded him for lacking tolerance, which frustrated him even more. So, he rolled up his sleeves and boldly pointed out Dorgon's flaws, sharing his thoughts on the Ming dynasty army.
The three men continued discussing, losing track of time, until a strong wind shook the tent, and Dorgon noticed the snowstorm outside.
Hong Taiji frowned deeply, saying, "I hope it doesn't snow again after February. If it delays the farming, what will our soldiers eat?"
By the time they returned to the palace, it was already deep into the night. Hong Taiji didn't want to disturb his wives and chose to rest in the Fenghuang Tower. As he closed his eyes to rest, he heard footsteps. Opening his eyes, he saw Hairanju, wrapped in a windbreaker, entering.
Hong Taiji felt warmth in his heart and sat up slightly as he watched Hairanju remove her windbreaker. He said, "It's so cold tonight. Why are you waiting for me?"
Hairanju blushed and said, "I lost in rock-paper-scissors."
It turned out that Jeje and the other two had played rock-paper-scissors, and the loser was supposed to wait up for the Great Khan's return. Hairanju had waited until the middle of the night and, knowing he wouldn't return to the inner palace, decided to come to him herself.
Hong Taiji said with disdain: "The person who loses has to take care of me? Do you all not like me that much?"
Hairanju responded gently, smiling softly as she took care of Hong Taiji. With someone attentive by his side, he gradually became sleepy.
Although tired, he was used to light sleep, when he was in battle, he would be prepared to wake up at any time to fight; no matter how deep his sleep was, he would always wake up after two hours. Suddenly, he woke up from a dream and quickly realized where he was.
Hairanju, watching him, felt a pang of sympathy.
Hong Taiji noticed that she hadn't slept yet and asked, "Why aren't you sleeping?"
Hairanju replied, "The servants downstairs said you came back without eating. I was worried you were hungry. Also, you kept waking up, and I thought you might try to hold it in not to disturb me. How could I let that happen?"
Hong Taiji frowned, but indeed, his stomach felt empty, and he began to feel a bit of appetite. He scolded Hairanju for not resting, but at the same time, he comfortably ate the midnight snack. Afterward, he commanded, "If you don't go to sleep, just go back."
Hairanju smiled gently and brought him tea to rinse his mouth. "I lost the game, so I had to come. If I leave now, I'd be breaking my word."
Hong Taiji stared at her, but she just smiled softly, and no one could really get angry. Then he asked, "Did you just stay inside all day?"
Hairanju shook her head. "This afternoon, the first prince's consort came."
Hong Taiji nodded. "What did she say?"
Although Hairanju didn't want to bother him with trivial matters, since he seemed interested, she told him about the first prince's family wanting to hold a celebration for their newborn child. Both the Great Consort and Yuer didn't want to go.
"And you?" Hong Taiji asked.
Hairanju replied, "It's hard to say. Yuer isn't going, so I won't go either." She then asked, "Great Khan, will you go?"
Hong Taiji shook his head. "I'm not going. I never planned to celebrate having grandchildren."
Hairanju understood this, knowing that while having grandchildren is a good thing, men at that age often don't like to acknowledge growing old.
But then Hong Taiji suddenly smiled and said, "Next time you have another round of guessing, Yuer will definitely choose scissors in the first round. If you want to win, just choose rock."
Hairanju was momentarily stunned, and naturally, she thought to herself, for instance, today she would rather lose. What about Yuer? What about her aunt? Maybe it's better not to play this kind of game in the future. It might be fun, but sometimes it's just a bit sad when it's not fair.
What Hailan Zhu felt more deeply was that Hong Taiji even remembered that Yuer would always choose scissors first when playing rock-paper-scissors. It seemed that Yuer's deep love had indeed been reciprocated, which made her continue to love him so deeply.
Hairanju thought, "If I had never appeared, it would have been better. But I did, and now I can't bring myself to leave. I'd rather be the one who always loses, just to stay by his side forever."
"Great Khan..." Hairanju murmured softly, leaning on his shoulder.
"Are you tired?" Hong Taiji asked, but his hand started to slip into her clothes. "I feel very awake right now."
After that night, the weather suddenly warmed up. Spring arrived without warning, and the trees in the palace began to bud, with new green shoots breaking through the remaining snow. The land was full of life, bringing a sense of hope.
Hong Taiji took the ministers on inspections all around, walking through vast farmland. Agriculture, aside from the military, was what he cared most about. He didn't even allow the Eight Banners youth to privately claim land. He had once heavily punished many for this offense.
Da Yuer had joined him on several trips, walking alongside Hong Taiji in the muddy ground where the snow had melted. She caught bugs that crawled out of the mud and placed them in Hong Taiji's palm, startling him so much that his face changed colour.
But she quickly forgot about it, and when Hong Taiji placed the bug in her hand, she was so surprised that she sat down in the mud, causing the nervous farmers to laugh along with her.
Every time Jeje saw Da Yuer returning in such a sorry state, she frowned, but Hong Taiji would always smile and say, "It's nothing. She's happy."
During these days, Hooge changed his usual arrogance and impatience, and together with Dorgon, they trained in combined troop movements. The results of their training were evident, and Hong Taiji was pleased.
Hada Nara frequently came to the palace to invite Jeje to attend a banquet at the first prince's residence. After discussing with Hong Taiji, he said, "Then give them face. You take Yuer and Hairanju, and bring the others along. I won't go."
Jeje naturally agreed with what the Great Khan proposed. Later, she told Yuer, who reluctantly said, "I'd rather go with the Great Khan to see the oxen ploughing the fields."
At that moment, Qiqige was also nearby, helping Jeje explain: "It's not about giving them face, it's about giving the Great Khan face. Don't you mind?"
Da Yuer murmured, looking down, "It would be better to go to the study to copy the script. Isn't it enough face for him if aunt is there?"
Hairanju gently said, "I've never been a guest at anyone's house. Just think of it as accompanying me."
Da Yuer looked at her sister, and then softened her expression. "Fine, but it's settled. We'll just stay for a short while and leave soon. They are too chatty for me."
Qiqige and Jeje exchanged a glance. Jeje sighed and asked Qiqige, "Is Dorgon going? I haven't seen him in days. I've been wanting to see him."
"He's going," Qiqige replied. "Recently, Hooge has been quite polite to him. It's not appropriate for me to say this in front of you, but Dorgon is, after all, an uncle, and he can't disregard his nephew's face. I've already promised the first prince's wife that we'll go together."
The weather warmed up day by day, and this spring seemed to have arrived unusually early. After Hooge's child's full-month celebration, he and Dorgon were about to leave for Chahar to bring Nam Jung back.
At the full-month banquet, Da Yuer didn't stay long before she overheard the women gossiping. They were saying that Nam Jung was very beautiful and, though young, had surpassed the other women to become Lin Dan Batur's Great Consort. Unfortunately, her happiness didn't last long, and she was left with an unborn child.
The women asked Da Yuer, "Have you met her, Consort Yu? She's from the Abahai Tribe, not far from Khorchin, right?"
Da Yuer found it tiresome, and Qiqige, fearing she might get upset, suggested, "Let's take a stroll in the garden. The garden at the first prince's residence is quite spacious."
"Come with me, sister," Da Yuer said, pulling Hairanju along. "If we leave, they'll probably start pestering you."