When Ulanara Abahai was reinstated and returned to Shengjing after being deposed and restored by Nurhaci, she crossed paths with Hong Taiji.
In that fleeting moment as they brushed past each other, Abahai said to him: "All things in life come with retribution—some sooner, some later. What do you think, Hong Taiji?"
At that time, the Great Consort Abahai undoubtedly still harboured hopes of one day elevating her son to become Nurhaci's successor. Nurhaci's evident affection for the young Dorgon was well-recognized by both his brothers and ministers.
It was even rumoured that Nurhaci's reluctance to separate Dorgon from his mother was why Abahai was summoned back. But now, all of that no longer mattered.
Man's plans pale before Heaven's will. If the Heavens had granted Nurhaci another five years—just five more years—it would have been enough for Abahai and Dorgon to rewrite their fates. By the age of twenty, Dorgon had already earned merit and recognition; he would undoubtedly have been a strong contender against his elder brothers for the throne.
Even a single additional day, enough for Nurhaci to clearly announce his final will before witnesses, might have changed everything.
Yet fate had other plans. Nurhaci passed away abruptly, leaving nothing behind.
At his side during his final moments was Abahai alone. Perhaps the Great Khan had made his intentions known, but no one would have believed a word uttered by Abahai—not even the truth.
"Leave me," Hong Taiji ordered, setting the tea bowl on the edge of the sand table. The spilled tea was quickly absorbed into the sand, sinking deep beneath the surface, leaving only a faint trace of moisture on top.
It mirrored his heart: all the deeds of the past, buried in the depths, only traces of their consequences remaining on the surface.
To seize the throne, Hong Taiji had systematically eliminated rivals and crushed his kin. His hands were stained with blood.
It was he who orchestrated the scandal of Abahai's alleged affair with Daisan. And when Abahai returned, it was he who closed Deinje's eyes for the final time.
He could never forget Deinje's final words, whispered through his last breaths:
"My lord, I'll watch over you from the heavens. I will bless you. You must become the Great Khan..."
Hong Taiji closed his eyes and clenched his fist.
At that moment, Niman came in and asked, "Great Khan, where will you rest tonight?"
Hong Taiji relaxed his fist and asked, "Have they all gone to bed?"
"You didn't say anything tonight. The lamp is still lit at the Great Consort's place as well," Niman replied.
"What about the children?" Hong Taiji asked.
Niman smiled and said, "The little princesses didn't go to the banquet today. Princess Yatu got angry and didn't want to be with Consort Lan or Consort Yu, so she followed her wet nurse to her room."
Hong Taiji walked to the desk, instructed Niman to put away a few memorials, and then walked toward the door.
The night was still cold in March, but it was spring, cold enough to keep one awake, but not so cold that breathing became difficult.
A palace servant caught up with him, asking the Great Khan to put on his coat, but Hong Taiji pushed him aside.
When he reached the bottom of Fenghuang Tower, he saw a group of people holding lanterns. In the darkness, he could clearly make out Yuer's figure, and his heart tightened.
Da Yuer was heading toward their daughter's quarters, not even looking in his direction. It was only when someone beside her reminded her that the Great Khan was there that she turned around, squinting for a moment before smiling and saying, "Great Khan?"
Da Yuer took the lantern from the palace servant and walked straight toward her husband. Hong Taiji immediately composed himself.
"Where are you going so late?" he asked, clearly surprised that Da Yuer wasn't heading to Fenghuang Tower or the Grand Politics Hall to find him.
"I'm going to check on Yatu and bring her back," Da Yuer said with a helpless smile. "I didn't bring the girls to the banquet at the First Prince's residence today, and she got so angry. She didn't even want her sister to comfort her. After crying for a long time, she stubbornly followed her wet nurse. You tell me, whose temperament is she like?"
"Isn't it yours?" Hong Taiji's heart softened gradually.
"She is also your beloved daughter," Da Yuer said, still angry but smiling. "She's so proud now. I'm going to bring Yatu back. If I delay, she'll fall asleep. You should rest early, Great Khan."
Since she would be taking her daughter with her, Da Yuer knew that Hong Taiji would not stay in her quarters tonight. However, she couldn't bear the thought of leaving her daughter to sulk alone.
As Qiqige had once mocked her, she had decided many times to have the wet nurse take the child to sleep and not return to the side palace, but no matter how many times she tried, she always ended up going back in the middle of the night to bring the child back.
Of course, back then, Hong Taiji was not often at home, and Da Yuer's thoughts were mostly focused on their daughter.
"Let's go together," Hong Taiji said, taking the lantern from Da Yuer's hand. "Yatu has grown up. You can't carry her now. It's so cold, will you let her walk by herself?"
Da Yuer hesitated for a moment. She was about to say that the wet nurse could carry Yatu, but Hong Taiji's willingness to go with her made her happy. Yatu would surely be pleased too. She didn't refuse and followed Hong Taiji. He naturally took her hand as they walked.
When they arrived at Yatu's room, the little girl was already asleep. A child's temper wouldn't last very long. Da Yuer poked her daughter's cheek a couple of times and pinched her little nose. "Little troublemaker, always causing trouble for me."
Hong Taiji frowned. "Don't wake her up."
Da Yuer looked at him with some defiance, but when she saw something unusual in his expression, she asked, "What's wrong? Is something bothering you?"
Hong Taiji grumbled, "I came all the way to accompany you, and now you're not happy? Do you still want to carry her?"
Da Yuer shook her head. "I'll come early tomorrow. It's cold outside, and carrying her might make her catch a cold."
She stood up, giving instructions to the wet nurses and caretakers to take good care of Yatu, and also went to check on Atu and Azhe. Hong Taiji followed her around. Da Yuer couldn't help but ask again, "What's wrong with you?"
Hong Taiji, annoyed, patted her forehead. "Is it wrong to check on my own daughter?"
Da Yuer eyed him suspiciously, but then, taking his hand, she followed him straight to Fenghuang Tower.
That night, Hong Taiji was particularly fierce. The intensity of his possessiveness during their intimate moments left Da Yuer weak and vulnerable. She rarely begged for mercy, but this time, she couldn't bear it, and curled up in his arms, crying.
Hong Taiji gently wiped her tears away, mocking her for being weak, but comforting her and pampering her. The scared and aggrieved woman sobbed, "You've hurt me."
"It's my fault," Hong Taiji said softly, cupping her face and looking at her closely. Yuer would never betray him. She would never.
The next morning, as Dorgon was preparing to leave, standing at the door with his sleeves rolled up, Qiqige noticed that the tassels on his hat had come undone, so she turned back to fix them for her husband. Just then, Dorgon's trusted confidant arrived, looking nervous and whispering urgently in his ear. Every word hit Dorgon like a thunderclap. The man, who could face a thousand enemies without flinching, turned pale as the news sank in.
Qiqige, holding the hat, saw Dorgon's expression and immediately asked, "What's wrong?"
Dorgon's mind raced. This matter would undoubtedly reach Qiqige's ears, and he had to figure out how to handle it without raising her suspicions.
No matter what, he could never let anyone know about his hidden affection for Yuer. That would ruin her, as she was entirely innocent.
"They say... there are rumours outside, that I have a private relationship with Consort Yu," Dorgon stiffly said.
"Yuer?" Qiqige's expression also changed. As smart as she was, she couldn't immediately understand what had happened.
Dorgon tried to stay calm and explain: "They say yesterday, I had a secret meeting with Consort Yu in the back garden of the Hooge residence."
Qiqige stared at him blankly, then suddenly realized, her face lighting up: "Wasn't that me? Oh right, I was wearing Yuer's windbreaker. It was Yuer who insisted on wearing mine! Which fool mistook me for her and made up such nonsense about you?"
Dorgon breathed a sigh of relief, agreeing, "It must have been a mistake."
But Qiqige grew anxious again. "Is it being spread widely? Will Hong Taiji hear about it? You know how suspicious he is."
Dorgon replied, "Such an awkward matter, how can I explain it? But if he comes to ask, it would be awkward too, truly..."
Qiqige, quick-witted as ever, responded, "I'll explain. I'll tell aunt, and she will tell Hong Taiji. This matter must be cleared up. Besides, Hairanju was there too, so Hong Taiji will surely believe it."
Dorgon finally relaxed, patting Qiqige's shoulder and saying, "My mother was once falsely accused of having an affair with Daisan. The same trick might have been used again, and because I'm my mother's son, I'm more of a target. Qiqige, from now on, whatever happens, we must discuss things together. Don't listen to outsiders."
Qiqige smiled, her eyes full of confidence. "Of course, I don't believe anyone else but you. Don't worry. Go on to court with peace of mind, just don't let it show on your face. Even if someone brings this up, just smile coldly. I'll go to the palace in the afternoon to explain to aunt. If we rush to handle it now, it might look like we're afraid of them."
"Alright. If anything happens, have someone come find me. I'll be either at the Ten Kings Pavilion or at the military training ground outside the city," Dorgon said. "You be careful too."
This matter quickly spread, but it wasn't leaked by Hong Taiji's trusted confidants. Instead, it was Hooge.
Hooge's concubine had witnessed the scene. At the time, Qiqige had her back to her, so the concubine hadn't seen her face, but she recognized the cloak. Fearing being discovered, she fled.
At the end of the banquet, she followed the other consorts to bid farewell to the guests, saw Consort Yu draped in that striking red cloak. Everyone, both in and outside the palace, knew that Consort Yu favoured red, and when she wore it, no one else dared to.
Hooge, without consulting his advisors, immediately saw this as a golden opportunity. Consort Yu had indeed left the gathering midway—a fact observed by everyone. And when Dorgon departed later, she hadn't yet returned.
For such matters, evidence wasn't needed; baseless gossip alone was enough to cause chaos. Hooge, repeatedly humiliated by Dorgon, saw this as the perfect chance to tarnish him.
If the rumour spread, every minor interaction between Dorgon and Consort Yu would be dredged up. For instance, the incident at the military training ground when Dorgon rescued Consort Yu single-handedly during an ambush. What happened on that mountain remained a mystery, and mysteries only invited wilder speculations.
By noon, Da Yuer was in her study when she noticed some palace maids outside the door casting curious glances at her. Finding this strange, she avoided her children and went to question them. The maids hesitated, but at the slightest sign of her displeasure, they faltered.
When she finally learned that she was being accused of having an illicit relationship with Dorgon, Da Yuer was stunned. She hardly saw Dorgon once a year—what kind of "relationship" could they possibly have?
Yet she vividly remembered that day on the mountain. Dorgon had called her name with all his might, holding her protectively in his arms. His expression was one of intense emotion—the same look Qiqige had described when recounting Hong Taiji fetching her elder sister. It was an expression Qiqige had longed to see.
"Miss, how could such a thing even arise?" Sumala was furious. "We've always stayed clear of trouble, yet trouble keeps finding us!"
Da Yuer, with a trace of pride, replied, "Because I am Hong Taiji's favourite. Why else haven't they gone after Yanja and Consort Doutumen? Isn't it laughable?"
Sumala clenched her fists. "Just don't let this reach older Princess. She would be terrified."
Da Yuer nodded. "My sister rarely even steps outside her quarters. If they include her in this, then these people are truly beyond redemption."
In the past, Da Yuer would have stormed off in anger to confront those spreading the rumours. But today, she remained surprisingly calm. She returned to her study, sat down, and resumed reading. Sumala, puzzled, was pulled back and instructed, "It's not a big deal. Don't panic."
As Sumala watched her mistress, she marvelled at how different she has changed.
Da Yuer wasn't the same person as two years ago when she suddenly became cheerful and defiant against the Great Consort. This time, her transformation was subtle yet profound—steady, deliberate, and perfectly timed. Sumala felt as though she could witness Da Yuer's growth unfolding before her eyes.
However, Da Yuer hadn't yet reached the level of composure Sumala imagined. Deep down, her heart was still unsettled.
Recalling last night, when Hong Taiji had been so forceful with her, and thinking back to the time before her sister left, when Hong Taiji's passion made her feel as though a piece of her heart was missing, Da Yuer couldn't help but reflect. He was her man, her husband, and she knew him better than anyone.
"Did he know last night? Was he angry? Did he believe it?" Da Yuer kept questioning herself, over and over, but she had no answers.
In the Grand Politics Hall, Hong Taiji sat in suppressed frustration. Sure enough, by dawn, all sorts of rumours had begun swirling. He had yet to track down the source, but it was possible that more than one pair of eyes had been in the garden at the time.
Many bore grudges against Dorgon, and even more resented him. A scheme like this, which attacked both of them at once, was too tempting for some to pass up.
He silently hoped it wasn't Hooge. Deep in his heart, Hong Taiji wished his son wouldn't be so foolish.
By the afternoon, Qiqige arrived. Seeing her, Jeje took the initiative to ask, "Is this about that matter?"
Jeje had her own considerations. This situation needed to be handled carefully and calmly, so she couldn't take a superior attitude with Qiqige. Instead, she chose to be proactive and modest, to address the matter collectively.
Qiqige smiled easily and said, "Aunt, have you spoken with Yuer yet?"