He didn't Leave Her Alone

Jeje couldn't quite figure out Qiqige's thoughts and dared not speak rashly. She simply said, "She's in the study and hasn't come back yet."

Qiqige sat down beside her and smiled, saying, "Yuer must be quite confused, or maybe she's very certain about things. Aunt, that person yesterday was me."

Jeje was even more puzzled. "I know, you left the banquet together. And then?"

Qiqige then explained how she and Yuer had swapped windbreakers. After that, Yuer went to relieve herself, leaving Qiqige alone by the pond. Dorgon came along, and the two of them spoke for a while.

Blushing, Qiqige admitted, "Aunt, it was disrespectful of me. In someone else's garden, I acted intimately with Dorgon. I shouldn't have done that."

Jeje secretly breathed a sigh of relief. All she needed to do now was confirm things with Hairanju and Yuer, and everything would become clear. She had to hurry and explain to Hong Taiji, fearing that he might already be angry.

"Aunt, please help explain on behalf of Dorgon and me to the Great Khan," Qiqige said, her thoughts aligning with Jeje's. They needed to solve the problem together; this wasn't the time to let pride get in the way. How could she bear to let her husband be criticized by others?

"I will. Fortunately, you've made things clear," Jeje replied with a sigh. "I'm afraid Hairanju and Yuer might not be able to explain things as clearly."

Qiqige deliberately added, "What happened back then must not happen again, don't you agree, Aunt? We may have sorted things out here, but outsiders will likely see it as an excuse. What's critical is how we handle the mouths eager to stir trouble."

Jeje smiled and praised her thoroughness, though inwardly she thought, Qiqige is indeed shrewd; no wonder Hong Taiji wants to include her in his schemes.

Not long after Qiqige left, Jeje personally went to the Grand Politics Hall. Hong Taiji listened indifferently to her explanation, merely responding with a faint "hmm" and saying no more. Understanding her husband's temper, Jeje left quietly.

Hong Taiji continued meeting ministers and handling state affairs, calculating the year's harvests and natural disasters, busy until sunset. Just as his mood was gradually calming, he learned from a trusted aide that the source of the rumours came from the First Prince's residence. His mood instantly soured.

That foolish son of mine. That idiotic son!

In a fit of rage, Hong Taiji smashed his teacup. The commotion was loud enough for the guards outside the Ten Kings Pavilion to hear. Regret surged through him, but it was already too late.

As night deepened, Da Yuer sat alone at the edge of the kang. Earlier, her aunt had summoned her and asked a few questions. She had answered truthfully, and her aunt had been satisfied, reassuring her that Qiqige had already explained everything, and the Great Khan knew as well.

But Da Yuer knew Hong Taiji must have known about the matter since last night. Who had told him? And today, who had spread the news?

Was he unable to stop the rumours from spreading, or had he chosen not to?

Was he angry because he couldn't stop it, or had he deliberately sacrificed her?

Throughout the day, Da Yuer had thought about countless things. She had believed that nothing in the world could leave her as heartbroken as discovering her husband's relationship with her sister. But she had been too naive.

The pain she felt today was no less than that day. She wondered if her husband would once again leave her behind to figure things out on her own.

Outside, a group of people passed by, the faint clinking of dishes drifting in. Da Yuer's heart sank. She knew Hong Taiji would be going to her sister's room tonight.

She sighed, turned over, and lay down. Don't think about it. If I don't think, my heart won't hurt.

In Hairanju's room, the kang table was filled with dishes brought in by the kitchen. Atu and Yatu were happily eating, savouring every bite.

Hairanju wiped their mouths, scolding gently, "This is the last time. If you don't eat properly during meal times again, there'll be no more food for you. Understand?"

The two girls grinned at her, fighting to offer her a big drumstick to try. At that moment, Baoqing entered quietly and said, "My lady, the Great Khan has gone to Consort Yu's room."

Upon hearing this, Hairanju let out a sigh of relief.

Meanwhile, in Da Yuer's room, she felt a pat on her hip and immediately realized it was Hong Taiji. She turned over to see him, her eyes brimming with uncontrollable joy. Yet, she was also aggrieved, uneasy, and filled with apprehension.

Sumala and the others followed, helping the Great Khan remove his outer garments and boots. They asked if he wanted a late supper or perhaps some tea and snacks, but Hong Taiji declined everything. He had been exhausted all day—physically tired, but his heart even more so.

He lay face down on the kang, lazily saying, "Massage my back."

Da Yuer climbed onto him, sitting on his back. Hong Taiji let out a muffled groan, flipped over, and pushed her off, scolding, "Where are you sitting? Do you think my back, after decades of bumping along on horseback, can handle that?"

"But last night, you were so fierce, so strong." Da Yuer's eyes sparkled as she curled up beneath him, trembling as she asked, "You knew last night, didn't you? Were you punishing me?"

Hong Taiji gazed at her deeply. "Yuer, I was punishing myself."

"Great Khan…" Hearing him say this, all the pain in Da Yuer's heart dissipated, leaving only tenderness.

She had thought he would leave her behind again, forcing her to figure things out, to "grow." But this time, he came to explain—starting from a story that began long, long ago. For the first time, Da Yuer heard Hong Taiji personally mention a woman named Deinje.

Hong Taiji confessed that he had personally killed the woman willing to die for him. He revealed that Great Consort Abahai had no connection with Daisan. The one who had truly been involved with Nurhaci's women was none other than himself.

He had sent the beautiful Deinje to Nurhaci's side, using her to instigate Nurhaci's affection for Great Consort Abahai. Yet, in the end, it was all in vain. Nurhaci could not let go of Abahai and eventually brought her back.

Deinje could no longer live. She begged Hong Taiji to kill her, preferring to die at the hands of the man she loved deeply rather than endure Nurhaci's torment or face Abahai's vengeance. Hong Taiji steeled himself and granted her wish.

Da Yuer listened to the entire story in a daze, noticing a faint glimmer of tears in her husband's eyes. She understood then that Deinje, too, had a place in his heart.

Da Yuer didn't feel jealousy toward a woman who had passed away, but her heart ached for Hong Taiji.

Every ruthless act he had committed, which others saw as cruel and heartless, surely left its mark on him.

"Yuer, I'm suspicious now. I don't trust the people around me," Hong Taiji confessed. "Because I once killed those who were loyal to me, one by one."

Da Yuer shook her head. "But you trust me, you trust Aunt, and you trust my sister."

Hong Taiji gently caressed her face. "How do I know I trust you?"

Da Yuer playfully responded, "Whether you trust me or not, you must trust me. Otherwise, why would you tell me so much? Aren't you afraid I'll tell someone else tomorrow?"

"Would you dare?"

"Of course not," Da Yuer said as she burrowed into his embrace, patting his chest as if to soothe his heart. "It's all in the past, it's over."

Hong Taiji sighed deeply. "But what about the present?"

Da Yuer's heart tightened. She sat up and knelt solemnly before him. "No matter what you think, I need to make this clear. I've never even spoken to Dorgon. I truly don't know where these rumours are coming from. Yesterday, Qiqige wore my clothes and spoke to Dorgon, which caused this misunderstanding. But what if the situation were reversed? If I had worn Qiqige's clothes and been mistaken by Dorgon, would I ever be able to clear my name?"

Hong Taiji shook his head. "Of course, I believe you."

Da Yuer's tone grew serious. "You must believe me. Not a sliver of doubt is allowed. Not even a hint."

Hong Taiji chuckled. "Are you giving me orders?"

Da Yuer nodded, meeting his gaze with righteous conviction. "If you doubt me, I'll never speak to you again."

He had expected some dramatic vow or curse, but all she said was that she'd ignore him. The chaotic turbulence in his heart suddenly eased.

His Yuer had grown strong enough to stand behind him, supporting his increasingly weary back.

"Did you hear me?" Da Yuer asked repeatedly.

"I heard, I heard…" Hong Taiji replied, exasperated but indulgent. He pulled her into his arms domineeringly and instructed, "Forget what I just said by morning."

Da Yuer lay contentedly on her husband. He hadn't left her to figure things out on her own, and that was enough for her. She resolved to stay by his side for a lifetime, even as he aged.

The rumours about this matter circulated in Shengjing for a few days, but Hong Taiji remained indifferent. Though Dorgon knew that Qiqige had gone to the palace to explain on his behalf, he still felt uneasy.

Meanwhile, Hooge, oblivious to his father's simmering anger, was smug every day. His advisors tried earnestly to caution him, but Hooge dismissed them, saying, "There were so many people there that day. Why would they pin it on me? If Father wanted to blame me, he'd have spoken up by now. I'm his son—what's there to hide?"

It seemed he'd forgotten that his father had also once been a son.

As for Da Yuer, with Hong Taiji's comforting words, she had let go of the incident entirely. By the next day, she was cheerful and carefree, moving between the study and the inner palace as though nothing had happened. Jeje watched this with great relief, and Hairanju was equally happy for her younger sister.

One day, Hong Taiji decided that on the first day of April, Hooge and Dorgon would be sent to Chahar to receive Nam Jung. The Imperial Jade Seal was soon to arrive in Shengjing, signalling an imminent transformation for the Jin dynasty.

After many days, Hong Taiji returned to Hairanju's quarters. She was holding up a spring robe she had made herself, comparing it to his back. Seeing that the fit was perfect, she said joyfully, "When the weather gets warmer, you can wear it."

Hong Taiji teased her, "Are your stitches sturdy enough?"

Hairanju replied proudly, "Definitely better than the sewing room's work."

She carefully folded the robe and put it away, explaining that the children often played here and might ruin it. As she turned to organize the cabinet, Hong Taiji suddenly asked, "That day, you were with Yuer the whole time?"

Hairanju's heart skipped a beat. She turned back to him and asked, "Do you mean the day at the First Prince's residence, Great Khan?"

Hong Taiji nodded coldly. "That day."

Maintaining her composure, Hairanju replied, "I was with Yuer the entire time, even when she went to relieve herself."

Hong Taiji gave a soft "oh," seemingly indifferent as he sat down to sip his tea.

"Great Khan," Hairanju called.

"What?" Hong Taiji raised his eyes to her, but he was startled by the expression on her face.

Hairanju said solemnly, "Great Khan, please don't tell Yuer you asked me. It would hurt her feelings."

Hong Taiji's gaze flickered briefly. "I know, I know... I don't doubt Yuer. Believe me."

He reached out his hand, and Hairanju placed hers into his palm. He grasped it tightly, so much so that she felt the ache in her bones.

Hairanju climbed onto the kang and wrapped her arms around his body, noticing a slight tremor in him. She regretted bringing up the matter.

"If you don't like going out, then don't," Hong Taiji said with a bitter smile. "Staying in might cause fewer troubles. I can't bear to imagine what would happen if they started implicating you too."

"I won't go out. I'll stay home," Hairanju promised. "Anyway, I've never liked going out."

Hong Taiji let out a breath, relaxing slightly. He turned and held Hairanju tightly in his arms. Yet, his body remained tense, as if it would take a long time to fully unwind.

Baoqing peeked in, saw the scene, and immediately retreated. She instructed the maids at the door not to disturb them.

A young maid whispered, "Sister Baoqing, I heard that Nam Jung is arriving soon. They say she's incredibly beautiful. Do you think she'll be even more beautiful than our mistress? Our mistress is the most beautiful woman on the grasslands!"

Baoqing replied, "That's just baseless gossip. When sending a daughter off to marry, people like to add some grandeur to the stories. That's how these things get exaggerated. Our mistress is beautiful, but isn't Consort Yu beautiful too? Isn't the Fourteenth Consort beautiful? What about the Great Consort? Even Zarut was beautiful, right? Among all these beauties, how can you possibly rank them first, second, and so on? Stop talking like this. The mistress dislikes being called that most of all."

The young maid nodded repeatedly but couldn't resist muttering, "I just hope this Nam Jung isn't like Zarut, bullying our mistress."