Never Let the Enemy be in the Dark While I'm in the Light

On her slender fingers, painted with bright red nail polish, Nam Jung's little finger lightly grazed Lixin's face, as if with just a little more force, it could leave a cut on her skin.

Coldly, Nam Jung said: "Remember, if you make a mistake now, I can't protect you. I will have to abandon you. Lixin, if you want to return to the way things were, you must follow me obediently."

"But they are going too far! I've heard that the rule of serving at night started with you, even the one next door doesn't have to go through this," Lixin said angrily. "They're clearly bullying you."

"I know they're bullying me, both Hong Taiji and those lowly women," Nam Jung touched Lixin's head. "I will endure. Let them try whatever tricks they have. When they run out of options, it will be time to settle the score."

"My lady?"

"Lixin, we won't always be in such a miserable situation. We won't."

Nam Jung's gaze pierced through the window, seemingly looking into the side palace across from them, as though she could see what Hong Taiji and Hairanju were doing.

"The things I fought so hard for, all vanished overnight. Even my son wasn't born in time; he never got the chance to be the Great Khan, not even for a day."

Nam Jung scoffed, "Could it get any worse? Now it's just starting over again. I haven't become a plaything for my brothers or uncles, nor a prisoner or a slave. Now I am Hong Taiji's woman, and he is the most powerful man under heaven, so I remain highly honoured."

Nam Jung stood up and walked to the mirror, examining herself from head to toe:

"Do you know? Last night, Hong Taiji finally touched me. Even heroes are helpless against a beautiful woman. He's just an ordinary man. But he's stronger and more imposing than I imagined. Lixin, Hong Taiji is a real man..."

Lixin looked up and saw a strange light in her mistress's eyes, as though she was recalling the intimate moments from the previous night, wearing a smile that was difficult to describe.

In the study, Fan Wencheng finished explaining all the new books sent to Da Yuer, and was about to leave.

He saw that Da Yuer pulled herself out of the book and immediately a trace of sorrow appeared on her beautiful face. He felt a faint worry in his heart, and after walking out, he turned back, gathering his courage to ask: "Consort, is there anything I can do for you?"

Da Yuer looked at him blankly, as if understanding what was going on, and smiled faintly: "Minister Fan, did it show on my face?"

Fan Wencheng bowed and said: "It was my boldness, not that Consort Yu showed it on your face."

Da Yuer sighed: "At least you saw it, didn't you?" She waved her hand. "It's nothing, Minister Fan, please go. The Great Khan is still waiting for you."

Fan Wencheng furrowed his brows and said: "I must serve my lord with loyalty, and speak without reserve. If I have offended Consort Yu, please punish me. I would have no regret."

Da Yuer looked at him helplessly: "Alright then, what is it that you want to say?"

"May I ask, Consort Yu, recently there have been rumours outside the palace that a new rule was established for the concubines' service in the Great Khan's bedchamber, modelled after the Ming dynasty's inner palace system. Is there any truth to this?"

"Yes, it was only established a couple of days ago. The affairs of the palace really can't be hidden."

Fan Wencheng, however, pressed on: "Is this specifically aimed at the new Consort?"

Da Yuer looked at him, a hint of authority in her eyes: "Minister Fan, what exactly are you trying to say?"

Fan Wencheng kneeled on one knee, cupping his fists: "Superior military strategy emphasizes controlling the situation with calmness, never letting the enemy lurk in the shadows while we stand exposed in the light."

Da Yuer lowered her eyelids and casually flipped through the book in front of her, concealing her true thoughts: "So, Minister Fan thinks that I am fighting against Nam Jung in a secretive manner?"

"I dare not think so," Fan Wencheng replied, "But one must always be wary. I beg you to consider carefully. On the day the imperial seal entered the city, I heard that Nam Jung's bridal carriage was stopped at the city gates, and that she was searched before entering the palace. Now there is a new palace rule. She will soon realize that everything is being done against her. Nam Jung is no meek ruler. In the Chahar tribe, she forced Lin Dan Batur to send his women away, yet even those women seldom escaped her grasp."

Da Yuer felt a pang of embarrassment, as Fan Wencheng had hit the nail on the head. However, she knew he was only looking out for her, and she trusted her teacher deeply.

"But he still had the eight Consorts. Though Consort Doutumen is weak, she controls many tribes and possesses gold, silver, and cattle," Da Yuer said. "Nam Jung can still coexist with others, can't she?"

Fan Wencheng spoke sincerely: "The ones who can truly help a person grow are often her enemies and rivals."

Da Yuer looked deeply at Fan Wencheng and finally asked: "In your opinion, what should I do?"

Fan Wencheng replied: "May I ask, Consort Yu, how has the new Consort been behaving these days?"

Da Yuer scoffed: "She is very well-behaved. Even with what happened at night, she is enduring it."

Fan Wencheng bowed: "Then, you must endure even more than her. Never let her test the depth of your resolve, and don't let anyone easily touch your bottom line."

"But how long must I fight?" Da Yuer asked coldly. "Have I really walked this path now? Am I supposed to fight like Wu Zetian did against Empress Wang and Consort Xiao? Minister Fan, is this the inevitable fate of women in the harem?"

Fan Wencheng shook his head: "No, you are merely protecting what you want to protect."

Da Yuer's heart churned: "Protecting?"

So, where is her bottom line? Is it her man, or her children?

That night, Hong Taiji rested in Da Yuer's room, she naturally didn't have to follow the new rules of covering herself up. The Great Khan's meals and drinks were brought to the side palace as usual. The children played with their father for a while before being taken away by their nurse.

Any observant person could see that when Hong Taiji was elsewhere, that was "living life," but when he was in Nam Jung's side palace, it was only for sex.

Lixin stood by the window, grinding her teeth in anger. But as she turned around, she saw Nam Jung sitting peacefully in front of the mirror, combing her thick, black hair. Each strand that the comb gently passed through was a source of her pride.

"My lady…" Lixin couldn't hold back.

"Endure," Nam Jung replied indifferently. "This is just the beginning. Lixin, we still have a long road ahead."

As night deepened, in the Fourteenth Beile's residence outside the palace, after a busy day, Fan Wencheng finally had time to bid farewell to Dorgon. He knelt in front of the study, explaining what had been done today. Suddenly, Dorgon asked: "Did you go to the study?"

"Yes," Fan Wencheng replied. "I delivered some books to Consort Yu and also bid her farewell."

Dorgon immediately became much warmer: "Get up and speak."

Fan Wencheng was taken aback, and though he stood up, he felt something was strange.

Dorgon continued: "The Great Khan attaches great importance to the education of the Princesses. Whenever you have time, go take care of it. You should select the best teachers for the Princesses."

"Yes." Fan Wencheng answered promptly, but when he looked up at Dorgon, he noticed that his expression was calm, even carrying a faint trace of joy—something Fan Wencheng had never seen before.