Many Things Can Never Go Back to the Way They Were

"Sister?" Da Yuer turned to Hairanju and asked, "The way I acted that day—was it embarrassing? Did I make the Great Khan and all of you feel humiliated?"

Hairanju thought for a moment, finally understanding what her sister was referring to, and smiled. "At the time, I was so startled by you that I didn't have the mind to notice anyone else's reactions. I just kept hoping that Zarut wouldn't fight back. But she was clever—she didn't retaliate. If she had, the Great Khan and everyone present would surely have taken your side."

"Yes..." Da Yuer said softly, "I was the only foolish one."

The music played on, filling the hall with its vibrant melodies as the dancers swayed gracefully, their willow-like waists and delicate lotus-like faces captivating the room.

Da Yuer pondered: if someone were to step forward now to charm Hong Taiji, would she impulsively lash out again? She doubted it.

Many things, she felt, could never return to how they once were.

In just two or three short years, her temperament and even her personality had undergone constant changes. Joy and happiness came, but so did setbacks and disappointments. She found herself wondering what kind of person she would become. At this moment, she felt lost and uncertain.

During the latter half of the banquet, Jeje took the initiative to suggest that the ladies visit Nam Jung's side palace to familiarize themselves with the layout, for future convenience.

Princess Taisong, however, detested Nam Jung and refused to go, staying close to Daisan. Only Consort Sutai, Tesina, and Consort Doutumen joined the visit.

Though the side palace wasn't small, it wasn't particularly spacious either. All the buildings in the east and west were of the same size and layout. Consort Sutai and Tesina whispered to each other, and Nam Jung asked, "Is your Beile Mansion very spacious?"

The two women awkwardly replied that while their estates were not vast, they enjoyed more freedom and privacy compared to the palace, with separate courtyards for each.

Nam Jung, however, arrogantly replied, "When we move to the Forbidden City, it will be different."

The women exchanged glances, clearly recognizing that Nam Jung had already considered herself a woman of Hong Taiji and was beginning to calculate her future position.

Consort Doutumen stepped forward, looking at Tesina's cheek with concern. "Does it hurt? That woman is too insolent. You'll have to be careful from now on."

Consort Sutai asked, "Do you know her background?"

Consort Doutumen shook her head. "There are too many women from the royal family, I can't recognize them all."

Nam Jung coldly interjected, "She is the Great Khan's sister. Her birth mother was Nurhaci's first wife, Fuca, and her full-blooded brother, who passed away a few years ago, was one of the four great Beiles who ruled together with the Great Khan, Manggultai"

The women exchanged glances again. Nam Jung, who had arrived here with them together, a year later than Consort Doutumen, seemed to have already sorted out the entire family tree of the Jin royal family.

"She's not someone important. Acting so recklessly, she probably has no regard for her life." Nam Jung looked at Tesina. "Since the Great Consort has asked you to visit more often, please do so when you have the time. I'll tell you about the relationships between the people here. After all, you're with the first prince, your future is bright."

Tesina's cheek still throbbed with pain. She shook her head, lowering her eyes and remaining silent.

Consort Sutai, who understood Nam Jung's thoughts well, said, "That little princess's mother, she's from the Khorchin, isn't she? Her name is Bumubutai?"

Nam Jung nodded. "Yes, and the one with her is Hairanju. Isn't she beautiful?"

But what Consort Sutai wanted to say wasn't about beauty. She continued, "I heard some gossip in the mansion. Before we arrived, there were rumours that Fourteenth Beile Dorgon had an affair with Bumubutai, and they were seen secretly meeting in the First Prince's mansion."

Nam Jung was hearing this for the first time. There had been no rumours in the palace, which showed just how tightly Jeje was controlling things. She looked toward Consort Doutumen, asking, "Is this true?"

"Don't mention it, don't mention it," the timid woman quickly waved her hands, looking fearful. "The Great Consort once punished a gossipy concubine so severely that she almost died."

Consort Sutai sneered, "Jeje is that ruthless?"

Consort Doutumen dared not speak the Great Consort's name, shrinking back even more.

Nam Jung's eyes were cold as she quickly calculated in her mind, though she was unwilling to reveal her thoughts to these women. She casually said, "Let's return to our seats. I'm sure the Great Khan and the Great Consort would rather not see us getting too close."

When they returned to their seats, the banquet was nearly over. After thanking Hong Taiji, everyone waited for him and Jeje to leave before they gradually dispersed.

Hooge, humiliated today because of his mother-in-law, was furious. He stormed out as if he were going to find his wife and mother-in-law to settle accounts. Tesina struggled to keep up, running miserably behind him.

Dorgon and Dodo, with their wives, came to bid farewell to Jirgalang and Daisan. Daisan chuckled and said, "Qiqige, did you ask the Great Consort to speak to the Great Khan? Is That why this good fortune didn't fall to Dorgon?"

Qiqige calmly responded, "Second brother, you're joking. How could I dare do such a thing? I'm sure Dorgon knows his own limitations and didn't dare to compare himself to his older brothers."

Dorgon, protecting his wife, smiled, "Second brother, stop teasing her. You understand her more than outsiders. She's shy."

Daisan laughed, "Yes, yes. Qiqige, if Dorgon bullies you, come tell second brother."

After everyone left, Princess Taisong followed Daisan into a carriage. Still holding a grudge against Nam Jung and aware of her sharpness, she reminded Daisan, "My lord, you must be careful of Nam Jung. She's a very dangerous woman."

Daisan closed his eyes, reflecting on everything that had happened today, especially Hooge's angry outburst. He felt an unease about the future.

The carriages of the various families dispersed into the city of Shengjing, and the palace quieted down. Hong Taiji sat in Yuer's room, reading a few memorials under the lamp. When Da Yuer returned from Qingning Palace, she quietly brought over a candle to make it brighter for him.

Hong Taiji said, "That's enough, let me just read a couple more."

Soon, he put down the memorials, went to the door, gave a few instructions to Niman, and as he returned, he asked, "Why did Jeje call you?"

Da Yuer smiled and said, "Aunt didn't expect you to come to my room tonight, so she specifically called me over to remind me not to upset you. She said that you seemed out of sorts today."

Hong Taiji chided, "Is Jeje worried about you or worried about me? Do you think I would get angry over such a small thing?"

Da Yuer was frank in her reply, "I'm the one who's angry, though. I was the one who broke Atu's tea cup."

Hong Taiji looked at her with appreciation. "Actually, you were helping Jeje out, right?"

Da Yuer smiled and said, "It's better that I broke it than you broke it."

Hong Taiji remembered that night in the Grand Politics Hall, when he had broken a tea bowl in frustration over Hooge's foolishness. The sound had been exaggerated by rumours, with people adding fuel to the fire, saying he was saving face. In fact, he had nearly been driven mad by the rumours about his close relationship between Da Yuer and Dorgon.

"You did well," Hong Taiji said. "That scene was impossible to resolve without dragging Mangguji out. You used the child to break the tension, and whether it was real or fake, at least it was handled."

Da Yuer knelt on the kang, unbuttoning his coat and smiling. "I guess I've returned the favour to you, then."

"How so?" Hong Taiji asked, frowning. "When have you ever owed me a favour? I don't remember."

Da Yuer blushed and said, "It was at the hunting grounds, when I slapped Zarut. Today, seeing Mangguji hit someone, I realized how terrible it looks. I must have looked equally ugly back then."

Hong Taiji had nearly forgotten about that incident. To him, Zarut wasn't even worth mentioning, and wouldn't blame Yuer for her.

"I'll never do anything like that again," Da Yuer said with a smile. "I never want to make you worry about me again."

Hong Taiji patted her bottom. "If you ever do that again, I'll teach you a lesson that you'll never forget."

Da Yuer struggled to push his hand away. "You wouldn't dare." Her eyes were soft, and her heart had already been moved. She leaned against Hong Taiji's shoulder and said, "You're so tolerant of me, pampering me like this. You never really get angry no matter what I do. If you didn't like me, you would have discarded me the first time I put my feet on the pillow."

Hong Taiji gently caressed her back. "You've finally figured it out?"

Da Yuer smiled and said, "I've figured it out. Fortunately, it's not too late."

She took the initiative and kissed Hong Taiji. He deliberately didn't respond, and the sight of her blushing face in front of him made him smile. Gently, he pushed her into the bedding. She curled up like a delicate flower, hesitating between rejection and affection, making it impossible for him not to adore her.

However, that night, chaos erupted in the First Prince's residence. Drunk, Hooge waved his horsewhip and charged into Hada Nara's bedroom. The servants managed to stop him from violently attacking his wife.

Hada Nara was so frightened that she fainted on the spot. Hooge then returned to Tesina's room and brutally ravaged her.

In the morning, Hooge woke up from his drunken stupor, with a splitting headache. He shook the woman beside him awake and angrily asked, "What time is it?"

Tesina, waking up, nervously shook her head, "I don't know..."

Hooge rubbed his eyes and saw that she had tears in her eyes, looking pitiful. Her neck and shoulders were covered with marks he had left. He roughly pulled her into his arms, "You have to be good, I will take care of you."

Tesina curled up into a ball and nodded in agreement.

Hooge suddenly brightened up and asked, "What is your relationship with Nam Jung?"