Desolate

Tesina looked at Hooge blankly, her voice barely audible, like the buzz of a mosquito: "I didn't get along too well with Nam Jung in the past, but we never quarrelled. Others have had conflicts with her, but I haven't..."

"So, it's not too bad then?" Hooge said, stroking his beloved concubine's cheek. "In a few days, go to the palace and pass on my words to her."

"Wha… what words?" Tesina seemed somewhat naive.

"I'll teach you when the time comes, and you'll know." In high spirits, Hooge, whose anger from yesterday's quarrel with his mother-in-law had mostly dissipated, embraced his beautiful concubine and kissed her, before heading to court with a spring in his step.

However, the day turned out to be anything but peaceful.

The first prince's wife, Hada Nara, had fainted from fright after being scolded by Hooge. When this news reached her mother, Mangguji, she was overcome with anger and rushed to her daughter's residence.

Seeing her daughter weak and pitiful, and hearing that Hooge had almost beaten her with a horsewhip, Mangguji was enraged. She stormed into Hooge's side residence with her men, seized Tesina, and, despite all attempts to stop her, dragged the concubine back to her own mansion.

When the news reached the palace, Hooge was furious. If word of this humiliation spread, how could he maintain his reputation in Shengjing? Without hesitation, he prepared to storm Mangguji's household to retrieve Tesina.

Just then, Hong Taiji happened to pass by. Seeing his son recklessly charging out, he ordered his men to stop him.

Hooge had no choice but to return and kneel before his father, angrily accusing Mangguji of forcibly taking Tesina and directing his frustration at Hong Taiji, claiming Mangguji had no respect for the Great Khan.

Originally, Hong Taiji was indifferent toward Mangguji, the so-called "shrew." After the death of Manggultai, the fortunes of Consort Fuca's bloodline had all but vanished. Hong Taiji had no intention of eradicating them completely, but Mangguji's repeated offenses had pushed his patience. Now, as he prepared to ascend the throne and proclaim himself emperor, how could he tolerate her arrogance?

"If you rush over there like this, are you planning to start a massacre?" Hong Taiji reprimanded his son's recklessness, unwilling to let him repeat the mistakes of his elder brother, Cuyen. "She is both your mother-in-law and your aunt. How can you be disrespectful to her?"

Hooge angrily retorted, "Father, that wretched woman does not deserve respect!"

Hong Taiji scolded, "Fool! The moment you speak recklessly, others are ready to pin the blame on you. Hooge, oh Hooge, can you not act so impulsively when something happens? Are you still the reckless and ignorant teenager of years past?"

"Father…" Hooge was both angry and fearful. "Please guide me on what to do. If I don't bring Tesina back, how will I ever hold my head high in Shengjing? Even my soldiers will mock me as incompetent."

Hong Taiji replied, "This isn't a battlefield, so what's the point of charging in like a madman? This is a place of reason, not bloodshed. You should go and demand her return openly and with dignity. If she refuses, come back and report to me. Show civility before resorting to force—then no one will be able to fault you."

"Understood. I will follow your advice, Father." Hooge kowtowed and turned to leave.

"Wait." Hong Taiji called out again. "Don't ever use a whip on your women again. Unless they've committed an unforgivable crime, even if you dislike them, you must not mistreat or abuse them. If I find out you're doing that to your wives or concubines again, I'll cut off your hand myself."

Hooge shuddered and awkwardly promised, "I understand, Father. I won't do it again."

"Go." Hong Taiji waved him off, sending Hooge away.

When news of this reached the inner palace, Jeje sighed. "Mangguji is digging her own grave. Why does she insist on doing this?"

Da Yuer understood well: within the Eight Banners, none of Hong Taiji's siblings lived with true peace of mind. Every single one of them had once risked their lives in the struggle for the Great Khan's throne. Even figures like Dorgon and Qiqige couldn't live without anxiety.

To Hong Taiji, their very existence posed a threat. Those who genuinely submitted and served loyally were spared, but anyone who showed even a hint of defiance would be dealt with mercilessly.

Mangguji's time had run out.

As expected, when Hooge went to his mother-in-law's residence to demand Tesina's return, Mangguji blocked him at the door. She mocked him, saying he was an uncultured brute raised without a mother to teach him how to discipline his wife, forcing her, as his mother-in-law, to intervene. Instead of gratitude, he had stormed in arrogantly like a beast.

Hooge, though enraged and intent on violence, held back out of fear of Hong Taiji's authority. He said everything he needed to say but refrained from forcing his way in. Instead, he left with his men.

Less than two hours later, Hooge returned—this time with an imperial decree from the Great Khan himself, demanding Tesina's release.

Tesina, as the widow of Lindan Khan, represented the sincerity of the Chahar tribe in aligning with the Jin dynasty. Mangguji's actions were seen as an attempt to undermine relations between Jin and the tribes south of the desert. If such behavior were tolerated, which tribe would dare marry their daughters into Shengjing in the future?

No matter how strong-willed Mangguji was, she couldn't stop Hooge's fierce soldiers. They stormed into her residence, searching high and low, and eventually found Tesina, battered and bruised.

However, Tesina wasn't the only thing Hong Taiji had instructed Hooge to retrieve. Amid Mangguji's panic-stricken curses, the soldiers rummaged through her belongings and unearthed a cache of letters—these were what Hong Taiji truly sought.

What began as a family drama escalated into a matter of national security. Following the letters found at Mangguji's residence, Hong Taiji ordered a search of Manggultai's household.

Although Manggultai had been under house arrest before his death, he hadn't been accused of any significant crimes and had died suddenly of illness. Until now, Hong Taiji had left his family untouched. But this time, the entire household was turned upside down. Not only were incriminating letters of conspiracy uncovered, but a privately-carved jade seal was also found.

The investigation dragged on for four or five days. Disaster struck the descendants of Consort Fuca's lineage without warning. Mangguji's younger brother, the Tenth Beile Degelei, succumbed to a sudden illness before Hong Taiji could act against him.

In the Grand Politics Hall, Hong Taiji presented the evidence of the siblings' conspiracy, along with testimonies from Mangguji's servants, to the beiles and ministers. Faced with such undeniable proof, no one could argue.

For the past two years, Mangguji's arrogance both inside and outside the palace, as well as her frequent disrespect toward Hong Taiji, had been well-known. Now that the evidence of her crimes was irrefutable, there was no choice but to execute her.

In early May, as the weather finally turned warm, a chilling air descended upon Shengjing. Mangguji, along with seven or eight of her associates, was publicly executed for treason.

The once-revered princess of noble birth met her end at the hands of her own brother. Yet the evidence of her crimes was so damning, and her reputation for cruelty and abuse of her servants so well-known, that no one even came forward to collect her body or offer final rites.

The shock was too much for Hada Nara to bear. Hooge forbade her from mourning or paying respects, and the day after her mother's execution, she hanged herself in the residence of the First Prince.

Within a fortnight, tragedy struck repeatedly. Amid the sombre and unforgiving atmosphere, Hong Taiji's unshakable authority was further solidified. Though the events were sudden, the justification for Hong Taiji's actions left no room for dissent. The ministers and beiles, despite their shock, had no choice but to accept it as necessary.

Hong Taiji was aware, however, that such actions would inevitably unsettle some within his court. To stabilize the situation, he quickly arranged new campaigns by mid-May. Hooge was sent off to war, and Dorgon was dispatched to Joseon under the guise of a diplomatic mission, restoring an air of normalcy.

The day Dorgon was set to depart, he prepared himself for the journey. Though not a military campaign, his mission was still of great importance. Qiqige, having packed his belongings over the past few days, helped him burn a few items that were better left erased from history. Together, they ensured no trace remained of things that could not be allowed to exist.

"Without lips, the teeth feel the cold." Though Mangguji was never close to them, she was, after all, family. For Dorgon and Hong Taiji, her fate was a grim reminder of the fragility of their positions. Dorgon could only sigh with emotion but knew he must remain vigilant. In this treacherous world, the only people he could truly trust now were Qiqige and Dodo.

"Be careful on the road," Qiqige said as she escorted him to the gate. Seeing her husband clad in armour, looking like a celestial general descended to earth, she was filled with both admiration and worry. With solemn sincerity, she added, "Come back soon. The weather will get hotter in a few days—be sure to change your clothes often. If you come back covered in heat rashes and lice, you'll see how I'll deal with you."

Dorgon chuckled and replied, "You take care too. Don't overwork yourself or do anything rash—don't make me worry."

The couple lingered in reluctant farewell. Fortunately, this journey had a fixed end; though months might pass, there was the comfort of anticipating his return. And since this was a diplomatic mission rather than a battlefield deployment, it posed less danger than his usual ventures. Compared to the constant fear and longing of previous separations, Qiqige felt somewhat more at ease this time.

In the imperial palace, Hong Taiji was resting with his eyes closed in Hairanju's chambers when Niman came to report that Dorgon had departed.

As it wasn't a military expedition, the occasion wasn't marked with much ceremony. Hong Taiji acknowledged the report with a brief "I see" and said nothing more.

Baoqing arrived with herbal medicine, which Hairanju brought to him. He frowned and protested, "It leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. Forget it."

Hairanju didn't insist. Instead, she suggested gently, "Let's have them prepare some medicinal dishes using Han recipes. They're nutritious and taste much better than plain medicine."

Hong Taiji sighed, "It's fine. Once I've calmed my mind in a few days, I'll feel better naturally."

Hairanju didn't pry, guessing his mood was still troubled by Mangguji's case. But to her surprise, Hong Taiji began speaking to himself, "What am I to do with Haooge? With his violent nature, how could he ever shoulder great responsibilities?"

Puzzled, Hairanju remained silent as Hong Taiji continued, "His consort didn't hang herself. He killed her. He's exactly like my elder brother Cuyen. Is this somehow my fault?"