Painful and Familiar Feeling

Though Hong Taiji's words were comforting, Da Yuer couldn't put her mind at ease. On the way back to the palace, she had already formulated a plan to protect Sumala in case she was blamed.

Hong Taiji silently observed her composed yet tense demeanour. Over the past winter, spring, and summer, she had undergone an astonishing transformation. He felt both proud and deeply gratified.

Yet, he couldn't let her know how much he ached for her, as it would diminish her hard work and growth.

"So worried?" Hong Taiji teased with a smile. "Even if something happens, I'm here. What does Nam Jung count for?"

Da Yuer asked cautiously, "If something really happens, will the Great Khan protect Sumala for me?"

Hong Taiji chuckled. "Sumala is no longer just a servant to you; she's closer than a sister. How could I not understand that? Forget Nam Jung—no matter how great the issue, I will protect her for your sake."

Da Yuer leaned into Hong Taiji's embrace, her voice soft. "You know, I've been very well-behaved these past few months. I've had no conflicts with Nam Jung. Even though I can't stand her and hate seeing you treat her kindly, I've held it all in. I don't want to cause you trouble."

"I know. I've noticed," Hong Taiji replied with a teasing smile. "In past years, when I wasn't home, I'd occasionally wonder if you'd caused trouble again and driven Jeje mad. But now I see you've become so understanding and composed."

Da Yuer gazed deeply into his eyes, her lips trembling slightly, as if to say something, but no words came out. Instead, she pressed herself closer to his chest.

Meanwhile, in the palace, Nam Jung had already woken up. Several physicians took turns checking her pulse, but she knew well what her "condition" was. Yet, the faces of those in the room remained devoid of joy after hearing the doctors' conclusion. In this vast palace of Shengjing, aside from Lixin, there was probably no one hoping for her recovery.

No, she still had her son, Abunai, who was being raised outside the palace. He must be blessing his mother and his unborn little brother in her womb.

When Hong Taiji and Da Yuer returned to the inner palace, Da Yuer had mentally prepared herself for the sight of Sumala kneeling in punishment. To her surprise, it was only Lixin kneeling at the door—alone.

Da Yuer's heart tightened, immediately assuming that Sumala had been taken away and beaten. She was about to rush to inquire but was held firmly by Hong Taiji. His steady gaze calmed her turbulent emotions, and she nodded in understanding, following him inside.

"Great Khan, congratulations," Jeje said with a polite smile, though her heart remained indifferent. "The physicians have examined Nam Jung and found that she is expecting."

Da Yuer froze. First Zarut, now Nam Jung—how could these women have such good fortune?

Hong Taiji's expression remained calm. He approached the reclining Nam Jung and spoke gently, "Take care of yourself."

Her alluring eyes shimmered with a mix of timidness and softness. Whether it was an act or her natural demeanour in front of men, it disgusted Da Yuer to no end. She knew well that Nam Jung, like the other concubines, despised her every word and action. Since that was the case, there was no need for civility.

But now wasn't the time for spite. Nam Jung's child, no matter how divine, was none of her concern. Her priority was to find Sumala.

Fortunately, Da Yuer unintentionally looked across and saw her sister walking out of her room with Sumala. The two of them exchanged a few words and then retreated.

Da Yuer let out a sigh of relief, she had truly thought Sumala had been dragged out and whipped. But speaking of it, was it her aunt's intervention, or was it Nam Jung pretending to be magnanimous? Why was her maid kneeling at the door?

"I thought it was a serious illness and panicked, so I sent someone to call the Great Khan back quickly," Jeje spoke gently and graciously to Hong Taiji. "If I had known it was a pregnancy pulse, I wouldn't have been so anxious, and I wouldn't have made you worry."

Hong Taiji replied, "It's no problem; it's a joyful event, and I should have returned."

He then turned to Nam Jung and said, "Take care of your health and be careful in everything."

Nam Jung bowed in gratitude, then raised her head to see Da Yuer. Although her heart was full of disdain and disgust, she still humbly said, "Sister Yuer, it was Lixin who accidentally pushed me, causing me to fall, and her conflict with Sumala was because Lixin hid the little princess's pearl. My maid was so rude, I truly have no face to see you or the Great Khan. Please, Great Consort, punish Lixin severely as a warning to others."

Jeje, who did not want Hong Taiji to be troubled by such trivial matters, seemed to ignore Nam Jung's words. She directly spoke to her husband, "Great Khan, there are officials waiting at the Ten Kings Pavilion to meet you. You should go and take care of it first. I've made old ginseng chicken soup, and Adai will bring it over. Please drink a bowl when you have time."

Hong Taiji nodded, smiled at Nam Jung, and then walked away with a graceful demeanour.

Nam Jung stood stunned, watching Jeje and Da Yuer saw Huang Taiji out. Afterward, only Jeje returned, casually reminding her, "Your body is your own, take good care of it. If you need anything, just come to my room, it's only a few steps away. As for Lixin, she is your servant, and you are the one who got hurt, so you decide what to do. The scuffles and disputes between palace maids are nothing out of the ordinary. From now on, just show your authority and scold them. There's no need to step in and intervene personally."

"Yes..." Nam Jung's heart slowly began to burn with anger. Jeje was indeed formidable—beneath her gentle and gracious demeanour, there was a sharpness that could paralyze others.

Jeje said, "Take good care of yourself, I'll come see you in a few days."

"Thank you, Great Consort," Nam Jung bowed, her fingers tightly gripping the blanket. The summer bedding was thin and almost torn by her grip.

On the other side, Da Yuer had already arrived at her sister's room. As soon as Sumala saw her, she shrank behind Hairanju, but Da Yuer could not bring herself to scold her. She approached and asked, "Did it hurt? Did she hit you? Did Nam Jung hit you?"

Sumala was deeply aggrieved, her eyes filled with tears, and she knelt down with a thud, saying, "Miss, I have caused you trouble. I deserve to die."

Da Yuer pulled Sumala up, rubbing her face to wipe away her tears, saying, "Don't cry. What are you crying for? If you cry again, I really will hit you. What are they to you? No matter what happened, even if it was your fault, I won't let them touch you, and I won't blame you."

Hairanju smiled teasingly, "You can't just indulge her. You should teach Sumala how to avoid trouble. Today's incident, although Lixin was in the wrong, Sumala was too impulsive. It was just a few beads; why fight over it?"

It turned out that Yatu and Atu was playing with beads in the yard, and when the beads rolled off, Atu saw that it was Lixin who picked them up. They went to ask Sumala for the beads. Sumala came to question Lixin, but Lixin denied it outright, leading to a dispute.

Sumala tried to search Lixin's body, but Lixin refused, and they started pushing each other. At that moment, Nam Jung heard the commotion and came out to break up the fight. Lixin swung her hand and hit Nam Jung, knocking her to the ground, causing her to faint.

In the end, the children's beads were found on Lixin, so she was punished to kneel in front of the door.

Hairanju said, "There's no need to ask. It was definitely a plan between the mistress and the servant. Since Nam Jung is pregnant, she must have been the first to know. She knew exactly how she fell. As for Sumala, stay away from them in the future. Today, they made you fight, and in their hearts, they are pleased that their plot worked."

Da Yuer poked Sumala's head and asked, "Did you hear that?"

Hairanju continued, "It's just as well I wasn't there earlier; I went with Aunt to worship Buddha, otherwise I would have stopped the argument between Sumala and Lixin."

Da Yuer sat beside her sister and said, "If you were here, don't argue with them. You can't beat them."

Hairanju laughed, "Why would I fight with them?"

Da Yuer's expression changed, and angrily said, "It's hateful, what qualifications do such women have to bear children for the Great Khan?"

Hairanju then tried to comfort her sister, "Don't be angry. At least now she's pregnant, no one can say the Great Khan is not sincere toward the Mongols and the Chahar. The trouble with the First Prince a while ago is also over."

At that moment, Adai came to deliver Jeje's message, asking for Consort Lan, Consort Yu, and Sumala to come over. Hairanju advised Yuer, "If Aunt wants to punish Sumala, don't cause a scene. Listen to me; Aunt is also very angry."

Sure enough, Hairanju had guessed correctly. Jeje, after all, had her position and couldn't always favour Sumala. Even though Lixin hid the beads first, Sumala shouldn't have acted violently. After severely reprimanding Sumala, Jeje punished her to stand under the eaves to reflect.

Da Yuer breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, it was only standing as punishment. If it had been kneeling, Sumala would have suffered greatly.

But Jeje immediately turned the blame onto Da Yuer: "She is your maid, if Sumala is in the wrong, it's also your fault. You should reflect on how to handle things in the future, instead of feeling that I have wronged her."

"Yes..."

"You disagree, do you?" Jeje said coldly. She, too, was full of anger. Zarut and Nam Jung—how were they so lucky? Although Zarut's fate had been unfortunate, what would become of Nam Jung? She was uncertain in her heart.

"I dare not," Da Yuer replied, at this moment, she absolutely did not dare to contradict her aunt.

But Jeje had to say: "If you have time to be unhappy, you should focus on taking care of your body. The Great Khan has been home for so long, and there's no news from you. I'm not demanding much from Hairanju since she's unwell, but what about you?"

Da Yuer's heart tightened suddenly, and the familiar, painful feeling returned. Hairanju, who was listening nearby, also felt heartbroken.

"Yes." She agreed, "Aunt, I understand."