The Child Looked Like Dorgon

No matter how Dorgon originally intended to handle this matter, countless eyes were watching him—not just Hong Taiji's. Those prying eyes discovered Dorgon had an illegitimate daughter outside the household. Before the main delegation could return from Joseon with King Yi Jong's petition for Hong Taiji to ascend the throne, this news had already spread like wildfire throughout Shengjing.

Qiqige, usually well-informed, could not have been unaware. On this particular day, however, she sat dazed in her room all morning, too stunned to move. The maids were too frightened to approach her, let alone ask about lunch.

Three women in the household had all failed to bear children for Dorgon. If there was a problem, wasn't it supposed to lie with him? So how could he have fathered a child outside? When did this happen? Who was this woman who had made him lose control enough to lie with her?

After all, there were times when Dorgon didn't even have the interest to be intimate. Qiqige had once cried in Da Yuer's arms, lamenting how Dorgon refused to touch her.

Their marriage was a loving one; she could see herself in his eyes. But that was only his eyes—what about his heart?

Dwelling on these thoughts only deepened her torment. She didn't know who to confide in.

By sunset, she called the two concubines to the main courtyard. Sternly, she questioned them, even asking embarrassing and explicit questions: had they truly been intimate with Dorgon? Did he leave his seeds inside them?

The two women were driven to tears by her interrogation. Yet they admitted that they had, indeed, shared a bed with Dorgon, and each time had been a passionate and intoxicating experience.

Qiqige broke down in tears herself, for the first time in front of the two women.

They were flustered and tried to comfort her. "His lordship has been at home all year. If the child really was born outside, who's to say it's truly his? Perhaps his lordship has been deceived—it wouldn't be the first time someone tried to take advantage of him. Outsiders love to spread rumours and laugh at him."

Qiqige replied bitterly, "If Dorgon brought the child back, it's undoubtedly his."

The concubines tried to console her further, suggesting, "Perhaps the child was adopted or picked up somewhere. Outsiders love to stir trouble and create chaos. We should wait to hear what his lordship himself has to say."

Qiqige pulled herself together, wiped away her tears, and said to the two women, "In a few days, I'll have a doctor come to see us. The three of us will get proper treatment. I refuse to believe we're doomed to this fate. When we meet mother in the afterlife, how could we face her otherwise?"

"Yes," they replied, nodding in agreement. After leaving the main courtyard and getting out of Qiqige's sight, they both breathed a sigh of relief.

Glancing at each other, they shared an unspoken understanding: Qiqige wasn't wrong. If Dorgon brought the child back, it was likely his own flesh and blood.

"Do you think it's a son?"

"Who knows…"

The entire Eight Banners was abuzz with speculation. Rumours swirled—some claimed Dorgon had brought back a boy, others said it was a girl. Some suggested the child was found on the roadside, while others whispered it was born to a Joseon woman.

These rumours soon overshadowed even Nam Jung's pregnancy.

That day, after the doctor came to check Nam Jung's pulse, he went to the Qingning Palace to report to Jeje. Nam Jung also came to inform Jeje that everything was well with her pregnancy. After a few polite words, Jeje dismissed her, advising her to rest.

As Nam Jung left, a messenger arrived, announcing that the Fourteenth Beile had entered the city.

Returning to her side palace, Nam Jung stood by the window for a while, watching. Lixin came in from outside, carrying her prenatal medicine. Nam Jung instructed her to pour it into the chamber pot.

Having given birth before, Nam Jung understood that so-called prenatal medicine was mostly unnecessary. Pregnancy wasn't an illness; why should she take medicine unless something was wrong? Naturally, she was also wary of potential harm from hidden poisons.

"My lady, in Dorgon's household, his wife and two concubines have been there for over ten years, and none of them have even produced a fart," Lixin remarked crudely, laughing derisively. "Maybe Dorgon is just afraid of being mocked for his impotence, so he brought a child from outside to pin the blame on his wife and concubines."

"Who knows? What I do know is that Dorgon is the person Hong Taiji fears most—and by extension, the one I will have to fear most in the future," Nam Jung replied, gently touching her yet-to-show belly. "But if I can win his favour, my path ahead will be much smoother."

Lixin asked, "Tesina has come several times. The first prince seems to be trying to court you."

Nam Jung sneered, "Let him wait. I won't make it too easy for him, or he'll think I'm overly eager. If he wants anything from me, he'll have to come begging. Besides, this Hooge strikes me as a brute—not much use to me."

By this time, Dorgon had arrived outside the imperial palace. After removing his armour and weapons and undergoing the necessary checks, he entered the palace, dressed lightly and unencumbered.

Just as Hong Taiji walked out from Fenghuang Tower, he crossed paths with Dorgon. Dorgon hurried a few steps forward, bent his knee in salute, and said, "Great Khan, I have returned and brought with me the petition from Yi Jong, asking for you to ascend the throne. He also offers you grain, cattle, and sheep."

"Let's discuss it later. You've worked hard," Hong Taiji replied with a calm demeanour. The matter of ascending the throne was always something Hong Taiji approached indifferently. He smiled again and asked, "Why is it only you? Where is the child?"

Dorgon's face darkened, and he remained silent.

Hong Taiji continued, "The whole of Shengjing knows by now. I wonder how you're going to explain things to Qiqige. Be honest, is the child yours?"

"Great Khan, the child is mine," Dorgon responded, lowering the other knee to the ground and his head to the floor. "Great Khan, I ask you to bestow the title of 'Princess' upon my daughter."

Hong Taiji sighed lightly, "Your daughter is my niece. Naturally, she is a noble Princess of the Great Jin. It's not difficult for me to grant her a title, but how will you explain it at home? I know Qiqige has a broad mind, but her heart is tied to you. I had warned you before, but it seems you've forgotten."

"I deserve to die," Dorgon said with regret.

"Enough with this talk of death. Go back now. Haven't you already wronged Qiqige enough in your life?" Hong Taiji scolded him like a loving yet stern older brother. In fact, Hong Taiji had watched Dorgon grow up, had taken care of him after their father's passing, nurturing him for over a decade like a father and older brother. Had it not been for the lingering grudge with Abahai, he might have truly favoured Dorgon over Hooge.

Dorgon stood awkwardly, hands hanging, unsure where to go next.

Hong Taiji kicked him lightly, "Go back now. You have the guts to bring the child back, but you're already so sure it's your own after all this time?"

Dorgon stiffly nodded, "I'm sure, that is my child."

Hong Taiji asked, "How can you be so sure?"

Dorgon's throat moved as he replied, "She looks just like me."

Hong Taiji laughed heartily and shook his head, "Go on."

In the Fourteenth Beile's residence, a woman in her forties was sitting outside the greeting hall, cradling a six-month-old infant. The child had been born a few months before Dorgon's return to Shengjing.

Meanwhile, Qiqige sat at the head of the hall, occasionally hearing the sounds of the child cooing. The woman requested the maid to fetch a bowl of hot water for the baby.

Soon, the baby became hungry or had a dirty diaper, crying loudly and desperately. The maids were in a flurry, and one of them came in to ask Qiqige for instructions: "The woman wants a room to change the baby's diaper."

Qiqige's heart felt like it was being torn apart piece by piece. She had already guessed that the child was Dorgon's. If it wasn't, even if Dorgon had gone to pay his respects to Hong Taiji first, he should have sent someone to reassure her.

If Dorgon claimed the child was adopted, she would have believed him, even if it was a lie. After all, who else in this world could she trust but Dorgon?

But since he didn't speak up and didn't send anyone to explain, Qiqige knew that Dorgon intended to personally explain where the child had come from.

"Consort, the woman said the child's mother died in childbirth, and she is the child's grandmother," the maid timidly reported what they had learned.

Qiqige looked up: "Died in childbirth?"

The maid confirmed: "Yes, this woman feared she couldn't raise the child, and was worried being a baby girl, she would be bullied by others since she was born out of wedlock. The people in the village were gossiping. When they heard that his lordship was passing through their village, she held the child and stopped him on the road. His lordship not only recognized her, but also accepted the child."

Qiqige sighed, "Give her a room, some hot water, and check if there is milk or rice soup in the kitchen, and send it to her."

Just as she finished speaking, someone outside reported that Consort Lan had arrived.

Qiqige was stunned. She thought that if her aunt had sent someone to look after her, it should have been Yuer, not Hairanju.

She straightened herself up and went out to meet her. Hairanju was wearing a light green banner costume, her hair styled with a low knot held by a jade pin, her figure graceful, her face beautiful, and her gentle smile made the rare chaos in the Fourteenth Beile's residence immediately feel peaceful.

The sound of the baby crying reached them, and it tugged at Hairanju's heart. She asked, "How old is the child?"

Qiqige replied coldly, "They say half a year, and it's a girl." She then asked with a serious expression, "Why are you here, sister? Why didn't Yuer come?"

Hairanju smiled and said, "Aunt said that if Yuer came, she would make you too upset, so she didn't let her come and sent me to help you. I brought a wet nurse from the palace who used to nurse Aunt's little princess. Now the little princess no longer needs her, so she'll temporarily work for you. In a few days, we'll send you a better one."

Qiqige looked towards the door and asked, "What about Dorgon? Didn't you see him when you came?"

Hairanju shook her head. "They say he left the palace. He probably has official business. They are always so busy."

The sound of the baby's cries seemed endless, so Hairanju instructed those behind her, "Help take care of the little princess."

Qiqige's heart tightened, and with reddened eyes, she replied, "What little princess? I haven't even acknowledged it yet."

Hairanju supported Qiqige and guided her inside. "Even if it's an adopted child, just her in. Now that the Fourteenth Beile has brought her back, many eyes are watching. You have to give the Fourteenth Beile face."

Qiqige began to cry, her voice filled with despair. "But why? Why can't I have a child?"

"Don't cry, don't cry," Hairanju said, deeply sympathetic, as she helped Qiqige sit down and wiped away her tears. "You're still young, your body might not be fully developed yet."

Qiqige managed a bitter laugh. "Sister, you're treating me like a child. I'm already over twenty. Yuer, who's younger than me, has already had three children."

Hairanju smiled awkwardly. "You're right. I can't comfort people. I said Yuer should come, but Aunt didn't allow it. She said if Yuer came, she'd just upset you."

Qiqige pouted. "If Yuer dares to laugh at me, I'll tell Aunt about her asking me to find spring palace pictures for her."

Seeing Qiqige still joking around, Hairanju felt relieved.

Meanwhile, with the help of the wet nurse, the baby was now calm again.

Hairanju gently said, "I just want to take a quick look. Aunt is waiting for my report. She said that this matter is between you and the Fourteenth Beile, and we can't interfere. But you must give him face and follow his arrangements."

Qiqige sighed in resignation. "Sister, you go ahead. I don't want to see it right now. I won't look until Dorgon comes back and explains everything to me."

Hairanju didn't want to push her, so she went alone with Baoqing. The wet nurse was holding the child and feeding her. The soft, fair baby eagerly drank, looking content. Hairanju said softly, "The eyebrows really resemble the Fourteenth Beile's. The only difference is the baby's fair skin, just like Qi..." \

She almost slipped up, but caught herself. After all, this wasn't Qiqige's child.

One of the maids in the house said, "Consort Lan, the old nanny told us that his lordship was also very fair when he was young. It was only after years of battles that he got darker, so it's hard to tell now."

Hairanju smiled. "Is that so? Daughters do tend to look more like their fathers. Look at that little nose."

She was fond of children in general, and any child seemed adorable to her. Perhaps it was because she missed her own lost children, but right now, Yatu sisters, her sisters' children felt especially dear to her. They were like her own, and she had long stopped hoping for children of her own.

After giving the wet nurse some instructions, Hairanju was about to leave. Qiqige escorted her to the door, waiting for the palace carriage to depart. But Dorgon still hadn't returned.

Qiqige coldly ordered the servants, "Keep an eye on them. Apart from the palace, no one else is to be allowed in or seen."

Back at the palace, Hairanju finished her errand and ran into Hong Taiji. She stood waiting with a smile, and Hong Taiji teased her, "The sun must be rising from the west if you're out today."

Hairanju pouted playfully, "You always mock me. I really won't go out again from now on." She happily told Hong Taiji that she had visited the Fourteenth Beile's residence. Hong Taiji was already aware of it, but still listened quietly, knowing that she had a soft spot for children.

"Does the child look like Dorgon?" Hong Taiji asked.

"Exactly like him, but also very much like Qiqige. Perhaps the mother and daughter are meant to be together," Hairanju replied. "I think Qiqige isn't too angry. It all depends on how the Fourteenth Beile handles it."