Titles of the Four Imperial Consorts

Dong'e was carried around by the adults, and soon started crying loudly. Qiqige, being inexperienced, didn't know what to do.

Jeje said, "Go and sit in Yuer's room for a while. After she's fed she can take a nap here, you can take her back when she wakes up."

Da Yuer held Qiqige's hand and said, "Come on, you must have so much you want to talk to me about."

However, Jeje instructed, "Hairanju, you should go too. Don't let Yuer bully her."

"Yes," Hairanju replied with a gentle smile. She linked arms with Qiqige and said, "Sister, let me teach you how to soothe a child. You're so smart, and you have wet nurses and maids at home. Children grow up in the blink of an eye."

As they walked, Da Yuer boasted proudly, "Beg me, and I'll teach you too."

They laughed and chatted as they walked out, just in time to encounter Nam Jung returning from a stroll. Qiqige stepped forward to greet her, and Nam Jung returned the courtesy. Unlike the arrogant and flamboyant Zarut, Nam Jung, although unable to hide her pride, was composed and proper in her actions.

So far, apart from the uproar caused by her fainting and later discovering her pregnancy—which had greatly diminished Jeje's regard for her—there was nothing else to criticize. Everything else remained to be seen.

At the moment, however, Jeje's mind was preoccupied with something. After the wet nurse fed Dong'e, Jeje held the child in her arms. Adai came in and out twice, noticing her mistress still holding the baby. She smiled and said, "You really do like this little one, don't you?"

Jeje replied, "Adai, who do you think this child looks like?"

Adai smiled, "She resembles the Fourteenth Beile, very much so."

Jeje asked again, "Why do I feel she looks like…"

Adai stared blankly at Jeje and then examined the child in her mistress's arms more closely.

The little girl, full from feeding but not yet sleepy, gazed curiously at the adults with her bright black eyes. When she wasn't hungry or uncomfortable, she was a quiet and obedient baby—calm and soft, with fair skin and a tender appearance that naturally made people like her.

"What a beautiful little girl," Adai remarked. "Her mother must be stunning too, or else how could the Fourteenth Beile fall for her?"

"Who do you think she looks like? Don't you feel like you've seen her before?" Jeje gave a bitter smile. "Of course, it's impossible. How could she resemble someone completely unrelated? But why does it unsettle me so? What nonsense am I thinking?"

"My lady, what's wrong?" Adai asked worriedly. "What are you thinking about?"

"Adai, doesn't she look like Yuer when she was little?" Jeje asked, her heart nearly leaping out of her chest. "Doesn't she?"

Adai was startled but couldn't immediately grasp what Jeje meant. She examined the baby from every angle.

Truthfully, she couldn't recall what Consort Yu looked like as a child. Though she had served Jeje for decades and even held the infant Consort Yu back in the Khorchin days, it had been too many years. How could she possibly remember?

"My lady, I really can't tell. And besides, do you truly remember what Consort Yu looked like as a baby?" Adai said cautiously. "Surely not."

Jeje's expression grew solemn, and she fell silent, seemingly lost in thought.

Seeing her mistress so serious, Adai dared not ask further. She gently placed the little girl aside and softly patted her to sleep.

As Adai patted the child to sleep, a sudden realization struck her. She got up, knelt before Jeje, and asked in a panic, "Are you thinking that the Fourteenth Beile was drawn to a strange woman because she resembles Consort Yu?"

Jeje quickly covered Adai's mouth. "Don't say that."

Adai, of course, knew the gravity of such a matter. The rumours about the Fourteenth Beile and Consort Yu having an affair only started circulating this year. But this child had been conceived last year. Moreover, Consort Yu had been in the palace for the past decade, always under the watchful eye of her aunt. There was no opportunity for her to have any private dealings with Dorgon. However, on the flip side, what if Dorgon had fallen in love with the beautiful Consort Yu at first sight, it wasn't entirely impossible.

"Adai," Jeje said coldly, "even if we discover something one day, we must take it to the grave and never speak of it to anyone. Let's just consider this my overthinking. After all, this is just a baby—what could we possibly discern from her appearance, right?"

"Yes, yes, I understand," Adai said quickly. "Don't think too much about it. Even if the Fourteenth Beile truly has feelings for someone, our Consort Yu's heart belongs entirely, flesh and soul, to the Great Khan. The Great Khan knows this too."

At that moment, a maid outside announced that the Great Khan was on his way.

Jeje said, "He must be curious—what kind of child could resemble Dorgon so much?"

Sure enough, not long after, Hong Taiji entered the room and asked, "I heard little Dong'e is here?"

Jeje had already composed herself and smiled. "Qiqige is in Yuer's room. Shall I call them?"

"No need," Hong Taiji said. "I just want to take a quick look and then leave. I'm curious to see how much she resembles Dorgon, for him to so readily claim her as his."

Jeje picked up the child from the bed and handed her to Hong Taiji. However, she deliberately pinched the baby's bottom through the swaddling clothes. The little girl cried out in pain and squirmed in his arms.

Hong Taiji held the child and examined her closely, then laughed. "Not bad, not bad. The nose is similar, and the brow bone too. But Hairanju said children grow quickly—give it some time, and maybe she won't look as much like him anymore. Look at Azhe now, doesn't she look like me?"

Seeing that Hong Taiji didn't suspect anything, Jeje felt relieved. Perhaps she had indeed been overthinking. How could she have allowed her mind to wander down such a path?

"How is Qiqige?" Hong Taiji handed the child back to Adai and sat down for tea. "She came yesterday. Did you talk sense into her?"

Jeje replied, "You know Qiqige—she's very perceptive. All I need to do is show her affection."

Hong Taiji said casually, "You should favour this child more as well. It's perfectly fine to make her more spoiled and distinguished than the other children in the various households."

Jeje understood his intention and said, "I will take good care of her. Besides, this child is naturally lovable."

Hong Taiji replied, "We investigated. Her biological mother was a well-known beauty in her village. She kept rejecting suitors, waiting for someone better. When she met Dorgon, she likely believed she could follow him. However, I suddenly ordered Dorgon to relocate. He left in a hurry, inadvertently cutting off their bond."

"She reportedly died in childbirth," Jeje said.

"She did," Hong Taiji confirmed. "Everyone in the village knows. She passed away the day after giving birth. This child was quite fortunate—not only did she survive, but she also found her father. It seems there's a strong connection between father and daughter."

Jeje asked, "What are people saying about this outside?"

Hong Taiji put down his tea bowl and gave a cold smile. "Naturally, they'll say whatever we want them to. You can make something up and spread it around—let them have their entertainment. There's no need to save face for Dorgon. Say he picked her up, or that he's using her for appearances. Anything works."

Meanwhile, in the side palace, before Hong Taiji arrived, Hairanju had been drawn away by Yatu and the others. Now, only Da Yuer and Qiqige were in the room. Da Yuer was leaning by the window, peeking toward the Qingning Palace. Qiqige, annoyed, said, "Do you always want to see the Great Khan? You can't go a moment without him? Then go! You don't have to stay here with me."

"I'm watching the movements in Nam Jung's quarters. I don't like her clinging to the Great Khan," Da Yuer said casually, then chuckled. "Fine, I'll stop. He's not coming here anyway since you're here."

Qiqige, however, responded coldly, "It's amazing how you can still be so devoted to the Great Khan. These past few days, Dorgon has chilled me to the bone. All those sweet words and promises—what a joke. Men are like cats drawn to fish. I hate him so much I could grind my teeth. Now I finally understand how much pain you must have felt back then. If I had a sister who stole Dorgon's heart, I would have killed them both and then slit my own throat."

Da Yuer was horrified and quickly covered Qiqige's mouth. "Don't say such things. If my sister hears this, she'll be frightened and heartbroken."

Qiqige, however, broke free, her eyes burning with rage, her every word laced with hatred. "That woman was lucky to die in childbirth. If she had dared to bring her child into my household, I would have had the guts to chop her to pieces and feed her to the dogs."

"Qiqige, don't be like this…"

"Yuer, you must never forgive the Great Khan. Not in this lifetime," Qiqige said, her eyes brimming with tears. "I will never forgive Dorgon for the rest of my life."

Da Yuer sighed and said, "How about this—I'll go with you to Hetu Ala for a change of scenery? Let's run away again for a while."

Qiqige was startled for a moment, then broke into a teary smile and playfully hit her. "You're never serious. I've been so miserable these past few days, and you didn't even come to see me."

Da Yuer replied, "If you truly hated Dorgon, you wouldn't care anymore. The reason you're in so much pain is because you love him."

Qiqige choked up, grabbing Da Yuer's hand. "Why? Why must we endure such humiliation? Dorgon even told me that from now on, this child is mine. How could he even say such a thing?"

Meanwhile, Jeje was escorting Hong Taiji out of the palace. As they stood at the gates of the Qingning Palace, they saw Hairanju returning alone from afar. She bowed slightly to the two of them but didn't approach, heading straight for Yuer's quarters instead.

Jeje remarked, "Hairanju knows her place well. No wonder you're so fond of her."

Hong Taiji gave a faint smile, then recalled something. He instructed Jeje, "The matter of proclaiming myself emperor will take place next year. At that time, the imperial harem will need to be officially appointed. Naturally, you will be the empress, and the four palaces here will each have a consort. The consorts will need titles. Think about suitable ones and draft a list for me to review. We'll discuss and finalize them together."

Jeje asked, "Great Khan, will there be a hierarchy among the consorts?"

Hong Taiji nodded. "Yes. From now on, everything will need to follow proper order and regulations."