Can't Compare to Her Toe

Hairanju was at a loss and decided to drink the water first. Only after drinking it did she come to her senses—it should be her taking care of the Great Khan, not the other way around.

But Hong Taiji was already sitting by her side. He pointed outside the window and said, "Out there, seeing our place all brightly lit, what do you think they're imagining? What do you think they'll think we're doing?"

"But…"

"If you don't intend to say anything, we'll just sit like this all night." Hong Taiji was resolute. "If you don't tell me tonight, I'll come back tomorrow night to sit with you again."

This was enough to make Hairanju anxious. She hurriedly climbed down from the kang, blowing out the candles one by one herself until only a faint glow remained. Then she carefully climbed back, only to be immediately pulled into Hong Taiji's arms, held tightly against his chest.

He said, "I know you like children. Is it because you saw Nam Jung having a child, and Dorgon has one too, that it made you feel bad? Do you wish for us to have a child too?"

Hairanju hesitated. She had indeed felt sad about this before, but lately, the thing troubling her wasn't about having children. After all, her health wouldn't allow it, and she knew it was beyond her control.

"Is that it?" Hong Taiji kissed her. "Didn't we agree that if we can have a child, that's great, and if not, we'll still be just as fine?"

"It's not… about the child."

Hairanju didn't want to keep it a secret anymore. Otherwise, not only would she keep overthinking it, but Hong Taiji would also end up worrying about her.

Yet Hong Taiji remained patient. "Then what is it?"

Hairanju's cheeks burned as she feared speaking out might anger him. After all, it would seem like such a trivial matter to him, while having children was a much bigger issue.

"I… I can never understand what Yuer and aunt said, nor do I understand what Qiqige said," Hairanju said timidly. "Even with you, sometimes you speak halfway and suddenly stop. I know you must think, 'What's the point of saying more if she doesn't understand?' In the future, when the time comes and you become the emperor, we'll go to Beijing. Yuer says there are even more Han people there. I… I'm afraid I'll embarrass you."

The more Hong Taiji listened, the more amused he became, which only made Hairanju feel even more uneasy. She whispered, "Please don't be mad at me. I know it's a small matter."

"It's not a small matter," said Hong Taiji. "When I was young, I was also afraid of not understanding what Father Khan said or the Han people's language. I forced myself to learn Mongolian, Mandarin, even Tibetan, and the language of the Koreans. I understand your unease."

Hairanju felt slightly relieved and quickly added, "It's not Yuer or aunt's fault—it's my stupidity."

Hong Taiji said, "I suggested you learn before, but you refused. How about starting now? I'll arrange for a teacher for you."

Hairanju sat up straight and replied earnestly, "Though I feel sad, I don't intend to start learning now. If I had begun with Yuer back then, it wouldn't have mattered how things are now. But Yuer has excelled in her studies and loves it so much. For me to suddenly intrude now—how could I? I've already taken away the person she cares about most and hurt her deeply. I can't…"

Hong Taiji gave her forehead a firm tap. Startled, Hairanju looked at him, slightly pained. But Hong Taiji quickly reached out to rub the spot and pulled her into his embrace, saying, "Nonsense. Don't bring it up again—ever."

What shouldn't she bring up?

Her inability to understand? Or her guilt about taking away someone Yuer cared about?

"When I was a child, Brother Cuyen was an unattainable figure in my eyes. I always tried to imitate him, to become as excellent and strong as he was," Hong Taiji said. "But later, I realized that Father loved Cuyen, and he loved us too. He never expected all his sons to be exactly the same. I couldn't charge into battle, so I stayed behind to manage everything for Father. That earned his praise just the same and was just as critical to winning victories."

Hairanju listened quietly while Hong Taiji gently stroked her back.

"Perhaps the two can't be directly compared, but to me, you are you, and Yuer is Yuer," he said warmly. "Do you know? Many people in the palace, even the women in the households of the beile and beizi, try to emulate you."

"Emulate me?"

"They copy how you dress, how you speak, and even how you walk," Hong Taiji said, laughing heartily. "A whole group of them, like Dongshi imitating Xishi."

Before Hairanju could frown, Hong Taiji leisurely explained the story of Dongshi imitating Xishi. By the end, Hairanju's face was flushed. "But I can't compare to such a beauty," she said shyly.

"Why not?" Hong Taiji replied. "In the future, at banquets or when we go to Beijing together, if you're afraid of exposing your lack of learning, then don't speak. Do you know? Just by standing or sitting there, with your every movement, you're so beautiful they won't dare look directly at you."

Hairanju felt warm in her heart and said softly, "You're just good at sweet-talking."

"If not you, who else should I sweet-talk to?" Hong Taiji replied with a relaxed tone as he lay down. "People always have thoughts and emotions. Take me, for instance. I'm the Great Khan, and the entire Great Jin belongs to me. What could I possibly be dissatisfied with? Yet every day, I'm still driven half-mad by others."

"Even I make you worry," Hairanju said guiltily.

Hong Taiji chuckled. "What's that? It's like a tickle on my heart. And if I can't even coax my own woman, how can I think about ruling the nation and managing the world?"

The more Hong Taiji said this, the more guilty Hairanju felt. She resolved not to dwell on her insecurities. The only thing she could do was to warm this man's heart. He worked so hard and carried so much on his shoulders—she couldn't add even the slightest burden to him.

Resting in his embrace, Hairanju murmured, "I'm so lucky I didn't drown that day when I jumped into the river."

Hong Taiji laughed aloud and teasingly said, "When I have some free time in a few days, shall I take you back there? To the spot where you jumped into the river?"

Hairanju was thoroughly embarrassed. "Great Khan, please don't…"

The next morning, after court was dismissed, Hong Taiji was having tea. He took one sip and immediately knew it was brewed by Hairanju. His mood lightened, but remembering her words from the previous night, his expression grew serious. He ordered Niman to summon the civil officials and ministers.

Once everyone was assembled, Hong Taiji inquired about the progress of Eight Banner children studying and learning Mandarin. He urged them to compile new books to help more Manchu people learn the language. He then reviewed several recently translated books. Noticing the name "Sonin" among the editors, he looked up and spotted Sonin in the crowd.

"Why are you working in the literary office?" Hong Taiji asked.

Sonin, originally a military general, had once saved Hooge from Yuan Chonghuan during the Jisi Incident. Without Sonin's bravery, Hong Taiji would have lost his eldest son and a key ally.

Although that battle didn't capture the Ming, it dealt a severe blow to Emperor Chongzhen and sowed discord that led to the talented general Yuan Chonghuan's execution.

The memory still stirred Hong Taiji's blood, but time had changed him. In just six or seven years, his strength had declined drastically, though only he truly knew it.

"During the year of peace, I was idle in the capital, so I followed my uncle Hife to assist with translating books," Sonin replied, clasping his hands. "I learned Mandarin from my father in my youth. Though unskilled, I was able to lend a hand to several officials. My uncle has been ill since summer, so I completed these two books in his place. If there are any mistakes, I ask the Great Khan to punish me."

Hong Taiji said, "I'll review it in detail later, but at first glance, you've already surpassed your predecessor."

Sonin hurriedly bowed and replied, "I am unworthy of such praise."

After some thought, Hong Taiji stood and instructed, "Follow me."

Sonin was puzzled but had no choice but to obey. Together, they walked from the Ten Kings Pavilion, passed the Chongzheng Hall, and reached the study. Sonin initially thought the Great Khan was taking him to teach the younger princes, but they went beyond that area and arrived at the study used by the princesses.

Today, the children were not studying, and only Consort Yu was in the room. She was sitting cross-legged in front of a low table, diligently painting a landscape.

Upon seeing Hong Taiji enter, she hastily hid the paper. The last time he came, he teased her by saying that Sumala's calligraphy was better than hers, which infuriated her.

"Let me see," Hong Taiji said. "What are you painting?"

"It's nothing, just some random doodling," Da Yuer replied, refusing to show him. Then, noticing the unfamiliar official standing behind Hong Taiji, she quickly asked, "Great Khan, who is this gentleman?"

Hong Taiji stopped teasing her and introduced, "This is Sonin. Have you met before?"

Sonin knelt respectfully and said, "At the grand banquet, I caught a glimpse of Consort Yu's graceful visage. Her famed beauty, of course, I have long admired."

Da Yuer gracefully rose, motioning for him to dispense with formalities, and stood properly by Hong Taiji's side.

Hong Taiji, however, appeared quite relaxed. He said to her, "In a few days, I'll have Sonin come teach you. He can tell you about the Jisi Incident, the closest our Great Jin army has ever been to the Ming capital. Though the result was regrettable, it left us with invaluable experience and resources."

Da Yuer's face lit up with joy. "The Great Khan specially arranged a teacher for me?"

"Do you not wish to hear it?" Hong Taiji asked.

"Of course I do!" Da Yuer exclaimed, her excitement uncontainable.

Hong Taiji then turned to Sonin and said, "Don't think it beneath you to teach a consort. Most of those self-important ones in the Eight Banners aren't worthy of even her little toe. Do you know Fan Wencheng? Consort Yu can now be considered one of his proud disciples. You'll have half a month to focus on teaching her the essentials. After that, I have other assignments for you."