We Will Definitely Have A Son

Hairanju's gaze turned solemn, her normally serene and gentle eyes now brimming with hatred, causing a shiver to run through anyone who saw them. "Yuer, I'm serious," she said. "Promise me, if I die before you, tell the Great Khan not to let Wukeshan enter my mourning hall, nor allow him near my grave."

Da Yuer's eyes welled up with tears. "I don't want you to die."

Hairanju smiled softly. "Everyone dies someday. But for now, I want to live well and live long. I'm just saying this as a precaution."

"Don't say it at all…" Da Yuer lowered her eyes. "Just don't say it."

"Alright, I won't say it." Hairanju's nose tingled with emotion.

"I'll talk to the Great Khan. I'll tell him to let Wukeshan kowtow and leave, and not to return to Shengjing unless it's necessary," Da Yuer said, turning to leave.

Hairanju stopped her. "Forget it. The Great Khan surely has state affairs to discuss with him. I just won't meet him."

A few days later, the people of Khorchin arrived. Wukeshan, accompanied by his family, entered the palace to greet Jeje. At the foot of Fenghuang Tower, he saw the heavily pregnant Nam Jung.

Nam Jung had once seen Wukeshan at the side of Chahar's Lindan Khan. Time had changed them, and neither could have imagined years ago that they would meet under such circumstances.

Seeing the anger brimming in Wukeshan's eyes, Nam Jung felt a deep sense of satisfaction. She was determined to safeguard her life and her child. After all, the one who laughs last is the true winner.

Fuming, Wukeshan stormed into the Qingning Palace, where only Jeje and Adai were present. He paused, before speaking coldly. "Aunt, where are Da Yuer and Hairanju?"

Jeje sneered. "They are both the Great Khan's side consorts. I suggest you show some respect and refrain from addressing them by name. Or has Khorchin become equal to the Great Jin?"

Wukeshan's chest tightened, and he suppressed his anger as he bowed. Adai invited his family to another hall for tea, leaving only the aunt and nephew to converse in private.

"Aunt, you don't need to be sarcastic. Everything I've done is for the sake of Khorchin, just as you have," Wukeshan said earnestly. "It doesn't matter if they hate me, but we must prioritize Khorchin. I've heard that besides Nam Jung, another concubine is pregnant. Why is Da Yuer still without a child? And why can't Hairanju, despite being so favoured, conceive?"

"Why can't Hairanju? You dare ask me?" Jeje's imposing voice cut through the air. "You had better restrain yourself and think carefully about Hairanju's current status. The fact that she hasn't retaliated against you is due to her kindness, her remaining familial bond. If it were Yuer, you'd already be buried and rotting underground."

Wukeshan's eyes widened like copper bells, and he shifted restlessly.

Jeje continued coldly, "And don't anger the Great Khan either. Khorchin doesn't revolve around you alone, Wukeshan. If you die, it will make no difference to Khorchin."

A flicker of panic crossed Wukeshan's face as he instinctively took a step back. After a long pause, he still couldn't suppress his frustration. "But Aunt, if things continue like this, what hope do we have left?"

Jeje replied sharply, "I have my own plans. You should return to Khorchin and tend to it properly. Raise more cattle and sheep, build a stronger army. If Khorchin is weak and vulnerable, even ten sons waiting to inherit Great Jin won't save you. Mind your own business."

Meanwhile, Da Yuer and Hairanju were out enjoying themselves at Seventh Beile Abatai's estate. Qiqige arrived late, carrying Dong'e in her arms. The seventh consort remarked playfully, "It seems Qiqige only honours invitations from Consort Yu. We've tried inviting her many times, but she never come."

Qiqige handed Dong'e to Hairanju and sat down, smiling. "Sister-in-law, don't say that. If you put it this way, I'll never dare come again. Tell me, when have I refused your invitations? While I avoid others, if you call for me, I'll come running. It's just that with this little girl at home, she's been keeping me so busy I hardly have a moment's peace."

Hairanju entertained Dong'e, who had eyes like twinkling stars and long, fluttering lashes. Such a small child, yet so captivatingly beautiful.

"This child is truly gorgeous," Qiqige sighed. "Her birth mother must have been stunning."

The seventh consort laughed. "Qiqige, don't keep saying that. Listen to me—just treat her as your own. If the child grows up and learns that you aren't her birth mother, she'll be heartbroken. You've raised her; in her eyes, you are everything. Her birth mother won't matter anymore."

Qiqige playfully poked Dong'e's chubby cheek. "Little girl, did you hear that?"

They sipped tea and chatted idly, listening to Da Yuer recount ancient legends. Not one of them mentioned Wukeshan's arrival. Though not everyone was aware of the full story, whispers of Wukeshan's past misdeeds—such as drugging Hairanju to cause a miscarriage and the near-assault by Suhebat outside the yurt—had circulated among the royal family.

Among the sisters-in-law, the seventh consort was one of the more likable ones. She knew exactly why her guests had come today and wisely kept any inappropriate questions to herself.

As the women chatted happily, a servant arrived, bringing the seventh Beile's fourth son, Yolo, who had just returned from school and came specifically to greet his aunts.

Yolo was born to the seventh consort when she was in her thirties. Since the seventh Beile had few children, she treasured this son greatly. Yolo often received praise from his teachers at the school for the royal children, and because Hong Taiji was close to Abatai, he also doted on this nephew.

"Yolo has grown so tall," Da Yuer remarked, gesturing with her hand. "He must be in his teens now?"

"He's only ten," the seventh consort replied modestly, though her tone carried pride. "He's tall for his age—everyone says he takes after the late Khan. But I worry he'll grow tall without growing wise."

Qiqige smiled and said, "Why pretend? Everyone knows Yolo is a good student, even the Great Khan praises him." She then turned to Yolo and added, "Aunt was in a hurry and forgot today, but your fourteenth uncle recently brought back some weapons, including a few small daggers meant for you. I'll bring them to you in a few days."

The seventh consort was delighted and quickly instructed her son, "Kneel and thank your aunt and your fourteenth uncle!"

Yolo obeyed, kowtowing respectfully before rising, his eyes lighting up as he gazed at the baby in Hairanju's arms. Hairanju called him over, saying, "Come take a look. This is your little sister."

She guided his hands, showing him how to hold the baby properly. Watching Yolo, with his appearance and stature, Hairanju couldn't help but think that if her own son had lived, he would also be ten years old now.

It felt like a cruel joke from the heavens. She had shared such deep love and harmony with her late husband, yet they had not been blessed with a surviving child. It was as if her children had anticipated their father's early death and had gone ahead to wait for him.

Da Yuer noticed the sorrow in her sister's eyes, understanding that she was mourning her lost children. Feeling deeply for her, she held Hairanju's hand tightly while they walked in the garden afterward, warming her cold fingers with her own.

That evening, Hong Taiji hosted a banquet to entertain the Khorchin guests. However, it was a men-only affair, so the absence of Da Yuer and Hairanju did not raise any questions.

Wukeshan stayed in Shengjing for three days, but seeing that Hong Taiji showed no intention of asking him to stay longer, he left with his family in frustration. Before departing, he went to bid farewell to Jeje, pointedly remarking that if Da Yuer and Hairanju still showed no signs of pregnancy within the year, he would send more women to Shengjing.

Jeje relayed his words to Hairanju and Da Yuer exactly as they were spoken. After all, her own position aligned with Khorchin's hopes for producing heirs as soon as possible.

Call it coercion or a plea, Jeje could help them avoid Wukeshan, but the destiny they bore was inescapable.

Da Yuer sneered, "Aunt, do Khorchin girls even have the chance to grow up, let alone live long enough to bear children?"

That night, Hong Taiji stayed in Da Yuer's chambers. When they were about to share intimacy, Da Yuer's heart felt as cold as ice, and no matter how she tried, she could not muster any enthusiasm.

Hong Taiji, seeing her pitiable state, couldn't bring himself to force her. Instead, he held her gently in his arms and said softly, "Alright, alright. Let's just sleep."

Da Yuer murmured apologetically, "I'm sorry."

Hong Taiji reassured her warmly, "It's fine. In a few days, you'll be feeling better—just don't make it too hard for me to resist."

Da Yuer snuggled against his chest and, with newfound determination, said, "Great Khan, we will definitely have a son."

"Of course," Hong Taiji replied with absolute confidence.

"I saw Yolo at the seventh Beile's house the other day," Da Yuer said. "He's so well-mannered and handsome. Speaking of which, Yolo is such a good student, and he's older than both Yebusu and Sose. Why not let him study in the palace? He could even guide them."

Hong Taiji shook his head. "If I let Yolo study in the palace, what about the other children? Do you know how many nephews and grand-nephews I have now?"

Da Yuer laughed, and Hong Taiji sighed, "I can't favour one over the others, nor can I let them all come to the palace. This is the only way."

"Then why not send Yebusu and Sose to study outside the palace?" Da Yuer suggested. "Throw them in with their cousins. Maybe some competition would help them improve."

Hong Taiji shook his head again. "They're still young. I'm afraid they'll say something inappropriate outside, or worse, learn things I'm unaware of. When it comes down to it, it's my fault. I worry about everything. Back in the day, our father raised us like sheep—he didn't have time to teach us. When we grew up, and he used whoever was available."

Da Yuer teased him with a mischievous smile, "Great Khan, then were you a goat, a sheep, or an antelope?"

Hong Taiji looked down at her, seeing her mood had lightened. His heart warmed as a surge of passion overtook him. He pressed her down suddenly, his voice husky and playful as he said, "The kind with long, strong, and very hard horns…"

"Aah—"

Da Yuer let out a cry, which carried beyond the chamber doors. A few newly arrived palace maids outside were startled. Sumala coughed lightly and, with a serious expression, said, "It's nothing. You'll get used to it in a few days."