Father, Go To The Forbidden City

Sumala counted her money and looked up, asking, "Miss, why are you asking about these things?"

Da Yuer replied softly, "I heard from my sister that she promised Aunt to start taking tonics tomorrow to strengthen her body. Of course, it's not just for having children, but because her health is too weak."

"I heard Baoqing mention it too," Sumala said. "Today, Baoqing was arranging for someone to prepare the medicine."

"It's not that I'm trying to imitate my sister," Da Yuer said hesitantly. "It's just that I'm eager to have a child now. The Great Khan and I both want a child. Should I be taking something too? Otherwise, why haven't I been able to conceive?"

Sumala finally understood and chuckled, "It's about pride, isn't it? Before, you refused to take the medicine, and now that you want to, you feel embarrassed."

Da Yuer turned to glare at Sumala, "You're so clever, then come up with a solution for me."

Sumala spoke earnestly, "Miss, don't take it. If you do, you'll only become more anxious. If we don't take the medicine and it doesn't happen, we can blame it on not taking the medicine. But if we take the medicine and it still doesn't work, it will truly be disheartening. I think that although the Great Khan wants a child with you, he surely wishes for you to live more freely and happily. Besides..."

Da Yuer was listening intently and couldn't tolerate Sumala pausing, "Go on, say it."

Sumala chuckled timidly, "What if... you have another little girl? What then?"

Da Yuer also laughed, "Then she'll be my precious darling. What's wrong with having a daughter..." Naturally, her voice grew softer as she spoke, "I know, he really wants a son now. Having more sons means there are options, and if we have them now, there's still time to raise them properly. Sumala, I still say, if only I had met him twenty years earlier, how wonderful that would have been."

In the following days, Hong Taiji was so busy with the preparations for his ascension to the throne that he was rarely seen. 

Inside the palace, Jeje, along with Hairanju and Da Yuer, were also occupied with receiving congratulatory visits from female relatives of the imperial clan and formally establishing new palace regulations. From now on, when female relatives entered the palace to pay their respects, they would have to follow strict etiquette, even the manner of their greetings would need to be corrected. From Jeje to the palace maids to the servants of each household, everyone had to comply.

It wasn't until the sixth day that Hong Taiji stepped into the inner palace for the first time. As soon as he entered Jeje's quarters and heard the maids say, "Your Majesty, good fortune," he couldn't help but smile and said to Jeje, "You've taught them quickly. Over at the Grand Politics Hall, they haven't even changed their address yet."

Jeje smiled warmly, "How could I not? Now I'm also being addressed as 'Your Majesty.'"

Hong Taiji was deeply moved. Jeje had accompanied him through over twenty years of trials and hardships. He opened his arms to embrace his wife, but Jeje blushed and whispered, "Great Khan, the maids are watching."

Hong Taiji pulled her closer and teased, "Why haven't you changed how you address me?"

Jeje, her face glowing with pride, looked up at her husband and said, "Your Majesty, forgive me. This humble consort will change it now."

Hong Taiji gently kissed her forehead, "After the Lantern Festival, construction will begin on the Altar of Heaven. During the coronation ceremony in May, you will also be formally crowned as Empress. I will hold your hand as we ascend the Altar of Heaven together."

Jeje's heart swelled with emotion, "Yes, Your Majesty. I look forward to it."

They shared lunch and discussed many matters concerning the court and the inner palace. After the meal, Hong Taiji had state affairs to attend to, and there were also female relatives coming to the palace to pay their respects and learn the new protocols. After a short rest, he left.

As he stepped out of the Qingning Palace, he noticed servants delivering medicine to Hairanju's side palace. Frowning, he asked Jeje, "Is Hairanju ill?"

Jeje explained that it was just tonic to strengthen her body, not for any specific purpose. They were concerned that Hairanju's constitution was too weak and wanted her to take care of herself while she was still young.

Hong Taiji breathed a sigh of relief and strolled over. Lifting the curtain, he saw Hairanju taking her medicine. When she caught sight of him out of the corner of her eye, she panicked and choked, coughing uncontrollably.

Hong Taiji hurried over and patted her back to help her catch her breath. Hairanju glanced at him timidly, fearing his disapproval.

"Take it slowly."

"I will..." Hairanju stood up, blushing, and with Baoqing's assistance, she performed a proper bow to the Emperor. Hong Taiji smiled as he watched her and reached out to help her up, "You've learned well."

"Your Majesty," Hairanju said, her voice filled with emotion. Her radiant face glowed even more beautifully.

"It seems the medicine is working. Your complexion looks much better," Hong Taiji said. "But don't overdo it. Be careful with the preparation of the medicine, understood?"

Hairanju replied, "Aunt has people overseeing it. This prescription is only for fourteen days, ending right after the Lantern Festival. The physician said that all medicine has some toxicity, so there's no need to take it like food."

Hong Taiji thought for a moment and asked, "Can Yuer take this medicine too?"

Hairanju said, "I asked before, and Yuer said she wouldn't take it. Let her be. She must have had too much of it in the past and gotten sick of it."

Hong Taiji agreed and, after giving a few instructions, was about to leave for state affairs. Hairanju walked him to the door and said, "Your Majesty, medicine is bitter. Will you accompany me while I take it?"

"Did Jeje teach you this?" Hong Taiji saw through her immediately.

Hairanju's face flushed red like a ripe apple. She looked at him nervously, her eyes glistening with tenderness, making her even more endearing. In the end, Hong Taiji gave in. "Fine, I'll take it too. I'm getting old, and you all dislike me now."

"Many thanks, Your Majesty." Hairanju was overjoyed. She carefully placed a snow-cap on Hong Taiji's head and watched him leave.

But as she turned around, she suddenly felt a chilling gaze coming from the side palace on the opposite side. Her heart tightened, yet she remained composed, maintaining her noble demeanour as she gracefully returned to her chambers.

It was not just one pair of eyes watching. Nam Jung and Lixin stood beneath the window, their eyes burning with envy. Lixin whispered, "Mistress, the Great Khan truly loves Hairanju. Every time they meet, he looks ten years younger."

Nam Jung shot her a sideways glance. "It's 'His Majesty' now. If you don't change the way you address him, be careful, or the Empress might have you flogged."

Lixin quickly covered her mouth. Nam Jung, her belly heavy with pregnancy, slowly walked back to the kang. Her eyes swirled with hatred and murderous intent. "No rush. Once I give birth to my little prince, I'll deal with them one by one."

Meanwhile, as Hong Taiji passed by Fenghuang Tower, he suddenly heard the crisp voices of children. His daughters came running toward him, all dressed in bright red cotton jackets, looking like the golden children in paintings as they surrounded him excitedly.

"Royal Father, Royal Father…!"

This new form of address was refreshing—even Hooge hadn't switched to it yet.

Hong Taiji lifted his head and saw Da Yuer walking toward him, holding little Azhe's hand. She was dressed in red, standing out beautifully against the icy landscape. In Hong Taiji's eyes, no one in the world could wear red as stunningly as she did.

"Finally, I get to see Your Majesty." As she approached, the other children scattered to play, leaving only little Azhe. In her soft, childlike voice, he called out, "Royal Father," and Hong Taiji picked her up, kissing her twice.

Da Yuer, beaming with joy, said, "Not seeing Your Majesty these days, I thought you had gone to Beijing without me."

Hong Taiji teased, "I could leave anyone behind, but do you think I'd dare leave you?"

Azhe snuggled into his father's arms and said sweetly, "Father, go to the Forbidden City."

Hong Taiji was delighted, kissing his daughter again and again. "Father will take Azhe along, and your mother too."