Yuer Also Liked "Chen Fei"

Da Yuer shook her head blankly, her eyes unfocused. "My head's a mess right now... but I do remember you talking a lot about Dong'e."

Qiqige's heart pounded. She carefully probed, "Anything else?"

The moment Da Yuer tried to recall, the pounding in her head worsened. She clutched her temples, wincing. "Oh... why do I feel like I saw Dorgon? Did I see him? Or did you talk about him so much that I imagined it?"

Qiqige quickly reassured her, her voice low and urgent. "Dorgon did come back, but when he heard we were drunk, he left right away. Maybe you really did see him, just for a moment."

Da Yuer gasped, horror dawning on her face. She covered her mouth, her fingers trembling. "This is bad... this is really bad..."

"Yuer?"

Da Yuer buried her face in her knees, her voice muffled. "Aunt will kill me." She knew she'd really made a mess this time. Even if it wasn't Dorgon, just being caught drunk and out of control was enough to break through Jeje's bottom line.

But deep down, what hurt more was the thought of Hong Taiji. He hated it when she had anything to do with Dorgon. Yet now, she wondered if he'd even care anymore — maybe he'd just laugh it off.

The thought made her chest ache so much she shook her head violently. Don't think about it, don't think about it...

Soon, Jeje returned from her prayers. The little palace maid rushed in to warn them, and the two of them scrambled to kneel properly. The moment Jeje stepped inside, she asked coldly, "Did you sit just now?"

They exchanged a glance, knowing it was useless to lie. Heads bowed, they nodded and begged for forgiveness.

Jeje's finger jabbed their foreheads, hard enough to make them flinch. She didn't even spare Qiqige this time. "Since Dorgon came back two years ago, you've only gotten more reckless! All you've done is following Yuer's bad example. Are you spoiled by Dorgon, or have I spoiled you too much?"

"Aunt, I was wrong..." Qiqige clutched Jeje's hand, her voice pitiful. "I'll never do it again. Last night, it was all Yuer — she coaxed me into drinking. She said she needed me to keep her company, I couldn't refuse..."

Da Yuer's eyes went wide, yanking Qiqige by the sleeve. "You liar! You're making stuff up with your eyes wide open!" She turned to Jeje, desperate to defend herself. "Aunt, it wasn't me, it was Qiqige! She dragged me to drink, not the other way around!"

Jeje slapped both of their foreheads, the sting sharp enough to make them wince and clutch their heads. "Do you think I'm joking with you two? You still have the energy to bicker in front of me? You're the most honourable women in the empire now — if you don't respect yourselves, how can you expect others to respect you? Kneel properly!"

She ordered Adai to keep watch. Only after they knelt for another two hours would they be allowed to leave. Then, she handed down her verdict: Da Yuer would be confined to Yongfu Palace, and Qiqige to Rui Qinwang's residence. Neither was allowed to leave without her permission for the next ten days — not even to visit the study for Yuer.

"I'll explain to the Emperor. You keep an eye on them," Jeje said with a heavy sigh before heading to Chongzheng Hall.

As soon as she left, Da Yuer shot Qiqige a glare. Qiqige grinned cheekily, but Da Yuer, seething, pinched her hard on the back side. Qiqige yelped and fell onto her side, rubbing her bruised skin.

Adai had to step in to break them up. "Your Hignesses, please... don't mess around anymore. The Empress didn't sleep all night from anger. Let's just get through this punishment, alright?"

Da Yuer reluctantly nodded, though her face was still scrunched up in grievance. Adai hesitated, glanced at her, then sighed softly and retreated to the side, leaving them in silence.

The ministers in Chongzheng Hall had not yet dispersed, and Jeje waited in the side hall, ordering the palace maids to prepare chilled tea and melon. Sure enough, when Hong Taiji arrived, he immediately asked for water. He drank the tea contentedly, and Jeje handed him the peeled melon slices.

"Are they still kneeling?" Hong Taiji asked. "The bricks in your room are hard. Don't ruin their knees. Let them off this time."

Jeje replied, "They're not that foolish. They know how to slack off, or else why would I be here?"

Hong Taiji nodded. "Zhen understand."

Jeje handed him another piece of melon, watching him eat slowly as she carefully broached the subject. "I know I shouldn't say this, Your Majesty... but Yuer has lost a lot of weight. Have you noticed?"

Hong Taiji bit into the melon, holding it in his mouth as he looked at Jeje.

"It was Qiqige who pointed it out the other day. If she hadn't said anything, I wouldn't have noticed. Just now, when she and Qiqige knelt together, I looked at them from behind. They used to be of similar stature, but now..."

The more Jeje spoke, the more her heart ached. Her eyes welled with tears. "Your Majesty, these past two months, especially around the enthronement ceremony, haven't we neglected her?"

Hong Taiji slowly swallowed the melon, set the unfinished portion aside, and wiped his hands with a handkerchief.

Jeje continued, "We understand you've been busy with state affairs, and we should be considerate of that, but..."

Hong Taiji interrupted, "You want to say that whenever I do have free time, I only stay with Hairanju, so it's not that I'm too busy — is that it?"

Jeje gave a bitter smile, deciding to speak frankly. "Your Majesty, where did the name Guanju Palace come from? And the title of Chen Fei?"

Hong Taiji sighed softly. "Zhen originally thought Hairanju wouldn't conceive again, so I believed my favour wouldn't affect the stability of the royal lineage. But even aside from that, I wanted to give her more glory and honour, to make her someone the world reveres. Of course, no matter what, I wouldn't elevate her above you. I know you wouldn't overthink it."

Jeje said, "But, Your Majesty, doesn't naming a palace and giving her a title based on the line 'A gentle and graceful lady, a good match for a gentleman' sound too frivolous? If you treasure Hairanju so much, why let her bear such a reputation in the world?"

Hong Taiji gave a faint smile. "The 'Mao Preface' to the Han dynasty's interpretation of the Book of Songs states, 'The poem "Guanju" extols the virtue of the queen consort; it is the beginning of the airs, used to influence the world and rectify marital relations.' The Book of Songs is a Confucian classic, not some vulgar text. It's just that, over the centuries, people only remember the surface of the poem — the line about the graceful lady — without contemplating its deeper sentiment. The poem is sincere yet restrained, passionate but within bounds, respectful and measured, with clear rules and decorum. Isn't that precisely the virtue a queen consort should embody, serving as an example for all under heaven?"

Jeje listened with a gentle smile, fully understanding everything in her heart. The weight of the word Chen carried all of Hong Taiji's intentions — he wanted the whole world to know that the woman he had ridden through countless hardships to bring back was his truest love.

"Your Majesty," Jeje finally spoke, unable to suppress her words. After all, human hearts are biased, and Hong Taiji's heart had long tilted far, far away. So why should she hold back?

Jeje said, "I guess Yuer probably likes this 'Chen' as well. If I remember correctly, there was a time when she talked about Wu Zetian every day. She would seize any chance to tell people about her. Later, I scolded her and told her not to influence others, and she gradually stopped. But I heard that in her study, she told Fan Wencheng it was my order — that from then on, no one was allowed to mention Wu Zetian again."

Hong Taiji's heart trembled. He frowned. "When was this?"

Jeje replied, "Right after the enthronement ceremony. Your Majesty can ask Fan Wencheng if you like. But I never issued such an order. A long time ago, I only reminded Yuer that if she liked Wu Zetian, she should keep it to herself and not talk about it everywhere — nothing more."

"So...?"

"Your Majesty, do you really not remember at all?"

Hong Taiji nodded. "It never even crossed my mind. I only thought... Chen symbolizes imperial authority, and I..."

Jeje smiled faintly. "Chen Fei is the wife of an emperor."

"Jeje, that's not what I meant," Hong Taiji hurriedly explained. "Please don't misunderstand me."

Jeje shook her head. "Don't worry, Your Majesty. You and I understand each other. After all these years, if you misunderstood me, that would be the real injustice."

"Yes, Jeje, don't be upset."

"I'm not upset," Jeje said, her voice soft but sad. "But, Your Majesty, don't we need to figure out what Yuer misunderstood? Or whether she misunderstood at all? Now that I think about it, ever since the enthronement ceremony, she's been so obedient — as if she disappeared. Even I forgot about her. How could Your Majesty not?"

Hong Taiji clenched his fists tightly. "Jeje, do you know what she said to Zhen last night? Maybe she doesn't even remember today, but Zhen think she spoke her true heart."

Jeje looked confused and anxious. Hong Taiji said, "She told me she could never give me children again. She wasn't speaking out of anger — she had chosen that path for herself. She went to Dorgon's house to eat and drink to her heart's content... maybe because she had given up on me completely."

"Your Majesty?"

"Jeje, how could I have hurt her to this extent? What have Zhen done?" Hong Taiji asked, looking troubled as he gazed at his wife. "Is it just because of Hairanju?"

In Qingning Palace, Da Yuer could no longer kneel. Adai, sensing the situation, turned away and stood by the window, looking outside. Da Yuer sat down heavily on the floor. Qiqige leaned against her and softly said, "I'm sorry. I got you into trouble."

"Forget it…" Da Yuer mumbled. Of course, she didn't blame Qiqige.

"Last night, I wanted to vent a little myself, and I also didn't want you to bottle everything up inside. If there's something bothering you, just drink it out. Once the drunkenness fades, so does the pain." Qiqige gently said, "Yuer, have you not been eating since the start of summer? Your face is hollowed out. How much sorrow do you have in your heart?"

Da Yuer, feeling guilty, touched her cheek and laughed awkwardly. "No… I just didn't apply the rouge properly today. I was in a rush this morning."

Qiqige held her and said softly, "And I'm here too. Our lives aren't bad, but they're not great either. So, let's rely on each other for the rest of this life."

Da Yuer was struck by her words. She couldn't hold back any longer, and tears immediately streamed down her face. While wiping away her tears, she nodded in agreement, smiling through her sorrow.

In the Chongzheng Hall, more ministers came to receive their summons to meet with the emperor. Hong Taiji couldn't rest any longer. He stood up, walked to the door of the side hall, and then turned back to Jeje. "Whether it's Guanju or Chen Fei, what we said just now — don't mention it to Yuer."

Jeje stood up. "Don't worry, I know what to do. There's no need to rub salt into her wounds."

Hong Taiji's expression was serious. "Jeje, I won't mistreat Yuer. I will treat her well, so don't worry. But... I don't want to feel guilty for Hairanju. Hairanju is innocent."

"Yes," Jeje smiled. "Both of them are innocent. It's unfair to you, Your Majesty."

Hong Taiji sighed. "Let's wait for now. Didn't Yuer come to terms with it on her own before? She will understand eventually; she's very smart."

He turned to leave, but Jeje spoke from behind him, "Yuer only understands, not because she's smart, but because she cares about you."

Hong Taiji fell silent for a moment before leaving without a word.

Jeje sat down heavily, one hand pressed to her heart. She silently vowed never to mention Yuer to Hong Taiji again. This would be the last time. From now on, she would leave their fate to their own devices.