Everything Was Different

Da Yuer shook her head. How could she not want to see Hong Taiji? But now… now…

Last night, Dorgon had kissed her. He had told her he loved her. What was this? Was it teasing? Was it disrespect? Or was it an unforgivable insult to both Hong Taiji and herself?

If it had been anyone else, they would have been executed, torn apart, with no place to bury their body. But Dorgon had saved her from life-and-death situations more than once. Dorgon had achieved unparalleled military glory for the Great Qing. Dorgon was the husband Qiqige loved most dearly.

At this moment, Da Yuer should have been crying to Hong Taiji, telling him she had been "taken advantage of." But she couldn't say a single word.

Hong Taiji had warned her, both openly and in subtle hints, to keep her distance from Dorgon. Even on the training field, when she was captured, the way Dorgon had called her name — "Yuer" — over and over had made her uneasy.

But why, after everything, after all the twists and turns, was this still inevitable? How had she ended up being kissed by a man other than Hong Taiji?

Seeing Da Yuer's terrified and uneasy expression, Hong Taiji's initial anger gradually turned into heartache. He gently stroked her cheek, trying to comfort her, but as soon as his hand touched her, she trembled slightly.

Hong Taiji's anger flared up again. "Did I hit you? Or scold you? Why are you so scared? Or do you resent me for not caring about you these days?"

Da Yuer's heart sank. Everything was different now.

Two years ago, after she fought fiercely with Zarut in the hunting grounds, then returned to the palace to argue with Jeje, even making her aunt fall ill from anger, Hong Taiji had come with a ruler, ready to punish her harshly. She acted spoiled, he scolded her, but after a while, they were back to normal.

Two years later, he said the same words: "Causing trouble again?"

Da Yuer suddenly felt that Hong Taiji was still the same as he was two years ago — but she had changed. She was no longer the Da Yuer of two years ago. She no longer wanted this indulgent love.

She didn't want to act spoiled anymore, didn't even know how to, and didn't want to hide behind him again.

"What are you thinking about? I'm asking you a question," Hong Taiji grew impatient, as if unsure what to do with her.

But Da Yuer knew.

If she thought back another two years — back when her sister hadn't come to the palace, when Azhe hadn't been born — when Hong Taiji got angry, he would leave her behind in the middle of the night.

Would he leave her sister behind like that? Of course not. Because her sister was Hairanju, not Bumubutai.

"Alright, enough," Hong Taiji finally softened, lying down beside Da Yuer and wrapping an arm around her. "I won't scold you anymore. Just think for yourself — should you have gotten drunk outside? Should you have been drinking at Rui Qinwang's residence?"

He sighed heavily and closed his eyes. Da Yuer, held tightly in his arms, had no choice but to rest against his chest, hearing the strong, steady beat of his heart.

It was the sound she had once loved most. She still loved it, even now. But she could no longer afford to love it.

The room was silent. Sumala couldn't help but glance inside. The two of them lay holding each other, looking peaceful and steady. But Sumala couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. What was it? She couldn't tell.

After a long, long time, Hong Taiji opened his eyes and looked down at the person in his arms. Da Yuer's long, thick eyelashes rested against her cheeks. It was unclear if she had fallen asleep or was still awake, lost in her fear. Her lashes fluttered, and her eyes shifted beneath her lids — she was restless.

Hong Taiji kissed her forehead and turned onto his side. Half-asleep, half-awake, she instinctively nestled closer. Hong Taiji gently patted her back, soothing her like a child. "Yuer, I'm sorry," he whispered.

Da Yuer didn't hear him. She had fallen asleep — or maybe she had heard, but she no longer cared. From beginning to end, what she wanted was never an apology from Hong Taiji. Never.

At that very moment, in Rui Qinwang's manor, Qiqige had just woken up from her afternoon nap. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Dorgon sitting beside her, staring at her intently.

She had always been domineering, used to getting her way at home. But now, under his unwavering gaze, she felt a rare pang of guilt. She bit her lip and stared blankly at her husband.

In truth, it was Dorgon who felt guilty. But he had made up his mind to face his wife properly, no matter how much she hated him or how harshly she scolded him. He was ready to endure it all — to spend a lifetime making it up to her.

"Don't look at me like that. I was wrong, okay? I already kneeled in the palace as punishment," Qiqige said. "You didn't even come to save me. You could've pleaded with Aunt on my behalf — my knees are about to shatter."

Dorgon froze, staring into Qiqige's eyes. At that moment, he was certain she hadn't overheard the reckless, impulsive words he had spoken the night before.

Relief washed over him. He lifted her skirt and rolled up her pant leg, revealing her swollen, red knees — the bruising hadn't faded even after half a day. It was pitiful to see.

Qiqige tugged at his sleeve, pouting, her face full of grievance and sadness. "I caused trouble for you. I brought Yuer home to drink, and she got drunk. Wasn't that hard to explain to Hong Taiji?"

"He didn't get mad at me. This kind of thing isn't worth it. He still wants to play the good brother — why would he miss an opportunity like this?" Dorgon sneered, though his face remained stern. "But you were out of line. Acting recklessly like that."

Qiqige crawled into his arms, snuggling against him, gazing up with soft, pleading eyes. "Don't scold me. You didn't come to save me — I'm not even holding that against you."

"How was I supposed to save you when you were kneeling with Her Highness Zhuang Fei?" Dorgon tried to hide his guilt, pretending to be annoyed. "The empress adores you, but her rules are as immovable as the heavens. I'm not trying to scare you — if you do this again, no one will save you from a beating."

Qiqige rolled her eyes, unconvinced. "Who would dare? Other than you, no one else can touch me there."

Dorgon frowned, sensing the teasing in her words. She gazed at him with gentle, lingering affection, her eyes brimming with tenderness. Her soft hand brushed against his waist, barely touching yet utterly provocative. Dorgon's heart ignited in an instant. He pushed Qiqige onto the kang bed, pinning her beneath him.

"What... what are you doing?" Qiqige protested half-heartedly, her face already flushed with shyness.

"Punishing you. Punishing you hard." Dorgon smacked her lightly on the backside.

That night, Rui Qinwang's manor was filled with warmth and affection, and Qiqige fell asleep content. But in Yongfu Palace, Da Yuer didn't say a single word to Hong Taiji.

In the morning, as she helped the emperor dress, her hands moved swiftly, carefully draping the complex court robes over him. She fastened each button one by one, smoothing the dragon robe inch by inch.

In the past, the person standing before him would chatter non-stop, filling the room with life and energy. But today, no matter how he looked at her, Hong Taiji felt she was a stranger — a stranger who made his heart ache.

"Stay in your quarters and behave. Jeje grounded you, didn't she?" Hong Taiji said. "Don't upset her again. In a couple of days, I'll plead on your behalf. Even if she doesn't lift the confinement, at least she might let you go to the study."

Da Yuer smiled faintly. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

That "thank you" sounded distant, painfully polite. Hong Taiji sighed and gently patted her shoulder. "Get some rest. It takes at least a day or two to recover from a hangover."

Just then, Adai appeared at the door, asking whether the emperor would like to have breakfast at Qingning Palace. Hong Taiji nodded. "I'm coming."

Da Yuer escorted him to the door, bowing respectfully to see him off. Hong Taiji stepped over the threshold but turned back to glance at her one more time before the door curtain fell, separating them.

He strode toward Qingning Palace, feeling a tight knot of frustration in his chest — a frustration with no clear reason or outlet.

Back in her room, Da Yuer returned to the kang bed, watching the palace maids tidy up. Sumala brought in hot water, preparing to help her freshen up and get dressed.

Amidst the bedding, they found a jade pendant — Hong Taiji's, from his waist. Da Yuer stepped forward, cupping the pendant in her hands, holding it tightly.

"Miss, let's comb your hair," Sumala said gently.

"Sumala…"

"Yes?" Sumala approached.

"Go to Qingning Palace and return this to the emperor," Da Yuer said, her voice trembling as she released the pendant into Sumala's hands. She couldn't keep it. She knew she could no longer afford to keep anything of his.

"Miss…" Sumala hesitated, sensing something was wrong. There was no need to make such a clear-cut gesture. If Da Yuer didn't want to keep it, she could simply return it next time he visited. Why make it so deliberately distant?

Da Yuer seemed to realize this, too. She paused, then quietly changed her mind. "Keep it," she said. "Next time… I don't know when there will be a next time, but remember — return it to him then."

She turned around and sat in front of the dressing table, gently tending to her long hair. She instructed the palace maid beside her, "I'm not going out, so just tidy it up casually. The heavy hairpin pulls at my scalp — it hurts."

Sumala held the jade pendant in her hands, her heart shattering into pieces. She didn't know how others saw it, but she understood all too well — her mistress had completely given up.

Why had it come to this? Why had everything changed so suddenly?

Meanwhile, in Qingning Palace, Hong Taiji finished his breakfast in silence. As he rose to leave, he turned to Jeje and said: "From now on, let her do whatever she likes. There's no need to restrain her too much. As long as she's happy, that's enough."