Palace Eaves

With a cold smile, Dorgon turned and released his arrow, which once again hit the center of the target. He ordered Fan Wencheng, "Go on, and do this job well."

"Yes, sir." Fan Wencheng cupped his hands respectfully and retreated. On his way, he encountered Dodo and quickly moved aside to let him pass.

Dodo walked by, then doubled back and asked, "I heard you're going into the palace to teach the princesses Chinese characters?"

Fan Wencheng promptly replied, "Yes, sir."

Dodo looked him up and down, saying, "You're a refined man, dignified and elegant. Hong Taiji is naturally suspicious, so be careful around his women. Don't get yourself into any trouble and cause my brother or me the hassle of cleaning up after you."

Fan Wencheng immediately knelt down, replying, "I wouldn't dare, and I thank you for the reminder, my lord."

Dodo laughed heartily and strutted off, leaving Fan Wencheng feeling a weight settle in his heart. He brushed the snow off his robe and quickly departed.

Meanwhile, back in the palace, the matter of the princesses learning Chinese was something both Jeje and Da Yuer were keen on, and even Hong Taiji himself took a particular interest. He personally inspected the new study room, concerned that it might not be warm enough and worried the girls would feel the chill.

Seeing his level of concern, Jeje felt a deep satisfaction and, half-teasing, said, "The other day when we dined with the children, Sose merely mentioned the study room was too cold, and you scolded him fiercely. Now that the girls are studying, aren't you afraid they'll be too warm and fall asleep?"

Hong Taiji picked up the brush and ink on the table, chuckling, "I can't bear to let them be cold, but that doesn't mean they get to slack off. Anyone who doesn't study well will get a smack on the hand—no mercy."

Just then, the nurses brought the princesses in. Jeje's elder daughters were already eight or nine years old, with the youngest being Yatu.

"Daddy, hug!" True to her nature, Yatu ran straight to her father the moment she saw him. Hong Taiji patted her head and said, "This is the study room, a place for reading and learning, not for being spoiled or mischievous. Otherwise, Daddy will have to smack your hand."

Yatu pouted a little and ran back to Jeje's side. Jeje instructed the children, "Sit down, everyone."

Not long after, Niman arrived with Fan Wencheng, who respectfully saluted Hong Taiji and Jeje. After a few questions, Hong Taiji invited Fan Wencheng to take a seat, then instructed his daughters to salute their teacher.

Fan Wencheng, feeling unworthy, quickly stepped aside and said, "Great Khan, the princesses are of royal blood; I cannot possibly accept such respect."

Hong Taiji replied, "The Han respect their teachers, and we Manchus are no different. Today, as their teacher, you deserve this honour. Go and take your seat; don't delay the lesson."

After the princesses saluted Fan Wencheng, Hong Taiji gave a few stern reminders, and seeing that they were behaving properly, he departed with Jeje, not wanting to delay the lesson any longer.

Fan Wencheng let out a breath of relief and took in the arrangements in the study room and the palace servants assigned to assist him. The princesses were looking at him with wide, curious eyes. Reflecting on Hong Taiji's respectful attitude and Dorgon and Dodo's aloofness, he sighed softly, composed himself, and then smiled as he asked the princesses what they had already learned.

As Hong Taiji and Jeje were leaving, they saw Da Yuer waiting by the roadside with Sumala. She hurried over excitedly and asked, "Have they started studying yet?"

Jeje sighed and explained to Hong Taiji, "She's been pestering me for days, begging to join the children in their studies. I told her that if Yatu sees her mother, she'll never sit still, so I didn't allow it."

Da Yuer smiled brightly at Hong Taiji, and although he looked displeased, he said, "Fine, go ahead, but consider it your duty to watch over them. If you start playing around with them..."

"I won't, I wouldn't dare," Da Yuer said with a quick bow of gratitude. She thanked Hong Taiji and Jeje, then called for Sumala and hurried off.

Hong Taiji watched her run off and shook his head with a slight smile. Seeing this, Jeje said, "Qiqige praised Yuer for her intelligence, and even mentioned that her own teaching has its limits, so it would be better to hire a proper teacher."

But Hong Taiji's expression darkened slightly. "She and Qiqige have grown quite close," he remarked.

Jeje replied seriously, "Qiqige treats her sincerely and with kindness, yet Qiqige is clever. We don't treat her poorly, and Yuer herself knows this."

Hong Taiji nodded, ready to part ways with Jeje, but after taking a few steps, he returned and added, "Have someone keep an eye on the study room. I want daily reports on what Fan Wencheng is teaching. If you notice anything questionable, inform me immediately."

"Yes," Jeje agreed.

Inside the palace, Atu was playing shuttlecock with Hairanju, when Baoqing kicked it too hard, sending the shuttlecock flying toward Jeje. Startled, she quickly ran over to apologize.

Jeje bent down to pick up the shuttlecock. It had been many years since she had played with one of these, and she casually tossed it into Baoqing's arms, gently saying, "The princesses have gone to study. Don't let the little ones get too close to that area. Wait until they're done and then play together."

Baoqing nodded obediently, and Jeje turned her attention to Hairanju, who must have been playing with Atu for quite a while. The pale skin of her face was now tinted with a healthy blush, and her complexion had improved significantly. Jeje recalled how frail Hairanju had been when she first arrived in Shengjing—it had been heart-breaking to see her in such a condition.

"Did Yuer really leave the child with you?" Jeje asked.

Hairanju smiled and replied, "Atu insisted. Yuer was originally planning to take care of her, but she left Atu with me. I heard from Baoqing that Yuer is going to study as well."

This wasn't what Jeje was really concerned about. She wanted to ask, "Are you still not speaking to each other?"

Hairanju lowered her head. "Yes."

Jeje pressed further, "Have you ever tried to speak to her?"

Baoqing, feeling sorry for her mistress, hurriedly spoke up, "Great Consort, the Side Consort has tried to speak to Consort Yu several times, but Consort Yu has ignored her every time. It's true."

"Baoqing," Hairanju stopped her, then said to Jeje, "Aunt, please don't worry. We'll handle things between Yuer and me ourselves."

"Do you still say this in front of the Great Khan?" Jeje asked, skeptical.

Hairanju answered truthfully, "I've told you before, the Great Khan never asks about it. Since you asked last time, he hasn't brought it up. He trusts me, so you should too."

Seeing Consort Doutumen leaving Zarut's residence, Jeje decided not to continue the conversation, instead heading to Zarut's palace to take a look.

The woman was still crying pitifully, though Jeje could tell some of it was fake. She understood this well but couldn't make sense of the thoughts of her own nieces.

Meanwhile, Da Yuer arrived at the study. After explaining that Hong Taiji had allowed her to study, Fan Wencheng, though nervous, had no choice but to comply. Unexpectedly, the princesses started joking around, saying she should bow to the teacher. Da Yuer, hearing this, decided to formally salute the teacher as well.

Fan Wencheng, frightened, quickly got up from his seat and knelt before Da Yuer, saying, "Side Consort, please don't scare me."

Da Yuer, in a graceful manner, replied, "Then let's begin the lesson. If you teach well, I will ask the Great Khan to reward you."

Fan Wencheng asked, "What book is the Side Consort studying right now?"

Da Yuer smiled and said, "Qiqige usually reads plays for me, and the pile of books she gave me contains many that I don't understand. The other day, I asked her why a woman can become an emperor, and that's when I mentioned you, Mr. Fan. Do you know Wu Zetian?"

Fan Wencheng was taken aback and respectfully asked, "Side Consort, what books are you currently reading?"

Da Yuer replied, "The New Book of Tang."

Fan Wencheng was astonished and asked, "Have you already learned so many Chinese characters?"

Da Yuer smiled and said, "Qiqige taught me well. She was also taught by you, right?"

"Yes, yes..." Fan Wencheng was stunned.

The rumours he had heard about Consort Yu were completely different from the woman he was seeing now.

The one who had fought on the hunting ground, the one who had run away from home during a snowstorm, the one who couldn't let anyone wear red in the palace, and who didn't care about the wives of the Beiles and ministers—this woman, whom Hong Taiji had dote on, was actually like this?

She was beautiful, and even Fan Wencheng, who had seen countless beauties among the Han people, couldn't help but admire her. Her demeaner was graceful, neither too casual nor too arrogant. She had even just bowed respectfully to him.

What surprised him the most, though, was that this Consort Yu could already read historical texts.

Fan Wencheng collected his thoughts and asked Da Yuer, "Would you mind writing a few characters for me to see?"

Da Yuer's eyes flickered, and she gently shook her head. "My handwriting is too ugly. Let me practice a little more, and then I'll write it for you. Don't let me embarrass myself in front of the children."

Fan Wencheng almost chuckled but held himself back. He respectfully said, "I'll bring some calligraphy practice sheets tomorrow. If the consort practices copying them, it will be very beneficial."

Da Yuer thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "Mr. Fan, please don't report to the Great Khan about my practice of calligraphy."

Fan Wencheng was taken aback, and Da Yuer smiled without answering, then lowered her head to flip through her book.

Although she was thinking of surprising Hong Taiji, she couldn't appear too frivolous in front of outsiders. She reined in her excitement and joy, then looked up with grace and said, "Mr. Fan, please go ahead and teach the children. Afterward, come and tell me about the Tang Dynasty."

The first day of teaching went very smoothly. The tension that Fan Wencheng had been feeling from several sleepless nights was eased by the courtesy of Hong Taiji and the smile of the Side Consort. He had known that, in addition to the children, he would also be teaching the consorts to read, but the whole day passed without seeing any other women attend. It was clear that not every woman was eager to study.

After Fan Wencheng left the imperial palace, he went straight back to the Fourteenth Beile's residence to report. When Qiqige heard the news, she laughed and said, "Consort Yu is curious about everything and asks a lot of questions. After a few days, you'll probably get fed up with it. I can't go to the palace often, but whenever I do, I'll stop by to check in. Don't worry, Consort Yu is a very good person. Just teach for now. Who knows what will happen later? After the New Year, Beile will have to go to war again, and you'll likely be busy as well. If you teach them for one day, you'll miss another, and after a few days, the children will grow tired of it."

"Yes, I understand." Fan Wencheng replied.

"Starting tomorrow, you don't need to report back to me. Be cautious and keep an eye on things yourself."

Although Dorgon remained cold and aloof, deep down he was pleased. If Yuer was happy, then naturally, he was happy too.