Palace Eaves

"I..." Da Yuer's neck seemed locked in place, unable to shake or nod. After a long pause, she finally asked, "If I don't do it, will someone else?"

Hong Taiji nodded. "Someone else will. You wouldn't know when it might happen. Perhaps many years from now, we'd revisit this matter."

"Can I think about it?"

"Give me your answer before I leave tomorrow morning. New Year's Eve is near, and I need to plan accordingly," Hong Taiji said as he pulled the blanket over them both, seemingly unconcerned and ready to sleep.

Da Yuer shifted slightly in his arms. At first, he thought she wanted to break free, but then he heard her quiet response: "I will. I'll do it."

Hong Taiji opened his eyes. The candlelight in the side palace hadn't yet been extinguished, and beyond the window was an expanse of dark nothingness. Though the palace itself wasn't large, the blackness outside seemed boundless, oppressive, and intimidating.

There had been a time when he regretted letting Yuer understand the tension between Dorgon and himself. Yet now, he could steel himself to make her take on such a task.

Hong Taiji suddenly understood why Jeje had always been so eager for Yuer to mature. The conflicts of interest in the future would only grow sharper, and more people would vie for power—not just the women of the inner court but also the forces of the outer court. The Eight Banner factions were already divided in their loyalties. Wasn't he constantly on guard every single day?

"Yuer," he said softly.

"Hmm?"

"Do you know that after my first battle, I couldn't eat for days?"

Da Yuer raised her head, tears glimmering at the corners of her eyes. Hong Taiji smiled faintly. "It was my older brother Cuyen who pried my mouth open and forced me to eat. I spat it out, and he forced more in. My mouth corners were torn apart."

"Really?" Da Yuer asked, her heart aching as she reached out to touch his lips. There were no scars left to be seen.

"I swallowed that food mixed with my own blood," Hong Taiji said. "At the time, I thought I'd never forget the nausea, but looking back now, I just think I was being weak."

"You're so remarkable; how could you think of yourself as weak? Everyone has a first time. Wars always claim lives," Da Yuer said, her voice soft but firm. As she spoke, she suddenly grasped Hong Taiji's intention. "Don't worry. I... I'll do it well, truly."

"Yuer, I don't want to force you," Hong Taiji said gently. "But since you've learned about this, there's no need to leave it to someone else. You're the one closest to Qiqige. If you give her something to eat, she won't suspect a thing. No one is more suitable than you. But if you truly aren't willing, I won't be angry in the slightest."

"I am willing. Truly, I am willing." Tears welled in Da Yuer's eyes. "Please believe in me."

"I believe in you completely."

"But… if I don't do it well, will you blame me?"

Hong Taiji shook his head. "If you don't do it well, there will still be many ways to make up for it. Even if, at the last moment, you decide to give up, I won't blame you. But if you choose to act, it must be willingly. There can be no regret, and you must never hate yourself for it. That's Qiqige's fate. Perhaps her destiny is to endure a lifetime of torment alongside Dorgon. Or perhaps her fate is to someday witness Dorgon stepping on my neck, and for her to replace Jeje as the most honoured woman of the Great Jin. No one knows what the future holds. That's why we must tread carefully with each step we take. The road we walk is paved with bones and blood."

Da Yuer shivered slightly, then confessed honestly, "Great Khan, I'm scared."

Hong Taiji smiled. "What are you afraid of?"

She pressed herself tightly against his chest, choking back a sob. "Just scared."

That night, Da Yuer didn't know when she finally fell asleep. Her dreams were filled with nightmares—Qiqige haunting her, Zarut's mocking laughter ringing in her ears. She woke suddenly before dawn, her heart racing. Turning, she saw that Hong Taiji was still beside her.

She stayed like that, watching her husband until morning light spilled into the room and the palace servants arrived to help the Great Khan prepare for the day. Da Yuer sat wrapped in her blankets on the kang, unmoving except for her gaze, which followed the servants as they bustled about.

They were used to this sight and paid it no mind. Adai approached to invite the Great Khan to breakfast. Hong Taiji waved it off, saying, "I ate plenty last night. I'm not hungry yet. Have them send a few dishes to the Grand Politics Hall; I'll eat later."

He didn't go to the Qingning Palace. Before leaving, he exchanged a glance with Da Yuer. She understood and nodded slightly, and Hong Taiji left with a faint smile.

Once he was gone, Da Yuer sank back down, feeling utterly drained. Everything from yesterday felt like a terrible nightmare.

As the sun rose higher and brighter, Sumala came to wake her mistress for the day. Leaning close to the edge of the kang, she whispered, "Miss, there's been no activity in Zarut's quarters across the way. Her maids have disappeared. The stewardess searched for them but found no one. They say the maids tried to report back to Zarut, but the doors were barred. It seems… Zarut is being kept under watch."

"I know," Da Yuer replied coldly.

"You know, Miss?" Sumala asked curiously, recalling yesterday's quarrel. "Did the Great Khan stand up for you?"

Da Yuer, irritated, said, "Sumala, don't bring up that woman again. Whether she lives or dies, from now on, let's act as if she never existed in the palace."

"Yes, yes... I understand," Sumala replied hastily. She rarely saw her mistress lose her temper. Even in matters involving Princess Hairanju, she was mostly sorrowful rather than angry. For her to be upset so early in the morning was unusual, especially since the Great Khan had left with a smile.

Not long after, Yatu arrived, obediently wanting to follow her mother to learn to write. Seeing the child, Da Yuer calmed down a bit, laughing and talking with her as they made their way to the study.

Fan Wencheng avoided the other ladies and came forward to kneel and thank Consort Yu for her kindness. Da Yuer instructed him, "Dodo must still harbour anger in his heart. Don't flaunt yourself or appear too complacent. Let her stay home for a year or so without stepping out."

"I will be cautious," Fan Wencheng promised.

"If Dodo seeks trouble with you again, do not retaliate or fight back. This time you already struck back, so you've lost the moral high ground," Da Yuer said with a sigh. "When the state stabilizes, there will surely be new laws and regulations. But for now, a master is a master, and a servant is a servant. You must understand your place."

Fan Wencheng cupped his hands in acknowledgment. "I will remember the side consort's advice."

Da Yuer gave a faint, bitter smile and said softly as she walked away, "What advice could I possibly offer? It was you who taught me to read."

Fan Wencheng fell back a few steps and said, "After the New Year, I may no longer be able to teach you, Consort Yu. But I will recommend a suitable tutor."

"Anyone you recommend must be good. But if you have free time after returning to Shengjing, come and give a lecture," Da Yuer said. "Although the time has been short, I have gained much. The study may be small, but it has shown me more of the world than I've seen in my entire life. On the grasslands of Khorchin, the horizon seems boundless, but I only realized as I grew up that the grasslands have borders, and beyond them lies an even wider world."

Meanwhile, in the Grand Politics Hall, the morning court session had just ended. Hong Taiji stood by the sand table, holding a small bowl. Niman entered with Dorgon. As soon as Dorgon stepped in, he knelt down to plead for forgiveness.

"What is it?" Hong Taiji asked nonchalantly, still eating from his bowl.

Dorgon recounted the incident of Dodo forcibly taking Fan Wencheng's concubine and mentioned how, during the birthday banquet for the Fifteenth Consort the previous day, the same woman had offended Consort Yu. Although he couldn't openly state that it was Consort Yu's design to have the woman removed, the situation was obvious to everyone. He couldn't pretend it hadn't happened.

"Dodo is young and reckless. I will strictly discipline him," Dorgon said. "I beg your forgiveness."

"Why didn't Dodo come himself?" Hong Taiji asked.

"He didn't dare. After the morning court adjourned, he said he would go home and kneel, waiting for your judgment. He feels too ashamed to face you," Dorgon replied.

Hong Taiji sneered disdainfully and waved his hand. "Get up. Go back and tell Dodo to get up too. Your knees are far too precious, and your legs can't afford to be harmed. For such a trivial matter, why all the fuss? Tell Dodo that in a few days, Jeje will select some beauties to send to him. Let him dote on them well."

"On Dodo's behalf, I thank the Great Khan for your grace," Dorgon said, bowing his head. Despite his words, his heart burned with resentment. Hong Taiji's actions were less a show of generosity and more an intentional humiliation, ensuring that everyone would laugh at Dodo. The so-called gift of beauties was nothing but a farce.

"New Year's Eve is almost here," Hong Taiji said. "Another year has passed. After the new year, there will be no more idle days. Dorgon, the road for our Jin cavalry to Beijing is still fraught with challenges, but we must break through."

"Yes," Dorgon responded.

"You are Jin's most valiant general," Hong Taiji said. "I look forward to you breaking open the gates of the Forbidden City for us."

The two brothers exchanged a look. Despite the twenty-year age difference and Hong Taiji's role as a mentor to Dorgon, their relationship resembled anything but that of father and son. Both were waiting for the day one would plunge the dagger into the other's heart.

"Go now," Hong Taiji said. "Tell Dodo to get up and let him know I'm not angry. He doesn't need to care about idle gossip—it's all trivial."

Dorgon obeyed and left the Grand Politics Hall. Outside, the bitter cold wind howled, and a servant draped a cloak over his shoulders. Beneath the cloak, his body was tense, every muscle hard as stone.

Suddenly, a child darted past his vision—it was Yatu, Yuer's daughter. Hairanju followed closely behind, chasing after her and calling, "Yatu, be good! Don't run anymore!"

"Fourteenth Uncle!" Yatu spotted Dorgon and immediately ran toward him.

In that instant, the hostility radiating from Dorgon dissipated entirely. Yatu, being Yuer's daughter, was a treasure in his eyes.