Palace Eaves

Sumala couldn't help but step forward and embrace her mistress, speaking tenderly, "You should tell the Great Khan. You need to let him know. Otherwise, the Great Khan will always feel like you're siding with Khorchin and the Grand Consort, and that you're unwilling to follow his wishes."

Tears welled up in Da Yuer's eyes as she choked, "Sumala, but it's too difficult..."

After that night, Shengjing was blanketed with heavy snow for several days, making it nearly impossible for anyone to travel within or outside the city.

Da Yuer spent her days caring for her three children, and when she wasn't doing that, she was by her aunt's side in Qinging Palace.

Jeje, now thirty-five and once again pregnant, was feeling more drained than before. After years of hoping for a son with no success, the pressure weighed heavily on her. Only Da Yuer's thoughtfulness helped ease some of her worries.

That day, news arrived from outside the palace—Fifteenth Beile Dodo's consort was pregnant. As Jeje prepared to send New Year gifts to the frontlines, she cheerfully said, "Send this good news along too. Dodo will be so happy. In the blink of an eye, even Fifteenth Brother is going to be a father."

While Da Yuer and A-Dai were busy arranging the New Year gifts, Adai pulled Da Yuer aside and whispered, "Side Consort, everyone is pleased about this, but I fear there is one person who won't be able to smile."

"You mean Qiqige?" Da Yuer's heart sank.

Adai sighed and said, "There's nothing that can be done about it. You can't just conjure a child out of thin air. The Great Consort once advised her to adopt one to bring some liveliness into the household, but Fourteenth Consort's personality is too stubborn—she simply won't agree. Of course, raising one isn't the same as giving birth to one, but still...sigh."

After packaging the gifts, they returned to Jeje, who then instructed Da Yuer, "You've been cooped up in the palace these days, and it's been hard on you. Why not visit Dodo's estate and deliver my regards as well?"

"Yes."

Da Yuer replied, her face lighting up with a smile. She exchanged a knowing glance with Sumala, and within half an hour, the two were walking gracefully out of the palace.

Shengjing was bustling and lively, despite the snow piled half a person high on the streets. The townsfolk went about their business undeterred. Da Yuer, in high spirits, admired the scenes along the way. When they arrived at Dodo's residence, there were already several carriages parked at the entrance.

Everyone gathered around to welcome the Side Consort as she entered, with several sisters-in-law greeting her politely at the door. Most of them were from the grasslands, from the Khorchin Borjigit clan, and the Fifteenth Consort was no exception—she was still quite young, only sixteen or seventeen, with an appearance that made her easily likable.

The house was lively and warm, with little formalities since they were all family. Several little sons and daughters from other households were darting about among the crowd. Da Yuer smiled and said, "I should have brought Yatu and Atu with me. They've been bored out of their minds these past few days with all the snow."

As she spoke, her eyes caught sight of Qiqige, sitting quietly in the corner, adorned in luxurious attire. Da Yuer recognized the fabric—it was none other than the precious cloud brocade from the Ming Dynasty palace. People often said that the Fourteenth Beile's estate was full of rare treasures, and it seemed true.

After a round of lively conversation, the women began to disperse. The others asked Da Yuer to go first, and just as she took a few steps, Qiqige caught up and said, "I'll go with you. The carriage I came in had a draft, and it was terribly cold. Would you mind if I rode in yours?"

As the palace carriage slowly headed toward the Fourteenth Beile's estate, the women gathered at the entrance began to gossip among themselves. "That Qiqige is really something. She can't bear children herself, yet she won't allow any other women to either. Poor Fourteenth Beile, still without children while even his younger brothers have sons by now."

Those words, as if carried by the wind, seemed to drift into the carriage. Da Yuer quietly looked at Qiqige, who, though calm, suddenly had tears rolling down her face. She quickly wiped them away and forced a bitter smile to cover up her emotions.

"Don't be sad," Da Yuer said gently, "Once the war is over, Dorgon will return, and then you can be together every day." She reached out to wipe the tears from her cousin's hand. "Don't cry."

Qiqige sniffled, then steadied herself and said, "Yuer, last time, I wronged you. I don't know what got into me. I thought that if you were unhappy, it would make me feel better."

Da Yuer looked at her, confused, and asked with a smile, "What are you talking about?"

Qiqige patted her on the head and said, "You, you're such a fool."