This whole farce was something Hong Taiji had long anticipated. He knew about Yoto's collusion with Hooge and was also aware of Nam Jung and Hooge's secret alliance. This time, rather than saying it was Yoto's rebellion, it was more appropriate to say that Hooge was pulling the strings behind the scenes.
After being demoted at the imperial mausoleum, Yoto knew his end was near and made a desperate attempt as his last resort, hoping that there might still be a way out.
However, in the end, they lacked the courage and determination. With such a good opportunity, they dared only to use an epidemic as a cover. If this had fallen into Hong Taiji's hands, he would have undoubtedly purged the palace without hesitation, leaving no loose ends.
But now, with the war ongoing, Hong Taiji had no desire to deal with Hooge just yet. He had already given up hope on him and seen through his ambitions. Moving forward, he would no longer regard Hooge as his son. Instead, he would make full use of Hooge, exhausting every last ounce of his strength in service to the Qing Empire, ensuring that Hooge died for the sake of the dynasty.
Hong Taiji glanced down at the boots on his feet — the soles were meticulously sewn by Hairanju, each stitch filled with care and love. They were thick and comfortable, allowing him to march thousands of miles without feeling fatigued. A faint smile appeared on his face. He was determined to conquer the world, inch by inch, paving the way for their son to inherit the Qing dynasty and establish a lasting legacy.
On the tenth day of December, the Qing cavalry crossed the Yalu River and reached Anzhou three days later, launching a fierce offensive. King Yi Jong of Joseon, knowing he was no match for the Qing forces, pinned his hopes on assistance from the Ming dynasty. However, the Ming court did not dispatch a single soldier to aid him.
While the people of Shengjing celebrated the New Year with great joy, the land of Joseon was engulfed in smoke and flames, and its people suffered terribly.
On the seventh day of January, the Qing army defeated the reinforcements from Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces, forcing King Yi Jong to abandon his women and children and flee to Namhansanseong. Hong Taiji captured the Joseon queen and princes, and ordered Dorgon to pursue the royal family, instructing that "the troops must be restrained and no wanton killing shall be permitted."
On the thirtieth day of January, King Yi Jong was left with no choice but to lead his ministers out of Namhansanseong. He walked on foot to the Qing camp at Samjeonpo on the eastern bank of the Han River, where he knelt and begged for forgiveness, prostrating himself in surrender.
Hong Taiji issued a decree granting him clemency, and the two sides performed a ritual to seal their alliance. Joseon agreed to abandon the Ming dynasty's era name, surrender the imperial edicts and seals bestowed by the Ming, acknowledge Qing sovereignty, offer tribute on a regular basis, and send two royal hostages as a guarantee.
On the return journey, the Qing army triumphed again. Ajige led his forces to capture Pidao, eliminating the Ming dynasty's last stronghold along the Liaodong coastline.
Back in Shengjing, victory reports arrived one after another, and every day, Jeje stood beneath the eaves of the palace, her face glowing with excitement, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the flying messengers bringing news from the front lines.
Hong Taiji's letters to his family also arrived from time to time. During a military campaign, finding the leisure to write home was a rare occurrence, which spoke volumes about the swift collapse of the Joseon forces and the unstoppable momentum of the Qing army.
In early February, Irgen Gioro gave birth to a healthy little prince, bringing great joy to the palace. Although Jeje didn't particularly care, she still had to maintain the dignity of the royal family. She hosted a grand "three-day wash" banquet, inviting the female relatives of the imperial clan to celebrate.
At the banquet, the women chattered excitedly about how the emperor had crushed Joseon, confidently predicting that the defeat of the Ming army was just around the corner and that the Qing dynasty would soon cross the Great Wall and enter the Central Plains.
Qiqige noticed that neither Da Yuer nor Hairanju was present, so she slipped away to Guanju Palace but found no trace of them there. Her mind turning quickly, she headed for the study, and sure enough, it was the only quiet place.
Hairanju was reclining comfortably on a soft cushion while Da Yuer read poetry aloud to her. Qiqige leaned against the door and said with a pout, "Aunt is angry because you both disappeared."
"Aunt asked us to hide away here for a bit," Hairanju replied gently, smiling. "And now, even you enjoy teasing people."
Qiqige walked in with a playful grin, gently touching Hairanju's belly. "Sister, it must be almost time, right? I remember you and Irgen Gioro were due around the same month."
Hairanju's belly was already full-term, high and round. Since she hadn't gained much weight overall, her prominent belly was even more noticeable. Everyone who saw her predicted she would give birth to a boy.
"Nara and Irgen Gioro both had little princes. It should be my turn to have a daughter this time." Hairanju spoke contentedly. "A little girl would be wonderful."
Qiqige bluntly said, "Sister, in your heart, you'd love a son or a daughter equally. But given your current position, I'm afraid you worry that if you give birth to a son, both you and the child would be thrust into the eye of the storm. You fear the trouble and chaos that would follow and worry that the child would suffer, don't you?"
These words hit the mark. Hairanju's mood immediately sank. She gently twirled the prayer beads wrapped around her wrist, silently praying—for Hong Taiji and for her child.
Da Yuer shot Qiqige a glare and was about to speak when a palace maid rushed in, reporting that Princess Dong'e was crying loudly because she couldn't find her mother, and the Empress was requesting that the consort of Rui Qinwang return to the banquet immediately.
"That little troublemaker can't be away from me for even a moment," Qiqige muttered playfully. Seeing Da Yuer's glare, she knew her earlier words had upset her, so she chuckled sheepishly and left without a care.
Hairanju, ever kind-hearted, said softly, "Why not bring Dong'e here? I can soothe her, and she'll stop crying."
After Qiqige left, Da Yuer brought her sister a bowl of tea. Watching her sip it slowly, she teased with a grin, "I'm going to sew Qiqige's mouth shut one of these days. Let's see if that'll make her behave."
Hairanju smiled softly, her tone tinged with affection. "It's nothing. Qiqige spoke the truth—I understand that in my heart."
Da Yuer lowered her head and gently listened for any movements from her sister's belly, then said, "If it truly is a little prince, Khorchin will be satisfied, Aunt will be satisfied. But the emperor doesn't care whether they're satisfied or not. The son you bear for him will be different from all the others. He will treasure and love him beyond measure. Nowadays, the emperor doesn't go to war as often. Although after defeating Joseon, he plans to fight the Ming, this campaign cost us dearly. There's no strength left to attack the Ming immediately. It will take two or three years to recover. During that time, he will surely stay by your side, watching over your child and laying the foundation for his future—raising him to be a strong and capable man, one who will inherit the Qing dynasty."
Hairanju gazed at her sister, her heart swelling with mixed emotions. Guilt filled her, yet she knew that saying more would be pointless. She simply nodded and promised softly, "Yuer, I will raise him well."
Da Yuer smiled gently, "Sister, your man is the ruler of the world. This is a burden that you and your child must bear together. But the emperor will stand with you. Don't be afraid."
Hairanju nodded firmly. "I'm not afraid. I may not excel at anything, but I have complete confidence in being a good mother."
After the three-day wash banquet for Irgen Gioro's little prince, the palace returned to its usual calm. As time passed, people rarely mentioned the terrifying events of last winter.
The incident had come and gone swiftly, and only a select few knew the truth of what had transpired. These days, Nam Jung kept a low profile in Linzhi Palace, carefully observing every move of the empress and Da Yuer.
At the wash banquet, the consorts of Daisan also attended. In private, Consort Sutai met with Nam Jung and conveyed what she had heard from Princess Taisong that she hadn't seen Yoto for two months. Yoto's mother, overcome with grief, had been weeping day and night and was too ill to attend the banquet.
Fear gripped Nam Jung's heart, but she suppressed it, holding her breath in silent determination. She had been confined to the inner palace for so long that no one could prove her collusion with outsiders. The evidence had been completely destroyed. If anything were to happen, she was prepared to endure it to the bitter end.
In truth, after that incident, Da Yuer had harboured a deadly resolve toward Nam Jung. She had discussed it with her aunt, proposing that Nam Jung be quietly eliminated from the palace. However, Jeje, after careful consideration, had stopped her. Nam Jung still had the backing of the Chahar and Abahai clans. Killing her recklessly could cause more trouble than it was worth.
What shocked Jeje the most was how easily Da Yuer spoke of taking a life. That day, seeing the murderous intent in Da Yuer's eyes, Jeje was reminded of Qiqige's playful remark—how Da Yuer looked like a little white rabbit but harboured the heart of a wolf.
In five days, Hong Taiji would return to Shengjing. Both inside and outside the palace, preparations were in full swing to welcome him and celebrate the triumphant victory. Da Yuer, after assisting her aunt with palace affairs each day, would retreat to the study for a moment of quiet. Occasionally, Sonin would visit to recount the details of the campaign to Her Highness Zhuang Fei.
That day, Da Yuer's tutor had taken leave due to illness, so she personally taught Yatu and Atu their lessons. The two daughters were most afraid of their mother when it came to studying. Even the gentle and soft-spoken Atu had been punished by having her palms slapped for not paying attention. The two little girls, trembling with fear, obediently followed along with the lessons. Suddenly, Sonin arrived, and Da Yuer was called away. The two girls finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Taking advantage of this, Sumala quietly brought some snacks for the little princesses. Yatu said cheerfully, "These are delicious, Sumala! Wrap a few pieces and send them to Aunt."
Sumala grinned mischievously and suggested, "Why don't I take you both to deliver the snacks to your aunt? Sitting here is so boring."
Atu shook her hand repeatedly, her soft voice filled with hesitation. "Mother will scold us. She'll slap our hands."
Sumala kissed Atu's small hand and smiled reassuringly. "At your aunt's place, no one will scold you."
So, the two little girls followed Sumala out. Da Yuer, standing under the corridor speaking with Sonin, noticed them leaving but did not stop them. She turned to Sonin and said, "It's warmer inside. Let's talk inside, Lord Sonin."
Unexpectedly, after more than two months, Sonin came to see Da Yuer with an unusual request. He asked her if she still remembered the events of the day Yoto attempted to seize the palace. Da Yuer had always sensed that Sonin was hiding something from her, but she also understood his predicament and had never pressed him for answers. Now that he was bringing it up voluntarily, she began to suspect that Sonin had something to conceal—something he did not want Hong Taiji to know.
Sonin bowed deeply and spoke carefully. "That day… when I spoke with Tung Tulai, Your Highness was also present. You heard everything."
Da Yuer lowered her head, idly stirring the lid of the teacup. "What's the matter?"
Sonin suddenly knelt down and pleaded, "Your Highness, could you pretend as if you saw and heard nothing that day?"
Da Yuer's expression remained calm, but her voice was firm. "Can I at least know the reason now?"
Sonin hesitated, then spoke gravely. "Your Highness… do you know who sent Tung Tulai that day?"
Da Yuer's brow furrowed slightly. "General Eshuo of the Plain White Banner?"
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