MLMD -Chapter 79 Returning Home to Visit Family

March 23rd, Chongzhen Year Six. Shenyang.

Ever since Nurhaci seized this city from the Ming, the Qing progenitor could hardly wait to move his wives, children, and all his possessions from the remote backwater of Hetu Ala to this place. He then began large-scale construction, clearly intending to make Shenyang his long-term residence.

Inside one of Shenyang’s palaces, a stocky, medium-height man dressed in bright yellow was striding toward a pavilion, surrounded by a retinue of eunuchs.

“Aiyo… my lord, please slow down a little. The path is slippery,” a eunuch in blue robes trimmed with silver kept reminding him from behind.

“Andelu, why are you so nagging? Do I need you to teach me how to walk?” the fat man snapped back impatiently.

“My lord, how would this servant dare? I’m only worried that in your haste you might slip,” the eunuch said with a forced smile, repeatedly apologizing while secretly watching his master’s expression and cursing his own bad luck. His lord had been in a foul mood lately, and life for the servants had grown increasingly difficult. Just a few days earlier, one eunuch had somehow provoked his wrath and been beaten with thirty strokes; he was still bedridden.

The group went around a flower bed and arrived at the pavilion, where they saw a woman dressed in Jurchen attire sitting inside, reading a book. On the stone table beside her was a cup of steaming tea, and four palace maids stood behind her in attendance.

“Ah, my beloved consort, why have you come out here to read? Early spring is still chilly—be careful not to catch a cold,” the fat man called out before he even reached the pavilion.

The woman turned her head at the sound of his voice, revealing a full, graceful face. She was about twenty-two years old, strikingly beautiful. She was Da Yuer, who had been granted the title of Secondary Consort. The man speaking, naturally, was Huang Taiji, the Khan of Later Jin.

Seeing Huang Taiji’s hurried steps, Da Yuer pressed her lips together and smiled, asking softly, “Great Khan, why have you come so early today? Has court already ended?”

“It has,” Huang Taiji replied. He walked over to her, plopped himself down on the stone bench beside her, picked up the teacup on the table, and drained it in one gulp.

“Oh my, Great Khan, you’re being far too careless. I was already drinking from that cup. If you wanted tea, I could have poured you a fresh one,” Da Yuer said, chiding him gently.

“What’s the big deal?” Huang Taiji waved it off. “Back in the day, when I followed Father Khan on campaigns north and south, in the heat of battle it wasn’t just two people sharing a cup of tea—there were times when hundreds of men shared a single pot of soup. What’s wrong with me sharing a cup of tea with my beloved consort?”

“That was then, and this is now,” Da Yuer reproached him. “Great Khan, you’re no longer young. How can you compare yourself to those days?”

“I’m only forty-one. How is that old?” Huang Taiji said nonchalantly, waving his hand again. “You underestimate me too much.”

Seeing that he wouldn’t listen, Da Yuer wisely let the matter drop. Clever women knew when to stop—pushing too far only bred annoyance.

She quickly changed the subject. “Great Khan, you’ve seemed rather gloomy these days. Has something happened again?”

Huang Taiji sighed lightly. “It’s all because of Daišan. Last time, he returned from Khorchin in disgrace, having achieved nothing. In my anger, I docked him half a year’s stipend and gave him a severe dressing-down. Who would have thought my second elder brother would threaten to throw down his duties, insisting on resigning as Banner Lord of the Plain Red Banner and the Bordered Red Banner? I immediately refused. But then that Fourteenth Brother, Dorgon, came poking his nose in after hearing the news. At today’s court, he actually proposed letting Fifteenth Brother—Dodo—temporarily manage the Bordered Red Banner. Tell me, isn’t that utter nonsense?”

Da Yuer’s delicate brows slowly knitted together. After a moment, she said, “Great Khan, the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Brothers have grown up now. As men get older, their thoughts inevitably become more complicated. Fifteenth Brother has always wanted to lead troops south, and since Dorgon shares the same mother with him, it’s only natural he’d speak up on his behalf. There’s nothing unusual about that. You needn’t take it too much to heart. But if the Great Beile truly steps down as Banner Lord, wouldn’t the court fall into chaos again?”

“Hmph… and you believe what my second brother says?” Huang Taiji sneered. “Ever since he came back from Khorchin in disgrace, he’s been pressing me to punish your father, Zaisang, and the Khorchin tribe. When I refuse, he throws a tantrum. This isn’t the first time.”

When she heard her father and tribe mentioned, Da Yuer couldn’t help but grow tense. She glanced at Huang Taiji and said cautiously, “Great Khan, although my father did not agree to betroth my elder sister to you, that hardly warrants punishment. The Great Beile is going too far, isn’t he?”

Huang Taiji said gloomily, “Sigh… I don’t know what’s wrong with me lately—I just can’t seem to find any peace of mind. If only your sister were betrothed to me, the two of you could be reunited in the palace. Add your aunt Zhezhe to the mix, and the whole family would be together, bonds upon bonds. How wonderful that would be. Yet your father insisted on marrying her off to some small merchant from the Ming. I really can’t understand it. Could that merchant possibly be better than me?”

Da Yuer fell silent. She knew that ever since Huang Taiji had accidentally caught sight of her elder sister, Hailanzhu, during a visit a year ago, he had fallen for her at first glance and been determined to marry her. He had assumed that, given the close ties between the Later Jin state and the Khorchin, her father would not refuse. That was why he had sent Daišan and his trusted aide, Aobai, to Khorchin to propose the marriage. Who could have expected Zaisang to reject them outright? The outcome had nearly left Huang Taiji gasping for breath in fury.

As the woman who shared his pillow, Da Yuer naturally understood her husband’s thoughts very well. All that talk about closer family ties and harmony between both sides was empty talk—the truth was that he coveted her sister’s beauty. No one knew Hailanzhu’s beauty better than Da Yuer herself. Compared to her sister, even she had to admit she fell far short. It was only natural that her husband would desire her. Still, to be honest, Da Yuer did not really wish for her sister to also marry Huang Taiji. As for the reason… only she herself truly knew.

At that thought, a strange flicker of delight rose in her heart. She smiled and comforted her husband. “Great Khan, I know my elder sister’s temperament best. She is proud and aloof by nature. Since she has agreed to the marriage arranged by our father, it means there is something about that merchant she truly likes. She will not easily change her decision. Unless the Great Khan intends to use extraordinary means—but I would not approve of you doing so.”

Da Yuer’s words seemed vague and somewhat disjointed, yet in truth she was advising Huang Taiji not to dwell too deeply on the matter. With the matter already settled, unless he truly resolved to fall out with the Khorchin tribe and use force to compel Zaisang to break off the engagement with Yue Yang and remarry Hailanzhu to him, there was essentially no chance of turning the situation around.

“Sigh…”

Huang Taiji let out a long sigh. He naturally understood Da Yuer’s meaning, and he had to admit she was right. He could not possibly mobilize the power of an entire state just for the sake of a woman, forcing his most steadfast ally to hand over his daughter. Anyone would feel chilled by such behavior. After all, he had no moral ground to stand on. They had already married a younger sister and a daughter into his family—could he really refuse to let them keep their last remaining daughter? Who could stomach such tyranny? What, were all the women in their family destined to marry only him, while no one else was allowed to touch them?

“All right,” Huang Taiji said at last, nodding reluctantly. “Since your father has already betrothed Hailanzhu to that merchant, I won’t say anything more. I hear that in a few days the merchant will be marrying her. When the time comes, I’ll have someone send over some wedding gifts, as a small token of my goodwill.”

At these words, Da Yuer’s eyes suddenly lit up. Taking Huang Taiji by the hand, she pleaded softly, “Great Khan, it has been a long time since I last returned to Khorchin to visit my family. With my sister getting married this time, I wish to go home and see my father and sister, and also personally deliver your wedding gifts. What do you think?”

“This…” Huang Taiji was slightly taken aback. Looking at Da Yuer again, he suddenly realized that in the nearly ten years since she had married him, she had never once returned to her parental home. His heart softened at the thought, and he nodded. “Very well. You’ve been married to me for so many years and have never gone back. This time, you may return. But I won’t feel at ease letting you go alone. How about this—I’ll send Fourteenth Brother to accompany you. What do you think?”

“Dorgon? Very well, then. This concubine thanks the Great Khan for his gracious favor!”

Silvery laughter rang out within the pavilion…