Sonin had been waiting patiently for Hong Taiji's summons. He, along with Eshuo and Tung Tulai, had already laid everything out clearly. Now
Sonin had been waiting patiently for Hong Taiji's summons. He, along with Eshuo and Tung Tulai, had already laid everything out clearly. Now, while Eshuo was off persuading Dorgon, Sonin was tasked with convincing the emperor. He had prepared his story carefully—he would insist that he had secretly contacted Tung Tulai on his own accord.
At this moment, Sonin knelt beneath the emperor's desk, meticulously recounting Yoto's attempted palace coup in great detail.
Da Yuer had always wondered how the heavily guarded inner palace could have been so easily infiltrated by Yoto's troops. The truth was that Sonin had been following Hong Taiji's instructions all along, deliberately allowing them in.
If Yoto had chosen outright slaughter at that moment, Sonin's men—already prepared—would have retaliated immediately.
But as expected, Yoto lacked that ruthlessness, instead foolishly relying on the slow devastation of disease to wipe out the women and children in the palace.
Sonin had intended to wait a little longer, hoping to catch Yoto red-handed. But Tung Tulai's sudden intrusion, followed by Her Highness Zhuang Fei's discovery, forced his hand, leading to a swift and decisive resolution of the "plague."
Everything had unfolded just as Hong Taiji had predicted. And now, Hong Taiji had no desire to tear apart his relationships with any royal kin, including Daisan.
Military affairs were of the utmost importance at the moment—even the soldiers Yoto had brought to kill Jeje and the others could now be repurposed to fight the Ming. Every soldier, every horse was a precious asset to the Qing dynasty.
Hong Taiji commanded Sonin to rise, his gaze icy and penetrating as he fixed it on Sonin's face. "What made you think of contacting Tung Tulai all of a sudden?"
Sonin had rehearsed this explanation in his mind countless times. Without hesitation, he replied, "Your Majesty, Tung Tulai and I have been friends since our youth. Since he was put in charge of the Plain Blue Banner's Han Banner, he has trained his troops diligently, with unwavering loyalty to Your Majesty, ready to fight and die for you. However, when the campaign against Joseon was launched, Your Majesty did not take his men along. That day, Tung Tulai came to my house for a drink. He was disheartened by the low morale among his men. He dared not express dissatisfaction with Your Majesty, yet he couldn't find a way to justify it to his subordinates, leaving him torn. I was foolish… I had drunk too much, and in my drunkenness, I told him that Your Majesty had deliberately left them behind to guard Shengjing—a task only entrusted to those who are truly trusted. That, Your Majesty, is how it came to pass that Tung Tulai rushed to the palace and resolved the crisis so swiftly."
"Hmph…" Hong Taiji let out a cold snort, his gaze unwavering as it bore into Sonin. "Hifu was an honest man. I remember your father as a quiet and reserved man, not one to speak much. But you… the sharpest thing about you is your tongue."
"Your Majesty, I am deeply ashamed," Sonin replied, lowering his head with practiced humility. "My drunken words nearly ruined Your Majesty's grand plans. I beg for Your Majesty's punishment."
"Dock your salary for a year," Hong Taiji said coldly. "Now get out!"
Sonin secretly breathed a sigh of relief and withdrew after receiving his orders, but the emperor called him back and asked, "Why did Zhuang Fei get involved? Was it Li Qinwang who wanted to see her, or did she ask to see him?"
Sonin truthfully replied, "It was Her Highness Zhuang Fei who asked to see Li Qinwang. After Her Highness learned that Tung Tulai had sneaked into the palace to assist, she asked him who he suspected of rebellion. Tung Tulai deduced it was Yoto. Her Highness then immediately ordered him to bring Li Qinwang into the palace after resolving the crisis. I have already reported to Your Majesty that although the crisis was resolved, the palace remained under strict lockdown, as though still preventing an outbreak of the epidemic. This was all Her Highness's plan."
Hong Taiji lowered his head and continued reviewing the accumulated memorials on the table. It was unclear whether he had heard Sonin's words. Seeing that the emperor had not responded for a long time, Sonin quietly retreated.
As he left the palace, he saw the people from Li Qinwang's residence taking the haggard and exhausted Daisan back home. Yoto was still imprisoned at his house. The emperor neither inquired about him nor passed any judgment, seemingly determined to let father and son suffer in agony. But Sonin felt no sympathy for them. Her Highness Zhuang Fei had also told him before that she would not pity Daisan.
After finishing the piled-up government affairs, Hong Taiji went straight to Guanju Palace to visit Hairanju and their son.
The eighth prince had just been fed, and Hairanju was gently patting his back to help him burp. Hong Taiji quietly sat by her side, watching until their son fell sound asleep in her arms.
Hong Taiji gazed at the child without blinking. "In just a few days, he's grown a little bigger. I just hope he grows up quickly. I want to take him riding and hunting. I want to personally teach him to read and write."
Hairanju smiled gently. "By this time next year, he'll be able to hold my hand and walk. Don't be so anxious, Your Majesty."
Hong Taiji said, "You have to teach him to call me 'Father' first, or I'll get jealous."
Hairanju pouted slightly. "Then I'll get jealous too."
Hong Taiji squinted his eyes and laughed. "Alright, alright. Then let's have him call 'Mother' first."
"Would Your Majesty like to hold him?" Hairanju asked with a smile. "You haven't held him yet."
"I'm afraid of hurting him. Look how tiny he is," Hong Taiji's hands trembled slightly.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. Just give it a try," Hairanju said softly, gently placing the swaddled baby into Hong Taiji's arms, guiding his hands to adjust his posture, and carefully supporting him from the side.
"So light?" Hong Taiji murmured nervously. "I feel like I'm holding a ball of cotton. Where's his little body?"
"Has Your Majesty never held such a small baby before?" Hairanju asked softly.
"In the past, I had neither the time nor the opportunity. Even if I did, I wouldn't have dared to hold them," Hong Taiji said with a smile. "Only when they were almost a month old and has grown a little, I finally dare to touch them."
"He's your own child. What's there to be afraid of?" Hairanju said softly. "To him, you are the sky, his protector. Only in his father's arms does he feel the safest."
Hong Taiji nodded repeatedly. "Look at him, sleeping so soundly. That means he's comfortable in my arms."
Hairanju gazed at him affectionately and asked, "Your Majesty, do you like the Eighth Prince?"
Hong Taiji feigned annoyance. "How could I not? He's the apple of my eye! I just haven't decided on a name for him yet. Give me a little more time—I want to give him a strong and resounding name."
Hairanju's heart softened, and she asked with a smile, "What about me, compared to the child?"
"You…" Hong Taiji's eyes were filled with warmth as he kissed her gently on the lips. "You and the child are both my life."
Hairanju said softly, "That day, I had a feeling that you were coming. As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw you, and all the pain and exhaustion disappeared."
Hong Taiji laughed. "I couldn't sleep all night, thinking about you. I finally gave up on sleep, gathered my guards, and rode straight to the capital. On the way, I met a messenger sent by Jeje with news. I spurred my horse and rushed here as fast as I could, just in time."
Hairanju's eyes filled with tenderness as she gently touched her husband's arm. "Your Majesty, don't exhaust yourself like that for me again. Promise me. Giving birth isn't scary at all. For you, I'm brave enough to do anything."
Hong Taiji said with a sigh, "You know, I'm actually jealous. Jealous that you and that man were married for over a decade and had so many children." His eyes were filled with deep affection as he looked at her and said, "I want us to be together for a long, long time. In a couple of years, give me another son, so they can grow up together and support each other."
Hairanju nodded, her eyes welling with tears. "I will take good care of myself. The blessings given to me by heaven and by Your Majesty—I will cherish them."
Just at that moment, Da Yuer came in from the kitchen, unaware that the emperor was in the room. She lifted the door curtain and walked in with a smile, saying, "Sister, Qiqige sent over some sweet fermented rice…"
However, as soon as she entered, she saw the emperor and her sister sharing an intimate moment. They were clearly startled, and Hairanju quickly lay down, flustered.
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