Chapter 2, Mistress Li Jia (2)

Su Yierha is a maidservant who accompanied Li Jiashi as part of her dowry. In this household, apart from the mistress, she can also be considered a prominent servant with a voice. After exchanging pleasantries, Su Yierha discovered that the maidservant's status was not low either; she was actually a maidservant who accompanied the eldest prince's consort and had now become Su Lagege in the residence.

Su Yierha was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said: "That is not the case; it is just that the young master chose a good time. At this late hour, everyone else is asleep, yet he insists on coming out, which naturally causes quite a stir"

Unfortunately, the Jianzhou Jurchen and the Hūlún Yèhè Jurchen tribes are destined to coexist in conflict. Both can form alliances through marriage for mutual benefit, yet they can also become adversaries due to conflicting interests. Jianzhou is weak, while Yèhè is strong, leading to harmonious and beautiful marital ties. However, as Jianzhou gradually grows stronger, Yèhè's apprehension towards Jianzhou deepens, occasionally seeking opportunities to suppress it. With the Ming Dynasty as their backing, in the second year after Huang Taiji's birth, the Yèhè leader Buzhai, along with Nalin Bulu, united with the Hada leader Menggebulu, the younger brother of Ula leader Manta, the Huifa leader Baiyindali, the Zhushali leader Yulenge, the Neiyin leader Sowensekesi, the Ewenki leaders Wengadai, Manggu, and Ming'an from the Nenjiang Mongols, as well as the Xibe tribe, a total of nine tribes launched a devastating attack against Jianzhou.

Su Yierha politely invited the maid to sit on the kang in the bright room. The maid, with her keen eyes, noticed a large stack of unopened gifts piled up in the room, among which the most eye-catching was a brand new red lacquered rocking chair.

Among the eleven princes, five are of legitimate birth, coming from the wombs of three noble consorts. The youngest, the Tenth Prince Degele, is the son of the current chief consort, Sa Ji Fu Cha Gun Dai. Although Gun Dai was not the original consort married to Nurhaci, she herself was a widow who remarried; her former husband was Qi Zhun, a cousin of Nurhaci. She had one son with Qi Zhun. After Qi Zhun's death, according to the Jurchen custom of levirate marriage, Nurhaci married Gun Dai, his brother's widow.

After Gun Dai, although Nurhaci had numerous secondary consorts and Su La Ge Ge, he officially married only two primary consorts. One of them had no children and was not favored, while the other was the daughter of the leader of the Yehe tribe, the most powerful among the four tribes of the Hoerun Jurchen, named Sister Menggu. Sister Menggu was younger than Gun Dai, attractive in appearance, and possessed a gentle and pleasing temperament. Nurhaci truly favored her for quite some time. She gave birth to the Eighth Prince, Hong Taiji, who was exceptionally intelligent from a young age. Nurhaci regarded this legitimate son as if he were his own eye.

The leader of Jianzhou, Shule Beile, surnamed Aisin Gioro, named Nurhaci, is in his forties. His numerous wives and concubines have already borne him eleven sons. According to the customs of the Jurchens, the eldest son resides separately while the younger son stays at home, but such practices are typical of ordinary families. The Aisin Gioro family’s slaves and wealth have now surpassed that of an ordinary Ba Yan family.

This must be a congratulatory gift sent by the Li family to the Ba Yan family. Your noble lady is truly fortunate

Gun Dai was very capable, and his luck was also quite good. When he entered, Yuan Fujin Tongjia Hahana Zaqing had already passed away, leaving only the legitimate eldest daughter, eldest son, and second son—those two gentlemen are now the eldest prince Chu Ying and the second prince Dai Shan. After Gun Dai entered, he naturally became the Grand Fujin, presiding over the household affairs, and he had quite a prosperous aura. In the past, Nurhaci had been separated from his father and stepmother and received almost no property. However, relying on the thirteen sets of old armor left by his father and the support of his mother, after more than ten years of warfare, he managed to occupy territory, seize slaves, and his wealth grew increasingly substantial. Nurhaci had been separated from his father and stepmother and received almost no property. However, relying on the thirteen sets of old armor left by his father and the support of his mother, after more than ten years of warfare, he managed to occupy territory, seize slaves, and his wealth grew increasingly substantial

The maid could not help but laugh upon hearing this

Although Sister Menggu has fallen out of favor, her maternal family is still Yehe. For every Yehe lady that falls, ten more Yehe ladies come in. The Jurchens living outside the pass know her well. Sister Menggu has a beautiful niece, renowned for her stunning beauty, said to be the most beautiful woman among the Jurchens. It does not matter that Sister Menggu has lost favor; with this unparalleled beauty of a niece, as long as Nurhaci returns to the inner court, he will surely visit Sister Menggu's quarters. Although the Grand Lady Gun Dai never mentions this in front of outsiders, all the noblewomen of Fei'ala are well aware of the situation. It does not matter that Sister Menggu has lost favor; with this unparalleled beauty of a niece, as long as Nurhaci returns to the inner court, he will surely visit Sister Menggu's quarters. Although the Grand Lady Gun Dai never mentions this in front of outsiders, all the noblewomen of Fei'ala are well aware of the situation.

In that battle, Nurhaci achieved a decisive victory against a larger force, culminating in the death of Yehe's Bu Zhai, the capture of Bu Zhantai, and the complete annihilation of the Zhu Shali and Ne Yin tribes, thereby unifying Jianzhou. However, the animosity between Jianzhou and Yehe took root in private as a result. Although the two tribes maintained some interactions on the surface, it was precisely after that year that Menggu, the sister of Nalin Bulu and a member of the Yehe Nala clan, gradually lost her former favor and prestige.