Chapter 10: Wedding

After getting off the car, I let him hold my hand. His fingers still carried a chill, as if they had never known warmth. I stole a glance at him from the corner of my eye and noticed that although he said nothing, the corners of his brows were gently smiling.

Are you the younger brother of Uramantai Beile, Buzhantai

The wedding banquet was held outside the city walls at night, and around one hundred relatives and subordinates residing in the inner city attended the event. I had intended to sneak out to enjoy the festivities, but Sister Menggu was concerned that I might lose face by drawing too much attention to myself, so she pulled me along to chat with a group of women. After an hour, I nearly suffocated from boredom.

Ajina was stunned by my frenzied actions. It was only after I let down my long hair that she suddenly realized and exclaimed, "Miss, what are you doing?"

Wait! I shouted anxiously. The escorting guard halted his steps, and I staggered over to him, asking, "Are you Buzhantai?"

I could no longer bear it and said quickly, "So what? He was originally betrothed to me..." Chu Ying was stunned. I ignored him and, thinking of the purpose for which his father summoned me this time, deliberately chose not to give Nurhaci any face, and frankly told Bu Zhantai, "My surname is Yehenala, and my name is Buxiyamala."

I am the fish on the chopping block, while others wield the knife! It is a pity that I am a pufferfish, carrying deadly poison. Even if I am destined to be slaughtered, I will ensure that those who consume me meet a dire fate.

Who are you again? I cannot see him clearly, and he cannot see me clearly either, not to mention that his voice clearly carries a hint of drunkenness.

None of them. I waved my hand and said, "You should go back. This is not a place for you to stay. If you want to drink, go to the hall!"

"Are you his maid or my maid? Do you listen to him or do you listen to me?" I glared at her with a cold expression.

"Alright! Gege." Looking closely in the mirror, I noticed that Ajina had undone my braid, gathering all my hair up and styling it into a bun at the back of my head. Atop it, she had adorned it with a pair of small gold-inlaid jade peony flowers. I couldn't help but frown, saying, "I don't remember having this piece of jewelry."

I slowly raised my head and fixed my gaze upon him. After the voice change period, his voice was deep yet carried a gentle magnetism, akin to the warm breeze of spring, providing a pleasant coolness. I looked at him and smiled: "How are you?"

A series of sounds seemed to be very close, yet also felt very distant. It felt as if a century had passed, and the weight pressing down on my mouth finally disappeared, allowing me to take my first breath of fresh air in a long time. At that moment, I realized that I had circled around the gates of hell and returned.

How is your aunt?

Nurhaci has yet to make an appearance, and neither has Chuying nor Dongguo Gege been seen. The only change is that there are now two maidservants in the house, whom Sister Menggu said were specifically assigned to me by Nurhaci, fearing that Aji Na would not be able to manage alone.

"Welcome home, Dong Ge!" His breath warmly brushed against my ear, causing me to laugh uncontrollably with an itch of delight. This child has truly not changed at all. Suddenly, I felt a surge of emotion as if I had just seen a family member, all because of his simple phrase, "Welcome home."

Fortunately, I have always been an optimist; otherwise, after so many years in the children's welfare institution, if I couldn't come to terms with these ups and downs, I would have long become a troubled introvert. Hmph, if you think you can discourage me, you have no chance!

Looking at the bright red long robe, made of satin fabric, with the collar and cuffs embroidered with dark patterns in gold thread, it felt smooth to the touch like water. I was initially taken aback, feeling a chill in my heart as if a large stone had lodged itself there. I truly feared that this banquet might hold some great trap, just waiting for me to foolishly jump in.

He let out a low grunt, his body trembled, and he bent over in pain, causing the wine jar in his hand to fall to the ground and shatter into pieces. I seized the opportunity to jump away from him, but did not run far, standing coldly about seven or eight meters away, staring at him: "If you want to go mad with drink, you have found the wrong person."

Ah. Another faint chuckle. I am not afraid of ghosts; in fact, am I not a ghost myself? Just as I was about to frown and scold, a figure wobbled out from behind the artificial hill.

"Cough, long time no see." I had so much to say, but I never expected that the words that finally came out would be this one.

"Who? Who is there?" A faint light flickered behind the rockery, and just as I opened my mouth, he forcefully covered it. This time, startled by the sudden fright, in his panic, he even covered my nose with one hand. I struggled and twisted with all my might, my cheeks turning red from the effort, feeling the stagnant air in my chest flow back into my head, making me feel dizzy, and blurred shadows began to appear before my eyes

This was awarded by His Excellency the Lord of Shule at noon

"You... are not a servant?" He inhaled deeply, slowly straightening up. I did not shy away, looking at him with unyielding confidence. "Are you Nurhaci's niece? Daughter? Fujin?" He guessed one by one, clearly realizing that I was not an ordinary young girl.

While Azhina was combing my hair, I gathered my thoughts and asked her: "Do you know who is holding a wedding?"

How is Eighth Brother?

Ajina jumped down from the carriage first, and as the curtain was lifted, I bent down to prepare to get off the carriage, only to suddenly realize that the pair of fair and slender hands that lifted the curtain for me did not belong to Ajina

Gege ... ...

Good

Niu Hulu was quite pleased with herself, sitting opposite her, Gun Daiming clearly saw everything but remained silent, merely lowering her eyelids and quietly cracking sunflower seeds. I knew they had heard the rumors, aware that Nurhaci had pressured Yehe to demand me, each of them harboring resentment towards my youth and beauty, unable to express their frustrations in front of their husbands, and now they were deliberately making things difficult for me.

I was taken aback; Shuerhazi's daughter, Ershitai, is indeed the bride for tonight... Could it be that this person is...

"Dong Ge?" He tilted his head and pondered for a long time, suddenly letting out a long sigh. Stumbling, he sat down on the stone bench in the corridor and tilted his head back to take another swig of wine

Very well, I have yet to meet Nurhaci, but my maid has already been taken hostage by him. Indeed, when one is under the eaves, how can one not bow their head? The current situation has forced me to the point where I can hardly catch my breath. If he were to plot against me in the future, would it not be an easy matter for him?

Chu Ying was clearly taken aback as well, staring at me for quite a while. Suddenly, she let out a long sigh of relief and embraced me, saying, "You scared me to death! Fortunately, you are fine!"

As a minor consort of the Niuhulu clan, given her status, she would not dare to confront me even if she had ten times the courage. My gaze swept across the indifferent face of Gun Dai, and in an instant, I came to a clear realization.

"You better behave and not make a sound, otherwise... before you can even scream, I can easily snap your neck." Hearing the slight shift in his tone, I hurriedly nodded. He let out a cold laugh and slowly released the hand that was covering my mouth, effortlessly dragging me up from the ground. However, his right hand remained firmly around my neck, his fingers as rigid as iron, causing me pain.

Bu Zhantai... I murmured his name once again. So this is what he looks like. If it weren't for the Battle of Jiubu Gule Mountain, I might have been forced to marry him by now. Just thinking about what he said earlier, "Marrying one is the same as marrying two or three," I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief.

Bu Zhantai's expression changed rapidly, first showing shock, then joy, and finally the light in his eyes gradually dimmed, his tense shoulders trembling slightly. I knew he had already guessed that I, as a Gege of Yehe, would unexpectedly appear in Feiala City at this moment, and what the reason behind it was.

Do you think you can undermine me with such a level of competence

Oh ... ...

"Pursue your grand dreams!" Chu Ying said fiercely, her eyes flashing with a ruthlessness I was not familiar with. "With just you, do you think you can win over Dong Ge?" As she spoke, she lashed out with two more strikes.

With my hand resting on my heart, I couldn't help but feel a sense of hope. He noticed me gazing at him thoughtfully, and the originally proud and defiant expression on his face began to waver slightly. Suddenly, he struggled a bit and exclaimed: "Dong Ge Ge, please marry me. I, Bu Zhantai, vow to cherish you for a lifetime..."

I moved my limbs a bit; aside from a slight pain in my neck, everything else is fine. The man who just acted violently towards me has already been restrained by the guards, standing silently by the corridor, illuminated by the faint light of the lantern. He appears to be in his thirties, with an elongated face, almond-shaped eyes, a straight nose, and a somewhat handsome appearance.

Fortunately, later the wet nurse brought Emperor Taiji, saying that the Eighth Prince was clamoring to see him, which alleviated my boredom just in time. The little Emperor Taiji, just over one year old, was at the stage of babbling, with a chubby white face, and his features combined the resoluteness of Nurhaci and the gentleness of his sister Menggu, truly a remarkable little fellow

"Gege... very good, indeed a master. Are you the daughter of Nurhaci or the daughter of Shurhaci? Hmph, it doesn't matter, whose daughter you are doesn't matter..." He gently brushed aside my disheveled hair with his left hand, suddenly stunned, his drunken eyes revealing a hint of astonishment. "Heh, I didn't expect... that there would be such a beauty in the Aisin Gioro family... Dong Ge! Dong Ge!" Suddenly stunned, his drunken eyes revealed a hint of astonishment. "Heh, I didn't expect... that there would be such a beauty in the Aisin Gioro family... Dong Ge! Dong Ge! ... If I had known you were here, why would I have been forced to marry Ershitai? But... it doesn't matter, after all, marrying one is the same as marrying two or three..."

Ugh... I struggled desperately, but my legs were firmly pinned down by his knees. How infuriating! With my body being only eleven years old, I simply cannot match his strength! Damn it, with his brute force, even if I were to grow to twenty years old, I would still be unable to contend with him in the slightest

Let her go

Ha, ha, ha! Facing the pitch-black night sky, I let out three loud cold laughs to vent the anger that has built up inside me

I spent the whole night amusing him to pass the time. At first, he seemed a bit shy around me, but as we played, he unexpectedly grabbed my little braid with his small hand and leaned in with his rosy little lips to kiss me, which elicited a burst of laughter from a group of women.

A vague voice chuckled in the night

With a sharp crack, it was actually Chu Ying who struck him across the face with a whip in her hand.

Good

The Jurchens differ from the Han people in their marriage customs; the Han people adhere to monogamy, while the Jurchens practice a veritable form of polygamy. In terms of status, both the primary wife and the secondary wife are considered wives and enjoy the treatment befitting a mistress. In contrast, the concubines, referred to as 'small wives,' hold a position similar to that of concubines among the Han, with their status in the household only slightly higher than that of ordinary servants.

What caught my eye was a pair of clear eyes that remained as warm and gentle as jade, just as I remembered. I couldn't help but smile, sweeping away the displeasure and gloom from my long journey

I only woke up at the time of the lanterns, actually awakened by my empty stomach. I initially thought of casually finding some snacks to fill my belly and continue sleeping, but A Jina informed me that there is a wedding banquet in the inner city tonight, and Sister Menggu and Young Emperor Tai Chi are no longer in the room, leaving a new set of clothes on the kang table.

What kind of person ... ...

Ha, haha... He suddenly began to laugh in a low tone, his laughter growing louder and louder, until eventually he laughed as if he had gone mad. "Indeed... this is certainly not a place where I should be! I should never have been here! I should never have been here! I absolutely should not have been here!"

Comb your hair! I sat down in anger, do as I say, I will take the blame for anything that happens!

As I slightly opened my eyes, a familiar face came into view, with starry eyes and sharp brows, exuding a heroic spirit. I blinked, finally confirming that it was indeed him.

Chu Ying

I laughed heartily, and the gloomy emotions that had lingered for many days melted away in his smile. I linked my arm with his and said with a grin, "Then you must spend more time with me in the future. I get bored being alone for too long, and when I get bored for too long, I start to think about returning to Yehe..."

"Men are truly insatiable creatures!" I scoffed coldly, fully aware that offending him at this moment would likely provoke even more violent rage. However, just thinking about what he had said earlier made my anger surge to the top of my head, and I disregarded everything else. "You haven't even swallowed what's in the bowl, yet you're already thinking about what's in the pot. Be careful not to choke, or you might just burst!"

My nose was pressed against his chest, and it felt like it was about to be flattened. I couldn't help but say in a muffled voice, "Hey, I can hardly breathe." He was truly afraid that I might suffocate, so he quickly loosened his grip

I feigned compliance, not daring to defy him any longer: "I am Dong Ge Ge..."

I was already seething with anger inside, like a hedgehog with its quills raised, ready to retaliate at any moment. Her words hit me right where it hurt. I retracted my smile, preparing to fire back, but Sister Menggu suddenly stepped in front of me, and while carrying the Emperor Taiji back, she pinched my wrist.

Ajina let out a cry and hurriedly rushed forward to pick it up, her face turning pale with fright

I could only see her brow slightly furrowed, her gaze subtly revealing helplessness and desolation. The words I had just brought to my throat were instantly swallowed back, and I let my shoulders droop in defeat

"So what? Although I am a defeated general, I do not need to endure your humiliation. If you are a hero or a great man, then be straightforward with me!" A trace of resolute stubbornness appeared on his face, and the corners of his mouth drooped, revealing a sense of disdain.

He blinked, his hand gently brushed over my eyebrows and temples, and finally he sighed, smiling softly as he said: "It is better than anything that you can come back."

Since I woke up, he has been tightly pursing his lips, bowing his head in silence. It was only when I asked him a question that he slowly raised his head, gazing at me with bright eyes.

How is Sister Dongguo?

He should understand better than I do how unreasonable and intense a man's possessiveness can be! Just like his words and actions just now!

I thought about it and, not wanting to reveal my true identity, deliberately introduced myself with a nickname known only to my close family: "I am Dong Ge"

When Chu Ying saw me sizing him up, he snorted twice and coldly said: "Bu Zhantai, do you think that just because you have become my son-in-law, I will have no way to deal with you? Today, you have humiliated Dong Ge, and I believe even my father-in-law cannot protect you now." He paused, waved his hand, "Take him away, and later hand him over to my father for punishment"

The sound of water sloshing in the wine jar was so clear in the night: "Which house are you a maid from? Hmm?" Suddenly, he reached out his hand, and before I had a chance to evade, he abruptly grabbed me, forcefully pulling me into his embrace and pressing me down onto his right leg.

I do not care whether that thing is broken or not; when I turn back to see myself in the mirror, with clouds piled high in my hair, cheeks like spring peaches, eyebrows slightly furrowed, exuding an air of nobility, I cannot help but feel a surge of anger, and without hesitation, I mess up the carefully styled bun.

I was taken aback; who could it be, hiding in the corridor like me? Turning my head to glance at the brightly lit area, the lively voices from the happy room were bustling, and no one would come this way.

Damn it! The smell of alcohol is overwhelming! Without hesitation, I raised my leg and my knee struck him in the groin

A blood-red mark immediately appeared on his jaw

Taking a deep breath, I slowly stood up from my seat, squinting and smiling lightly: "Aunt, there is a strong smell of garlic in this room; I think I will step outside for some fresh air, lest I suffocate." Without waiting to see their reactions, I hurriedly made my way out of the room, slipping into a corridor under the cover of night.

The pressure on my neck increased, and I could hardly breathe. Indeed, this is retribution in this life! It is all due to this mouth of mine.

"There is no need to fuss about it, just tie my hair into two small braids." She glanced sideways and noticed a pair of brand new flowerpot-bottom shoes on the ground, and couldn't help but sneer, kicking them away with one foot. "I don't need to wear this useless stuff either. First, if I wear it, I won't be able to walk; second, I am still young and do not need to wear women's things."

I took two steps back and said coldly: "You better not move recklessly, this place is not far from the new house. If I scream loudly, it will definitely attract a large crowd."

He lay motionless in the darkness, vague and silent, like a hibernating black bear in deep slumber

Although it has been less than a year, Daisan has noticeably grown taller, and there is already a sense of a big boy about him. He carefully held my hand to help me out of the car, and just as I was about to step down using the footrest that had been placed in advance, he suddenly wrapped his arms around my waist.

Who? The night is too dark, and I cannot see the person's face clearly. I can only guess from the tall silhouette that it is a man, who is also holding a wine jar, likely drunk and confused to have stumbled here.

He suddenly exerted his strength, charging towards me with an astonishing momentum. I barely had time to gasp before he covered my mouth. After a dizzying whirl, I found myself pinned to the ground by him. He sneered, "Even a little maid from the Nurhaci family dares to mock me. Hmph, it seems I truly am a hero at the end of his road, destitute and downcast..."

He gasped, bending over and pointing at me

I stood up and walked to the side, leaning down to splash my face with the water that had slowly cooled in the copper basin, washing away the exquisite makeup.

Who is there

Had I known that this journey would be a solitary venture into the dragon's den and tiger's lair, it would merely come down to a single word: "strive"

I couldn't help but sneer inwardly, what a group of exceedingly boring and foolish women! I glanced sideways at Sister Menggu again, feeling only pity for her. During the recent joint military campaign of the nine divisions, due to Yehe's influence, it was inevitable that she would temporarily lose favor in front of Nurhaci. Fortunately, she has already given birth to a son for Nurhaci; otherwise, her situation would be even more unimaginable.

"Good, very obedient..." He chuckled ambiguously, the strong smell of alcohol wafting from his mouth, making me feel a wave of nausea. "Tell me, who exactly are you?"

How vulgar! I felt an inexplicable aversion, and I raised my hand to pluck those two golden peonies and threw them to the ground

I let out a cold laugh, my entire being enveloped by a faint, sour sadness—In this unequal world, as a weak woman with no ability to resist, will I ultimately be unable to breathe freely and comfortably?

With a tightening of the muscles beneath his sleeves, he slowly said: "I will not let you be bored"

Sister Menggu has moved into a new house, which is larger than the one she lived in before. It is a three-room house, and as soon as you enter from the east side, there is a small kitchen. The warm kang in the room has already been heated. I sat on the kang, watching the young Emperor Taiji peacefully sleeping in the cradle. Seeing my weary expression, Sister Menggu did not engage in a lengthy conversation with me, but instead urged me to lie down and catch up on my sleep.

Fortunately ... ... Fortunately ... ...

"Gege!" Azhina was quite frightened by me, "How can that be? These are all instructions given by Shule Beile to the servants to do this..."

He suddenly stopped, facing me, and although I did not look up, I could feel his burning gaze.

The city of Feiara is divided into three parts: the outer city, the inner city, and the walled city. Within the inner city, there is a wooden enclosure, where relatives generally reside, while Nurhaci and his consorts live within the enclosure

"All is well." He sighed softly

I heard that she is the daughter of the Shuerhazi Beile family, but the groom's identity is unknown. Upon hearing this, I immediately breathed a sigh of relief, my tense expression relaxed, and I broke into a broad smile

Indeed, Dong Gege is a beauty of unparalleled grace, and her enchanting charm is irresistible even to our Eighth Prince. The speaker of these words is Nurhaci's young consort, the Niuhulu clan. Although she wears a smile, the coldness in her words is evident even to a fool

It seems I have indeed arrived at the right time, as there is excitement to behold upon my arrival. I am truly curious about the wedding of the full house, having only seen such grand occasions in the palace dramas on television, where they appear to be extraordinarily lively

The scenery in the city has not changed much, yet my state of mind has become much more desolate than it was then

Dong Ge! Dong Ge! Wake up! Wake up! Someone is calling my name, gently patting my cheek.

Good

Merely a year later, I quietly returned to the city of Feiala, retracing the old path to Yehe that I had taken last year