Chapter 278: The Eight Banners, United in Name but Divided in Heart

"We've barely left Shengjing, and the Holy Mother Empress Dowager is already summoning the Prince Regent back to the capital—something major must have happened in the city." said Hooge, clad in the full armor of the Plain Blue Banner.

Dorgon was equally puzzled upon hearing the news. Before leaving the capital, it had been agreed that the army would not return in triumph until at least the lands of the Three Guards of Doyan were recovered. Bumbutai calling him back at this time—would that not make him break faith with others?

If he marched the army back, he would lose all authority on the one hand, and on the other achieve nothing, only to be dragged into the disputes between the old and new factions among the princes and ministers at court—yet another waste of time with no progress to show.

At this moment, Dorgon held command over the greater part of the Qing army and his word carried absolute weight among the princes and ministers. He had even recently been granted the additional title of Imperial Father Prince Regent—but still, he was not the Emperor.

Chongzhen was the Emperor, and thus the legitimate sovereign. As long as he had enough loyal troops at his disposal, he could begin implementing reforms without hesitation. But Dorgon could not—he had too many concerns and too many people to worry about.

First, there was still a considerable faction at court that continued to support Hooge and favored the old ways. Moreover, the forces of the Blue and Red Banners under Jirgalang and Daišan were far from negligible. If Dorgon insisted on his own way and forcibly seized the throne, he would very likely face a united attack from all of them.

Beyond that, since Bumbutai had assumed the position of Holy Mother Empress Dowager, she had gradually lost her former docility and obedience. From time to time she would put on airs before Dorgon, and the two of them were outwardly united but inwardly at odds.

The young Shunzhi Emperor also harbored considerable grievances against Dorgon. Mother and son had been well-behaved enough last year, but starting this year, they had begun making decisions on certain matters without consulting Dorgon's opinion—which left him deeply displeased.

Everywhere he looked, he saw hidden dangers. As things stood, Dorgon was constrained on all sides and unable to implement the system he envisioned beyond the Pass. Whenever loyal Han Chinese slaves brought word of how Chongzhen had already begun sweeping reforms inside the Pass, Dorgon's heart burned with even greater anxiety.

All of this had begun to shake Dorgon's conviction that giving up the throne had been the right decision.

After hearing Hooge's words, Dorgon thought it over and concluded that although the lands of the Three Guards of Doyan were barren, they were of considerable help for taking a roundabout route into the Pass. Moreover, once this territory was held, merchants from inside the Pass could transport supplies through here.

"The Three Guards of Doyan are of utmost importance—we cannot abandon them. But since the Holy Mother Empress Dowager and His Majesty have issued their decree, we as subjects have no choice but to obey. Dodo, I shall return to Shengjing immediately. I leave you five thousand elite cavalry of the Plain White Banner, and all Mongol Banner and Han Banner troops here shall follow your command. Retake the Three Guards of Doyan for me!"

Dodo was somewhat surprised, but he did not hesitate. He rode forward at once and called out: "Rest assured, Prince Regent! With Dodo here, the lands of Doyan will remain Great Qing's!"

"Mm, I shall be on my way back now." Dorgon glanced at Hooge, then directly reined his horse around.

Hearing the unyielding tone in Dorgon's voice and watching his retreating figure, Hooge let out a cold snort and said to the Beile of the Two Yellow Banners who had come to inquire:

"Dorgon is afraid that if I stay here I'll steal his credit. But some things aren't decided by him alone. Turge, you stay behind with five hundred cavalry and keep an eye on Dodo for me. The credit can't all go to Dorgon!"

Turge acknowledged the order and rode out, mustering five hundred horsemen of the Plain Yellow Banner who quietly slipped out of the main force. What they did not know was that all of this was visible to the scouts Dorgon had stationed in the rear.

The harem of the Great Ming court was not riven by the same scheming and intrigue as that of the Qing beyond the Pass. Of the few consorts and concubines, only a handful were fortunate enough to receive the Chongzhen Emperor's favor.

The remaining consorts came and went each day. Though they longed in their hearts for the Emperor to visit them, there was none of that chaos seen in the queue-wearing dramas of later generations. Of course, all of this was thanks to Empress Zhou keeping order in the harem.

On the other hand, at a time like this, many people knew that scheming and climbing higher served little purpose—whether the Great Ming dynasty could even continue to survive was still very much an open question.

Consort Rou—that is, Tuoya—still felt to this day that becoming an imperial consort of the Great Ming was a blessing earned from a previous life. Upon learning of the favor her father and clansmen had received because of it, she treasured it all the more, behaving with complete obedience and docility before Chongzhen.

In Tuoya's eyes, the capital of the Great Ming was like a divine palace on earth. Outside the city walls was incomparable prosperity, with bustling streets crowded by all manner of people, while within the imperial palace, royal majesty radiated from every corner. It was a city that seemed impossible to have been built.

After staying for some time, Tuoya soon discovered its one shortcoming—there were far too many rules in the harem. She had been admonished many times by Empress Zhou, Consort Yuan, and others before gradually learning some of them. And despite her exalted status as an imperial consort, she could not even set foot beyond the palace gates.

Even though the imperial guards and the men of the inner depot kept the harem under tight protection and surveillance, this still could not quell the fiery passion in Tuoya's heart. And so, bored and restless, Tuoya once again ran off to Yukun Palace, one of the six western palaces of the inner court, to play and amuse herself.

Though Tuoya had an innocent appearance, inside she was a thoroughly tough woman. Having grown up on the grasslands drawing her bow and shooting eagles from the sky, she did not have much cunning or scheming in her heart—she was simply living the life she yearned for.

Consort Yuan had initially only wanted to help this new imperial consort settle in, but she was later won over by Tuoya's genuine nature, and the two became sisters who shared everything with each other.

Tuoya was equally straightforward. She spent nearly the whole day at Yukun Palace chatting and laughing with Consort Yuan, treating her with mutual respect while also showing great closeness.

"Sister, since we're idle in the palace anyway, why not find something to do to relieve the boredom? Besides, it's not as if His Majesty would punish us for it!"

Hearing Tuoya bring up the matter again, Consort Yuan felt helpless before this younger sister of hers. She rolled her eyes and said with exasperation: "Oh, my dear little sister, for a consort to leave the palace without permission is a grave crime. Can you please stop bringing it up?"

At first Tuoya had been somewhat afraid of Consort Yuan's stern expressions, but she later discovered that Consort Yuan was nothing but a paper tiger—prick her and she deflates. Now she no longer felt that initial fear, and waving her hands with a tingling, coquettish cry, she said:

"Sister~, just agree to this once for your little sister, won't you? Just go out and have some fun—just this once, is that so impossible?"

Consort Yuan truly could not withstand Tuoya's persistent coaxing and wheedling. Just as she was at a loss for what to do, she suddenly heard the maids and eunuchs standing outside the left gate kneel and pay their respects. She turned with a smile and said:

"Zhaoren is back! Come quickly to your mother!"

"Mother, Mother, what were you and Sister Tuoya talking about?" Princess Zhaoren was only seven years old. She blinked her big eyes, her head swaying this way and that, radiating an adorable little-girl charm.

"We weren't talking about anything. Sister Tuoya was telling Mother that you haven't been studying properly with your Companion—is that true?" Consort Yuan could play dumb without so much as a blush or a quickened breath. She raised an eyebrow, instantly intimidating Zhaoren.

Zhaoren stammered for a long while before finally saying awkwardly: "That's not true at all! If you don't believe me, Mother, go ask Imperial Brother—Zhaoren studies with him every day!"

"Hasn't the Crown Prince been reviewing memorials with your father in the warm chamber these past few days?" Consort Yuan immediately caught the flaw in Zhaoren's words, and with a tone of frustration at her lack of promise, said:

"Zhaoren, your elder sister Meichuo loves poetry and literature, and has also dabbled in needlework and the culinary arts. She has now married the Imperial Son-in-law Zhang Huangyan, who excels in both letters and arms, and lives a life of happiness and fulfillment that ordinary people can only envy. If you continue to be this willful and spoiled in the future, how is your father supposed to find you such a fine husband?"

Before Zhaoren could reply, a burst of laughter came from outside the door. The Chongzhen Emperor strode in with large steps and said:

"My consort takes this too seriously. Zhaoren is still young after all—let her be. This harem is the home of both me and my consort; there's no need for excessive formality!"