In the tenth year of the Tiancong reign, Huang Taiji again sought the opinions of Han officials and Confucian scholars on the title "Zaozheng Zunhou" (早正尊称). Bao Chengxian, Ning Wanwo, Fan Wencheng, Luo Xiujin, and others all expressed their approval.
Sahalian then summoned all the beile (princes) to write oaths of allegiance to Huang Taiji.
Upon hearing the news, the Mongol princes from the outer regions also requested to be given honorific titles, and Huang Taiji agreed.
Preparations for bestowing the title of honor were largely completed by the end of March of the tenth year of the Tiancong reign.
On April 11, Huang Taiji offered sacrifices to Heaven at the Temple of Heaven in Shengjing, and then "ascended the throne," receiving the title "Kuanwen Rensheng Emperor," establishing the country as "Great Qing," and changing the era name to Chongde, which became the first year of Chongde.
After Huang Taiji became emperor, he made Zhe Zhe the Grand Consort of the Central Palace, which is the empress; his original secondary consort Batma Zao became the Consort of the Western Palace Yanqing Palace; and his secondary consort Borjigit Namuzhong became the Noble Consort of the Eastern Palace Linzhi Palace.
Two other concubines were also among those who received titles this time.
Like Namuzhong, Yehenara Sutai, one of Ligdan Khan's eight principal consorts, was granted the title of Consort Duan of Yongfu Palace, the second Eastern Palace.
Another was the secondary consort who gave birth to the eighth prince, Shuo Sai, for Huang Taiji. She was also from the Yehenara clan and was granted the title of Consort Kang of Yongning Palace in the Western Palace.
This year was the first year of Huang Taiji's ascension to the throne. Coincidentally, Yunyi's second son, Bodun, also turned seventeen, and Huang Taiji arranged a marriage for him.
She was the legitimate daughter of Aguta's uncle, and his cousin, of the Guarjia clan.
This Guargia clan member was very close to Aguta and had known Bodun since childhood. She possessed the liveliness of a young girl, but was also intelligent and studious.
After Erdun married Aguta, she often pestered her sister-in-law to explain Chinese studies to her. She was a rare girl in the Qing Dynasty who was well-educated, reasonable, and skilled in both literature and martial arts.
Yunyi was very satisfied with this. The two of them shared the same interests and could chat with each other. It was good that they could be together.
And that's why Bodon agreed.
Manchu princesses learn riding and archery from a young age, but not classical Chinese studies. They can ride horses and shoot arrows, but they don't understand the meaning of classical Chinese texts.
Guarjia was the best for Bodun, and he also liked this lively yet knowledgeable girl.
In October, a grand wedding was held in the palace. The Fifth Prince Bodun married a woman from the Guarjia clan and left the palace to establish his own residence.
Huang Taiji also bestowed titles upon several of his sons. His eldest son, Hauge, was disliked by Huang Taiji because of that incident, and even though he had now become emperor, Huang Taiji made no move to do so.
The third son, Luo Bohui, had been in poor health since childhood due to the machinations of Empress Ulanara. This time, Huang Taiji bestowed upon him the title of Prince An.
The fourth son, Ertenyi, was born to the First Consort. He was born brave and skilled in battle and had followed his father to the battlefield to fight enemies since he was a child. Huang Taiji also granted him the title of Prince Yong.
The fifth son was still young, so he was only granted the title of Beile. The sixth, seventh, and eighth sons were even younger, and none of them were granted the title this time.
Even though he bestowed the title of "Five Consorts of Chongde" upon himself after ascending the throne, the only person Huang Taiji truly loved in his heart was Erdun.
In the years since Aguta left, Erdun has been raising her children alone, leading a very ordinary life. She only visits her aunt and sister occasionally, and spends the rest of her time at the mansion raising her children.
She was clearly not even thirty, but she looked like a woman in her seventies or eighties, dressed simply and without any makeup.
Many people advised her that she was still young and had a long future ahead of her, and that she didn't need to do this for her deceased husband. But Erdun was willing to stay and guard the mansion, unwilling to leave.
It was because Erdun said this that Huang Taiji lost all hope. He could only suppress his thoughts and silently protect her.
Fortunately, because Aguta was posthumously granted the title of Beile, and Erdun was the Beile's wife, Huang Taiji could take a glimpse of her from afar during banquets held in the palace during festivals.
Over the years, this love has turned into an obsession, causing Huang Taiji immense pain.
He so desperately wanted to issue an imperial decree to marry her; he had even thought of her title: Consort Chen, to reside in the Guanju Palace.
But he could only think about it; he couldn't do anything about it because he loved her and cherished her, unwilling to force her.
In March of the sixth year of the Chongde reign, the Qing army and the Ming army clashed in the Battle of Songjin. This battle lasted for more than a year, from March of that year until April of the following year.
In the early stages of the war, the Ming army won a victory. Huang Taiji, who was far away in Shenyang, was extremely worried upon hearing the news. Despite his illness, he rushed 500 li day and night in August to the Songjin front.
When Huang Taiji arrived at the front line, he went to the battlefield to observe the situation of the battle between the two armies despite having a nosebleed. While praising Hong Chengchou for his skillful use of troops and Wu Sangui for his bravery in battle, he also discovered the shortcomings of the Ming army.
The battle ended with the Qing army capturing the Ming commander Hong Chengchou alive. The Battle of Songjin was a great victory for the Qing, who annihilated a large number of Ming soldiers, laying a solid foundation for the Qing army's later entry into the Central Plains.
But at this time, news secretly came from Huang Taiji's confidants in the capital that Prince Zhong's wife, Erdun, was seriously ill.
Huang Taiji was both surprised and worried, but the war was at a critical moment, and his hasty departure would give others ammunition to criticize him.
However, Erdun was his beloved, so Huang Taiji could only resolve the matter quickly and return to Shengjing as soon as possible.
At the end of April, as soon as the war ended, Huang Taiji rushed back to Shengjing. After summoning his confidants to inquire, he learned that Erdun's health was indeed poor.
Since Aguta's passing, she has embraced Buddhism, eating vegetarian food daily, chanting Buddhist prayers, and seeking blessings for her deceased husband.
Poor eating and sleeping habits, coupled with inner turmoil, caused her health to deteriorate rapidly within a few years, until today...
Hearing the doctor say this to him, Huang Taiji could hardly believe it. The Chongde Emperor, who was so brave on the battlefield, was now staggering and finally fell onto the stool.
Is there any way to cure it?
Overwhelmed by the imposing aura emanating from Huang Taiji, the doctor lowered his head, somewhat frightened, and answered tremblingly, "Your Majesty, the wife of Prince Zhong is in extremely poor health, and she has no will to live. This servant is truly powerless to help her!"
"No will to live?" Huang Taiji muttered to himself, repeating the phrase several times.
"Hahaha, what a lack of will to live!" Huang Taiji stood up, looked up at the sky, and laughed loudly. As he said these words, Huang Taiji felt as if his heart was being torn apart.
He slumped back into his chair, a bitter smile playing on his lips.
So all these years, you've never let go, and he's been on your mind all this time, to this extent?
After a long while, Huang Taiji got up and made an excuse to visit Erdun.
When they arrived, Yunyi and Wuyoudai were both there, and Erdun's two children were also in the house.
Huang Taiji inquired about Erdun's condition with concern, appearing like a loving elder.
"I am fine, Your Majesty, thank you for your concern," Erdun replied calmly from her bed.
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