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Riding swiftly northward, the Princess of Yue Ming County followed Lin Ning. They traveled by day and rested in inns by night, both mounted on fine steeds. In just three days, they passed Shanhaiguan. The two conferred and decided to return to Shengjing to inquire with Wen Hui about the mystery surrounding the Princess of Yue Ming County's origins. To avoid unnecessary trouble, Lin Ning used a disguise technique on both himself and the Princess. The Princess transformed into a handsome young man, while Lin Ning took on the appearance of an elderly man with white hair.
After passing Jinzhou City, they unexpectedly caught up with a troop of Later Jin soldiers. The Princess immediately recognized this group as Min's troops, as their leader was indeed Min himself. The state of Min's troop appeared somewhat weary and disheveled, hastily heading towards Shengjing with chickens, ducks, fish, and meat looted along the way. They pretended to be passersby, slowing their pace to follow behind the Later Jin soldiers.
The Princess whispered to Lin Ning, "Let’s follow Min and see what they are up to." Lin Ning nodded in agreement with her idea. Noticing that the Princess called Min by his name rather than using a title like 'Ama', Lin Ning felt a renewed sense of belief in what the Princess had said at Mountain God Temple.
As the Later Jin troop passed Guangning County (now Beizhen in Jinzhou), a small detachment riding fast horses suddenly appeared ahead. The leading officer jumped down from his horse and saluted Min, saying, "Great Khan requests that you return to Shengjing urgently."
Min was furious upon hearing this and shouted loudly, "I have not rested for a moment since retreating from the borders to head towards Shengjing! How much faster can I go? What does Great Khan want from me with these repeated urgings?" The officer clasped his fists and bowed to Min, saying, "I am merely following orders; please forgive me, Your Highness."
Min snorted disdainfully and said, "Is it true that Great Khan wants to punish me?" The officer replied, "I do not know why Great Khan is anxious for Your Highness to return; I am only here to deliver the message. Please understand."
Min let out another cold snort and angrily said, "Enough! I understand!" The officer bowed again and remounted his horse, leading his small detachment back towards Shengjing to report. Meanwhile, Min continued at his original pace towards Shengjing.
After traveling for most of the day, they finally returned to the city of Shengjing. Lin Ning and the Princess arrived at Hong Taiji's palace ahead of Min and his men. Utilizing their lightness skills, they cleverly evaded the soldiers' patrols and easily reached a large flower pot behind which they hid in the Grand Council Hall.
Lin Ning waited for the right moment before gently pulling the Princess's hand as they leaped silently onto the rubble in the Grand Council Hall. He cautiously lifted a piece of rubble and peered through the gap below. There sat Hong Taiji in a fur cloak beside a charcoal stove in the center of the hall, poking at the coals with an iron rod. His pale face flickered with an eerie red glow in the firelight, and his deep-set eyes seemed lost in thought.
Standing next to Hong Taiji was a burly man with bronze skin and thick eyebrows—Dai Shan. On the west wall of the hall hung a portrait of Nurhaci, beside which was a seven-character poem praising Nurhaci composed by an elderly Yehe woman:
"Jurchen heroes rise from Jianzhou,
Thirteen remnants revive Longxing.
Heavenly timing and earthly advantage,
The Eight Banners' fierce cavalry treads.
Forty years of military life,
Unmatched in all directions.
The foundation of King Han's great achievements laid,
Unprecedented changes turn the world!"
Seeing the incense rising from the burner in front of Nurhaci's portrait confirmed for Lin Ning that Nurhaci had indeed passed away. He wondered whether this poem was Nurhaci's last wishes or if it was intentionally placed there by Hong Taiji.
As Lin Ning pondered these thoughts aimlessly, he heard Hong Taiji speak to Dai Shan: "What brings you here to see me?" Dai Shan replied, "I heard that Great Khan intends to punish Min?"
Hong Taiji looked sharply at Dai Shan before lowering his gaze again to poke at the coals. After a moment of silence, he said, "Min has repeatedly violated military regulations. Out of brotherly affection over many years, I have tolerated him time and again; however, this time he has committed an unforgivable error by losing Zunhua, Yongping, Qian'an, and Luanzhou—cities we worked hard to capture. How can I possibly forgive him?"
Dai Shan responded, "Though Min has made mistakes, he is still our good brother. I hope Great Khan can show mercy considering his contributions in supporting your ascension."
Just as Dai Shan finished speaking, a commotion erupted outside the hall before someone violently pushed open the doors. A burly figure stormed into the hall—Min himself. Breathing heavily with furrowed brows upon seeing Hong Taiji, he shouted loudly: "Great Khan! I hear you wish to punish me?"
Hong Taiji paused his poking at the coals and replied expressionlessly: "Do you not realize you have caused great trouble? You failed to hold onto Zunhua, Yongping, Qian'an, and Luanzhou while disregarding my orders—killing and plundering within those cities without restraint. You have truly disappointed me; if I were to forgive you now, it would be difficult for me to maintain authority!"
Min's face turned dark red with anger upon hearing Hong Taiji's words as he retorted fiercely: "Before our late Khan passed away, he intended for Dorgon to inherit the throne! If it weren't for me working alongside Dai Shan and Mongolia Ertai to help you eliminate that vile Abahai—who knows if Dorgon would already be on the throne? Now that you are Great Khan, you repay us for our contributions with betrayal?"
A cold smile crept across Hong Taiji's face as Dai Shan quickly interjected: "Min! How can you speak like this to Great Khan? Regardless of anything else, he is still our Great Khan!"
Min sneered back: "To cross rivers and demolish bridges is no different than being a despicable villain! I will not be like such a Great Khan!"
Dai Shan felt a wave of anxiety wash over him as he witnessed Hong Taiji’s expression darken ominously; Hong Taiji’s face grew even paler as he coldly remarked: "If you say I am despicable and shameless then what about you? Twenty years ago for your own gain in acquiring Zhongyuan's Sun Moon Gang martial arts manual 'The Art of Sun and Moon', you colluded with traitor Yang Yan from Sun Moon Gang to kill Yuan Qingtian and his wife—seizing their precious daughter Yuan Yueming! You then forcibly married Wen Hui because she possessed some beauty! Is your behavior not despicable?"
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