My Uncle Dotes on Ruolan's Fragrance

In Later Jin, from 1616 to 1635, Dorgon, the khan's twentieth son, and Shumo, also known as Ruolan, the adopted daughter of his elder brother Hacige, grew up together. Childhood sweethearts, they secretly cherished feelings for each other from a young age.

In an era when nobles commonly had multiple wives and concubines, their devotion was especially precious. When they came of age, they married according to their tribe's customs, and Ruolan's close friend Bule accompanied her to the beile's manor. The couple were devoted to each other after their marriage, and Ruolan gave birth to a son and a daughter. But Bule fell in love with Dorgon and repeatedly made advances to seduce him, stirring up trouble in the household.

Though Dorgon had become a powerful beile with authority in his grasp, he remained true to his heart. Material rewards, tribal honors, and all the love in his heart belonged to Ruolan alone. He rejected the advances of others and, amid the turbulent currents of the age, wrote a tale of unwavering devotion and exclusive love worthy of a Later Jin beile.