The Legend of Zhen Huan Reborn: Overthrowing Zhen Huan to Become the Queen Mother

Across the vast Mongolian steppes, tribes thrive according to ancient traditions and customs. Tara and Dolan reside in the westernmost part of the Zhaluut tribe, bordering the Khorchin border. The tribes of the Ninth and Seventh Banners also share the Borjigit surname. These two banners hold a pivotal position within the tribe. The leader of the Ninth Banner is a formidable figure, ruling over a region. However, the background of his wife is even more formidable. The entangled family power behind her forms a vast and complex web, enveloping the grasslands and often forcing the leader of the Ninth Banner to exercise caution. Consequently, he naturally favors their daughter, Tara, and treats her like the apple of his eye.

At nine years old, Tara was like the brightest sunshine on a spring day on the grassland, radiating endless innocence and romance. Her beautiful eyes were crystal clear, bringing joy to anyone who looked at them.

In the Seven Banners tribe, there lived the pitiful Duolan. At only seven years old, Duolan should have been enjoying the carefree days of her parents' carefree life, but fate had been particularly harsh on her. Duolan's appearance stood out among the other Mongolian children, her features embodying a touch of Han Chinese charm. In this predominantly Mongolian tribe, this became a source of bullying. Some of her mischievous and naive peers in the Seven Banners tribe often used her appearance as an excuse to tease and mock her. They would deliberately trip her as she passed, only to burst into laughter as she fell. Or they would gather around her, imitating Han Chinese accents and speaking in strange, inflected tones, mocking her with every ounce of derision.

Duolan lost her parents at a young age, and with nowhere to make a living, she was sold into slavery by her uncle. This environment made her increasingly timid. Faced with the constant bullying, she lowered her head, swallowing all the grievances and sadness. She didn't dare to resist, fearing that it would only lead to even more severe bullying.

As the sun shone across the vast grasslands, the leader of the Ninth Banner led Tara to a grand banquet in the Seventh Banner. Along the way, Tara excitedly took in the scenery, filled with anticipation for the upcoming feast. Arriving at the Seventh Banner's camp, the feast was bustling with activity. The adults exchanged pleasantries, toasted, and discussed intertribal cooperation, herding, and other matters. At first, Tara sat obediently beside her father, listening to the adults' conversation. But soon, she began to grow bored, her restless heart unable to contain itself.

While no one was paying attention, Tara quietly slipped out of the banquet tent and wandered around the Seven Banners tribe like a happy little bird. She looked curiously at the decorations in the Seven Banners tribe that were slightly different from her own, touching here and there, having a lot of fun.

Just as Tara reached a corner on the edge of the tribe, she heard a loud commotion. Frowning, she hurried over to see what was happening. In an open space, several Seven Banners children, about her own age, were surrounding a little girl. It was Dolan. Dolan's face was filled with fear, and she kept shrinking back. Tears welled in her eyes, but she dared not cry out loud. She just stared helplessly at the fierce faces around her.

The bullying kids kept saying nasty things, "You look so weird, you shouldn't be in our tribe!" "Hmph, you look like a Han Chinese, you must be no good!" As they spoke, they reached out to pull Duolan's clothes and pushed her. Duolan staggered and almost fell to the ground.

Tara was immediately furious when she saw this. She rushed over in two steps and stood in front of Dolan. Like a female leopard protecting her cub, she put her hands on her hips, her face flushed red, and shouted, "You are going too far! How can you bully people like this! Bullying a girl younger than you, aren't you ashamed?"

The bullies were stunned at first, not expecting a sudden move. When they saw Tara's dazzling skirt covered with jewels and colorful ribbons, they were a little apprehensive, but since they were on their own territory and thought that Tara was just a girl, they retorted disapprovingly: "Hey, this is our Seven Banners' business. You outsider, stay out of our business! Get out of here!"

Tara was not scared off by their words. She widened her eyes and said fearlessly: "No matter which flag it is, bullying is wrong! If you do this again, I will tell Dad and make you all punished!" As she spoke, she pointed at the children, her eyes full of anger and determination.

When the children heard they were going to tell the adults, they were a little scared. After all, they knew that Tara's clothes were not ordinary, and if they really told the flag owners, they would definitely be in trouble. So they looked at each other, muttered a few words of resentment, and ran away in shame.

Dolan looked at Tara, who had bravely stood up to protect him, his eyes filled with gratitude and admiration. His lips trembled as he managed to squeeze out a few words: "Thank you...thank you..." Tara looked at Dolan, and the anger on her face instantly dissipated, replaced by a distressed smile. She walked forward, gently took Dolan's hand, and stroked it again and again, saying: "Don't be afraid, I'm here. If they dare to bully you again, I won't let them go."

But the commotion here eventually became a big deal, quickly reaching the ears of the two banner masters. Upon hearing what had happened, the Seventh Banner Master was genuinely displeased, but thinking of the formidable power behind Tara Eji, he dared not complain. On the grasslands, power sometimes carries more weight than anything else, and the Seventh Banner Master did not want to offend the surrounding forces over such a small matter, which would lead to unnecessary trouble.

After a moment's thought, the Seventh Banner Master, in an effort to calm things down, said to the Ninth Banner Master, Tumon, "Today's incident was, after all, just a quarrel between children. But seeing how Tara protects Dolan, I'm sure they get along very well. I'm thinking, why not do Dolan a favor and give him to Tara? From now on, Dolan will stay with Tara. That way, we can have someone to look after him. What do you think, Master Tumon?"

Tumon understood what the Seventh Banner Master was up to. However, since he was known outside as a man who doted on his wife and daughter, and the Seventh Banner Master also gave him face, he smiled and nodded, saying, "Haha, then it's as you say. Dolan, from now on, you will follow Tara and listen to her."

The good times did not last long. Tara's mother died when she was eleven years old.

So Tara's situation became increasingly difficult. At first, Tumon would be kind to Tara for the sake of his reputation, until Tara once again expressed anger towards Tumon's pregnant new wife. Tumon no longer cared about Tara, and the new wife took back Tara's servants. The eleven-year-old Tara moved to the edge with the nine-year-old Doran.

Tara grew increasingly silent, and Dolan became more talkative and cheerful to cheer her up, though he remained shy in front of outsiders. When Dolan was thirteen, the leader of the Seventh Banner brought his family to visit the Ninth Banner. Dolan once again met the warrior who had helped her. Uniri had grown from a boy into a sturdy young man, and even though he didn't remember Dolan, he remained gentle and polite.

At that time, Tara, who was fifteen years old, already had a good understanding of love between men and women, but there were constant disputes among the five sons of the seven-flag leader, and Uniji would definitely not marry Dolan.

Tumeng saw the conversation between Dolan and Uniri, and immediately wanted to give Dolan to Uniri as a concubine.

It happened to be the time when the emperor was selecting concubines. The current emperor had been close to the Han people during the period when nine princes competed for the throne. Since the time of the previous emperor, Mongolian women were no longer regarded as noble ladies by the Aisin Gioro family.

Tara witnessed Abu's two different faces before and after Eji's death, and she flatly refuted him and offered to take Dolan to the Qing Dynasty.

Duolan had no reluctance. She said, "If Sister Tara is unhappy, I won't be happy either. Sister Tara wants to go to Daqing, so Daqing must be a good place. Duolan likes it very much."

A year later, the two came to the Central Plains with boxes and baskets that Mongolia called dowry but were actually tributes, and each of them carried a small bag.