At first, Boraqchin could not understand why Ogedei had chosen her to be his primary empress. After all, she was old and plain; she assumed he merely prioritized her being the eldest. But Ogedei truly felt a kinship with Boraqchin. He felt as though she was the only one who could understand his vision — a vision in which the Mongol Empire would become a destination for merchants and scholars from all around the world. From then on, Boraqchin would plot and scheme to bring down anyone who would serve as an impediment to Ogedei’s grand ambitions. But was it really that simple? Continue reading →