"You unfilial son, get out of here!" Tong Guogang roared, shaking the entire First-Class Duke's mansion three times.

Orondai swaggered out, ignoring Tong Guogang's furious outburst.

He wasn't wrong; his mother was the one whose words carried the most weight in the First-Class Duke's mansion.

Didn't you see how last time his mother got angry, his father practically knelt down and begged his great-aunt to cheer her up?

Of course, this is all just Orondai's imagination.

At most, Tong Guogang spent a lot of money to buy Tong Fujin a lot of clothes, jewelry, rouge and powder, and then coaxed Tong Fujin to smile.

Kneeling on the ground? That would never happen.

Although, in his heart, Tong Guogang was utterly defeated.

After saying a few words to Tong Guogang, Orondai went to act like a dutiful son in front of Tong Fujin.

He answered whatever Tong Fujin asked, being exceptionally obedient and well-behaved.

He remembered even the details of Tong Ruita and Dolan's meeting clearly.

Because he was an outsider, his words were impartial, which made it easier for Tong Fujin to refer to his account.

Finally, Tong Fujin said, "Our descendants have their own blessings. For Yuanbao'er's sake, our family will help as much as we can. Besides, Lao Ba saved your father's life, and our family will definitely remember this kindness."

It would have been better if Tong Fujin hadn't brought it up, because the moment she did, Orondai remembered the questions Tong Ruita had asked him.

He asked Tong Fujin, somewhat embarrassed, "Mother, did Father really face death many times on the battlefield?"

For someone in their thirties to ask such a question is truly naive.

Tong Fujin was taken aback for a moment, then asked him to sit down.

“You’ve always stood up for me since you were little, and I felt wronged back then, so I didn’t correct you when you were young. Over the years, you and I have spent most of our time relying on each other. Your father spends most of the year on the frontier, and when he comes back, he’s busy with politics and training the army, so he doesn’t spend much time with us. I’m petty and jealous, which has led you to make things difficult for Fahai. To be honest, I’m not a good matriarch.”

Tong Fujin sighed with emotion: "Besides being dissatisfied with your father for betraying our relationship, what I hate even more is Yuanbao'er's death back then. Now that we know it was a baby swap, it's a stroke of luck that Yuanbao'er is still alive. But back then, who could have imagined all this? My daughter, whom I had longed for for more than ten years, the daughter I gave birth to with my life on the line, died just a few days after birth. As a mother, how can I not hate him?"

“Even now, thinking about those things still makes me resentful. But, Orondai, this is between me and your father. He owed me, he owed Yuanbao. The only one he didn't owe is you, his eldest son. I said this before, but you wouldn't listen. I said it again a month ago, and you listened to some of it. Now, can you hear it all in your heart?”

“Your father has countless wounds from swords and knives. Each wound was inflicted with the intention of killing him. Your father has truly escaped death countless times. The reason why you and I, mother and son, can live so freely, and why few people in the Qing Dynasty dare to offend our family, is all thanks to your father.”

Tong Fujin held a handkerchief in her hand and placed it over Orondai's chest through his clothes: "Just this heart area alone has dozens of scars around it. Last time you were only slightly injured, and you cried. But your father's blood could form a stream."

Orondai looked down at his chest, where his heart was beating strongly.

"Mother, isn't Fahai not so bad after all?" Orondai thought of how Fahai made him kneel in front of her and step on his fingers when he passed the imperial examination.

Looking back now, it was incredibly malicious.

Tong Fujin remained silent. Fahai was evidence of Tong Guogang's betrayal of her, a wound in her heart that she could not reopen.

However, for the sake of her eldest son, she said with a heavy heart, "Even though I don't like him, he is filial to me, respectful to you, and loving to your younger brother. Let him move out of the mansion in a few years, so we can avoid seeing him."

Having said all that, Orondai probably knew what he had to do.

He said to Tong Fujin, "Mother, your son and third brother will take good care of you. No matter what, you have two filial sons, right? And Yuanbao'er, she's still young, so you need to guide her and take good care of her."

Tong Fujin spat at him: "What are you saying? You're implying that I'm contemplating suicide. Your mother is in good health and can live for at least another ten or twenty years. I can not only watch Yuanbao get better, but also watch my grandson and granddaughter get married and have children."

"Hehe, Mother, you understand what I mean. I'm not good with words, but my filial piety is genuine. I'll have a gold phoenix hairpin made tomorrow, and I think I can send it to you first thing in the morning. Even your daughter-in-law doesn't have any jewelry like that," Orondai said ingratiatingly.

Tong Fujin laughed and was angry at the same time: "If your Fujin finds out, won't you be heartbroken? Your mother is not the kind of person who would compete with her daughter-in-law for her son's favor. It would be too much for me to handle alone."

"Don't worry, Mother. I gave the Fujin a jade hairpin," Orondai said honestly.

Tong Fujin laughed and scolded, "It's a good thing you were born into our family. If you were in another family, you would have been stupid long ago. Come on, go back and keep your wife company. I have a lot of things to do here, so don't cause trouble."

Tong Fujin was very happy; what woman doesn't like receiving gifts?

It's especially touching that her son still remembers his old mother even after he got married and started his own family.

Orondai, with a clear and open expression, bowed to Consort Tong and took his leave. His former fierceness and irritability had diminished considerably, making him appear much more pleasing to the eye.

After Orondai left, Tong Fujin smiled through her tears for a while.

The son has grown up, and these changes were brought about by the reunion of her biological daughter. She needs to pay respects to the ancestors of the Tong and Jue Luo families and burn more incense.

Many people have been paying attention to and making connections regarding Tong Ruita's marriage.

Fools are often blessed. Although he doesn't seem to have many friends, many people in the court have been his sworn brothers.

Compared to Tong Qinian's almost supernatural intelligence, Tong Ruita's simple and honest nature makes people feel at ease and close to him.

Having finally ushered in the first spring of her life, Tong Ruita acted immediately, requesting an audience with Emperor Kangxi the next day after court.

Just then, Emperor Kangxi wanted to see him, so he allowed Liang Jiugong to take him to the Imperial Study.

"Your Majesty, this servant has taken a liking to a young lady and wishes to request that you grant us marriage."

"Tong Qing, what kind of woman do you like? I will bestow a marriage upon you."

Tong Ruita and Kangxi spoke at the same time.

After the words were spoken, the two looked at each other in silence, and the imperial study fell silent.

Tong Ruita obediently shut his mouth, waiting for Kangxi to continue. He had been so excited that he had spoken up while the Emperor was speaking.

After calming himself down, Kangxi recalled what Tong Ruita had just said.

"Tong Qing, do you mean you have found a woman you like?" Kangxi asked.