Tong Wanyan stared intently at Longkodo, making Longkodo's heart pound with apprehension.

But then he thought again, she was also a concubine, and she had also come from humble origins.

It's just that she was lucky and her background was reversed, which allowed her to calmly enjoy the Crown Prince's exclusive favor and share the same status as the Crown Princess.

Longkodo thought that his little cousin and Si'er would definitely feel the same way.

"This servant and Si'er are in love, just like my cousin and the Crown Prince. My cousin was protected by Empress Tong and was able to get through the most difficult years when she first entered the palace. Now, my cousin has also become a person as high and mighty as Empress Tong. You are giving Si'er some protection. It is only a matter of a few words, but it is an immense favor to Si'er."

Tong Wanyan felt nauseous. No matter how she thought about it, she felt that Longkodo was no match for the Crown Prince.

Her crown prince was so handsome, resourceful, and honest that Longkodo was not even worthy to carry his shoes.

"Lord Tong, I cannot do anything that violates ethics and moral principles." Tong Wanyan's expression was aloof.

"Does Consort Tong mean she's not going to help me anymore?" Longkodo also turned ruthless.

The harmonious atmosphere instantly turned tense.

“I am different from the woman that Lord Tong admires, and Lord Tong is not qualified to be compared with the Crown Prince. If Lord Tong is truly capable, he should obtain the consent of your wife, your mother, and the Duke of Tong. Secondly, he also needs the consent of your father-in-law,” Tong Wanyan said coldly.

"Father-in-law? A fallen member of the Gioro clan, with no other abilities besides his good ancestral bloodline. The wealth and honor he enjoys now are all thanks to his servants. Li Si'er is determined to enter the servants' household, and he won't allow me to disagree," Longkodo said arrogantly.

“Since Lord Tong already knows the answer, why bother coming here?” Tong Wanyan picked up her cup and put the lid on.

Serving tea to guests as they leave.

Longkodo's expression was inscrutable: "Before I take my leave, I'd like to offer a word of advice to Consort. Nothing lasts forever; you still need to rely on your maternal family and brothers."

Tong Wanyan's demeanor was no less imposing than his: "Lord Tong is joking. Now that I am married, I will naturally follow my husband. As for my maternal family and brothers, my father and brothers love me very much, so there is no need for Lord Tong to worry about me."

Longkodo stormed off, and Tong Wanyan asked Chunque to bring the gift list over so she could take a look at it a few more times.

"They must have lost their minds, actually setting their sights on me. I don't know whether I should praise them and say they're truly in love." Tong Wanyan said with a half-smile, "Longkodo's wife is, after all, from the Zilu clan, a red-sash, her ancestors were related to us. If she's strong-willed, let's help her this time. Oh well, let's accept this favor."

Tong Wanyan didn't believe that Longkodo had chosen the items on the gift list.

"I've heard that Lord Tong is arrogant and disdainful of everyone in court," Chun Que replied.

"That's because he wasn't beaten enough. Look at Orondai, he used to be so reckless, but now he's much more sensible," Tong Wanyan said with great experience.

When Orondai was in Tong Ruita's hands, he had a knife to his throat several times and almost lost his life.

Longkodo is no match for Orondai's scoundrel. His arrogance is only possible because Tong Guowei doesn't care and Kangxi doesn't take him seriously.

If these two really got serious, he immediately backed down.

Before your wings have fully grown, where does all that freedom come from?

As for the future, Tong Wanyan didn't believe he could still trample on Yuqing Palace.

Even if Yinreng were to become the deposed crown prince, Yinzhen, with his current status, wouldn't need to curry favor with him.

History changed in the smallest details, and as a result, some people's fates changed.