When Tong Wanyan woke up, she saw a group of people standing in front of her, wailing and howling, with tears and snot streaming down their faces.
"Second Princess is awake! Second Princess is awake!" A young maid, wearing soft-soled embroidered shoes and with a refreshing face, suddenly called out.
His excited expression and frenzied voice made Tong Wanyan tremble.
Good heavens, is this a mental hospital?
"Second sister, you've taken my identity for years, enjoying endless riches and glory. Now, all I'm doing is marrying the Crown Prince in my place, and you're threatening suicide. You've really gone too far!"
Tong Wanyan looked at the girl furthest away from her and roared at her, feeling somewhat bewildered.
"Sister, what kind of makeup are you using? It doesn't even smudge when you cry!" Tong Wanyan looked at the girl who had yelled at her and asked sincerely.
Instantly, all the women in the room focused their attention on Tong Wanle's face.
Tong Wanle turned her face away in embarrassment, rubbing the handkerchief in her hand resentfully: "Second sister, don't change the subject!"
"Then, according to what you say, elder sister, what should I say to you now? As your elder sister, seeing your younger sister, who was on the verge of death, wake up, shouldn't you be showing concern and care? I never knew that in your eyes, this matter of a substitute bride was so easy. Does the royal family know that we've been deceiving people like this?"
Even if Tong Wanyan doesn't have any memory of these people, she can still keep the situation under control by speaking in a certain way.
After a barrage of stern questions, everyone fell silent.
Tong Guozhu stood there awkwardly, a rare blush appearing on his dark face.
"Second Princess, the imperial decree to enter the Eastern Palace has not yet been issued to your residence. Our Tong family is, after all, the Emperor's maternal clan. You and the First Princess are both my daughters, so it should be alright, right?" Tong Guozhu said cautiously.
In Manchu families, the aunts were extremely noble before they got married.
Tong Guozhu loved both his daughters dearly. Although the eldest daughter was the legitimate daughter, he truly loved his younger daughter more.
A reckless brute suddenly revealed a pitiful expression, catching Tong Wanyan completely off guard.
"I'm a little flustered by your treatment of me." Tong Wanyan had lived for over thirty years in her previous life and always respected the elderly and cared for the young.
The awkward conversation between the father and daughter brought tears to Tong Guozhu's eyes.
"My dear daughter, your sister and the Fourth Prince have secretly pledged their lives to each other!" Tong Guozhu wanted to cry, but he had to hold it in. What a terrible mess this was.
Tong Wanyan patted her chest in fright, her strange little eyes making Tong Wanle feel uneasy.
"Father, my second sister glared at me." Tong Wanle pouted, looking aggrieved, and turned to complain to Tong Guozhu.
Tong Guozhu felt his scalp tingle when he heard her voice.
“Second Princess, it was Father who did something wrong. Actually, the Crown Prince is a very good person,” Tong Guozhu said dryly.
Tong Wanyan raised an eyebrow: "The Crown Prince is of course excellent. He is of imperial lineage, the Crown Prince who is second only to the Emperor. Putting aside his noble status, just looking at him, he is handsome, skilled in both literature and martial arts, and courteous to scholars. He is practically the most perfect person of all."
"Such a good husband, is my sister blind to not want him?" Tong Wanyan asked in shock.
Inside the small study of Yuqing Palace, the window was half-closed, and the light flickered.
Yinreng sat at his desk, a gentle yet proud smile on his lips.
"Lingpu, did Lady Tongjia really say that?" A playful glint flashed in Yinreng's eyes.
Lingpu bowed respectfully: "Is that really so?"
"You haven't been discovered, have you?" Yinreng asked suspiciously.
Ling Pu felt wronged: "Master, you don't believe this servant."
Lingpu was Yinreng's wet nurse, and Yinreng had always trusted him and entrusted him with important responsibilities. Suddenly being doubted about his abilities, he felt like crying.
Yinreng was affectionate towards him, but his teasing was only light: "I was just joking. I trust you to handle things. This little Tongjia woman has much better judgment than her sister. In the entire Qing Dynasty, besides Father Emperor, who is more outstanding than me?"
Lingpu wholeheartedly agreed, noting that Yinreng was exceptionally intelligent, and the ministers of the Wenhua Hall spoke highly of him. Furthermore, he was skilled in riding and archery, possessing an elegant demeanor and unparalleled charisma.
“My lord, I have a question. The Fourth Prince is only twelve years old. How could the eldest princess of the Tongjia family have developed feelings for him?” Lingpu spoke frankly.
Yinreng had also thought about this, and he even subtly asked Yinzhen about it, but to no avail.
"She's just a collateral descendant of the Tongjia clan, perhaps hoping to rekindle the ties of the previous generation," Yinreng said indifferently.
He was so pleased by Tong Wanyan's honest praise that he changed his mind.
"Father, I wish to take Tong Guozhu's second daughter as my secondary consort." In a moment of impulsiveness, Yinreng ran to the Qianqing Palace.
Emperor Kangxi had just summoned his court officials, and with the recent peace and prosperity, he was in a very good mood.
Even though the crown prince's words were somewhat willful and abrupt, he patiently asked, "Why?"
Emperor Kangxi had heard something about Tong Wanle's affair. If it weren't for her maternal clan, he would have had her executed long ago.
They secretly pledged their lives to each other, and even dragged a prince into it. With such ambition, how dare they not fly to the heavens!
"Didn't you say last time that you looked down on the Tong family's daughter? Did the Tong family come to plead for her?" Kangxi was naturally suspicious and thought a lot.
Yinreng shook his head and explained in detail how he had sent Lingpu to Tong Guozhu's residence to eavesdrop.
After hearing this, Kangxi chuckled: "The young Lady Tongjia certainly has good taste. Who can surpass the Crown Prince whom I raised myself? Is that why you want to take her as a secondary consort?"
"Your Majesty is wise. I investigated Xiao Tongjia before and found her to be a beauty." Yinreng's eyes showed a hint of embarrassment.
Emperor Kangxi had countless beauties in his harem; the emperor and beauties were a legendary pairing.
Emperor Kangxi looked at his shy eldest son, his heart filled with mixed emotions. His son had grown up and was now aware of the allure of beauty.
"Tong Guozhu's status is rather low. You are the Crown Prince, so the choice of a secondary consort is extremely important. How about I first bestow upon you the title of Gege (a lower-ranking concubine), and if you still like it, then promote you to the rank of secondary consort?" Kangxi suggested gently.
Yinreng didn't care much about it: "Father is right. I acted impulsively because of a moment of anger."
A monarch and his crown prince cannot always revolve around women.
After mentioning the matter, Yinreng changed the subject: "I also investigated Tong Guozhu. He is quite weak in the inner quarters, but he is extremely serious about official matters and is a simple and honest person. His eldest son, Tong Qinian, has been in the army for three years and has made many military achievements. I think his family has good traditions, so he could be promoted."
Kangxi knew everything Yinreng said; otherwise, he wouldn't have chosen Tong Wanle to be given to the Crown Prince.
Emperor Kangxi was very pleased that his son's ideas were exactly the same as his own.
This child resembles me, and I am greatly comforted!
Princesses are not figures of public interest. With a single imperial edict from Emperor Kangxi, the matter was officially settled and the official channels were opened.
Tong Wanyan received the imperial edict in a daze. As she carried the edict back to her courtyard, she caught a glimpse of Tong Wanle's triumphant smile.
Overwhelmed with emotion, she fainted.
This person is trying to harm me!
These were Tong Wanyan's last thoughts before she fainted.
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