After Tong Guozhu and Tong Wanyan repeatedly confirmed that Yinreng's words were not just empty talk, Tong Guozhu, as the father-in-law, finally dared to speak his mind.
However, a single, casual glance from Yinreng was enough to deflate him again.
Although he knew that Yinreng had no other intentions, having lived under the emperor's authority for so many years, he really didn't dare to disregard the imperial family.
This is probably servility, something that can't be changed in a lifetime.
Actually, he really wanted to tell Yinreng, "If you dare to bully my daughter, I'll bring her brothers to your door and beat you until your face is bruised and battered."
While Tong Guozhu was distracted by Yinreng, Tong Qinian sneaked up to Tong Wanyan and slipped her a few silver notes.
Tong Ruita cooperated by blocking their little tricks, a behavior she was clearly used to.
Tong Wanyan quickly took the folded silver note and stuffed it into her purse. She was used to Tong Qinian and Tong Ruita expressing their brotherly love with money.
In Tong Qinian's words, this money was originally intended to buy her a dowry shop.
Now that she's entered the palace, she can't leave, let alone let outsiders in freely. It can only be converted into cash, which is less valuable than a hen that lays golden eggs.
"It's such a pity that I can't go to my elder brother's wedding," Tong Wanyan said.
Tong Qinian stared at Tong Wanyan without blinking, as if looking at her a few more times would make him remember her more deeply.
"It's already a pleasant surprise to see you today, how can I ask for more?" Tong Qinian said.
“You’re married now. Even if you’re not royalty, you might not be able to come home often. My brother and I have adjusted our mindset. Even if we can’t see you all the time, seeing the Crown Prince every day is just as good. After a while, I think you and the Crown Prince are starting to look like a married couple. Even if your eyes are a little blurry sometimes, you’ll still look pretty much the same.” Tong Ruita ruined the atmosphere again.
The scholarly atmosphere that Tong Wanyan and Tong Qinian had managed to create was completely gone.
Tong Qinian was so angry that he wanted to kick his stupid younger brother, and he actually did.
Yinreng turned his head in confusion, not expecting the gentle and refined strategist Tong to be so irritable.
Tong Qinian nodded slightly and said with a light smile, "This servant saw what looked like a bug on my brother's leg and, in a moment of excitement, stomped it to death. We've all been through the sand, so a kick won't hurt us."
Tong Ruita nodded, grimacing; in fact, his leg was in a lot of pain.
“Big brother is right, there is a worm, a big green worm. Your Highness, please continue talking to your father, don’t worry about us. We’re going to continue chatting with our sister!” Tong Ruita said.
Tong Qinian clenched his fists so tightly they cracked, silently telling himself: No matter how stupid my brother is, he's still family, I can't hit him in front of outsiders.
Tong Qinian's face was serene, like the Buddha smiling with a flower in hand, so compassionate.
Tong Guozhu glared angrily at his two sons: "You two are so ignorant. I'm old, what can I say to the Crown Prince? You are rising stars in the court, you should learn more from the Crown Prince."
Then, he grinned at Tong Wanyan with great enthusiasm and said, "My dear daughter, you must want to talk to your father more! Your father and I have never been separated for so long. Your father misses you."
Yinreng's ears twitched; he seemed to have heard Tong Ruita say those words before.
They really are family; they all say the same things, equally shameless and brazen, only knowing how to play the victim in front of their darling.
The Tong family had already spent a considerable amount of time delivering the betrothal gifts, and after chatting for only a short while, Deshun urged Yinreng to return to the palace.
It's not easy for the Crown Prince to leave the palace openly and legitimately. If he stays too long, it's easy for someone with ulterior motives to make a fuss about it and misunderstand him.
Upon hearing De Shun's sharp reminder, Tong Guozhu was overcome with heartache.
"My dear daughter, you're leaving already?" Tong Guozhu said reluctantly.
He blamed himself for talking too much and not listening to his daughter enough, rambling on and on all by himself.
"There will always be opportunities in the future. Father, take good care of yourself. Who knows, Hongzhao might come back to our house on his own someday," Tong Wanyan comforted the tearful Tong Guozhu.
Her adoptive father has always been very emotional.
The tall, burly old man with a full beard always seemed to be crying, which left her feeling helpless.
Tong Guozhu chuckled to himself. He wasn't the Crown Prince's father-in-law, but he was the eldest grandson's maternal grandfather.
Emperor Kangxi's sons, once they reached a certain age, were allowed to occasionally leave the palace to visit their maternal grandparents. Presumably, the eldest grandson received the same treatment.
There's no reason why the Tong brothers, Qinian and Tong Guozhu, wouldn't have thought of what Tong Guozhu had.
Tong Qinian immediately said seriously, "Big brother will work hard to get promoted and bring honor to our family."
Having a powerful maternal grandparent family would give the eldest grandson of the emperor more opportunities to leave the palace and interact with his maternal grandparents.
“Me too, me too! My second brother will be going back to the battlefield to chop off heads soon,” Tong Ruita said, waving his fist.
The family was speaking earnestly, and Yinreng didn't want to interrupt.
He didn't interrupt until it was really late.
Even after leaving Prince Su's residence and getting into the carriage, Yinreng could still recall the image of Tong Guozhu covering his face and secretly crying.
Yinreng felt honored that his beloved was so well-liked by his father and brothers.
Because he was in a hurry to get back to the palace, De Shun specifically instructed the servants driving the carriage to hurry.
Tong Wanyan nestled in Yinreng's arms and couldn't help but lift the curtain of the carriage window to peek behind the carriage.
The three men of the Tong family stood by the stone lions at the entrance of Prince Su's mansion, watching their carriage drive away.
Seeing such deep emotions, Tong Wanyan's eyes welled up with tears, and she didn't want to look anymore.
“When Father asked me to marry in place of Tong Wanle, I was very unhappy. Now that I think about it, he chose to wrong me for the sake of the whole family. I know Father felt a lot of guilt towards me, and I resented him too. But from now on, that’s all gone. He was a good father,” Tong Wanyan said to Yinreng, sitting up straight.
Yinreng reached out and pulled her into his arms: "Just talk, why are you suddenly so far away from me? The carriage is going fast, what if it suddenly jolts and you hit the side of the carriage?"
As if to echo his words, the carriage actually jolted slightly.
Tong Wanyan chuckled and rested her head on his shoulder: "I just wanted to make it seem more formal."
"Between one person and one large family, there are always choices to be made. However, I will only choose you." Yinreng did not forget to praise himself at this moment.
Tong Wanyan rolled her eyes at him: "No way, I don't want you to have to make a choice. Whether you choose me or not, it's not a good thing. Our family must be well. If things really don't go well one day, just protect the child. I want to be with you forever, Grandpa."
Looking at the dashing and spirited man before her, Tong Wanyan could hardly imagine how painful it must have been for him to be deposed from his position as crown prince by his most beloved father.
“Since you have decided that I am your wife, we should stand together through thick and thin. We cannot abandon each other when disaster strikes,” Tong Wanyan said.
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