Think about the concubines in the palace; they felt old and faded in their early twenties, let alone those nearing forty. In another two or three years, they might already have grandchildren.
Tong Wanyan felt that what Jia Rong and Princess Shuo had told her was like a fairy tale.
“Don’t think you can’t believe me. I asked my mother. When Consort Tong was pregnant, all the wives in the circle who knew about it went to her for advice, asking how she could have a child at such a young age. But for the wives, having a child at an older age is considered somewhat undignified, so very few people knew about it.” Princess Jia Rong and Princess Shuo spoke with certainty.
Tong Wanyan asked suspiciously, "If she knew very little, how could Mother know? Back then, our family hadn't risen to prominence yet, and our relationship with the direct descendants wasn't close."
"This involves you," said Jia Rong and Princess Shuo.
Tong Wanyan had no desire to know about her hidden past; she simply wanted to be beautiful in peace.
The entanglements and feuds within a large family are not suitable for someone like her who has no ambition but only desires beauty.
Tong Wanyan looked disgusted and avoided him, leaving Jia Rong and Princess Shuo feeling helpless but also very doting.
“No wonder my husband told me before I left that I shouldn’t be blunt with him, but rather proceed slowly and patiently.” Now, Princess Jia Rong and Princess Shuo can’t stop talking about their husbands when they speak.
Tong Wanyan glared at her coquettishly, her beautiful eyes shimmering: "My elder brother always loves to deceive me. My sister-in-law said that my background has not yet been investigated, but in fact, she probably already confirmed it with the Imperial Uncle Tong and the Princess Consort Tong, right?"
Jia Rong and Princess Shuo dared not look at her, and feigned ignorance with a smile, saying, "It was all my husband's will. A woman follows her husband after marriage. I had no choice."
Tong Qinian was the one who lied to her sister; she was still the loving sister-in-law.
Tong Wanyan had no choice but to say, "Lord Tong is the Emperor's maternal uncle, and the Emperor has always had a good relationship with the two imperial brothers-in-law. Does the Emperor know this?"
Jia Rong and Princess Shuo rolled their eyes, unable to come up with a response.
Tong Wanyan grabbed her hand and gently shook it coquettishly: "Good sister-in-law, good Jiarong, don't lie to me."
"We don't know now, but we'll probably find out in a few days. If you're the legitimate daughter of a collateral branch or a legitimate daughter of a concubine, it doesn't matter if the family genealogy isn't changed. After all, you were born into the womb of the eldest son's wife. In any large family, the eldest daughter is the most honored girl in the family. Even an ordinary second son can't compare to the eldest daughter in a large family."
Being the eldest son of the legitimate wife is an exceptionally prestigious position within a family.
"Sister-in-law, don't you think this is a huge mess? Even opera troupes wouldn't act like this." Tong Wanyan had a terrible headache.
Jia Rong and Princess Shuo said, "Those stories in the plays are just hearsay about other people's family affairs. Your being switched at birth was a scheme by Aunt Bai and the concubines in that household. The tricks used by the Miao people are hard to guard against. For this, your mother gave your father a good beating with a whip a few days ago."
“I heard that my mother’s fiery temper was notorious even when she was a young lady. Now that she doesn’t have to worry about anything and doesn’t need to go out and socialize, it’s inevitable that she will revert to her youthful temperament,” Tong Wanyan said.
Jia Rong and Princess Shuo smiled slightly, "I've heard a little about it."
"Alright, my convoluted past is just waiting for Lord Tong to report it to the Emperor and have him stamp it with his seal. These past two years have been full of ups and downs, but thankfully my heart can handle it. If it were anyone else, they would have gone mad for a while." Tong Wanyan sighed.
If she is indeed Tong Guogang's daughter, then according to seniority, she can rightfully call Kangxi her cousin, and Yinreng should call her his aunt.
My handsome and dashing husband has suddenly become my nephew, and it feels pretty good.
With that thought in mind, Tong Wanyan decided to leave these troublesome matters to the big shots to worry about.
She secretly took advantage of Yinreng, feeling quite pleased with herself.
Tong Wanyan deliberately kept a straight face, but the sly smile in her eyes and at the corner of her mouth made Jia Rong and Princess Shuo secretly breathe a sigh of relief.
"How were you switched at birth? Do you want to hear it?" Jia Rong and Princess Shuo couldn't resist their gossipy nature and wanted to tell Tong Wanyan about it.
Tong Wanyan smiled at her, captivating her completely, before saying, "I don't want to hear it!"
Such a straightforward refusal was unacceptable to Jia Rong and Gege Shuo: "Listen to it. When I heard it, I just found it bizarre and a bit thrilling. Don't you want to know about your own affairs?"
“No. I’ll play the guqin for you. Don’t you like listening to me play? I didn’t know you were going to bring this up. I’ve already had the guqin moved to the back garden, and everything should be ready by now,” Tong Wanyan said in time to stop her.
The guqin is captivating, but true connoisseurs are rare. Jia Rong and Princess Shuo may not be true connoisseurs, but she understands the beauty in the music and is deeply fascinated by it.
Unable to resist Tong Wanyan's expectant gaze, Jia Rong and Princess Shuo reluctantly followed her to the back garden of Yuqing Palace.
When she sat down on the stone bench and looked at Tong Wanyan sitting in front of the guqin, she couldn't help but sigh that beauty is truly captivating.
Beside the guqin, there was a vase filled with freshly cut flowers, and incense was burning in the incense burner. A palace maid with delicate features and a slender figure knelt down to brew tea.
Princess Jiarong and Princess Shuo only glanced at the tea-brewing maid before focusing intently on Tong Wanyan playing the zither.
When Yinreng returned to Yuqing Palace, Princess Jiarong was just about to leave.
The smile she gave him sent chills down his spine.
"My darling, Jia Rong is already married, why does she still come to our house every day?" After washing his hands, Yinreng pulled Tong Wanyan into his arms as always and made her sit on his lap.
Tong Wanyan obediently sat on his lap, wrapped her arms around his neck, and tilted her head on his shoulder, defending Jia Rong and Princess Shuo, saying, "We don't run around all the time. It's been several months since we last saw each other. After you have your own child, you'll be going to the palace even less often."
"Less is better. The moment she comes to see you, you forget about me and you're always clinging to each other like twin lotus blossoms. Before, I just had her keep you company so you wouldn't be lonely. Now it feels like I've brought someone into the house to steal my wife. It's like inviting a wolf into the house." Yinreng was a little jealous.
Tong Wanyan is the best at coaxing the jealous Crown Prince.
She took the initiative to kiss him on the cheek, and Yinreng immediately beamed with joy, dancing with glee.
"My lord and I are destined to be together forever," Tong Wanyan coaxed sweetly.
Yinreng was most susceptible to this tactic of hers: "Of course, we will be buried together after I pass away."
Enjoying the moment, Yinreng said smugly, "Last night you dreamt that you wanted to eat roast chicken from Li's Roast Chicken Shop on East Street, so I went to buy some this afternoon. I just had Deshun take it to the kitchen to have it chopped up, and it will be delivered in a bit. Luckily, the weather is warm now, and I rushed to the palace before the roast chicken got cold."
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