When Tong Wanyan and Yinreng received the summons at the last minute, they looked at each other, completely bewildered.
Yinreng's injuries had not yet fully healed, and the backyard of Yuqing Palace was quiet and peaceful, with no trouble arising in recent months.
There was no reason to send Tong Wanyan over at this time.
"Does Father want to know how well I am recovering?" Yinreng habitually tried to guess the emperor's thoughts.
“The Imperial Physician reports your pulse readings to the Emperor every day after examining your pulse,” Tong Wanyan denied Yinreng’s guess.
Yinreng frowned: "I don't think so either. What else could it be? I have people watching over the inner courtyard, so they wouldn't dare to make any moves. Father Emperor's concubines are too busy trying to please me to offend you. The Tong brothers are well-known upright and loyal officials in the court, and they haven't caused any trouble recently..."
Yinreng racked his brains to come up with one possibility after another to analyze why Kangxi summoned Tong Wanyan.
Tong Wanyan thought along with him and rejected the ideas together.
Gradually, Tong Wanyan came to her senses.
She had forgotten about that matter. Now that she thought about it, the only thing that could make the Emperor summon her there was her troublesome and complicated background.
"Your Majesty, we haven't caused any trouble, and Father has always doted on you. This time, if he sends me over, nothing bad should happen," Tong Wanyan comforted Yinreng.
With his wound still healing and the imperial physician advising him not to get out of bed for extended periods, Yinreng helplessly shrugged.
"That should be the case. I will have Deshun accompany you there, otherwise I will not feel at ease," Yinreng said.
Tong Wanyan smiled and nodded: "Don't worry about your injury, my lord. I'll be back in a little while."
As Emperor Kangxi said, one should not dress plainly when meeting the emperor, and should pay attention to etiquette in every aspect.
After dressing up elegantly, Tong Wanyan, with a conflicted heart, rode in a sedan chair to the Qianqing Palace.
Given her status, she was not allowed to ride in a sedan chair within the palace.
However, with Tong Guogang constantly nagging and urging Kangxi, Kangxi had no choice but to grant Tong Wanyan permission to ride in a sedan chair in order to have some peace and quiet.
Tong Guogang sat in a chair, craning his neck to look outside; his appearance was heartbreaking.
The slight temper that Kangxi had previously shown because of him vanished completely after seeing his pitiful, anxious yet expectant expression.
Parents' hearts are always full of love and worry. Emperor Kangxi knew how deep Tong Guogang's expectations were for this son born in his old age.
Later, upon learning that his younger cousin had died shortly after birth, Emperor Kangxi, to comfort Tong Guogang, specially bestowed upon him a golden lock, which was buried with him.
"Consort Tong requests an audience."
After waiting and waiting, finally the eunuch guarding the gate outside the Qianqing Palace announced in a shrill voice.
Faced with Tong Guogang's eager gaze, Kangxi quickly replied without delay, "Summon him."
Tong Wanyan entered the main hall with dignified bearing, squatted down without looking to the side, and bowed to Emperor Kangxi: "This servant greets Your Majesty."
"Get up. Lord Tong is here as well," Kangxi said.
Tong Wanyan respectfully stood up, her eyes half-closed, and bowed her head to Tong Guogang, saying, "Greetings, Lord Tong."
"Is Consort well?" Tong Guogang also gave a half-bow.
At his level, he didn't even need to kneel and pay respects to a concubine.
"Please sit down. Little Tongjia, I summoned you here because I have something to discuss with you," Kangxi said.
Tong Guogang stared greedily at Tong Wanyan. What an adorable little girl she was! Unfortunately, she was switched by thieves, preventing him from properly caring for and raising her.
The earnest look in Tong Guogang's father's eyes touched both Kangxi and Tong Wanyan.
Worried that Tong Guogang was too excited to speak, Kangxi said on his behalf, "I have discovered that your background has changed."
Tong Wanyan clenched the handkerchief in her hand and couldn't help but look up at Kangxi.
Kangxi pursed his lips and said, "You are the youngest legitimate daughter of Tong Guogang, a first-class duke, not the illegitimate daughter of Tong Guozhu."
With a clatter, Tong Guozhu's arm, which was propped on the coffee table, accidentally bumped into a teacup, causing it to fall to the ground.
Tong Wanyan also instinctively stood up from the chair and half-squatted on the ground.
"Your Majesty, what if I am not? Without any proof, I dare not presume to believe it." Tong Wanyan tried her best to remain calm, but her voice still trembled slightly.
Tong Guogang was in tears. He wished he could go up and help Tong Wanyan up, and tell her that he was her father and that she was the little daughter he had once wanted to cherish.
Emperor Kangxi's eyes stung as he looked at the scene before him.
"Little Tongjia, did you already know?" Kangxi asked.
Tong Wanyan knelt down on both knees: "A month ago, my sister-in-law, Princess Jiarong, came to the palace and talked about this matter. However, at that time, when we talked about my background, it was not confirmed. I also couldn't believe that my background could be so complicated. So, I didn't take it to heart."
“Life is unpredictable. Your destiny is extraordinary, so it’s normal for you to have a more complicated life. Since I have summoned you here, the evidence is undoubtedly conclusive and there is no mistake,” Kangxi said.
Having said all that, Emperor Kangxi decided not to interrupt the father-daughter reunion of Tong Guogang and Tong Wanyan.
He quietly went to the tea room next door to sit and rest, leaving the side hall to them.
Tong Guogang's hands trembled slightly, and Tong Wanyan noticed that his hands were covered in calluses and scars.
Besides being relatives of the emperor, the Tong family also established themselves in the imperial court through their military achievements.
If Tong Ruita hadn't saved Tong Guogang's life back then, the man before us would probably be resting in the afterlife by now.
“Yuanbao’er, I am your father,” Tong Guogang said.
Tong Wanyan looked up, staring blankly at Tong Guogang: "I was afraid of disappointing you. Based on just a few words from the midwife and some past evidence, what if you mistakenly confuse the Tong family bloodline? Wouldn't that be my fault?"
Tong Guogang couldn't hold back his tears. He had never shed a tear in his life, even when he had bled. Who would have thought that he would be able to cry at this moment?
“Your face is the best proof of my daughter’s features. You look very much like your maternal grandmother, my mother. The Empress Dowager must have told you that you resemble the Emperor’s birth mother. It’s only natural that a niece resembles her aunt,” Tong Guogang said, sniffling.
Tong Wanyan had already believed it, but she was afraid that if there was an unexpected twist in her background, it would disappoint Tong Guogang.
"The world is vast and full of wonders. Even two people who have no connection can look exactly alike. Perhaps it's just a coincidence?" Tong Wanyan said evasively.
Tong Guogang smiled and looked at her affectionately: "Born on the same day as Yuanbao'er, and looking almost exactly like my mother, what are all these coincidences? If you don't believe me, I'll just ask you one question. Do you have a red mole on the sole of your left foot?"
Tong Wanyan pulled her feet back slightly, a reaction that made Tong Guogang burst into laughter.
Do I need to ask again? Of course there is.
“This mole on the sole of the foot is unique to our family. We don’t know why, but all the children in our family have one on their left foot.” Tong Guogang said, “Yuanbao’er, that’s the nickname your mother gave you. When she was pregnant with you, she dreamed of a gold ingot entering her bosom. She thought it would be a money-loving boy, but it turned out to be a lovely girl.”
Recalling the past, Tong Guogang's strong features gradually softened.
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