The following day, Consort Tong rushed to the palace to pay her respects.
She was a member of the imperial family, the wife of Tong Guogang, and the mother of Tong Wanyan. It was much easier and simpler for her to enter the palace than for other noblewomen.
When Tong Wanyan woke up and received the news, she stared blankly for a moment before continuing with her usual routine.
The same was true for Chunque and Xiazhu; everything in the South Courtyard proceeded smoothly.
Consort Tong first went to see the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Concubine, and then came to Yuqing Palace.
By this time, the sun was high in the sky. Tana and Hongzhao woke up and were carried to the South Courtyard to play with Tong Wanyan.
"Your Majesty, Consort Tong has arrived and is waiting in the side hall," Chunque reported as she entered from outside.
Looking at her chubby children, Tong Wanyan gave up the idea of going to the side hall to see Tong Fujin: "Please ask Mother to come over."
Chunque was not surprised; her master was just soft-hearted.
Consort Tong waited anxiously in the side hall. When Chun Que came over, she couldn't help but ask, "Miss Chun Que, when will Consort Tong arrive?"
"Reporting to Consort Tong, the master requests your presence in the South Courtyard. The young prince and princess are playing there," Chunque said to Consort Tong, her tone eight parts respect and two parts intimacy.
Tong Fujin's heart pounded wildly: "Is this convenient?"
“You are the master’s mother, and the master is looking forward to seeing you,” Chunque said.
"Yes, yes." Tong Fujin's voice trembled with excitement.
Chunque understood but didn't mention it, and walked ahead to lead the way for Tong Fujin.
She was disciplined, loyal, steady, and intelligent. After only a few meetings, Tong Fujin and Chun Que had come to approve of her.
With such a loyal and honest maidservant by her side, Yuan Bao'er felt much more at ease.
The extravagance of Yuqing Palace goes without saying. As Consort Tong walked along, her expression relaxed considerably when she saw the exquisite furnishings of the South Courtyard.
"This servant greets Consort Tong." Consort Tong entered the room, looked at the charming and smiling Tong Wanyan and her two little grandchildren, and, suppressing her sobs, bowed to Tong Wanyan.
Tong Wanyan quickly stepped forward and, without waiting for Tong Fujin to kneel down, helped her up without giving her a chance to refuse.
“Mother,” Tong Wanyan said.
"Yuanbao'er, my Yuanbao'er!" Tong Wanyan's words, "Mother," completely shattered the guilt that had accumulated in Tong Fujin's heart.
Forgetting all etiquette, she hugged Tong Wanyan tightly, crying and calling her by her childhood name.
Tong Wanyan gently patted her back: "Mother, I'm here. I'm doing well. Don't be afraid."
Tong Wanyan hit the nail on the head, revealing the essence of what Tong Fujin had been afraid of these past few days.
Even though everyone said that the Crown Prince's concubine was favored and lived a good life, Tong Fujin, as a mother, was still afraid of rumors.
She came from a royal family and married Tong Guogang when they were of equal social standing; she received a lifelong promise. But less than six months later, Tong Guogang took new women and frequented brothels.
He respected her as his wife, but he failed to truly cherish her.
If this is the case for ordinary families, let alone the royal family who rule the world, and the emperor's beloved crown prince?
"Yuanbao'er, seeing you doing well, your mother can finally rest easy. I'm so sorry, it was my negligence that caused you so much suffering." Consort Tong said, her eyes brimming with tears.
She gently stroked Tong Wanyan's face: "You look like your grandmother, but your eyebrows and eyes also resemble mine."
"Mother, please sit down and talk." Tong Wanyan took Tong Fujin's hand and personally helped her sit down.
The chaise lounge is very spacious; it's not a chair for one person.
After Tong Fujin sat down, Tong Wanyan nestled beside her and leaned on her shoulder.
Tana and Hongzhao were unknowingly carried behind the chaise lounge, obediently holding their toys and looking at Tong Fujin with curiosity, without making a fuss.
“When I first met you, I felt close to you, thinking we were all family. You were beautiful, kind, and likable. Now that I think about it, the blood ties between us, mother and daughter, are reminding me of that,” Tong Fujin recalled, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Did Lady Li Jia or Lady Fucha ever hurt you? I remember the Crown Prince making a scene back then, insisting on taking Lady Fucha as a concubine. It was quite a big deal." Consort Tong was very concerned and had too many questions to ask.
The more she thought about the infighting among her wives and concubines in the harem, the more panicked she became.
Smelling the sandalwood scent on Tong Fujin's clothes, Tong Wanyan drifted off into a reverie and said, "It feels so good to have my mother."
When Tong Fujin heard her say this, she was stunned for a moment, and tears streamed down her face: "My dear Yuanbao, you've suffered so much."
"It's not bitter at all. Master is truly good to me. The backyard is spotless now. Look how plump I've become; it's clear I'm living a comfortable and carefree life. Lady Li and Lady Fucha are no longer here, so there's no need to dwell on those old matters." Tong Wanyan hadn't expected her words to elicit such a strong reaction from Lady Tong.
"Old wounds are old wounds, your mother understands, so I won't bring it up again. I originally wanted to give you some pointers on the ways of the inner quarters, but after seeing you, I feel there's no need to say more. Your own brothers all like you very much, so feel free to rely on our family's influence. I heard that Consort Tong, who was sent to Mount Wutai, said some unpleasant things to you back then. If we had recognized you earlier, this wouldn't have happened. She's just a concubine's daughter; how could she be as high-ranking as you?" Consort Tong really dared to speak her mind.
Tong Wanyan smiled and said, "I don't care about status. It's just that my generation has been a source of trouble for you for a long time."
In old age, women of a higher generation are considered to be of a higher rank.
Thinking of the relationship between the Tong family and Emperor Kangxi, Consort Tong wiped away her tears and laughed: "Who knew it would turn out like this? This is fate between the two of you, and it will be a joyful thing to talk about in the future."
Tong Wanyan always talked to Tong Fujin, ignoring Tana and Hongzhao.
The two behaved themselves for a while, but then they couldn't resist anymore.
"Mother!" Hongzhao crawled up to Tong Wanyan and looked up at Tong Fujin with curiosity.
Tana, with her short legs, pulled her younger brother away from behind and sat down in Tong Wanyan's lap: "Mother, play with Tana."
Tong Fujin looked nervously at the two chubby little ones, wanting to hug them but not daring to.
"Tana can walk now, but why is Hongzhao still crawling? Is he weak in the womb?" Consort Tong asked with concern.
Tong Wanyan hugged Tana and said to Hongzhao, "This is your maternal grandmother, your mother's mother."
After she finished speaking, she said to Consort Tong, "Mother, look at Hongzhao's three-layered chin, he's not weak at all. He's just lazy, crawling is more comfortable than walking, so he crawls whenever he can. Every time, Master has to carry him around so that his little legs can move."
Tong Fujin was amused by these words; her beloved grandson was indeed extraordinary.
Hongzhao and Tana stared at Tong Fujin for a while, then said in a crisp voice, "Grandmother."
Tong Fujin felt like crying again. She sniffed and quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe away the tears that were about to well up in her eyes: "Oh, Hongzhao and Tana are so good."
“Tana and Hongzhao are so smart, they can understand everything I say, just like me,” Tong Wanyan boasted.
Consort Tong covered her mouth and laughed, "You're quirky and clever, I think you're like the Crown Prince. Hongzhao's laziness is more like yours."
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