As soon as Consort Tong returned to the Tong residence, she summoned everyone at home to the main hall for a lecture.
Apart from the head of the family, Tong Guogang, everyone else stood obediently in front of her, listening to her reprimand.
Aside from the unrelated concubines and illegitimate sons, the only people who actually came were Orondai and his wife, Kuadai and his wife, plus Orondai's eldest son.
"I went to the palace to see Yuanbao today," said Consort Tong.
Orondai hurriedly asked with concern, "How is Yuanbao doing? Did she like the gifts I gave her?"
Tong Fujin's lips twitched as she looked at her eldest son's arrogant and foolish appearance, and she became more and more inclined to follow Tong Wanyan's advice.
“You’ve collected all the gifts from when you were one year old until after your wedding, how could you not like it? Orondai, don’t interrupt me.” Tong Fujin glared at him.
Orondai's wife quickly pinched her husband to tell him to behave and not to anger Tong Fujin.
Orondai's wife was Tong Fujin's niece. They were childhood sweethearts and had a deep bond.
Therefore, while Orondai was domineering and arrogant outside, he was as docile and obedient as a little quail at home. Even when his soft flesh was pinched painfully, he didn't get angry at all.
“Yuanbao’er’s life in the palace may seem glamorous, but it’s actually fraught with danger. Our family must not hold her back,” Consort Tong said solemnly.
Orondai, unable to remember the fight, said nonchalantly, "Our family is our support; how could we be a burden?"
A surge of anger rose within Tong Fujin: "So, are you the one who says it, or am I the one who says it!"
“Mother, please tell me,” Orondai said timidly.
Consort Tong glared at him, annoyed: "Do you think your sister married into an ordinary family? That's the Crown Prince, the Emperor's own son!"
"Oh, oh, oh," Orondai replied meekly, playing the straight man.
Tong Fujin and Kua Dai exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with deep helplessness.
If we can change the temperaments of Orondai and Kuadai, everything will be fine.
"In our family, the person I worry about the least is you." Tong Fujin's main purpose today was to teach Orondai a lesson.
After being a bear for so many years, it's time to tighten his skin.
Orondai's eyes widened. What was wrong with him? His mother had changed. His mother used to love him the most.
Such a grown man, putting on such a pitiful act, was something that Tong Fujin really couldn't appreciate.
She suddenly understood why Orondai and Tong Guogang didn't get along. They probably had the same temper; two fools can't coexist on one mountain, which is why they were constantly causing trouble.
As if she had discovered a secret, Tong Fujin said to Orondai, "Tomorrow you will go to see the eldest son of your third uncle's family, Tong Qinian."
"Why? Mother, could it be that Tong Qinian is also my younger brother, the one you gave birth to when you had twins?" Orondai asked foolishly.
"Don't speak, I don't want to hear you speak today," Tong Fujin said wearily.
Kua Dai and his wife looked at their sister-in-law with heartache.
They used to be distant from Orondai, knowing he was dark-skinned and had a bad temper, but they didn't know he was actually so stupid.
It's truly remarkable that my sister-in-law spends every day with such a wonderful man and still gave birth to a bright and intelligent grandson for the Tong family.
It seems the bloodline of the Jue Luo clan is better; the men of the Tong family all seem a bit foolish.
As for Kuadai himself, he was like his mother, and had nothing to do with his father.
Lady Orondai smiled wearily; they finally understood how tired she was.
Reminding Orondai every day not to do anything foolish and keeping an eye on him to prevent him from doing anything stupid is more tiring than managing the inner quarters.
After silencing Orondai, Consort Tong turned to Kuadai and her two daughters-in-law and said, "Don't blame me for favoring Yuanbao'er. To be honest, what can I do for her now besides giving her her dowry? Nothing else. Our Tong family rose to prominence through the maternal relatives system, benefiting from the Empress Dowager and the Empress in the past, and from Yuanbao'er's in the future. Yuanbao'er doesn't ask our family to fight for her position; she's doing just fine on her own. All we can do is protect ourselves for her."
Consort Tong spoke with deep emotion, implying that Tong Wanyan had wronged herself on their behalf, devoting herself wholeheartedly to the glory of the Tong family while living alone in the inner palace, making her all the more pitiful.
The wives of Orondai and Kuadai, who originally had no ulterior motives, now showed even more goodwill towards Tong Wanyan.
Consort Tong was satisfied with the effect of her words. She knew her son would cherish his younger sister. But the influence of a woman's pillow talk should not be underestimated. She had to be careful, just in case, for Yuanbao's sake.
"Yuanbao said that at least one of Prince Hongzhao's future children will come from the Tong family. As for the eldest and third sons' families, it depends on whether your bellies are fertile or whether Tong Qinian and Princess Jiarong get there first," said Consort Tong, offering a sweet treat.
The eldest grandson's jade pendant held a particularly special status, as it was frequently displayed before Emperor Kangxi.
The Tong family currently has no grandchildren of childbearing age, so they can only hope that these women can have a baby. A difference of two or three years shouldn't be a problem. Hongzhao is only a little over a year old now, so even if she gets pregnant now, there's still time.
Orondai's wife and Kuadai's wife nodded repeatedly in agreement, their faces filled with gratitude and tears of emotion.
"That's all I wanted to say. You can all go back and do what you were doing. Also, the household must be strictly regulated, and there must be no one causing trouble," Consort Tong instructed.
After scolding her son and daughter-in-law, Tong Fujin returned to her room triumphantly.
She instructed her maid to bring out the registers from her private treasury; she wanted to select some more items to give to Yuanbao'er and her two grandsons. Especially the miserly Hongzhao; she had taken one of his favorite things, and she had to return it.
Otherwise, what if her beloved grandson doesn't want to be close to her in the future?
Tong Fujin happily flipped through the thick booklet; she had so many good things in her hands, her family was very wealthy.
When Tong Guogang finished court and saw Tong Fujin like this, he asked her the reason and then went with her to look through the books for something good.
Tong Guogang asked Tong Fujin curiously, "Fujin, how do you think my sixth nephew Qinian will teach Orondai? When Orondai sees me in the future, will he have to ask me properly?"
Tong Fujin glanced at him and saw him grinning from ear to ear, and suddenly realized that he had had a tough time all these years.
“Yuanbao’er’s idea should be fine. Besides, your sixth nephew has been appointed as a strategist by your army, so his wisdom must be unparalleled. Sending away Orondai will definitely straighten out his roots.” Tong Fujin had complete confidence in Tong Wanyan.
The next day, Tong Guogang secretly followed Orondai and watched him go to see Tong Qinian before returning to his office to attend to other matters.
Orondai and Tong Qinian had a good relationship; they were like brothers, and Orondai was the eldest son of the family. He was a charming and elegant man who had saved his second uncle's life. Orondai treated Tong Qinian as his own brother from the bottom of his heart.
"Sixth brother, Yuanbao asked me to come find you," Orondai said honestly.
He wasn't really stupid; even though Consort Tong didn't say that Tong Wanyan was the one who arranged the meeting, he guessed it.
Tong Qinian felt a pang of sadness. His little Yan had now become someone else's precious child. It was truly heartbreaking.
However, he was able to regain his balance quickly.
Tong Qinian revealed a mysterious smile, and Orondai instantly felt a chill in the private room.
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