In the 29th year of Kangxi's reign, Kangxi was very unhappy.
The death of the Imperial Noble Consort was one thing, but Galdan's provocation made him even more unable to restrain himself.
Unfortunately, a month before the New Year, the memorial sent by the envoy of the King of Joseon did not avoid using the name of Yinreng, which made Kangxi's sensitive nerves even more suspicious.
In these turbulent times, everyone is keeping a low profile and dares not cause any more trouble.
When Tong Wanyan was nine months pregnant, the Empress Dowager finally summoned her to the Ning Shou Palace.
This also made Tong Wanyan the first among the royal princes' concubines to be summoned by the Empress Dowager.
The saying "a mother's status rises with her son's" is indeed true.
The Empress Dowager was a very magnanimous woman; otherwise, she wouldn't have survived to this day in the harem of Emperor Shunzhi. This was certainly due to the protection of the Grand Empress Dowager, but it was also related to her prudent and discreet nature.
Tong Wanyan's pregnancy is going well; contrary to what some people had hoped, she did not experience any difficulties during her pregnancy.
While others are visibly haggard and swollen during their ten months of pregnancy, she had a rosy complexion and a slender figure. Apart from her protruding belly, there was no indication that she was pregnant.
There must be a reason why Yinreng cherished her so much.
When the Empress Dowager saw Tong Wanyan, her eyes lit up.
Tong Wanyan has striking features and is not as delicate and pitiful as the Empress Dowager imagined.
“You look a lot like your great-aunt,” the Empress Dowager said.
This was the first time Tong Wanyan had heard about this, no wonder Emperor Kangxi treated her so well.
"My niece, Aunt Xiao, is fortunate to have even half of Empress Xiaokangzhang's favor," Tong Wanyan said respectfully yet affectionately.
Her fluent Mongolian accent pleased the Empress Dowager even more.
The Empress Dowager was, after all, a human being, and humans have emotions, desires, and preferences.
Even if she tries to treat everyone equally, she will still show favoritism because of her affections. Even that slight bias is a huge protection for Tong Wanyan.
Emperor Kangxi respected the Empress Dowager, and even though she was not his biological mother, he valued her opinions highly.
The Empress Dowager was also a reasonable person and never interfered in Kangxi's affairs, whether in the court or the harem. She would refrain from meddling whenever possible. It was precisely because of this that Kangxi would consider the Empress Dowager's feelings and have more goodwill towards those she favored.
"How did you learn Mongolian?" the Empress Dowager asked gently.
Tong Wanyan smiled charmingly, "I've been learning since I was little. My mother was born in Khorchin, so I have half grassland blood. I learn languages quickly; when I was little, I often switched between Manchu, Mongolian, and Chinese."
"Is that so? Then you also have Khorchin blood?" the Empress Dowager said happily.
Tong Wanyan's expression changed slightly. She smiled sweetly and remained silent, only looking at the Empress Dowager with a charmingly innocent gaze and clear, bright eyes.
The palace maids behind the Empress Dowager hurriedly stepped forward and whispered in her ear to explain.
The Tong family's troubles were unbelievable to everyone who heard about them, including the Empress Dowager.
She said apologetically to Tong Wanyan, "You have a good heart."
"Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. I agree." Tong Wanyan playfully tossed her head, like a childlike junior.
For a moment, the Empress Dowager felt as if she had returned to twenty years ago, when Empress Xiaokangzhang felt the same way.
She had a very good relationship with her and they could talk to each other very well.
"How about you come to Ning Shou Palace often to accompany me in discussing Buddhism? When the Imperial Noble Consort was alive, I heard that you were well-versed in Buddhist principles and had a deep understanding of Buddhist nature. You are a very intelligent child," the Empress Dowager said.
Tong Wanyan said gratefully, "If the Empress Dowager doesn't mind my appearance, I'm naturally willing."
"Don't get agitated, I was referring to the future. With your current heavy weight, I don't want you moving around too much. There are many people in the palace, so we need to be careful in everything we do. The Fourth Prince has been going to Yuqing Palace frequently these days; could he be offending you?"
Tong Wanyan was too busy to do anything else; she knew this was the important matter.
"No one visits the Three Treasures Hall without a reason," and the Empress Dowager wouldn't come to see a nobody like her without a reason.
“This is the Crown Prince’s business. As a woman, I don’t know much about it. I only see the Fourth Prince a few times during meals. The Fourth Prince, with his pure heart, has always remembered that I recited Buddhist scriptures for the Imperial Noble Consort. For me, this is my duty, but I didn’t expect the Fourth Prince to remember it so well,” Tong Wanyan said, moved.
The Empress Dowager nodded: "The Fourth Prince has always been a sincere and grateful man. The Emperor and I value him highly. The Crown Prince used to teach him, and now we keep him by our side to look after him. The Emperor is very satisfied. Harmony in the family brings prosperity in all things, and it is the same in our royal family."
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