The Empress Dowager loved Tana as much as Emperor Kangxi loved Hongzhao.
They projected their past regrets onto these two children, which made them value them even more.
Given the Empress Dowager's indifferent nature, she would never interfere in the marriages of the princes and princesses.
The Empress Dowager only wanted to give Tana the best of everything.
Most daughters of the Aisin Gioro family could not escape the fate of being married off to Mongolia.
This was a promise made by the Aisin Gioro family to the Mongols back then.
Only when the two races are connected by blood can they be the closest of kin.
Since marrying into Mongolia is unavoidable, then choose the best Mongolian man. He must be outstanding, intelligent, and know who to respect.
The Empress Dowager would never allow Tana to live like those princesses who grew old alone after marrying into Mongolia.
She wanted to create a safe haven for Tana in Mongolia, a place where she could roam freely.
Along the way, passing through Miyun and crossing the Great Wall, the large convoy of carriages and horses finally passed through Chengde and entered the Horqin Grassland.
This was the first time the Empress Dowager had set foot on her hometown since she left it more than forty years ago.
The moment the carriage entered the grassland, the Empress Dowager ordered the curtain to be lifted.
"Tana, this is where I grew up. Look at this vast sky, the sprawling grasslands, and the herds of cattle and sheep. Do you like it?" The Empress Dowager thought that if Tana didn't like it, she would still find a way to spare her the possibility of marrying into Mongolia.
The emperor and members of the imperial family always had to give her face.
Tana had been riding in a carriage for more than ten days, yet she was still full of energy, which showed how good her physique was.
She looked curiously at the blue sky and green grass outside the car, the scent of grass filling her nostrils, carrying a rugged sense of freedom.
Compared to the noble and exquisite Forbidden City, she seemed to have a natural preference for this place.
"I love it! I've heard that the wives of Mongolians can be in charge of their own affairs and even become the masters of their tribes. Empress Dowager, do you think I can do that in the future?" Tana asked longingly.
She clenched her little fist and waved it outwards: "It should be possible, right? Even if they don't respect me, they'll have to respect my fist."
The Empress Dowager couldn't help but chuckle: "My daughter Tana is truly ambitious."
Tong Wanyan turned her face away; it seemed the Empress Dowager hadn't believed Tana's words.
That makes sense. Except for Tana's lack of control over her strength when she was little, which often caused her to break things, she behaved no differently from any other little girl later on.
Who would have thought that Tana would one day be the kind of person who could smash a tiger's head with a single punch?
This is truly formidable, without a trace of exaggeration.
The Empress Dowager and Tana leaned close together, the old woman and the young woman telling stories of the grasslands. The speaker was happy, and the listener was happy too.
Tong Wanyan leaned against the carriage wall, her back resting on a soft pillow, and smiled gently.
Suddenly, someone knocked on the carriage outside. Xia Zhu peeked out and came back with a letter in her hand.
"My lady, it's a letter from the Crown Prince," Xia Zhu said.
The Empress Dowager's carriage was quite large, like a small mobile house.
Under the teasing gazes of the Empress Dowager and Tana, Tong Wanyan turned around, hid, and secretly opened the letter.
It felt like receiving a love letter, a shy yet sweet feeling in my heart.
Yinreng's letter begins: "I miss my wife. I see her every day and miss her every night. I toss and turn and can't sleep."
The image of a resentful husband living in seclusion is vividly portrayed through the letter.
Tong Wanyan smiled, secretly delighted.
Tana pouted and whispered in the Empress Dowager's ear, "Father is so annoying. Even when he's not by Mother's side, he still writes letters to come and make his presence known. Empress Dowager, I'm going to secretly see what Father wrote. Maybe I can learn how to coax people in the future."
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