Regardless, after the Minister of the Imperial Household Department vented his anger, everyone understood Yinreng's intentions.
Anyway, Emperor Kangxi is still in his prime. Judging from his health, he should live another twenty years or so without much trouble.
If the crown prince doesn't want to take concubines, then he won't. Those who want to climb the social ladder can go straight for the highest one.
News of princes and princesses being born kept coming from the palace; they had a very good chance of being born.
Kangxi was unaware that his ministers had turned their attention to him instead.
However, even if he knew, he wouldn't care.
Those who catch his eye enter the harem; those who don't, no one can force them to stay.
When the Duchess of Tong entered the palace again, she told Tong Wanyan about this incident as a joke.
Tong Wanyan leaned against the Duchess of Tong's arms, still as delicate as a little girl.
"Mother, can you finally rest easy now? I told you, my husband is the most trustworthy person. Your daughter's judgment is never wrong," Tong Wanyan said proudly.
Lady Tong, the Duchess of Tong, gently touched her brow: "A mother's whole life is filled with worry for her child. We all see how well the Crown Prince treats you. He would be an excellent husband in any family. But he just happens to be the Crown Prince."
"It is precisely because you are the Crown Prince that you could have had a harem of beautiful women, yet you only stayed with me. Regardless of my humble birth or illustrious family background, your feelings have never changed. This affection is truly rare."
Lady Tong's pupils constricted slightly in surprise: "All these years, has the Crown Prince only been devoted to you?"
A nouveau riche who suddenly becomes wealthy will hire a maid to serve him. Yet a prince, who has no shortage of beautiful women, can remain faithful to one person until the end.
Lady Tong's hands were trembling; she simply couldn't believe it.
Tong Wanyan winked at her, confirming her words.
Lady Tong took a deep breath: "You, you actually kept this from your mother for so long."
“I’ve mentioned it to my mother before,” Tong Wanyan said.
Lady Tong looked at her reproachfully: "You're being so vague, who would dare to think that way?"
"What about the Crown Princess?" The Duchess of Tong truly lived up to her own words: "Raising a child is a lifelong worry, even for a hundred years."
“The Crown Princess is not interested in men. She possesses wisdom that rivals any man's, and her vision extends beyond the inner palace,” Tong Wanyan said.
Recalling the warm and respectful attitude Shi Xiuzhu had shown her when he received her, Lady Tong believed him without hesitation.
"This matter must be kept well hidden. It's good that the Crown Princess is covering for you, but you still need to have a way out in case of any unforeseen circumstances. No matter how much the Crown Prince dotes on you, you can't take it for granted and do anything that crosses the royal family's bottom line. People's hearts are fickle," said Lady Tong.
“My daughter has no great ambitions. Besides playing with the children, she spends her time with the Empress Dowager and my husband. She can’t make any mistakes,” Tong Wanyan said softly.
"When we get back today, Mother will probably be up all night. She'll be both surprised and delighted." The Duchess of Tong said, "Don't worry, Mother won't tell anyone when she gets back."
Tong Wanyan didn't care about this; the Tong family had no conflict of interest with her. Even if they found out, they would do their best to keep it a secret for her.
Lady Tong, in high spirits, returned home. As she was leaving Yuqing Palace, she encountered Yinreng, whose attitude was more kind, loving, and affectionate than ever before.
Completely baffled, Yinreng asked Tong Wanyan, "My dear mother-in-law was unusually gentle with me today. Did you speak well of me, my darling?"
Tong Wanyan replied casually, "Perhaps it's because you feel that Master takes good care of me, even though I'm pregnant, you stay with me every day."
“Do you think I’m stupid? Not to mention when you were pregnant with Hongzhao and Tana, I also took good care of Hongsheng when he was in your belly. Back then, my mother-in-law looked at me with eyes full of gratitude, unlike today, when she looks at me like her own son.”
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
