There's no reason why Longkodo would go to Yuqing Palace to pay his respects without Kangxi's knowledge.
Therefore, not only Yinreng and Shi Xiuzhu knew why Longkodo sought out Tong Wanyan, but Kangxi also knew.
Unsurprisingly, their tempers flared upon hearing the report. They smashed whatever they were holding, regardless of its value, onto the ground, as if throwing it at Longkodo's face—a particularly vicious act.
As the Crown Princess, Shi Xiuzhu wielded more power than the Imperial Concubine in the absence of an Empress.
An imperial edict, accompanied by rewards, was issued to the Duke's mansion, praising Tong Guowei's wife and Longkodo's wife for their virtuousness and elegance.
The people from the Duke's mansion were completely bewildered upon receiving the imperial edict.
"I wonder how many families have received this imperial edict?" Consort Tong Guowei asked politely.
Their family wasn't particularly close to Yuqing Palace, in order to avoid suspicion. It wouldn't be appropriate for both Tongguo Duke's mansions to clearly and firmly stand behind the Crown Prince.
However, this does not mean that the two families have a bad relationship.
Tong Guogang and Tong Guowei were brothers born of the same mother. Whether in the court or on the battlefield, they were people who could trust each other with their backs.
What worried Tong Guowei's wife was that the Crown Princess was only giving gifts to their family in an attempt to sow discord between the two families. If that were the case, wouldn't it mean that the Crown Princess was going to target Yuanbao'er?
Remembering Tong Wanyan's life-saving grace to her eldest daughter, Tong Guowei's wife transferred her love to her cousin after her eldest daughter passed away, showing her no less affection and care than Tong Guogang's wife, her own mother.
The one who came to deliver the imperial decree was Shi Xiuzhu's confidant, so he naturally understood the meaning of the decree.
He smiled kindly and said, "Princess Consort, there's no need to worry. Although it's just your family, the Crown Princess treats Consort Tong very well. It's just that today, Third Master Tong went to Yuqing Palace to pay his respects, and he brought valuable gifts. The Crown Princess is simply returning the favor on behalf of Consort Tong." The eunuch delivering the decree said.
Longkodo's wife breathed a sigh of relief; she knew Longkodo had gone to see Tong Wanyan. Before leaving, she was worried that the list she had prepared wasn't good enough, but Longkodo wouldn't let her ask her mother, so she had no choice but to bite the bullet and check it herself.
Now that the Crown Princess has come to praise him, it seems he hasn't caused any trouble.
Longkodo's wife was gentle and obedient, always following others' arrangements and rarely having her own ideas.
She hid in the inner quarters, eating and sleeping in the public hall, and barely even handled the household affairs.
She couldn't understand the eunuch's implied meaning, but Tong Guowei's wife immediately understood.
"The concubine is due to give birth in a month. What is Longkodo going there for?" Tong Guowei's wife looked sternly at Longkodo's wife.
Before Longkodo's wife could reply, Tong Guowei's wife handed over another purse to the eunuch who was delivering the imperial decree.
"Thank you for making this trip," said Tong Guowei's wife.
The amount of money received determines the amount of words spoken.
The eunuch delivering the decree softened his tone slightly: "This servant observes that the Crown Princess does not look well."
That's because he was angered by Longkodo.
That scoundrel, he even caused trouble for his own cousin in Yuqing Palace!
After seeing off the eunuch who delivered the imperial decree, Tong Guowei's wife took her foolish daughter-in-law to her own courtyard.
"What did Longkodo go to see Consort Tong about?" Consort Tong Guowei asked coldly.
Longkodo's wife was so frightened she almost cried. She stood there, at a loss for what to do: "Daughter-in-law didn't know. The master only said he wanted to send some nice things to Consort Tong as a congratulatory gift for her pregnancy."
"A congratulatory gift? She's about to give birth, what kind of congratulatory gift is this? Do you really not know what he's asking for?" Tong Guowei's wife pressed him with her imposing manner.
Longkodo's wife was so frightened that sweat poured down her forehead. Suddenly, her mind became unusually sharp, as if she had guessed the truth.
But it's better not to know the truth.
She knelt on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably: "Mother, please save your daughter-in-law!"
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