Orondai's intuition was correct; wild animals have a strong instinct for danger, an instinct upon which they depend for survival.
Orondai was a human being, but his violent and direct temper was exactly like that of a wild beast.
There was a knock on the door of the private room. Orondai didn't think much of it and assumed it was a waiter delivering snacks.
Without turning his head, he said, "Go in."
"Sixth Brother, the tea and snacks at this teahouse are quite good, except they're a bit pricey. Don't worry, it's on me today!" Orondai said generously.
His bright smile and cheerful demeanor softened Tong Qinian's heart. "Oh well, I'll go easy on him later."
Tong Qinian smiled politely, "Brother, you're too kind. I'm treating you today, and the bill has already been settled in advance."
Not only did they settle the accounts, but they also gave them a considerable amount more.
"Hello, elder brother!" A muffled voice rang in Orondai's ears.
Orondai frowned, puzzled, and said, "This voice sounds familiar."
Before she could speak, Tong Ruita brought her large face close to Orondai's.
Orondai disliked all his illegitimate sons, and even though Tong Ruita's temperament suited him, he still didn't treat him kindly.
“I’m not your older brother.” Orondai mistakenly thought that Tong Ruita was greeting him.
Tong Ruita ignored him: "I'm calling him my own elder brother, it has nothing to do with you. Don't try to claim kinship with everyone. My father only has two sons, no one wants another one like you."
Orondai's chest heaved with anger as he slammed his fist on the table, wanting to fight Tong Ruita.
He stood up and glared angrily. Tong Ruita stood up straight, a head taller than him, with wider arms.
"Hmph." Orondai sat down.
He wasn't afraid of losing to Tong Ruita; he was giving Tong Qinian face. After all, Tong Qinian was a prince consort, and it wouldn't be right for him to bully his younger brother in front of him.
Orondai was trying to save face, but Tong Ruita wasn't happy about it.
Tong Ruita and Tong Qinian exchanged a glance. Taking advantage of Orondai's inattention, Tong Ruita stepped forward and swiftly dragged Orondai off the chair, tying a cloth strip around his mouth to gag him.
"Waaah." Orondai's hands were held behind his back by Tong Ruita, and he struggled for a long time but couldn't move.
"Brother, don't blame me. It's just that you're always causing trouble, being unfilial and making a scene known to the whole world. In order to prevent Yuanbao from being implicated, I have to teach you a lesson." Tong Qinian smiled kindly, but the meaning behind his words was completely different from his expression.
At this point, Orondai knew perfectly well that he had been tricked, and with the tacit approval of his own mother.
Tong Ruita knew exactly where to hit someone to hurt the most, and where to hit the skin but not the bone.
Orondai was like a giant sandbag, stunned by Tong Ruita's beatings, going from being full of resentment to feeling innocent and pitiful from the pain.
Let's talk things out. Why do family members have to fight each other?
People would deliberately pass by outside the private room from time to time, only to be scared away by the two burly men guarding the door.
They could hear the sounds of fists hitting flesh from a great distance; the person inside getting beaten up was truly pitiful.
A kind-hearted person told the teahouse owner, who stroked his mustache and told him not to worry about it.
His employer was beating someone up, so he was definitely supposed to help his employer clean up the mess and cover for them. How could he get in the way of his employer's business?
That's right, the teahouse that Orondai praised again and again was opened by Tong Qinian, and Tong Wanyan also contributed a small amount to it.
Inside the private room, Tong Ruita's one-sided beating of Orondai was getting a bit boring.
He was also worried about not hurting him, so he didn't act decisively at all.
With her exceptional skills and daring, Tong Ruita untied the ropes binding Orondai's hands.
With his hands freed, Orondai, like a furious lion, started fighting with Tong Ruita.
He was quite skilled in martial arts, considered a capable fighter among the Eight Banners descendants. The fact that he could still fight back after being beaten by Tong Ruita shows that Tong Guogang had taught him well.
Unfortunately, he encountered Tong Ruita, who possessed immense strength and had survived numerous battles and escaped death many times.
Orondai's counterattack not only failed to defeat Tong Ruita, but he was instead beaten even more badly by Tong Ruita.
He felt like he was covered in bruises and swelling, and there wasn't a single good spot on his body.
"Why are you hitting me!" After Orondai could no longer resist, he finally remembered to untie the gag from his mouth.
Tong Qinian chuckled, realizing that the man had come to his senses and could now speak properly.
"Tong Ruita, help your elder brother to sit down." Tong Qinian maintained the gentlemanly demeanor he had when he entered, his voice gentle and his smile harmless.
Orondai shivered and didn't want to talk to Tong Qinian.
“The current emperor governs the country with filial piety as the highest principle. Do you think your lack of filial piety towards your uncle is just your own problem?” Tong Qinian asked.
Orondai raised his head and retorted defiantly, "Of course it's my own business, I'll take responsibility for my own actions!"
“Stupid,” Tong Qinian said coldly.
"You're so smart, why don't you talk to me nicely and just start hitting me? With your small frame, you can't beat me, you'll have to call your brother." Orondai said sarcastically.
Tong Qinian sneered, with Tong Ruita standing behind him like a bodyguard.
“I have a younger brother who can help me, do you?” Tong Qinian boasted.
Tong Ruita followed up, "I'm helping my brother, do you have a younger brother helping you?"
Orondai grumbled and whined, and as soon as he sat down on the stool, he immediately bounced up.
He felt like Tong Ruita had kicked his butt earlier; he didn't feel it while standing, but it hurt terribly when he sat down.
“Yesterday, Mother scolded me when she came home, and now you’re hitting me too. I know we’re family, and we used to get along quite well. You didn’t beat me up for no reason. Did I really do something wrong? Isn’t this something that can be done behind closed doors? Even if my father and I argue and fight, he doesn’t care. Who else cares?” Orondai said.
"Naive," Tong Ruita said on behalf of Tong Qinian.
Orondai huffed and puffed angrily, "I'm telling you, you two, don't bully me!"
"Tong Ruita, don't upset your brother. Let's talk this out properly," Tong Qinian said.
Orondai stood with his hands on the table: "You are the one who speaks the worst. You are the one who corrupted your brother. The so-called 'Light of the Qing Dynasty,' Military Advisor Tong, is full of bad intentions. I'm going to tell everyone."
Tong Qinian politely picked up his teacup and took a small sip: "We're family, so let's not be like strangers. We're of the same clan and blood. If it weren't for Xiao Yan, to be honest, I wouldn't have interfered in your family affairs. But we both want what's best for Xiao Yan and don't want her to have any more troubles."
Orondai lowered his eyes: "Will it really have an impact?"
“If she hadn’t married the Crown Prince, then it wouldn’t have happened,” Tong Qinian said.
The young and inexperienced crown prince and the vigorous and strong emperor brought joy to the entire nation.
But what if, after a few years, the crown prince gains widespread support and popularity, while the emperor grows old and frail?
At that time, Tong Wanyan, who has an unfilial elder brother, is very likely to incur the emperor's wrath, who will believe that this is an inherent lack of filial piety.
“I have no right to comment on your family affairs, but I think you should have an open and honest talk with your aunt. Husband and wife, father and son, may not be what you see in them, brother,” Tong Qinian said.
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