In the spring of the 28th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, a small sedan chair in the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace welcomed its first mistress.
Even though she was just a princess, she brought life to Yuqing Palace.
Who in the world doesn't know how close Emperor Kangxi was to his maternal clan, the Tong family? As long as this princess from the Tong family doesn't cause trouble, her future is limitless.
Tong Wanyan sat in the sedan chair, feeling dizzy from the swaying.
Her pink cheongsam made her face look delicate and tender, like a rose on a wall in the early morning.
But she didn't want to be a rose!
That bastard Tong Wanle, once she gains power, I'll definitely kill her.
Tong Wanyan gritted her teeth and cursed her cheap older sister in various ways.
From the time she first woke up until now, three days have been enough for her to figure out her current situation.
She's someone who's died once, and she doesn't want to admit it.
However, thinking of Tong Wanle who was clinging to Yinzhen no matter what, Tong Wanyan was still very happy.
Are royal princes someone who can be picked and chosen at will? This guy is on Kangxi and Yinreng's blacklist, and he's destined to never recover in this lifetime.
As for how tragic the second deposition of the crown prince would be, Tong Wanyan didn't care. With at least several decades of wealth and honor in hand, she could lord it over most of the Qing Dynasty for the rest of her life.
"Princess, we've arrived at Yuqing Palace," a young eunuch following outside the door announced in a shrill voice.
The young eunuch was handsome with delicate features, and looked like a young boy. Even though his appearance was somewhat effeminate, he was still quite pleasing to the eye.
The deposed Crown Prince Yinreng was fond of beautiful women and showed no regard for either men or women. This assessment seems to have some basis in fact.
The first one is always special.
Emperor Kangxi unusually granted the Crown Prince an early leave, allowing him to return to Yuqing Palace as soon as possible.
The Yuqing Palace, adorned with red silk ribbons and the character for "double happiness," was filled with the joy of a newlywed couple. It was truly exceptional for a princess to receive such treatment.
Yinreng stepped through the front gate, walked to the front of the bridal chamber, and stood still.
As the court assembly drew to a close, Yinqi's meaningful smile kept flashing before his eyes.
Among the brothers, Yinreng was the second oldest, so he was relatively late in taking his first meat. For someone without a mother, certain things are often overlooked.
"Your Highness!"
The calls, accompanied by steady footsteps, reached Tong Wanyan's ears, making her feel a ticklish sensation.
"Does Your Highness look good?" Yinreng lifted the red veil and looked at Tong Wanyan, who was staring at him in a daze.
Tong Wanyan lowered her head shyly and said softly, "Your Excellency is as handsome as jade, and your demeanor is unmatched."
The beauty praised the man, but Yinreng was not only the high-ranking crown prince, but also an ordinary man.
He felt a surge of joy, as if he had just drunk a pot of fine wine: "Xiao Yan is also very beautiful."
Tong Wanyan opened her mouth in surprise: "Master knows my nickname?"
Yinreng was smug; there was nothing he couldn't find out if he wanted to.
"Do you like it?" Yinreng asked, feigning profundity.
The teenager's act of pretending to be mature for his age was quite adorable.
Tong Wanyan suppressed a laugh, her face flushed, and said, "I am very happy."
The spring night was fleeting, and as the sun rose high, Yinreng shamelessly spent his days embracing beauties.
Apart from Tong Wanyan, there were no other concubines in Yuqing Palace.
Yinreng stayed in her room every day with a clear conscience, except for a few special days.
The exclusive favor shown to the inner quarters—such an honor is destined to be unique to Tong Wanyan.
The primary consort and secondary consorts could go to the palace, but the concubines, as princesses, could only go to their own little courtyard and nowhere else.
Tong Wanyan didn't care about being a caged bird. She would wake up, play the zither, and write calligraphy. When it got dark, she would be greeted by the handsome and dashing Crown Prince.
She was so happy during those days that she almost forgot all the troubles this body had brought her.
One day, Tong Wanyan painted a picture of a hundred flowers amidst the spring blossoms of the garden, and heard an annoyed "humph!"
"Who dared to anger you, Master? I'll grab a whip and give him a good thrashing!" Tong Wanyan threw down the painting she had been working on all day and stepped forward to pat Yinreng's chest.
The muscles are firm and springy, and feel great to the touch.
Tong Wanyan's hands started to wander into inappropriate ways, leaving Yinreng quite helpless.
His princess is wonderful in every way, except she's too infatuated with him. This is truly a source of distress for the Crown Prince!
Grabbing the mischievous little hand, Yinreng forcefully pulled the beauty into his arms: "Your sister has been bestowed to your fourth brother's residence by Consort De."
"Hey?" Tong Wanyan didn't react.
After a long while, she came to her senses: "Is that why Master is angry?"
Yinreng looked at her unhappily: "Can't I get angry about this?"
"Is Tong Wanle prettier than me?" Tong Wanyan asked sweetly.
Yinreng traced her face with his hand: "No. I have never seen a woman more beautiful than Xiaoyan."
So he kept her confined to the yard and never let her go out to visit other people's homes.
Tong Wanyan curled her lips smugly: "Is Tong Wanle more talented than me?"
Yinreng shook his head; his dark complexion was gradually warming up.
"It's perfectly normal for a woman who is inferior to me in looks, talent, and everything else to choose a man who is inferior to you in every way. What pot has what lid! You and I are a perfect match!" Tong Wanyan said coquettishly.
Yinreng's smile stretched almost to his ears, but he still had to put on a serious expression: "You are not allowed to talk about Fourth Brother like that."
Tong Wanyan stuck out her tongue: "The Fourth Prince is certainly excellent. But in my heart, and in the eyes of others, Your Highness is the best."
Tong Wanyan said all sorts of things, good and bad, over and over again.
Yinreng, in a good mood, stole a kiss on her face and led her into the study.
"Let me see what you've been drawing all day. Sitting with your head down all day, don't come crying to me when you've hurt your neck." Despite saying this, Yinreng placed his hand on Tong Wanyan's neck and massaged it for her.
When the two of them finally made their way to the desk, they were both dumbfounded.
The lifelike painting of a hundred flowers, a riot of color, is undoubtedly a masterpiece. If only the central section hadn't been completely smeared with ink.
Yinreng valued talent. He originally thought that Tong Wanyan's paintings were just a little pastime for young ladies, but he did not expect that her painting skills could be called those of a master.
Whether it's the coloring or the outlining, there's not a single flaw. More importantly, there's the spirit in the painting.
What a pity.
Yinreng felt a pang of heartache and wanted to pick up the painting to see if he could salvage it.
Tong Wanyan quickly stopped him: "If it's ruined, it's ruined. Don't let the ink get on my hands."
In her bright almond-shaped eyes, Yinreng's figure was clearly reflected.
Yinreng stared at her intently, somewhat dazed.
He was like her whole world.
"Xiao Yan, the new Ning Shou Palace will be completed in a few days. Father Emperor will lead the princes and ministers to invite Grandmother Emperor to move in. At that time, I will do you a favor and promote you to the rank of secondary consort."
A person like Yinreng could be loved to the point of wanting him to live and hated to the point of wanting him to die.
Now that Tong Wanyan has shamelessly pried open his budding romantic feelings, he will do everything he can to elevate her to the highest level.
As for the future Crown Princess, that's still just a rumor, so let's leave that aside for now.
Besides, among all the wives of the Qing Dynasty, very few were as lively and mischievous as Tong Wanyan.
Yinreng was happy to pamper this girl, simply because she had nothing but him in her heart.
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