Since Qingyin left for a while, a legend of an exceptionally handsome young master has spread throughout the capital. Especially with those who saw him spreading the word, Qingyin successfully dethroned Liu Qingxu, the prime minister's son, who was originally ranked first by the common people, and won the title of the number one young master. Qingyin, who was staying at home in the Tong residence, had no idea that her reappearance outside the palace had directly gained her a large number of die-hard fans.
In Chengqian Palace, a woman in an excessively pale white gauze dress lay weakly on a Luohan bed. Her lips were so white that they made the black porcelain bowl containing medicine appear even darker.
"Your Highness, please drink some more." The maid holding the medicine bowl had tears in her eyes as she looked at the frail Consort Tong.
"Ya Yu, my health is what it is. What difference does it make if I drink a little more or a little less?" Consort Tong said hastily, and couldn't help coughing for a while.
Ya Yu hurriedly patted her mistress's back to soothe her, and only stopped when Consort Tong calmed down.
Consort Tong tightly grasped the hand of her personal maid who had been with her since childhood. "Ya Yu, I'm going to find my sister. I'll have Father send someone to fetch me. I have no regrets in this life; my only concern is you..."
"Your Majesty..." Ya Yu's voice trembled, and tears streamed down her face without her noticing.
Consort Tong gently wiped away her tears. "Silly girl, don't cry. I've never suffered much. If the person who comes to the manor is a good person, then go with her. If not, then be smart and go somewhere better."
"Your Highness, please take good care of yourself, Ya Yu will be obedient..." Ya Yu ignored her flowing tears, gazing at the young lady who had served her for most of her life through her tear-blurred eyes. In her heart, whether she was the charming and lovely young lady from her boudoir or the dignified and noble imperial concubine, she was always the young lady who had taken care of her and treated her well.
Looking at the young lady lying weakly on the ground, she tried her best to control her emotions. It wouldn't be good for the young lady to cry too much, and she couldn't affect her.
After venting her emotions for a while, Consort Tong felt the itchy cough in her throat subside a bit. Seeing Ya Yu's worried eyes, she still forced herself to finish the medicine despite the bitterness.
"His Majesty has arrived!" The eunuch's voice was loud and noticeable. Upon hearing the arrival of the person, Consort Tong paused for a moment. She waved her hand, telling Ya Yu to clean up the things she had finished drinking.
Emperor Kangxi, dressed in a bright yellow robe embroidered with dragon patterns, looked at Ya Yu's red and puffy eyes. This person was Consort Tong's personal maid. He knew from her red eyes that the two of them had just been crying. His heart sank. It seemed that Consort Tong was really not going to make it.
As he entered the inner room, the aroma of medicine wafted towards him. Kangxi frowned slightly and looked at Consort Tong. Gazing at his much thinner cousin, he recalled her rosy and well-proportioned figure when she first entered the palace, and his pity for her deepened.
"Your Majesty, you've arrived." Consort Tong called out to Kangxi weakly, as she tried to sit up.
Seeing Consort Tong struggling to sit up, Emperor Kangxi immediately stopped her, saying, "Yes, cousin, just lie still."
Seeing this, Consort Tong returned to her original position and lay flat on the bed.
"I estimate that Your Majesty's time is near. I only hope to see my mother and sisters before I die. I hope Your Majesty will grant my wish."
"What nonsense are you talking about? You'll be fine after taking your medicine for a while." Kangxi comforted Consort Tong again, and only left when he knew she couldn't bear the heavy atmosphere.
As Consort Tong watched the departing yellow figure, she knew he had agreed to her request. She herself didn't seem to feel so good either, having pushed the man she had loved onto her sister. Tong Jia Rouwei suddenly understood how her elder sister had felt when she pushed her towards Kangxi. But she was a woman of the family and couldn't forget the family's honor. Tong Jia Rouwei's eyes gradually hardened, and she swallowed the blood in her throat along with her tea.
A few days later, Tong Guowei, who had just received the emperor's decree, remained silent for a long time before returning to the Tong residence and recounting the decree to his wife, Lady Hesheli.
Empress Hesheli was a clever woman; how could she not understand the meaning behind this? These were her daughters! One after another, her daughters had entered this cannibalistic harem and died young. Now, her youngest daughter was also terminally ill. How could she not be grieving?
Tong Guowei felt a pang of sorrow as he looked at his wife, who was crying out in pain. He waited until Hesheli's emotions calmed down before saying, "We still need to bring people into the palace. See if there are any suitable ones among the concubines and those from the secondary branches of the family. You can bring them into the palace together when the time comes."
"Yes, sir," Hesheli replied, wiping away her tears.
The next day, Tong Guogang also received the news from his younger brother. He was also a little sad. He doted on his niece, who was always sensible and well-behaved. However, this was for the sake of the family. They had to suppress their emotions and send people to the palace again.
Tong Guogang told Madam Tong about Consort Tong, and that his two daughters would accompany their sister-in-law into the palace.
Mrs. Tongjia understood the importance of the matter. She nodded, and moreover, she knew that her daughter was not being chosen, so she had fewer worries.
Unfortunately, today's events have made her feel some regret.
Because of the relaxation these past few days, Madam Tongjia originally wanted to call her eldest and youngest daughters to talk together, but Tongjia Wanying had already run out. Unable to find her, Madam Tongjia had no choice but to talk to her youngest daughter first.
Hearing Madam Tongjia's words, Qingyin knew the time had come. "Mother, I want to go to the palace."
Looking into Qingyin's determined eyes, Madam Tongjia couldn't even bring herself to lie. She said bitterly, "Yu'er, is that really what you think? You won't regret it?"
“Mother, I want to bring honor to our Tong family, not to compete with other princes. I am confident.”
Looking at her daughter, who was so beautiful that she could make people lose their minds, Madam Tongjia couldn't say anything to discourage her, and in the end, she could only agree with Qingyin's words.
Qingyin also told her father, Tong Guogang, about it. No one knew the contents of the story except for the Eighth Prince, who noticed that his relationship with the Tong family had become ambiguous. The Tong family was no longer as close to him as before, but he didn't pay much attention to it. Although the Tong family was his father's maternal clan, there wasn't a single blood relative in the palace. Who else could they turn to if not him?
When Tong Jia Wanying returned, she was informed that she, Qingyin, and other sisters from the collateral branches were going to the palace to see Consort Tong. She was excited for a long time in her room.
Time was of the essence, and Qingyin and Tongjia Wanying, who were dressed quickly, bid farewell to their mother and boarded the prepared carriage.
Having learned of the chosen candidate, Hesheli was already waiting in the carriage. As Qingyin's aunt, she naturally had to offer some guidance. She was stunned when she saw Qingyin walk in.
"Yu'er?"
Seeing the shocked look in Hesheli's eyes, Qingyin smiled obediently, "Aunt, it's me."
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