After dinner, Kangxi kept Yinzhi and Qingyan behind. Kangxi and Consort Tong discussed the matter and decided to give up on Longkodo. After Tong Guowei retired, the direct line of the emperor would probably decline.
"My dear, what are they saying about Longkodo's concubines outside?" Consort Tong's eyes were red and swollen, filled with sorrow.
When Tong Guolai was still alive, the Tong family had strict family rules, and there would never be a person who favored his concubine over his wife. Now, everything has changed. Tong Guowei only has one legitimate son, and he certainly won't be like Tong Guolai, who would personally punish anyone who violated the family rules.
"Mother, these are just rumors spread by outsiders..." Qingyan pursed her lips, not intending to say another word. It was better not to let this matter come out of her mouth.
Previously, Yin had repeatedly told her that she must avoid any involvement with the Tong family.
Yin breathed a sigh of relief; Qingyan had finally taken it to heart.
"Fourth Prince, you tell us!" Consort Tong wanted to know that the servants would never tell the truth, and even Emperor Kangxi would try his best to cover up for the Tong family to save face.
Kangxi used a teacup as a cover and gave Yin a wink, signaling him to minimize any negative publicity.
"You're not listening to me anymore?!" Yin lowered his head, and Consort Tong became even more furious.
“Mother, I told you,” Yin glanced at Kangxi and saw him breathe a sigh of relief, but he was even more dissatisfied. His father had entrusted him with this difficult task. “Longkodo has not restrained his concubines. Not only are their clothes and jewelry beyond the proper standards, but even the carriage they ride in belongs to Granny Guoluo. Furthermore, when they encounter someone blocking their way, they put on airs like the Tong family’s servants. They claim to be the Third Young Mistress!”
Consort Tong's face turned pale instantly. The reputation of the women of the Tong family for generations was ruined just like that. Empress Dowager Tong was widowed at an early age, while Consort Tong had persevered for more than ten years. It was the result of the sacrifices of two generations of women in the Tong family.
Now, a concubine who had been married has completely destroyed the efforts of two generations. Decades of hard work have vanished in a short period of time.
"Third Young Mistress!" Consort Tong repeated in surprise.
As soon as he finished speaking, Kangxi's face darkened. He had personally bestowed the marriage upon the third young mistress of the Tong family, but now she had become a concubine, a direct slap in the face to Kangxi.
“Yes, Mother, Su Peisheng definitely didn’t mishear. The last few times, when Xiao Guai went to deliver things, she didn’t enter the mansion. She knows who the real Third Young Mistress is, and this concubine has such a high opinion of herself, so we gave her all the jewelry meant for the two Guo Luoma Grannies. Later, when the Guo Luoma Grannies went to the palace, Longkodo said that we hadn’t sent anything home at all. I investigated and found out that Xiao Guai had been deceived!” Yinche seized the opportunity to explain the matter clearly.
Consort Tong was stunned. Madam Tong then said that since Qingyan married into the family, this was the first time she hadn't sent them any gifts. She thought Xiao Guai didn't know, but who would have thought there were these misunderstandings involved.
"Girl, why didn't you explain when I said that to you before?" Consort Tong thought that Xiao Guai had forgotten. Originally, the relationship between her and her son was delicate.
"Mother, I wasn't clear about it at the time. I thought I had given the wrong gift, so I quickly sent it again on the fifteenth. This time, I was almost kicked out." Qingyan smiled awkwardly. She specially chose to send it during lunchtime. Tong Guowei and others were all there. Sulan said in front of everyone that on the morning of the 25th of the twelfth lunar month, she sent gifts to the wives of the two households and also described the appearance and clothing of the ladies who received the gifts.
Tong Guogang lost his temper on the spot. Su Lan stared blankly as Tong Guogang hit Long Keduo. When Su Lan returned, she told Xiao Guai about it as a joke.
"Damn it!" Kangxi slammed his fist on the armrest in anger. Fei Yanggu had been causing trouble for Tong Guowei for a while, which he found strange. It turned out that Xiao Guai had been wronged.
"When the new house was delivered to the Tong family, there was basically no valuable jewelry; it was all for that person!" Qingyan pursed her lips. "Later, I asked Guo Luo about it, and she said she only received New Year's gifts from the old house and never received any from the new house!"
Consort Tong's face turned purple; her own brother had done something so tasteless.
"Little darling, are all those jewelry pieces from Linglong Pavilion?" Kangxi glanced at Consort Tong, and could only prepare to clean up the mess for his brother-in-law.
"Father, the exquisite jewelry from Linglong Pavilion is the highest grade, and the ones that have troubled Guo Luo are all top-grade. It's against the rules for that person to wear those jewelry, and... isn't it said that Linglong Pavilion doesn't know the difference between superiors and inferiors?" Yin stood up for Xiao Guai, genuinely feeling that Xiao Guai was doing a thankless job.
Consort Tong was heartbroken. Longkodo had completely offended Yin. The fourth prince was exceptionally protective of Xiao Guai. After she was gone, Yin would definitely not take care of Longkodo. Oh well, it was his own fault.
"Li Dequan!" Kangxi was furious. "Tell Fei Yanggu to get over here!"
Fei Yanggu must have known beforehand. Why didn't he remind him? He could have just watched Xiao Guai being wronged.
After a cup of tea, Fei Yanggu stepped through the door, and Kangxi smashed a teacup at him.
Fei Yanggu nimbly jumped to the side, his tiger-like eyes wide open.
"What's wrong now?" Fei Yanggu looked at Consort Tong's flushed face and then at Qing Yan's aggrieved expression, and couldn't help but laugh.
Kangxi rolled his eyes at him a few times, but Fei Yanggu remained calm, sitting opposite Yin and listening to Yin talk about the Tong family.
“If my little darling has been wronged, I’ll return the favor directly. There’s no need for His Majesty to make a judgment!” Fei Yanggu smiled. “Your Majesty, don’t feel embarrassed. I won’t let that brat Longkodo cause any rift with Fahai!”
Consort Tong was relieved; Fei Yanggu wouldn't cause trouble for Fahai and would definitely still approve of the Tong family.
"Yes, I'll have Longkodo convert the money from Xiao Guai's chopping into silver and hand it over to Linglong Pavilion." Consort Tong was preparing to defend Longkodo one last time. "From now on, no one from Longkodo's courtyard will be allowed to receive the same treatment as the rest of the Tong family when they go to Linglong Pavilion, and they will not be allowed to enter any private rooms!"
Consort Tong pondered that she had to make things clear with Tong Guowei and Madam Tong. Xiao Guai had sent two gifts, and it was only because she didn't care that others would have started to complain. Given Fei Yanggu's temper, without Qingyan's persuasion, he would have definitely made a scene in the Golden Palace immediately.
“Mother, there’s no need for that. Consider the money a gift to the two Grannies Guoluo. As long as the misunderstanding is cleared up, that’s enough!” Qingyan replied with a smile.
The Tong family's money is too hot to handle; it's best not to accept it.
“Little darling, this…” Consort Tong was very embarrassed, “From now on, there’s no need to send jewelry to Longkodo anymore.”
Consort Tong instructed Xiao Guai twice to completely abandon Longkodo and to avoid causing trouble for Linglong Pavilion.
"If anyone dares to cause trouble, say it's my order!" Even Kangxi felt embarrassed. Before Fei Yanggu, Consort Tong had bowed her head, and Kangxi felt somewhat awkward. (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for it on Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please go to m.qidian.com to read.)
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