As the morning sunlight streamed into the courtyard, Qingyan slowly awoke. Yinzhen had just returned from outside. She glanced at the clock on the table; it was almost nine o'clock. She was still thinking about paying her respects to Consort Tong.
"Fourth Brother, why didn't you call me beforehand? You even had to pay your respects to Mother." Qingyan complained.
"No need for greetings!" As soon as Yinzhen finished speaking, Qingyan looked at him with a confused expression, waiting for an explanation. "Father and Mother have already gone back. You should spend more time with me!"
After saying this, Qingyan breathed a sigh of relief. With Kangxi at the military port, they had to live according to the rules. Every day at the hour of Chou (1-3 AM), they also had to pay their respects to Consort Tong and Consort Hui according to palace regulations.
To avoid disturbing Yinti and Yinzhen's holiday mood, Kangxi dealt with matters a day in advance and took the holiday directly the next day.
"Did Mother give you any instructions?" Yinzhen was kept by Kangxi's side and had not been able to talk to Consort Tong.
Qingyan nodded. Consort Tong had said quite a bit, but in the end, she was telling Yinzhen to stay away from Tong Guowei's family. If Tong Guowei came up, he should quickly find Consort Tong to find a solution.
"Mother said that we should stop worrying about the Tong family's affairs and that this information must be reported!" Qingyan said two things, and a slight smile appeared on Yinzhen's face.
“I have already spoken to Father Emperor. This is also a test.” Yinzhen explained Kangxi’s intentions. “In the palace, many concubines have been stealing information to test Consort Tong. This is also Father Emperor’s idea.”
Qingyan felt a little sad. Consort Tong didn't need such a scheming person. In the harem, the future of a girl from the Tongjia clan had already been sacrificed, and Tong Guowei was prepared to see the treacherous nature of the future.
Who would have thought that Tong Guowei, as if under a curse, would send his carefully nurtured youngest daughter into the palace as well? Could it be a three-on-one battle in the harem?
"Fourth Prince, I don't think Mother is happy at all!" Qingyan tried to make Consort Tong laugh, but all her efforts failed.
Yinzhen smiled bitterly. Of course he understood that if Consort Tong could pass Kangxi's test, her future would become increasingly bright.
"Yes, ever since the selection of concubines began, it would be a miracle if Mother was happy. Father Emperor isn't planning to select any more concubines. It's said that having Consort Tong would be enough." Kangxi wrote the last sentence on Tong Guowei's memorial.
"Hmph, I knew it was because she's fickle. If Mother keeps silent, she won't have much control over the newly arrived concubines. If they cause trouble, His Majesty will definitely punish them severely," Qingyan replied.
She always felt that Tong Guowei had acted dishonestly. Yinzhen had given the note containing the information to Kangxi in advance, hoping to show Kangxi that she really didn't have any useful information.
"Master, why is it that when we go out, we still see someone who, in just a few days, went from being looked down upon to being treated as an honored guest?" Qingyan said with difficulty.
Those who are useful are promoted too quickly.
On the way back to Beijing, Kangxi looked at the box that Yinzhen had given him before his departure. The news inside surprised him. He kept an eye on Consort Tong's actions and wondered how to tell her what was going on.
"What's wrong with you?" Consort Tong asked, leaning against the window while holding a glass of plum juice.
"If Tong Guowei's residence were to collapse, would you blame me?" Kangxi hoped to give Consort Tong a buffer period. If the problem was found to be serious, Erlu would arrest her directly.
"No!" Consort Tong heard the tone of the servants in Tong Guowei's residence and immediately felt that they no longer considered that place as her home.
"Take a look for yourself." Kangxi glanced at Consort Tong and handed her the memorial in his hand.
She opened the file, which detailed how she bribed the Tong family, even specifying the modest reward the Tong family had agreed to for their assistance.
Besides Tong Guowei, there was also Longkodo.
“Longkodo’s crimes are the most heinous!” Consort Tong said directly.
Her straightforward and direct approach reassured Emperor Kangxi.
"Longkodo needs to be properly disciplined!" Consort Tong sneered. At home, Consort Tong could still control Longkodo, but once they went outside, they had all grown up. After Longkodo had his fourth son, everything changed.
His trust in Consort Tong turned into scheming. Of course, Longkodo's main target was Consort Tong's arranged marriage.
"Alright, he is still your own brother. Are you really going to have him dragged out and beheaded?" Kangxi said, feeling sorry for Consort Tong.
When the Tong family paid homage to Consort Tong, both Madam Tong Guogang and Madam Tong Guowei were placed together. Consort Tong noticed that Madam Tong Guogang would always ask in advance what she should bring next time.
On the contrary, Lady Tong Guowei was only concerned with whether Consort Tong had gotten any benefits for Longkodo.
"Xuan Ye, if I wanted to, would you do it?" Consort Tong realized that as long as Tong Guowei didn't commit treason, he could live a wealthy life.
"Of course not!" Kangxi pulled Consort Tong onto his lap, ready to discuss the matter with her.
Consort Tong knew that Longkodo had been cunning since childhood and would never do things personally, but would directly bribe cannon fodder. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to evade them several times before.
"Xuan Ye...why? Even the Hesheli clan has been touched, so why can't the Tongjia clan be touched? I can't stand those people's faces!" The thought of Lady Tong Guowei's audience with the emperor made Consort Tong feel an urge to shut the door.
"I promised my mother that I would take good care of the Tong family!" Kangxi revealed a secret he had kept hidden for many years.
Consort Tong's eyes reddened. Back then, when Empress Dowager Tong passed away, Emperor Kangxi was still young. He remembered his mother's words firmly and never forgot them over the years.
"Furthermore, I have also promised Guo Luoma Fa that I will definitely be tolerant." Tong Guolai was definitely a shrewd man; even though he had been dead for more than ten years, he could still influence Kangxi.
"Did you see the message that the fourth prince sent over?" Consort Tong noticed that Kangxi was in a good mood and quickly said a few words, "They originally asked me about it, but I told them to handle it officially!"
Emperor Kangxi had investigated the matter early on, hoping that Consort Tong would speak out directly.
"I've seen it, but it's none of your business. You've been away from the mansion for many years now, and you can't see what those people are up to." Kangxi shook his head, deciding that after returning to the capital, he would definitely give Tong Guowei's family a good talking-to.
"Hehe, anyway, the conclusion I've drawn from Mother's mouth is that I'll definitely take the blame for these problems!" Consort Tong has become a professional scapegoat. From childhood to adulthood, whenever Longkodo has a problem, Madam Tong Guowei will definitely scold her without distinguishing right from wrong.
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