The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

Empress Cao also left Wende Hall and went to her own bedroom.

Unexpectedly, as soon as they stepped into the palace gate, they saw that the Emperor was already waiting inside.

When Zhao Zhen saw her return, he actually stood up on his own initiative, his face showing a hint of guilt and lingering fear: "Your Majesty, you've worked hard."

Empress Cao found it amusing, but remained respectful on the surface: "Your Majesty is too kind. It is simply my duty."

She sat down to the side and briefly explained the results of what had just been done.

The Emperor nodded repeatedly, looking relieved: "The Empress handled it very well."

He paused, as if remembering something, and couldn't help but shake his head and sigh, "But this Madam Qin... really... really..."

The rest of the words were never spoken.

It was inappropriate for an emperor to discuss the wives of his ministers, so he changed the subject and said, "Li Wei is also really outrageous! How dare he act like this in broad daylight! Fortunately, Yuan Ruo was there, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable."

He recalled Shilan's murderous look in the hall earlier and felt lingering fear.

The Zhang family girl hasn't even been properly treated yet, and now that Li Wei is more seriously injured and lying in bed, Qin Shi dares to hit him right in front of him.

If Li Wei really succeeds, wouldn't she just take a knife and go to the Li family to kill them?

Empress Cao also considered this possibility, thinking to herself, "That's certainly true."

Today was really close. Yuan Ruo didn't just save Zhang's daughter, she clearly saved Li Wei's whole family!

Seeing the Emperor's distressed expression, Empress Cao couldn't help but speak softly, her tone carrying a barely perceptible hint of probing: "Just now, seeing how fiercely Qin Shi was protecting her daughter, I couldn't help but think of Huirou... Li Wei's character is truly appalling. Our Huirou is not like the Zhang family's daughter; she has always been a well-behaved and obedient person. If she were to marry into that family..."

The official's expression suddenly changed.

He stood up abruptly, interrupting the Empress: "It's getting late, and Your Majesty must be tired today. Please get ready for the day."

Although his tone was still gentle, it already carried an air of unquestionable authority.

Empress Cao felt a chill in her heart when she saw her husband's suddenly darkened face, and ultimately said nothing more.

She rose to bow and respectfully see him off, but suddenly a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the hall.

The chief eunuch practically stumbled in, his face panicked and his voice trembling: "Your Majesty! Your Highness! Something terrible has happened! Marquis Jingbian just... cornered the Imperial Brother-in-law on Zhuque Street... and beat him up!"

"What?!" The Emperor and Empress exclaimed in unison, both dumbfounded.

The hall was deathly silent.

After a long pause, the official finally managed to squeeze out a sentence through gritted teeth: "The Zhang family... is far too protective of their own!"

Empress Cao rubbed her throbbing temples, momentarily at a loss for words.

This family is incredibly tough, each member more so than the last.

-

At this very moment, the carriage of the Marquis of Jingbian was traveling back to the mansion.

Shilan leaned against the soft cushions of the car wall, listening to the faint wails coming from outside, and a slow smile appeared on her lips.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and Zhang Yun bent down to enter, still carrying a trace of blood.

He sat down beside her, and Shilan reached out and gently wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief, her movements tender: "Did your hand hurt from hitting me?"

Zhang Yun grabbed her wrist, examined her hand carefully, and frowned slightly: "I'm thick-skinned, it's alright. But you, that guy from the Li family is shameless, did he hurt your hand?"

Shilan's smile widened, her eyes sparkling: "It's alright, I'll just apply some ointment when I get back."

The couple smiled at each other, and the frustration and anger they had felt in the palace seemed to have dissipated in the midst of this satisfying revenge.

The carriage entered the residence of the Marquis of Jingbian.

The two got out of the car and went straight to Anjie's courtyard.

The courtyard was brightly lit, and An-jie was indeed not asleep. She was waiting with Fu-ge in the corner pavilion.

Upon seeing their parents return, the brother and sister immediately went to greet them.

"Father, Mother!" An'er grabbed Shilan's hand, looking her up and down. "The Emperor hasn't made things difficult for you, has he?"

Seeing her so worried, Shilan's heart softened: "Why make things difficult for us? Someone like Li Wei wouldn't mind dying a thousand times over. He's only broken a few ribs; that's too good for him."

She pulled her daughter into her arms, carefully examining her expression, and softened her voice: "You must have been terrified today?"

Upon hearing that her parents were alright, Anjie'er immediately beamed with joy, her eyes crinkling into crescents: "No! The Yunzhi weaver that Mother arranged for me is quite skilled. Even if Qi Xiaoer hadn't come, I wouldn't necessarily have suffered a loss."

Upon hearing this, Shilan felt a surge of relief.

Many years ago, when choosing a personal maid for her daughter, there were quite a few eligible young maids among the servants, some of whom were daughters of respectable women like Xiang Mama, which should have been the safest choice.

One day, in the garden, she saw a thin, small girl move a flowerpot that only an adult male servant could lift.

She immediately had an idea and secretly had someone teach the girl some martial arts. After observing her character for several years, she finally promoted her to be by An'er's side and gave her the name Yunzhi.

I never imagined it would actually come in handy today.

"One is still not enough." Shilan stroked her daughter's hair. "I'll pick out two more for you in a few days... no, four. They all need to be somewhat skilled. In case you make a mistake and get sent away, you won't lack people to do your bidding."

An'er smiled and replied, "I'll do whatever you say, Mother."

Shilan had intended to sleep with her daughter tonight, but Anjie refused outright, saying that she was really not frightened, and was actually in high spirits because she had given Li Wei a good beating today.

Shilan sighed and tapped her daughter's nose: "You, you."

The couple were kicked out of the yard by their daughter.

Fu Ge'er followed silently behind, and after a few steps, he suddenly spoke up: "Father, Mother, your son has something to say."

Shilan and Zhang Yun exchanged a glance, neither asking further questions nor refusing.

The three moved to the study in the main courtyard.

Fu Ge'er stood before his parents, hesitated for a moment, and then slowly said, "Son... wishes to ask for Princess Fukang's hand in marriage."

Shilan's eyes were full of surprise: "Why did you suddenly have this idea?"

Fu Ge'er lowered his eyes: "Li Wei's character is really not a good match. If the princess marries him, I'm afraid..."

"Why do you care so much about what others do?" Shilan interrupted him, her voice rising involuntarily. "Did I raise you all these years so you could be someone else's safety net?"

Shilan stood up and stared into her son's eyes: "Listen carefully, you can marry her, you can fight for her, but you must either truly love her as a person, or you must be after her princess status to help your future, or you must be after the power behind her to use for your own purposes."

"If it's for these reasons, let alone competing with Li Wei, even if she wanted to go to heaven to marry the Jade Emperor, I would find a way to snatch her back for you. The only thing that can't be because you pity her, cherish her, or even sacrifice your own marriage to save her!"

Fu Ge'er stared blankly at his mother, then suddenly smiled.

His smile was filled with satisfaction, pride, and the unique confidence of a young man who was being pampered: "I thought... Mother was fed up with me a long time ago and wished I would settle down and move out of the mansion so that you and my sister could have a close mother-daughter relationship."

Shilan's eyes instantly reddened.

She walked up to her son, reached out and pinched his arm, but not hard: "What nonsense are you spouting, you brat! You and your sister are both flesh and blood of my own flesh and blood, how could I possibly favor one over the other? If you weren't a man, I'd be happy to raise you in the yard for the rest of my life, taking care of all your food and drink!"

But she can't.

Spoiling a child is like killing him.

In this world, she had to teach An-jie how to make a living, let alone Fu-ge'er.

Besides, Fu Ge'er... is not only her eldest son.

He is the treasure she lost and found again in both her past and present lives.

The pain of that loss was so profound that even across two lifetimes and two completely different lives, it remained the deepest scar in her heart.

Because of this, upon closer examination, even An-jie'er's importance in her heart might not be as great as Fu-ge'er's.

But what could she do? Was she supposed to stop her son from pursuing his future?

After the heartwarming moment, Fu Ge'er also spoke his true feelings.

"Mother, your son doesn't have much attachment to marriage." His voice was calm, as if stating a well-considered fact: "Your son knows that your deep and devoted love for each other is truly rare. But your son himself... has never fantasized about having the same kind of marriage."

He raised his eyes, his gaze clear: "As far as my son is concerned, it doesn't matter who he marries. As long as she comes from a respectable family, is reasonable and sensible, can manage the household affairs after marriage, is filial to her parents, and treats her sister well. No matter who it is, my son will be devoted to her and fulfill his responsibilities as a husband."

Shilan was quite surprised: "How could you... have such a thought?"

Zhang Yun, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke, his voice steady: "The reason you think this way now is perhaps just because... you haven't met that person yet."

Shilan turned around and saw her husband looking at her; she suddenly understood.

Zhang Yun once told her that before he met her, his view on marriage was nothing more than a constraint and a burden.

From a young age, he aspired to recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, and from the first day he went to the battlefield, he was prepared to die on the battlefield.

He felt that his parents might be sad, but he still had brothers at home, and he would have someone to rely on when he got old.

But if one marries and has children, when it comes to fighting again, there will be too many things that one cannot let go of.

Fu Ge'er looked at his father: "I have been in this world for twenty years and have not yet met such a person. I suppose our fate has not yet arrived. In that case, there is nothing wrong with marrying a princess."

He paused, his tone becoming more serious: "As an only son, before going to the battlefield, I do need a wife to stay at home and serve my parents. Marrying someone else might make me feel guilty. But if I and the princess each get what we need from the beginning—"

He looked up, a clear light flashing in his eyes: "Isn't this also a kind of fairness?"