The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

The unhappiness that had been emanating from Yinwu gradually dissipated.

He looked down at her, his eyes filled with a mixture of doubt and confusion: "A female official?"

Yan Zhi loosened his collar, pulled him to sit on the couch, and said seriously, "Who allowed only you men to select the talented and virtuous? I have thought it over carefully. If I were to manage this huge harem by myself, although I could manage it, I would inevitably neglect you and the children."

"But I really don't have the will or the ability to keep a tight rein on everything. Those officials have all put a lot of effort into raising their daughters. Some are good at literature and poetry, and others are probably excellent at managing households. In any case, they are eager for their daughters to serve their families. I might as well bring them into the palace, give them some positions, and let them work for me."

She looked at Yinwu, a smile in her eyes: "This way, I can free up my hands and focus on taking care of you and our child. Wouldn't that count as them doing a good job in raising their daughter and serving the country?"

As Yinwu listened, his eyes grew brighter and brighter.

He hugged her tightly, beaming, "You're so clever! How come I didn't think of that!"

Yan Zhi was choking him so much she could hardly breathe. She smiled and tried to push him away, but couldn't.

"That's not all," she continued. "Your previous dynasty also needs help. As the saying goes, 'Brothers fight tigers together, fathers and sons go to war together.' Our Hongwei is still young and can't offer you much help, but the seventeenth brother is an excellent candidate."

"But he's never been interested in this before, and we can't force him to. Now that he's asked for it, as his brother and sister-in-law, we should naturally grant his request. But now that we're married, we should also establish ourselves. We can't just be idle and indulging in nature like before, can we?"

Yan Zhi looked at Yin Wu, a sly glint in his eyes: "It's only natural to give him some tasks. He'll be grateful and will do his job well. Before long, he'll become your right-hand man, won't he?"

Upon hearing this, Yinwu's eyes widened in surprise.

After a long pause, he finally let out a long breath, his face full of amazement: "Wow! You even managed to plan this marriage to such an extent. No wonder you didn't summon me today!"

Yan Zhi raised an eyebrow, her tone slightly mischievous: "Yes, Your Majesty is indeed very cunning. Is Your Majesty afraid? If so, while the decree has not yet been issued, there is still room for reversal. It would be best to find more gentle and pure-hearted beauties to keep by your side."

Yinwu hurriedly shook his head: "No need, no need! You are enough for me!"

He turned and shouted, "Li Deyu! Li Deyu! Come in quickly, lay out the paper and grind the ink, I need to issue an imperial decree!"

Yan Zhi looked at his impatient appearance and couldn't help but smile.

-

In the evening, Yinzhen returned from the Ministry of Justice.

Today is his first day reporting to the Ministry of Justice, but he is already extremely busy.

He closed Li Si'er's case. He had falsely accused the mistress of poisoning Lady Hesheli, a titled lady, and sentenced her to be executed in the autumn for multiple crimes.

In the courtroom, as Li Si'er was being led away, she still wanted to say something to him, but he had already ordered his men to gag her.

The prisoner was dragged away, beaten half to death, and thrown back into the death row.

However, this did not improve Yinzhen's mood at all.

To witness firsthand someone who looked remarkably like my birth mother being subjected to such torture...

No easy task.

Upon returning to his residence, he thought he could finally rest, but Yixiu came to greet him instead.

She wore the same makeup as she had that morning, dignified and proper, but her face carried a hint of regret that weighed heavily on his heart.

"My lord, I visited the Zhen family this morning as you instructed, and then went to the palace this afternoon, only to stumble upon something."

Yixiu carefully considered her words before saying, "The Empress Dowager has issued an imperial decree to hold a general election. Lady Zhen is on the list."

Yinzhen frowned. That jealous woman, Lady Nian, had always kept a close eye on the Fifteenth Prince. Why would she agree to this?

Yixiu added, "My lord, there's no need to rush. I'll go to the palace again tomorrow to speak with the Empress Dowager and the Empress in advance. It'll be the same to finalize the engagement with Zhen Shi."

Yinzhen finally spoke: "Why didn't you mention it today?"

Yixiu was slightly taken aback, then chided, "My seventeenth brother is also in the Empress Dowager's palace today, how could I possibly bring this up?"

Yinzhen's face instantly darkened.

Yixiu seemed not to have noticed, covered her mouth and chuckled, then said, "What a coincidence, Your Highness, guess why Seventeenth Brother came to the palace today?"

Before Yinzhen could speak, Yixiu continued, her face beaming with joy, clearly genuinely happy for her uncle: "Our little seventeenth has finally come to his senses. I heard he's taken a fancy to a young lady, and here he is, personally going to the palace to ask the Empress Dowager for a marriage decree."

boom!

Yinzhen slammed his hand hard on the table.

"Master?"

Yixiu looked astonished.

"Step back." Yinzhen's face and voice were as cold as ice.

"I'm tired, I need to rest."

Yi Xiu opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she curtsied and left with Jian Qiu.

As she turned away, a hint of mockery flashed in her eyes.

-

The inner quarters of the Zhen family mansion.

The gloom and despair on Liu Zhu and Huan Bi's faces had long since vanished, replaced by undisguised joy.

"Thank goodness!" Huanbi patted her chest, saying repeatedly, "As long as Miss enters the palace for the imperial concubine selection, she won't have to marry Prince Yong as a secondary consort! Once she's selected in the final round, the Empress Dowager can arrange a marriage for her, making her the legitimate primary consort of the Seventeenth Prince!"

Liu Zhu nodded repeatedly, agreeing, "That's right! I was almost scared to death today!"

A concubine of a prince is a great honor for our family, as she is destined to be included in the imperial genealogy.

But that's only in comparison to the absence of the Seventeenth Prince!

Both were of noble birth, but the Seventeenth Prince, though only a Prince of the County, was younger and more handsome than the other one!

He was also wholeheartedly devoted to the young lady, without any secrets.

Besides, one is a concubine and the other is the primary wife; even a fool would know which to choose!

The two were chatting animatedly, but Zhen Huan remained silent, sitting by the window lost in thought.

Liu Zhu asked cautiously, "Miss, you...don't want to?"

Zhen Huan shook her head.

She was naturally happy that she didn't have to become a concubine of Prince Yong.

It was also her heart's desire to be able to truly continue her good marriage with Yinli.

only……

"Didn't you hear what the imperial edict said? This election is divided into two categories. One is to select marriage partners for relatives, and the other is..."

"Selecting female officials." Liu Zhu interjected, scratching her head. "I was just about to ask, what does this mean? Can women also become officials?"

Zhen Huan smiled slightly, a glint of light flashing in her eyes: "Why not? During the Tang and Song dynasties, there were always female officials in the palace who helped the empress manage the affairs of the six palaces. During the reign of Empress Wu Zetian, Shangguan Wan'er, who was by her side, was even called the Hidden Prime Minister."

Huanbi scoffed, pursing her lips: "They call you a lady-in-waiting, but isn't that just a more respectable aunt?"

Zhen Huan shook her head and did not continue to explain.

Liu Zhu asked cautiously, "Miss...do you intend to participate in the selection?"

Zhen Huan remained silent.

Yinli had already let Ajin come and get some fresh air.

He said that everything was arranged, the selection was just a formality, and she would smoothly enter the final selection and be given to him as his primary wife in a grand manner.

Tell her not to worry or be nervous.

but……

Female official assessment...

Hey.