The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

Zhen Huan walked to the desk, spread out the Xuan paper, ground the ink, picked up the brush, and wrote a large character.

She used the "Zanhua Xiaokai" style, with elegant and graceful handwriting. Compared to ordinary "Zanhua Xiaokai", it reveals unique and ingenious ideas in the details.

As she put pen to paper, she was still thinking that since it was just a formality, there was no need for her to make a big splash.

But after she finished writing, her gaze was drawn to something not far away.

Over there was the pitch-pot area, where several young women were testing their skills. Arrows flew through the air, some landing in the bronze pot, others grazing the edge, accompanied by cheers or sighs.

Zhen Huan watched for a moment, then couldn't help but walk over.

"Would you like to try, young lady?" A palace maid serving nearby smiled and handed over a feathered arrow.

Zhen Huan took it and compared it somewhat awkwardly.

The first arrow missed.

The second arrow missed again.

The third arrow—

The arrow landed steadily in the pot.

Zhen Huan was taken aback at first, then laughed.

She turned and walked back to Hammerball's court, picked up the club, and swung it like the others, but her accuracy and power were still insufficient, and the ball only rolled a short distance before stopping.

But she wasn't annoyed; instead, she found it amusing. She tried a few more times, and occasionally hit the ball, which made her smile broadly, like a child who had received candy.

-

On the other side, Shen Meizhuang also wrote a large character in a very proper and conventional manner.

She used her best handwriting, neat and impeccable.

But when he finished writing and looked up, he saw Zhen Huan's masterpiece that she had just finished writing. He immediately recognized its uniqueness and couldn't help but admire it.

Huan'er is still the same as when she was a child, seemingly indifferent to the crowd, but in fact she has a hidden wisdom.

She looked around again and saw that some of the young ladies were painting, some were playing the zither, some were playing pitch-pot, and some were playing marbles.

Without exception, everyone was trying their best to showcase their strengths.

They are all better than her.

Shen Meizhuang remained silent for a moment, then suddenly raised her hand and tore up the large characters she had just finished writing.

The palace maids who were grinding ink and supervising her to see if she was cheating were stunned.

Those around her glanced at her slightly, but Shen Meizhuang remained completely oblivious.

She spread out a new sheet of paper, dipped her brush in ink, and wrote with lightning speed.

This time, she didn't write in the delicate small regular script.

It is cursive script.

The brushstrokes flow like dragons and snakes, unrestrained and free.

After writing the last word, she put down her pen and let out a long breath.

She ultimately couldn't suppress her pride.

In the end, he failed to remember his mother's instructions to Zangfeng.

But she didn't regret it.

I even felt an unprecedented sense of exhilaration.

The sky was high and the clouds were light, the osmanthus was fragrant, and laughter came from afar. She turned her head and saw the autumn scenery in the garden again, and suddenly felt something.

She spread out another sheet of drawing paper, ground ink, moistened her brush, and began to paint.

-

In the corner, An Lingrong kept her body huddled up.

She watched Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang get up one after the other, watched them confidently present themselves in the crowd, and watched the young ladies complete their tasks one by one.

My anxiety grew stronger.

She wanted to stay.

Even if I can't become a superior person, I still want to stay.

She raised her head and cautiously looked towards the platform.

There, the Empress sat regally in the main seat, surrounded by a group of noblewomen, like stars around the moon.

She wore a smile, sometimes chatting and laughing with the lady beside her, sometimes taking a sip of tea, every move exuding indescribable composure and nobility.

An Lingrong suddenly remembered her ambitions before entering the palace.

Those thoughts, now that I think about them, seem utterly ridiculous.

With an empress like that in power, how could the emperor possibly give her another glance?

Not to mention, the garden is full of vibrant colors.

But she had reasons that compelled her to stay.

Her father and Aunt Liu had already decided that if she failed to be selected this time and returned home, her father would never keep her at home again, but would immediately send her to his superior, who was over sixty years old, to be his thirteenth concubine in exchange for wealth and glory.

She refused, refused to be like her mother, using her own bones to pave the way for that person!

She was not willing to give up either.

Thinking this way, the slight unease in my heart seemed insignificant.

She took a deep breath, got up, and walked towards the incense table.

She wants to stay.

We must stay no matter what.

Regardless of one's identity or the outcome.

At least, this is the path she chose for herself.

There were very few people left at the desk where incense was made.

Most of the young women came over, picked up the spices, smelled them, and then shook their heads and walked away.

This thing is too unfamiliar and too complicated; very few people are willing to try something they are not good at in front of everyone.

An Lingrong was able to walk past without any hindrance.

Various spices were laid out on the table, neatly packaged in exquisite porcelain boxes.

She picked them up one by one, held them to her nose, and smelled them carefully to identify them.

Although she had a family recipe for incense, she had only seen descriptions of some of the precious spices in the book and had never actually touched them.

After all, when she was at home, even having enough to eat and wear was a problem.

But as she smelled the different fragrances, her heart gradually calmed down.

Fortunately, fate was kind to her, leaving her with a nose that could distinguish all fragrances.

On the high platform, Yanzhi was chatting with the Sixteenth Prince's wife.

She smiled, but her gaze seemed to casually sweep over the incense table, watching the thin and inexperienced An Lingrong carefully distinguishing the spices, her movements clumsy but revealing a certain seriousness.

She subtly withdrew her gaze and continued chatting and laughing with the Sixteenth Prince's wife.

Just then, a sharp sound rang out.

"Hey, isn't this that down-on-his-luck guy?"

Xia Dongchun had somehow walked up to the incense table, looking down at An Lingrong with disdain on his face.

"Stop pretending! Do you even recognize these?" She pointed at the spices on the table, her voice shrill and grating. "Let me tell you, these spices are worth a fortune, more precious than the clothes I'm wearing! They're far more valuable than those two plain silver hairpins in your hair, or that gilded bracelet that nobody wants!"

All eyes immediately turned to them.

An Lingrong's face instantly turned bright red.

Seeing her like this, Xia Dongchun became even more smug and said loudly, "I don't know how you managed to sneak in. With such a shabby appearance, you think you're worthy to stand here?"

A few low snickers rang out from the surroundings.

People started whispering and pointing at An Lingrong's clothes, following Xia Dongchun's lead.

Zhen Huan frowned and was about to step forward.

A hand grabbed her.

Shen Meizhuang held her wrist and said softly, "I agreed to help her earlier, but there were no proper masters present then. Now that the Empress and the other consorts are here, and they haven't spoken up, how can we overstep our bounds?"

Zhen Huan paused.

She looked up at the high platform, where the Empress was indeed holding a teacup, taking a small sip. Her gaze fell on them, but she remained calm and composed, showing no intention of interfering.

Zhen Huan suddenly understood.

The banquet was novel, and she genuinely enjoyed it. But she shouldn't forget that, ultimately, it was a selection process. Whether it was choosing someone to serve the Emperor in the palace, a marriage partner for a member of the imperial family, or a female official whose role was still unclear… one thing was certain:

From the moment the Empress arrived, everyone's every move was under scrutiny.

The Imperial Garden wasn't large, and it wasn't far from the Empress's throne. The Empress had heard the commotion long ago, but she had her reasons for not sending anyone to intervene.

If I were to overstep my bounds and do things for An-mei, it might not be a good thing for her.

Zhen Huan bit her lip and ultimately did not step forward.

An Lingrong was truly terrified at this moment.

Xia Dongchun's shrill voice, her arrogant demeanor, and the pointing and whispering of those around her made her instinctively want to drop the spices in her hand and hide in a corner.

But she always held onto a hope.

Their gazes involuntarily turned to the high platform, to the figure high above, carrying a hint of fragility, a hint of pitifulness, and a hidden plea for help.

But I saw...

The Empress did indeed stop her idle chatter with the wives and did notice the commotion.

But they showed no intention of stopping at all.

She held a teacup in her hand, looking completely at ease, her gaze both casual and playful.

An Lingrong's heart trembled, and an overwhelming sense of grievance welled up within her, instantly turning her eyes red.

But the idea that the Empress was going to laugh at her only flashed through her mind for a moment before it vanished.

To get help, you must first demonstrate that you have value that makes you worthy of being helped.

Although it was only a glance, she was quite certain that this was the meaning she read in the Queen's eyes.

Her hands trembled slightly.

But they resolutely did not give up the spices.

She took a deep breath, no longer looking at Xia Dongchun, nor paying attention to the whispers around her.

He focused intently on identifying the spices on the table, carefully taking out the required amount of each one and beginning to process them.

Her hands became increasingly steady, and her increasingly skillful movements made the surrounding laughter grow fainter and fainter.

Until it disappears completely.