The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

Madam Zhou was stunned, then suddenly stood up. Her eyes lit up at first, then widened in disbelief: "Really? They... they're letting them go?"

"Now it's not their place to decide. They have no choice but to release her!" Imperial Censor Zhou was unusually beaming, his face full of barely suppressed glee. "This is Her Majesty the Empress's decree. Anyone who dares to obstruct it will have to forfeit half their fortune! Let's see if those bastards still dare to use their nonsense about chastity to pressure our Zhenniang!"

Mrs. Zhou's eyes immediately reddened. "Really?"

Imperial Censor Zhou nodded emphatically.

The couple married young and had a good relationship. They had four children, but only one daughter, Zhenniang, survived. She was raised like a precious jewel from a young age.

Unexpectedly, after her marriage, she was placed in the wrong place. Her husband was violent and cruel, and indulged in debauchery. He died in a brothel a few days ago. They couldn't bear to see their daughter suffer and wanted to bring her back, but the clan there used words like "chaste woman" to suppress them and refused to let her go.

After several tugs of struggle, it almost drove him crazy.

This imperial edict today may be just a legal provision to others, but to him, it truly opened up a path to survival for his daughter.

The couple busied themselves preparing things, including the dowry list and manpower.

The next day.

Then I heard that Imperial Censor Zhou had taken his daughter back.

Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Yan Zhi merely smiled faintly at this.

Fuling poured her more tea and whispered, "Did Your Highness know that Imperial Censor Zhou would speak up?"

"It's just a coincidence." Yan Zhi took the teacup and slowly blew away the foam. "He needs an imperial decree from me, and I also need to borrow his voice."

"Go with the flow and each gets what they need."

Yan Zhi had already put down his teacup, and his expression had calmed down.

-

Several imperial edicts were issued in succession, causing chaos both inside and outside the palace.

It was half a month later when the most chaotic period had passed.

On this day, it happened to be Wen Shichu's turn to be on duty in the palace.

Shen Meizhuang walked in confidently, carrying a pot of wine.

Wen Shichu was taken aback at first, then smiled gently and warmly: "You've come."

Shen Meizhuang lifted the wine pot in her hand and asked, "Are you busy?"

Wen Shichu closed the booklet in his hand, his smile deepening: "Now that you're here, I'm not in a hurry."

Shen Meizhuang's lips couldn't help but curve into a smile.

She walked over, placed the wine pot on the table, took out two small cups, poured the wine steadily, and then took out two side dishes from the food box to accompany the wine.

Wen Shichu watched her movements without stopping her, and simply took the cup she offered him.

Shen Meizhuang then raised her eyes and said softly, "Let's drink to our two years of hard work, which has finally given more women suffering in the world a chance to survive."

Wen Shichu looked at her, a smile involuntarily appearing on his lips: "That's how it should be."

The two exchanged a glance, gently clinked their glasses, and drank it all in one gulp.

The liquor is not strong.

Over the years, they have often been together on official business, visiting, checking records, consulting doctors, and verifying medical cases, braving wind and rain. They have had many private conversations, and this is not the first time they have had a drink together like this.

Therefore, the wine that Shen Meizhuang sent was always the right amount, enough to say a few words from the heart without actually harming one's mind.

Therefore, Wen Shichu initially did not feel that there was anything different about tonight.

It wasn't until he finished the pot of wine that he noticed that the blush on Shen Meizhuang's face was deeper than usual, and her eyes, illuminated by the lamplight, seemed to shimmer.

After finishing the last cup, she did not get up to say goodbye as usual.

The lamp was dim, the wine was slightly intoxicating, the night outside the window was deep, and there was no sound of anyone around.

A man and a woman sitting alone in a room is definitely different from how they are during the day.

Wen Shichu's heart suddenly started beating faster, and he subconsciously wanted to say something, but Shen Meizhuang asked first.

"At home..." she hesitated for a long time before finally speaking slowly, "Why aren't you in a hurry to arrange a marriage for you?"

This question came really abruptly.

Especially at this moment.

Wen Shichu's hand holding the cup tightened slightly, and his ears turned red almost instantly.

His lips moved, but he couldn't utter a word for a moment.

Shen Meizhuang looked at him, the hint of alcohol in her eyes seeming both real and feigned, and sighed softly, "Could it be... you still can't forget her?"

Wen Shichu suddenly looked up.

The light fell into Shen Meizhuang's eyes, and she gazed at him with a quiet, unwavering gaze, as if she could truly see through people's hearts.

Wen Shichu couldn't tell for a moment who she was referring to, or whether she knew who he had truly been thinking about all these years.

But Shen Meizhuang had already stood up, as if she suddenly realized she had misspoke. Holding onto the edge of the table, she said in a low voice, "I was probably drunk and talking nonsense. Don't take it to heart... I'll go back first."

She said this and then turned to leave.

Suddenly, someone grabbed his sleeve.

Shen Meizhuang paused and turned around.

Wen Shichu was still sitting there, but his hand was tightly gripping the corner of her sleeve, his knuckles turning white.

He was usually gentle and knew how to conduct himself properly, so it was rare for him to lose his composure like this, and even his eyes showed a hint of panic as he was unwilling to let go.

"She has now married a good man and they are happily married," he said in a low voice, with a hint of urgency in his argument. "How could I not know what's going on? How could I still be unable to let go of that little bit of hope in my heart?"

Shen Meizhuang gazed at him silently, without uttering a sound.

Wen Shichu's Adam's apple bobbed, as if he had finally made up his mind, and he simply unveiled the layer of concealment as well.

"It's just that I'm not very capable, but I have high standards." He looked up at her, his eyes unusually serious and stubborn: "The women I set my sights on are always the best in the world. Even though I've decided in my heart that I'm willing to follow her for the rest of my life, I've never dared to easily express my feelings, lest I hold her back."

Shen Meizhuang's eyelashes trembled slightly, as if she had suddenly understood something.

Unable to contain his trembling voice, he asked, "How are you delaying her?"

Wen Shichu looked at her, as if he had even slowed his breathing.

"It delayed her from achieving her long-cherished wish."

"It prevents her from realizing her lofty ambitions."

Surprise gradually spread across Shen Meizhuang's eyes, and she couldn't help but ask with a hint of anticipation, "The person you're talking about... is it me?"

Wen Shichu looked at her and said softly, "Besides you, who else is this good?"

Shen Meizhuang's eyes and brows immediately lit up with joy and shyness. She was always dignified, self-disciplined and rarely lost her composure, but at this moment, the joy in her heart seemed to have suddenly broken through some barrier, and without thinking, she quickly stepped forward and hugged Wen Shichu.

Wen Shichu froze for a moment, his ears turning bright red instantly.

But he still raised his hand and hugged her back carefully and solemnly.