The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

An Lingrong held the book, remaining motionless for a long time, until her fingertips began to grow cold.

At this point, she was almost certain.

This is the person behind the scenes, or rather, the one that the Fourteenth Prince has been searching for all these years: the true secret of the Lingtai Fangcun Incense.

It wasn't that the incense recipe itself had any problems.

There's no claim that burning two kinds of incense together for a long time will slowly produce toxicity.

Instead, the Lingxu Grass was secretly replaced with Xueku Grass from the very beginning.

What's even more remarkable is that the Lingxu Grass in the Lingtai Fangcun Incense is extremely rare, merely a small amount used to blend the various fragrances and moisten the base notes. Unless someone like her has an extraordinary sense of smell and happens to become suspicious and investigate little by little, she would never notice it at all.

While one layer of confusion was resolved, An Lingrong felt no relief whatsoever.

Because immediately afterward, another, even more terrifying conjecture, like a venomous snake, slowly emerged from the shadows.

In the year the late emperor passed away, there were not many high-ranking officials and nobles outside the palace who also "died of illness".

The most famous and powerful was undoubtedly Longkodo, the late emperor's cousin, Empress Xiaoyiren's younger brother, and the emperor's brother-in-law.

When ylang-ylang and Cnidium monnieri are blended together, they create a warm and comforting fragrance.

If someone were to orchestrate this scheme to create some unspeakable scandal between Consort De and Longkodo, it would indeed kill two birds with one stone, destroying two adult princes vying for the throne.

Who was that Lingtai Fangcun incense used to plot against?

An Lingrong's heart trembled violently.

The late emperor.

Blood-draining herb depletes qi and blood; prolonged use is toxic.

But the emperor's pulse was always steady, and he was summoned every ten days, yet why couldn't the imperial physicians diagnose anything amiss?

In his later years, the late emperor was even known for his vigorous old age, and shortly before his death, he even got one of his concubines pregnant.

Cnidium monnieri!

The combination of Cnidium monnieri and Ylang-ylang makes for an excellent aphrodisiac.

However, when taken out of the box, it is a good thing for warming the kidneys and strengthening yang.

What if the late emperor was not actually vigorous in his old age, but rather someone had secretly used drugs to make him appear vigorous in his old age?

If the truth is that the late emperor's health was slightly compromised due to his sexual activity, would the imperial physicians dare to speak frankly and offer advice?

I certainly wouldn't dare.

Most of the time, they would secretly prepare some mild tonics and present them as ordinary tonics.

In this way, the blood-dried grass has the best cover.

Despite the daily damage to its fragrance, it still manages to maintain a semblance of vigor and vitality by incorporating a few nourishing and comforting ingredients.

Until one day, in a fit of rage, the stagnant poison suddenly surged through his blood vessels...

It's too late to fix it!

An Lingrong felt her throat go dry and couldn't help but swallow lightly.

She seems to have... stumbled upon an incredible secret.

Her hands and feet began to tremble slightly involuntarily.

But what appeared before her eyes was the figure of the Empress.

Although she was aloof when she lowered her eyes to listen to people's replies, she never treated the palace servants harshly.

It is her compassion that, in addition to being fair in rewarding and punishing people, still leaves them a way out.

It was when she, despite her sharp edges, was willing to fight for a ray of light for women everywhere, that kind of brightness that made people afraid to look directly at her, yet also made them want to follow her.

An Lingrong's heart gradually calmed down.

What is she afraid of?

She never asked for much.

After this year, she will be able to save enough money to buy a house in the capital.

She had told her sister Mei that they would buy a small house near her and Wen Shichu's new residence in the future, and then bring her mother to the capital.

In this way, whether she leaves the palace after she turns twenty-five or continues to serve in the palace, her and her mother's later life will undoubtedly be secure and peaceful.

This kind of security is so predictable and easy to see the end of.

Isn't this exactly what she's been dreaming of?

Thinking of this, the fear in An Lingrong's eyes slowly faded, replaced by determination.

She poured the bloodwort powder mixed with the spices into the soil of the begonia plant under the window.

She brought more water and slowly poured it over the soil, watching as the powder dissolved in the water, seeped into the earth, and disappeared without a trace.

It's as if nothing ever existed.

-

After the bell had been sent away, An Lingrong deliberately chose a time when Hongwei was slightly free to go to the Imperial Study and ask him if he wanted to hire another palace maid to serve him there.

Hongwei is now almost ten years old. He has grown taller very quickly, and the change in his aura is even more astonishing.

A few days ago, she personally witnessed him, accompanied by his two imperial uncles, dealing with a corrupt official.

The young man wore a smile, his tone gentle and warm, almost like a spring breeze, yet the judgment he handed down was the harshest ever—

The entire family was executed, leaving no one alive.

He was no longer the young prince who couldn't bear to severely punish even the little eunuch beside him for stealing the longevity lock sent by the old lady.

As one of the first people assigned to serve him, An Lingrong witnessed his gradual transformation and watched him grow into a qualified crown prince.

Although it's regrettable, it also feels like it should be this way.

He was, after all, the only heir to the throne and the only future master of the Qing Dynasty.

That's how it should be.

Hongwei listened to her words, looked up at her, and slowly said, "No need. There are so many servants serving in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, there's no need to make special arrangements. I'm not going to stay here permanently from now on. When Father Emperor returns, I'll be waiting to go back to my Yuqing Palace, so there's no need for this."

He paused slightly at this point, then added casually, "To prevent them from developing thoughts that servants shouldn't have."

An Lingrong lowered her head and replied, "Yes."

She didn't plead for anyone, nor did she utter a single extra word of sympathy.

Since the person in charge has spoken, she only needs to do as they say.

Just like her surname, she is content with her lot and never oversteps the bounds.

Hongwei looked at her for a while, then suddenly smiled faintly: "I vaguely remember, Auntie, you're also from Jiangnan?"