The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

Just as he was about to ask seriously, Langhua had already pulled his hand and stood up: "It's so early and the weather is so nice. It's a waste to stay cooped up inside. Why don't we go out for a stroll?"

Zhao Zhen's attention was immediately distracted by her presence.

"it is good."

Because of his wedding, he has been resting for the past few days and has not had to deal with state affairs.

Langhua was in high spirits.

She had read in history books that as early as the Ming Dynasty, the imperial city of the Northern Song Dynasty had been submerged by floods and buried deep underground, never to be seen again. Those old palaces were only vaguely recorded in history books, leaving people to imagine, but ultimately unable to be seen with their own eyes.

And now, she can stand here in person, witnessing the towering palaces, winding corridors, majestic halls, and expansive gardens.

How could you not feel excited and thrilled?

Zhao Zhen visibly became happy.

He grew up in the palace and knew every place he could go there intimately.

He knew which road led to which place, which palace was the coldest in winter, and which lake had the most beautiful lotus blossoms in summer.

It is precisely because I know too much that I am already tired of seeing it.

He once envied those who could leave the palace and travel far away, see mountains and rivers, and move freely in the vast world.

But today, seeing Langhua so enthusiastic, her eyes lighting up at the sight of a flying eaves, a pond, and a few flowers and trees, he felt as if he had rediscovered the beauty of the palace.

Although the Northern Song Dynasty imperial palace was not as orderly and imposing as the Forbidden City of later generations, it was still extremely large, and it was impossible to see it all in one day.

When it was lunchtime, the two were still in the back garden.

The water surface is wide open, the banks are lush with greenery, pavilions are nestled among them, and the palace walls in the distance are reflected in the lake, creating a scene reminiscent of a painting.

Zhang Maoze stepped forward to remind them, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, it's time for your meal."

Looking at the scenery before her, Langhua suddenly said, "Why don't we bring the food here? We can have a couple of drinks by the lake, shall we?"

Zhao Zhen's eyes lit up, and he almost immediately said, "Good."

Zhang Maoze hesitated: "Isn't this... against the rules of propriety?"

Langhua looked at him and smiled gently: "Are we dressed neatly and appropriately, Your Majesty?"

Zhang Maoze was taken aback, wondering why she asked this, but still replied, "Your Majesty, that's only natural."

Langhua then asked, "Is this palace the Emperor's home, and also my home?"

Zhang Maoze could only reply, "Your Majesty, that is indeed the case."

Langhua then said, "Then, how is it improper for the Emperor and I to have a meal in our own home, dressed neatly, simply by moving the table from inside the house to the courtyard?"

Zhang Maoze was speechless.

Zhao Zhen laughed out loud.

"Alright, with your clumsy tongue, how can you possibly win against the Empress? Hurry up and do as she says."

Zhang Maoze couldn't help but laugh and quickly agreed before leaving.

So lunch that day was served by the water in the back garden.

A breeze swept across the lake, bringing a touch of coolness. Wine cups swayed gently on the small table, and the dishes were exquisite. Surrounded by flowers, trees, and the shimmering lake, it was indeed much more pleasant than dining in the palace.

Zhao Zhen watched Lang Hua laugh, and couldn't help but laugh along with her.

For three days, the two strolled leisurely through the palace. When they arrived at the Longtu Pavilion, Langhua was so captivated by the collection of books that she couldn't take her eyes off them. She went in with Zhao Zhen and browsed through them for the entire day.

Upon reaching the lake in the back garden, the two took a boat ride on it.

As the boat glided across the water, a gentle breeze caressed her. Langhua leaned against the railing, gazing at the lake, while Zhao Zhen looked at her.

When the mood strikes, they might arrange flowers, make tea, or practice calligraphy and painting together.

When Zhao Zhen painted, she would inscribe the painting.

She ordered tea, and Zhao Zhen selected a cup for her from the side.

Life was poetic and picturesque, with a beautiful woman by your side.

Over these three days, their feelings for each other deepened little by little.

When Zhao Zhen returned to court after his honeymoon, Langhua officially took over the affairs of the inner palace.

She was in no hurry to establish her authority, nor was she in a hurry to change anything.

She silently instructed the palace lady to move all the rosters and files from the palace in recent years to her place.

Read them one by one, from the beginning.

When Zhao Zhen returned home that evening, he was startled by the mountain of scrolls piled up in the palace.

"Is Third Sister trying to become the top scholar in the imperial examination?"

He joked with a smile.

Langhua glanced at him sideways, but still put down the book in her hand and stepped forward to personally remove his hat.

"If you rush to issue orders when you're new here, you'll only make yourself a laughingstock. You need to figure things out first so you know what to do and what not to do."

Zhao Zhen looked down at her, his heart softening even more.

"If Third Sister were born a man, she would surely be a pillar of our Great Song Dynasty. After looking at all this, Third Sister, have you noticed anything unusual?"

He had only mentioned it casually.

Spending so much time together these days, our bond has grown stronger, and I feel much more relaxed and comfortable talking to myself than before.

Unexpectedly, Langhua paused, and her expression actually became serious.

"I have a guess."

Zhao Zhen's smile faded slightly.

Langhua looked at him: "I would also like to ask His Majesty to issue an imperial decree that the imperial physicians be at my command."

"What guess, that's so important?"

Langhua said, "It's more than just important. If this is true, I'm afraid I've discovered a huge secret."

The smile on Zhao Zhen's face froze completely.

-

"Is what Her Majesty the Empress saying true? Does this little bit of cinnabar really have such an effect?"

The imperial physician stared in disbelief at the tiny speck of bright red powder before him.

The atmosphere in the hall was solemn.

Langhua sat at the head of the table, while Zhao Zhen sat to the side, remaining silent throughout.

Langhua said slowly, "I only heard about it from others."

"Last year during the disaster relief efforts, I saved a pregnant woman. She told me about an anecdote from her hometown. A woman, desperate for a child, stayed at a temple to pray for blessings after becoming pregnant. To show her sincerity, she burned scriptures written in cinnabar to ashes every day, mixed them with water, and drank the ashes, hoping to give birth to a son."

"But after ten months of pregnancy and childbirth, what was born was... a monster."

She didn't go into details about what the monster was like, but the imperial physicians' expressions changed slightly upon hearing it.

"The first pregnancy was like this, and the second pregnancy was the same. The woman eventually couldn't bear the pain of losing her children again and again, and went completely insane. Her husband's family then made a huge fuss, threatening to burn down the temple and demand that the monks pay with their lives."

"Later, a wandering Taoist priest passed by and said that the trouble came from cinnabar. This substance is considered one of the most poisonous things. It is not advisable for ordinary people to be exposed to it for a long time. If a pregnant woman is exposed to it, she will either miscarry or die. Even if she is lucky enough to give birth to a child, the child will most likely be weaker than others and will not live long."

The imperial physicians looked at each other in bewilderment.

Langhua's gaze swept across everyone's faces: "Whether it is true or not, you all need to verify it. I will not judge important matters in the palace based on a mere anecdote from the countryside. However, this matter is of utmost importance and cannot be publicized, yet it cannot be ignored either."

Her tone was gentle, yet carried an undeniable air of authority: "Even ordinary women and children are the hope of the people. How much more so... here."

The imperial physicians were all startled, exchanged bewildered glances, and bowed in unison: "We obey your orders and will examine the matter carefully without any negligence."

Langhua nodded.

After everyone else had left, only she and Zhao Zhen remained in the hall.

Zhao Zhen remained silent throughout, not uttering a single word.

His gaze slowly fell on a pillar in the hall, its red lacquer bright and said to have remained unfaded for many years.

But the source of this bright color is cinnabar.

His lineage has had a difficult history of having children since his father's time.

He was the sixth child, with five older brothers ahead of him, but they all died young.

When it came to his own turn, he had been married for nearly ten years. Although Empress Guo was arrogant and shrewish, which he found repulsive, she was, after all, the Empress. Even for the sake of having children, he couldn't possibly avoid touching her.

Even though Empress Guo always tried to stop him from getting close to other women, she was ultimately in the wrong because she herself had no children. So later, Yang Shi and Shang Shi came into the family, and then there was Xin He, who had grown up with him and was determined to stay in the palace.

Women do exist.

But all these years, no one has reported any pregnancy.

He appeared calm on the surface, but how could he not be terrified inside?

Even an ordinary man without children is ridiculed.

What kind of opinions will an emperor without a son face?

His name is destined to appear in history books, and all his merits and demerits are destined to be discussed by future generations.

Others who have no children may be laughed at for one lifetime, but he may be laughed at for thousands of years.

How can he possibly let it go?

But now, Third Sister tells him that there might be a reason for all of this.

It was something no one had expected, but it was definitely not his fault.

Zhao Zhen's hands, hanging by his sides, slowly tightened.

"Third Sister".

His voice was a little hoarse.

"Could it really be..."

Langhua walked to his side and took his hand.

It was rather chilly.

Langhua's heart softened involuntarily.

She knew Zhao Zhen's true fate.

Knowing that he had difficulty conceiving throughout his life, knowing that he would later have to adopt a son from a collateral branch because he had no children, knowing how future historians would lament the regret of this benevolent ruler.

Like her, he had experienced the pain of losing a child more than once.

But from now on, neither he nor she will repeat the same mistake.

"When I said I was asking them to check, I was just being cautious. After all, others might not believe me based solely on my opinion."

"But I wouldn't have asked if I wasn't sure."

These words were like a reassuring pill, sinking heavily into Zhao Zhen's heart.

He looked at her, and his eyes even felt a little warm.

"Third Sister..."