The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

Qin Yanwan blushed and quickly stood up, saying, "This child, really..."

Langhua, however, smiled and stopped her.

"It's just kids playing around."

Bai Qing watched as Bai Ye held the clay figurine tightly in his arms, refusing to let go, and a hint of helplessness appeared on her face.

She said softly, "Ye-ge'er, you can't take your brother's things."

Bai Ye looked up at his mother, then at the clay figurine in his arms. He wanted to give it to her, but he couldn't bear to part with it.

Jingning glanced at everyone, then immediately leaned over and said in a very authoritative older sister tone, "Little brother Ye, give this to your older brother."

Bai Ye still hesitated.

Jingning then said, "Sister will give you this, play with this."

She handed over the one she was holding; its color was even brighter.

Bai Ye looked at the new one, then at the old one, and finally slowly returned the one he had stolen.

Zhao Yu immediately hugged the clay figurine he had just recovered, turned away as if he were about to sever all ties with them, and sobbed, "Bad little brother."

Bai Ye was unconvinced. He hugged the new clay figurine and turned to hide in Bai Qing's arms, showing with his actions that if they were to break up, so be it, who cares!

Jingning, caught in the middle, looked around and sighed like a little adult: "None of them are well-behaved."

Upon hearing this, the laughter in the side hall intensified.

Even Miao Xinhe and Yu Qingran couldn't help but cover their mouths with handkerchiefs.

Seeing this scene, Langhua's heart softened.

She was still too young at the beginning of her life and was sleeping in the inner room while being held by her wet nurse.

Now, these children are huddled together, making a ruckus, which has given the usually solemn Kunning Palace a touch of the warmth of an ordinary family.

Bai Qing looked down at her son, who had finally calmed down in her arms, and after a while, she looked up at Lang Hua.

The smile was still on her face, but there was a hint of deliberation in her eyes.

Langhua saw it.

She remained calm, simply reaching out to pick up the teacup and taking a small sip.

As dusk gradually descended, the palace lanterns under the eaves of the Kunning Palace were lit one by one.

Qin Yanwan was still talking to Miao Xinhe when he caught a glimpse of Bai Qing hugging Bai Ye and whispering something to Lang Hua.

Although Bai Ye ultimately gained two broken friendships, he had already had a great time before that, and now he was so sleepy that his eyelids were drooping.

Bai Qing smiled and said, "Ye'er's clothes are dirty. If Your Majesty doesn't mind, I would like to borrow the side hall to tidy him up and give him a break before we leave."

Langhua agreed without asking any further questions. She simply smiled and instructed the palace servants to take Bai Qing to the side hall, and also had someone bring a hot towel and a clean cloak.

Seeing that it was getting late, everyone took their leave one after another.

Qin Yanwan left the palace with others, taking Ji'an, who is now known as Mother Xiang, out of the palace gate.

The carriage from the Prince of Yan's residence was already waiting outside.

Zhao Xu, wearing a black cloak, stood by the car. When she came out, he first reached out and took Zhao Yu from his mother's arms.

The little guy was fast asleep, his cheeks rosy. As soon as Zhao Xu held him in his arms, his eyes softened.

"Oh, is our Ying'er tired from playing?" He looked down at his son, gently touching his face with his finger, and commented, "Sleeping like a little pig."

Qin Yanwan stepped onto the carriage using a footstool, and upon hearing this, glanced at him and said, "Keep your voice down, or you'll wake him up."

Zhao Xu followed her in, carrying his son. After they were settled, he looked at her and asked, "Are you tired?"

Qin Yanwan leaned back on the soft pillows and said calmly, "Your Majesty is very sensible. The other two in the harem are also pregnant, and Your Majesty herself has just finished her postpartum confinement. How could she possibly tire us out?"

Zhao Xu felt relieved to hear the relaxed tone in her voice.

The carriage slowly began to move.

As the palace gates receded into the distance, the interior of the carriage remained warm. A hand warmer and teacups sat on a small table. Qin Yanwan took the hand warmer and held it in her hand, her brows relaxing.

Zhao Xu looked down at his son for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Are you sure you don't need me to stay home with you?"

Qin Yanwan looked up at him: "Are you scared?"

Zhao Xu was taken aback, then immediately straightened his back: "What do I have to be afraid of?"

Qin Yanwan said slowly, "Since you're not afraid, just go do what you're doing. You've waited so many years for this opportunity; it's a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Why act like a child? You'll only make yourself a laughingstock."

Zhao Xu choked, then sneered after a long pause: "You heartless woman. If it were anyone else, they wouldn't know how to bid a reluctant farewell to their husband at this moment, and would even wish to tie their man to their side. You're so eager for me to leave, surely you're hoping I'll die on the battlefield so you can be a widow and remarry, aren't you?"

Qin Yanwan picked up her teacup and gently blew on it: "Then I'm begging you not to leave. Would you be willing to stay?"

Zhao Xu opened his mouth: "This..."

Qin Yanwan raised an eyebrow: "Pretentious."

She bluntly exposed his lie, saying simply, "Hurry up and leave, don't delay my remarriage."

"you!"

Zhao Xu was furious. He turned away with his son in his arms, leaving her with an angry back view.

Qin Yanwan calmly warmed his hands with the heater, took a sip of tea, and didn't even look at him.

The carriage remained quiet for a long while.

Zhao Xu couldn't resist and turned back with his son in his arms.

"You're the one who wouldn't want to remarry," he scoffed. "With Ying'er, your position as the Crown Princess of Yan is as secure as a mountain. If I die, you'll be even more of a treasure to your parents. How could you bear to remarry?"

Qin Yan nodded: "So you can go without worry."

Zhao Xu: ...

Looking at her calm and composed demeanor, he was practically seething with hatred: "Qin Yanwan, sometimes, I really want to tear your little mouth apart."

A victorious smile finally appeared on Qin Yanwan's lips.

For the rest of the journey, Zhao Xu didn't say another word, and neither did she.

Gazing at the flickering lamplight on the carriage curtain, the words Bai Qing had spoken to her some time ago suddenly came to mind.

With Third Sister firmly established in her position as Empress, the Wang family also rose in status. Although Bai Qing came from a merchant family, she was highly valued after marrying into the Wang family, and with her title of County Princess, it wasn't considered abrupt for her to speak in the palace.

Because of her friendship with San Niang before her marriage, she often went to the palace to talk to her in her spare time.

After a while, he often encountered Bai Qing.

At first, the two were just being polite.

After a few conversations, Qin Yanwan realized that Bai Qing was a very interesting person.

She was intelligent, straightforward, and perceptive, yet never came across as obsequious. Especially after she heard that Gu Yankai had gone to the Bai family to propose marriage, only to be misled by a few deliberately vague words from Old Master Bai, leading him to angrily return home and divorce his wife, ultimately ending up with nothing to show for it, Qin Yanwan found Bai Qing even more pleasing to the eye.

If Qin Yanwan wanted to deliberately please someone or get closer to them, she never failed.

So it wasn't long before she and Bai Qing became inseparable confidantes.

Bai Qing even generously invited her to invest in the business together.

Qin Yanwan was skeptical, but still took the five thousand taels of silver.

That was half of her dowry. She thought she'd take a gamble; the Bai family was wealthy and powerful, they wouldn't let her down.

It turned out that she made the right bet.

Within a year, Bai Qing returned her principal and even told her to wait for the good news of receiving dividends next year.

From then on, the two became increasingly close and less guarded in their conversations.

Tonight, Bai Qing even teased her: "Why are you always so cold and hard towards your man? It's like everyone else gets a nice look from you, but he's the only one who doesn't deserve it. Aren't you afraid he'll find someone else to be with?"

Qin Yanwan didn't even lift her eyelids when she heard this: "I'm not afraid."

"This is exactly the kind of me he liked."

If she becomes gentle, submissive, and only sees him off with tears in her eyes and pleads with soft words every day, then Zhao Xu will truly stop liking her.

Thinking of this, Qin Yanwan glanced at Zhao Xu again.

Zhao Xu was looking down at his son, admiring him, and muttering, "You little ingrate, sleeping like this, you won't even know when your father leaves tomorrow."

Qin Yanwan lowered her eyes, concealing a hint of a smile.

If he likes it, that's great. Since he likes it, we should let him continue to like it.