The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

Zhang Bihua hurriedly looked up.

Langhua said, "My second brother is going to be sent to the Northwest. His idea is to get engaged first, and then get married after he returns to the capital in three years. If you think three years is too long, or if you don't want to wait, I won't force you."

"soon!"

Zhang Bihua spoke almost immediately.

After she finished speaking, she realized that she had answered too quickly, and her cheeks flushed even more.

But she still insisted, "Three years is just right. If it's less, I won't be happy. I can't bear to part with Your Highness, nor with the Princess. If she really has to get married right away, I don't know what to do. Three years... three years is just right."

Looking into her bright and open eyes, Langhua smiled with relief.

"In that case, I'll accept on your behalf."

Zhang Bihua's face immediately broke into a smile.

Langhua added, "But for the next three years, you can no longer consider yourself just a lowly palace maid in Kunning Palace."

Zhang Bihua was taken aback.

"You will need to learn from me how to manage the household and keep accounts, how to handle interpersonal relationships, how to read account books, how to manage servants, and how to deal with the women in each household. Only by learning these things can you better support your own little family. Are you willing?"

Zhang Bihua's eyes lit up, and she nodded repeatedly.

"This servant is willing to learn, this servant will definitely learn well!"

Langhua couldn't help but laugh.

"Go."

Zhang Bihua bowed and withdrew, her steps much lighter than usual.

Langhua sat there, watching that bright figure gradually disappear outside the palace gate, and her heartstrings relaxed.

fair enough.

Two empresses, one living and one dead...

Since even the history books are willing to acknowledge it, there must be some sincerity involved.

She no longer wanted to be like she was in her previous life, guarding against every beautiful palace maid, as if the man's heart would return to her if any of them were gone.

But she didn't want to pretend to be magnanimous and personally search for the so-called true love in official history on behalf of Zhao Zhen, who was full of love for her.

She admitted that she wasn't that generous.

Moreover, the more time passed, the more she realized how good Zhang Bihua was.

This girl truly regarded her as a benefactor, even a sister, and to put it presumptuously, she treated Jingning like her own junior.

She possessed a fiery passion, so intense that it could illuminate almost everyone in the palace who feigned propriety and sobriety.

Such a bright and passionate heart should not be obscured or even suffocated by layers of palace rules and etiquette.

Ultimately, she hoped for Zhang Bihua's well-being, and as she had said in this life, she would never again scheme against anyone who treated her sincerely.

So this is for the best.

May she and her second brother grow old together, their love unwavering.

-

In the evening, when Zhao Zhen returned to Kunning Palace, he still smelled of alcohol, but he was in a very good mood.

After washing up, the smell of alcohol had faded a bit, but he was still excited. He lay down with Langhua in his arms and talked more than usual.

"This year's students are quite knowledgeable, and the atmosphere is even more lively than the previous year."

"But the most interesting one is Wei Jing'an, a man from Yangzhou. He is so handsome that when I saw him, I almost wanted to appoint him as the third-ranked scholar."

Langhua couldn't help but laugh.

"How beautiful can it be? Now that Your Majesty has said that, I'd like to see it for myself."

Zhao Zhen's smile immediately froze, and he said seriously, "I exaggerated. It's really nothing special. You don't need to take it to heart, Third Sister."

Langhua could easily see through his little scheme, so she raised her hand and gently punched him.

"go!"

Zhao Zhen smiled and took her hand: "Alright, alright, I'm not teasing you anymore. There's more to today's interesting story than just this one. Let me tell you all about it."

"Then whatever the Emperor says goes."

Zhao Zhen then said, "It's this Wei Jing'an. He's really... well, above average in looks. Someone has taken a liking to him and wants to arrange a marriage between them. I was originally thinking of acting as a matchmaker. If he marries a beautiful woman, and then in a year or two, they have a daughter who is also beautiful, who knows, maybe our second son will benefit from that in the future."

"How old is Erlang? You really have wild imaginations."

Zhao Zhen, however, was very serious: "The matter of marriage can be observed much earlier."

Langhua poked his chest: "Why doesn't Your Majesty ask if the other person has a younger sister, so you can have one for yourself?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Zhao Zhen quickly grabbed her hand, his tone fearful: "Haven't you heard that beauty is in the eye of the beholder? In my opinion, even if the Four Beauties were to be reborn, they could never be better than my Third Sister."

Langhua quickly covered his mouth, her pretty face flushed red: "You really dare to say anything. If anyone hears this, I'll be so embarrassed. Just say Wei Jing'an, don't bring up anything else."

Zhao Zhen laughed: "Yes, yes, Wei Jing'an, Wei Jing'an! It's a pity that someone with discerning eyes saw his talent and beat him to it."

"Is he married?"

"Not yet, but it won't be long. He said that at the beginning of this year, when he almost froze to death, a young woman saved him. Later, that young woman disregarded everything and provided him with clothing and food, and even got engaged to him. Although he is not married, that young woman is no different from his wife who shared his hardships. He absolutely cannot let her down."

Upon hearing this, Langhua's eyes showed a hint of appreciation.

"He's grateful, though."

Zhao Zhen nodded, "That's what I said too. It's rare that he's so young yet doesn't covet wealth and honor, and doesn't forget past kindness. So I gave him a phoenix hairpin as a congratulatory gift for his marriage, and also as a reward for his discerning and capable young lady."

"That's how it should be."

Langhua listened, and felt a certain fondness for it.

She has always loved hearing stories of good deeds being rewarded.

As Zhao Zhen finished speaking, he suddenly smiled, as if he had thought of something.

Langhua couldn't help but ask, "It seems the Qionglin Banquet is quite lively today. What's going on?"

Zhao Zhen asked, "Was the wine served at today's banquet personally ordered by Third Sister?"

Langhua nodded.

"Of course. I specially selected a strong but not harmful wine. Since it is the Qionglin Banquet, it would be inappropriate to have the students drink something bland, but it also cannot be harmful to their health."

That's it.

Zhao Zhen could no longer suppress his smile.

"Did you know that Wei Jing'an is actually a man who can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk?"

Langhua was taken aback.

"But he comes from a poor family and rarely drinks, so he doesn't even know how much he can drink." Zhao Zhen couldn't help but laugh as he said this: "Today he drank around and saw that everyone else was drunk, but he was completely fine. He even suspected in public that you, the Empress, were afraid that the students would be embarrassed by drinking too much, so you secretly replaced the wine with water."

Langhua was taken aback.

"what?"

Zhao Zhen then recalled how Wei Jing'an had been holding a wine cup earlier that day, looking around at his classmates sprawled in various poses with a suspicious expression, as if he suspected that everyone at the banquet was putting on an act for him.

Even the gentlemen couldn't stop laughing.

Zhao Zhen became increasingly amused as he thought about it, and he hugged Langhua and laughed for a long time.

Langhua couldn't help but chuckle at his words.

Throughout the night, Zhao Zhen kept recounting the same interesting stories, most of which revolved around the same person.

Wei Jing'an.

Langhua unconsciously memorized the name and even felt a bit curious. She thought she could let Yanwan or her sister-in-law investigate when they entered the palace.

Little did they know that at this very moment, Wei Jing'an, who had been talked about by the Emperor and Empress all night, was standing at the entrance of the Xu residence, holding the phoenix hairpin that had been awarded to him.

He looked solemn.

He had been knocking on the door for a long time, but no one answered.

Just then, a neighbor passed by and asked him who he was looking for. He quickly explained his purpose.

"Oh, you mean that mother and daughter? They moved away a while ago, about half a month ago. I heard they went to stay with relatives, or some people say the daughter is getting married."

Wei Jing'an's already anxious heart sank to the bottom.