The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

Zhao Zhen raised his hand to interrupt: "Empress, there's no need for this."

Langhua smiled slightly at him, straightened her sleeves, and said no more.

As expected, Zhao Zhen's gaze swept over the Li family members in the hall, his voice not loud, but full of weight: "If you show favoritism, there will be no more fair and just people in this world."

These words were spoken to Langhua, and also to the Li family.

Yang's face flushed red, but she couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal.

Zhao Zhen quickly ordered someone to bring up the palace maid who had also been "knocked unconscious" and had only recently been revived.

The palace maid was deathly pale and trembling violently. As soon as she entered the hall, she prostrated herself on the ground to beg for forgiveness.

When Zhao Zhen asked him what he had seen, he stammered, "Your Majesty, this servant really doesn't know. This servant only remembers that I was leading the way for Li Langjun when suddenly a dark shadow seemed to dart out from the side and strike the back of my neck. Everything went black, and I knew nothing more. When I woke up, I was already in a side hall."

Madam Yang retorted angrily, "You're talking nonsense! You're clearly afraid of trouble and dare not speak the truth!"

The palace maid was so frightened that her face turned pale. She kept kowtowing, saying that she really didn't know.

In this way, the case became an unsolved mystery.

Zhao Zhen could only appease the Li family first, and rewarded Li Wei with many precious medicinal herbs, telling them to go back and recuperate. He would give them an explanation once the cause and effect were found.

The Li family dared not cause any more trouble and could only take their leave.

Li Wei wanted to say something, but Yang held him down firmly.

As he left, he was still full of resentment, glaring fiercely at Bai Ye several times. Bai Ye noticed this, but instead of being annoyed, he gave him a gentle smile.

Li Wei felt a chill run down his spine for no apparent reason.

He almost instinctively shrank back, no longer daring to look at Bai Ye, and obediently followed his parents out of the palace.

Only after boarding the carriage, the curtains falling, and the palace walls receding into the distance, did Li Wei finally break down, looking at Madam Yang with a face full of grievance: "Mother, I've told you everything! It was either the Second Princess or the Third Princess who did it, or both sisters were involved! Why didn't you tell the Emperor and ask him to stand up for me and punish them severely? Why did you have to drag Bai Ye into this! Now look what's happened! He's barbecuing in the back garden, with so many eyes watching, and the Empress helping him, he definitely can't take the blame!"

"Shut up!"

Enraged, Madam Yang slapped him with her handkerchief, exclaiming with exasperation, "How could I have given birth to such an idiot! That Second Princess is clearly a coward; how could she possibly do something like this? The Third Princess and the First Princess are both legitimate daughters of the Empress; wouldn't the Empress protect them? Besides, if they really did it, wouldn't it be obvious they look down on you? It'll be easy for the Emperor to punish them then, but it will be difficult to get him to grant you a marriage later. How will you be able to become the Imperial Son-in-Law?"

Li Wei covered his forehead, looking distressed and completely bewildered: "Why do I have to become a驸马都尉 (Imperial Son-in-Law Commandant)? Since everyone knows they did it, they're all tigresses, not docile at all. They dare to hit me before we're even married; what will happen after we're married? I'll be beaten to death! No way, I won't marry them!"

Madam Yang was both angry and anxious: "Silly child! Once you're married and have consummated your marriage, what does it matter if she's a princess? She'll still be your wife. Why are you afraid of her?"

Li Wei shook his head vigorously: "I want a gentle woman, not a shrew."

Yang was so angry that she kept tapping his head with her hand.

Despite her scolding, Madam Yang didn't truly take her son's resistance seriously. Men, when young, often talk about being gentle, virtuous, obedient, and well-behaved. But once they marry a princess, obtain an official position, and gain respect, and are looked up to by everyone in the capital, how could they possibly remember the beating they received today?

She began to ponder how to persuade the emperor to allow Wei'er to marry a princess.

The best choice, of course, would be the two princesses born of the legitimate wife.

The eldest princess is of the right age, and although the third princess is younger, she is still the legitimate daughter of the empress. However, judging from the empress's demeanor today, she is clearly unwilling to give in, and probably still wants to benefit her own family members, such as that Bai Ye.

Therefore, they had no choice but to settle for second best and ask to marry the second princess, Huirou.

Although she was born to a concubine, she was still a legitimate princess.

Lady Yang truly looked down on these princesses' delicate and aloof manner. However, she couldn't resist the numerous benefits of establishing a connection with the royal family.

The Li family rose to prominence thanks to Consort Li, who had been dead for many years. If there were a living princess in the family, wouldn't Wei'er's wealth and glory for the rest of her life be even more assured?

Not to mention, once you become a prince consort, you can be appointed as a prince consort captain and receive a real salary.

For her son, who is neither good at academics nor martial arts, is there a better way out?

-

Unexpectedly, after the Li family left, Zhao Zhen dismissed all the irrelevant people in the hall, including Bai Ye.

Once only the Emperor and Empress remained in the hall, Zhao Zhen said to Langhua, "It seems our daughter and that boy Wei'er are truly not meant to be."

Langhua's smile remained unchanged.

She got up and walked to Zhao Zhen's side, gently massaging his temples with her hands. Her movements were slow and her tone was gentle: "No wonder. Jingning and Ye'er grew up together since they were little, but now when Ye'er sees her, he is still afraid of her like a tiger. There is not a trace of affection between them. My sister-in-law said today that there is probably only an older sister who can control her younger brother."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhen finally laughed.

The somber atmosphere in the hall dissipated somewhat because of this laugh.

Langhua slowly said, "It is evident that in this world, marriages based on mutual consent are rare."

Zhao Zhen raised his hand and gently took her hand in his.

He turned to look at her, his eyes gentle yet firm, as if comforting her, or perhaps speaking to himself: "Don't worry, Third Sister, I promised you, and I will keep my word."

Langhua lowered her eyes to look at him.

Zhao Zhen held her hand tightly, not letting go: "As you said, our daughters are all born with the best of heaven, and they are all sensible, charming, and sincere. No matter which family they go to, they will surely live a good life."

"Even if... even if they are not doing well, as the ruler of the Great Song Dynasty, can I sit idly by and watch my own treasures be disrespected and defiled by those fools without doing anything?"

"Since we're here to support them, let each child choose a husband they like."

"Only when both parties are willing and support each other through thick and thin can we make the most of our lives."

Langhua's eyes softened little by little.

She leaned down, rested her head affectionately on Zhao Zhen's shoulder, and sighed contentedly, "Yes."

In this life, she no longer has to fight the whole world alone for her daughter.

Someone was standing with her.

That's already very, very good.

-

Meanwhile, outside the Xu residence.

An inconspicuous blue-curtained carriage was parked at the corner of the alley, with the curtain only slightly ajar.

Wang Ruoyu sat in the car, her gaze fixed menacingly on the black lacquered gate not far away.

Good, very good. Years have passed, and it is still black lacquer instead of vermilion lacquer.

It seems that Lin Qinshuang, that vixen, has truly changed her ways. She no longer tries to seduce men of high status and power, but only focuses on staying by Xu's side, intending to take care of Xu in her old age and see her off in her final days.

Wang Ruoyu couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.

Before long, the person sent out to inquire returned, bowing his head and speaking through the carriage window: "Madam, I've inquired. Madam Lin did indeed take in a son-in-law, but he seems to be a merchant who's never home, so Madam Lin and Old Madam Xu always keep their doors tightly shut and rarely go out."