The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Looking at her daughter's bright red ear tips, Langhua felt a mix of emotions, but she didn't rush to ask who it was. Instead, she reached out to Jingning and said gently, "Come here and tell your mother slowly."

Jingning obediently walked to her mother's side.

Langhua took her hand and pulled her to sit beside her. She then gestured for the servants in the hall to leave. The palace servants quietly withdrew, and Achang closed the hall door behind them.

In the vast hall, only the mother and daughter remained.

Jingning was initially a little uneasy, but sitting next to her mother, feeling the warmth of Langhua's palm as always, and seeing the gentle encouragement in her eyes without any blame, the panic in her heart gradually subsided.

She took a deep breath and finally whispered, "Mother, I've fallen in love with someone."

Langhua hummed in agreement and simply tidied the stray hairs at her temples.

Jingning's fingers clenched tightly around her sleeve: "It's Yang Chenghe."

Langhua paused slightly.

Jingning, fearing she might not remember, quickly added, "He is the son of Yang Wenguang, the border patrol inspector of Shaanxi."

Langhua naturally remembered.

The Yang family was descended from a military family, but the Battle of Jinshatan devastated them, burying countless heroes in the north. Although some members of the family still served in the army, the family had faded into obscurity for many years. Yang Wenguang had been serving as a military officer on the border of Shaanxi for years, and although he had not yet reached a truly prominent position, Emperor Zhao Zhen had once told her that he was learned and courageous, and a capable general.

As for Yang Chenghu, she had not met him yet.

But it doesn't matter.

Langhua, with one arm around Jingning, calmly asked, "Why him?"

Jingning blushed even more, but still slowly began to speak.

It turned out that a few days ago, she couldn't resist Bai Ye's encouragement and developed a great longing for the world outside the palace.

Having grown up in the palace since childhood, she was also content with her lot and had never seen more than a few bustling streets outside the palace walls, yet she never found them boring.

Bai Ye, however, was a show-off. He would often tell her how lively the restaurants were, how interesting the streets were, how bright the night market along the Bian River was, and how the music on the boats could be heard far and wide, making her feel all itchy inside.

So she couldn't resist and dressed as a man, leaving the palace with Bai Ye.

After a day of fun, they were starving, so they followed Bai Ye up to the Fanlou, a building that supposedly offered a view of the imperial palace.

It was there that I met Yang Chenghu.

They recognized each other.

Jingning was somewhat flustered, but to her surprise, Yang Chenghe only showed slight astonishment before quickly averting his gaze.

Without asking any further questions or exposing her true identity, she continued to treat her as one of the young men Bai Ye had brought, and continued to drink and chat with them.

"He speaks eloquently and has a strong patriotic spirit. Over the years, he has traveled with his father to many border areas, and has gained extensive knowledge. What is even more commendable is that he speaks calmly, unlike Ye Ge'er who is loud and boisterous."

At this point, Jingning couldn't help but laugh.

"It's the same local customs and culture, but when Ye Ge'er talks about it, I just find him noisy and prone to exaggeration. But when Yang Chenghe talks about it, it inexplicably makes me feel a longing for it..."

"It's as if I can see the mountains and rivers, post roads, wind and snow, border towns, and other human worlds that I've never seen before, beyond the palace walls, through his words."

Langhua listened quietly without interrupting her.

Jingning's voice gradually lowered and softened: "I suddenly realized that I was really looking at the world from the bottom of a well before."

"Of course, that one meeting wasn't enough to win me over. Later, we met a few more times at the polo field. With each meeting, it was as if he left a deeper mark on my heart..."

She recalled the way Yang Chenghe played polo.

The young man, dressed in riding attire, mounted his horse with remarkable agility.

He was neither as flamboyant as Bai Ye nor as outwardly sharp as Zhao Yu, but once he spurred his horse into the arena, he was like a drawn sword, with an undeniable sharpness.

She also recalled the day he argued with others about whether to fight or make peace with the Liao Kingdom.

While others were still trying to evade the issue, he only said that peace talks were possible, and concessions were also acceptable, but the Song Dynasty could not allow the Liao people to think they were afraid of war. If they continued to show weakness, the Liao people, who dared to ask for a princess today, would dare to demand cities tomorrow.

So-called peace, without the support of a blade, is nothing more than a piece of paper under someone else's feet.

When the Liao Dynasty's request for a marriage alliance was mentioned, he coldly retorted, "If peace could be bought with women, what was the point of God creating us men?"

After saying this, Jingning remained silent for a long time, her heaving chest revealing the turmoil in her heart.

After that, she began to think of him more and more frequently.

Think about what he said, think about what he thought.

I think of his carefree spirit when he talks about romance, his dashing figure when he plays polo, and the heroic spirit that shines in his eyes when he mentions the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun.

Once again, without realizing it, Jingning asked Bai Ye about Yang Chenghe. When Bai Ye looked hesitant, yet dared not laugh too obviously, Jingning suddenly realized—

I'm afraid I've messed up.

Unfortunately, the Yang family has recently been looking for a marriage partner for Yang Chenghe.

Born into the Yang family, whose ancestors were all famous generals who fought bloody battles, he grew up hearing those stories. His greatest ambition in life was to go north, reclaim the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, expand the territory of the Song Dynasty, and serve his country with utmost loyalty.

They even died on the battlefield.

But far too many men from the Yang family died on the battlefield.

Therefore, his parents' only request for him was that he marry a wife before going to the battlefield and continue his bloodline.

Upon hearing this, Langhua finally couldn't help but ask, "You want to be the wife who will bear him an heir?"

Jingning lowered her head, twisting her sleeves with both hands, her voice muffled: "He rejected me."

Just as Langhua was about to relax, she heard Jingning say softly, "He said that since the founding of the Great Song Dynasty, there has been no imperial son-in-law who can lead troops into battle, so anyone can do it, except me."

Jingning said this through gritted teeth.

I couldn't help but look up at her.

Langhua was taken aback. In her daughter's eyes, she didn't see the usual girlish confusion of first love, but rather a kind of bewilderment: "Mother, I think I'm a little greedy. I don't want to marry a nobleman's son who is destined to be mediocre and can only spend his days eating, drinking, playing, and making me happy."

I long to find a husband who deserves my special attention. You once said that a good marriage should be an opportunity to experience a new life, to see if I can live a better life and have more and better family members.

"Mother, I want him to lead me, so I can also appreciate the beauty of mountains and rivers. I also want to accompany him, help him, and do more meaningful things. I think that would make me even happier."

"Mother... what should I do?"

Langhua fell silent.

Jingning seemed to know that she had presented her mother with a huge problem.

She lowered her head, her voice filled with disappointment: "I'm sorry, Mother."

The next moment, Langhua reached out and gently pulled her into her arms.

"Silly child, what's there to apologize for?"

Jingning was stunned.

Langhua stroked her back and asked softly, "Then tell your mother, does Yang Chenghe mean that if he marries you, he will still be able to lead troops into battle in the future, instead of being forced to stay in Bianjing as a leisurely imperial son-in-law, and only then will he be willing to marry you?"

Jingning nestled in her mother's arms, her voice muffled: "He said he would marry whoever was prepared to be a widow."