The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

Shen Guang still disagreed with his master's actions, but after opening his mouth, he still obediently replied, "Yes."

Having served the Fujin (principal wife) for so many years, she knew the Fujin's temperament best. Although she was sometimes impulsive, she usually had her own plans and her thoughts and perspectives were more profound than hers.

Even if it's not profound enough, it's not something a servant like her should comment on.

However, she still kept an eye on Hailan and Hongli's movements, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

She would share snippets of news, pieced together from various sources, with the Fujin (principal wife) as if they were amusing anecdotes during casual conversation.

After being clearly rejected by Hailan on the covered bridge, Hongli really took a break from his thoughts for quite some time.

He was, after all, a high and mighty prince. He condescended to show goodwill to a seamstress, but was avoided like the plague. He couldn't save face.

Later, Wang Qin was never asked to inquire about the embroidery room again.

Hailan was terrified. She was cautious by nature, and from then on, she became even more like a rabbit hiding in its hole. Whenever it was a task to deliver things to the backyard, she would try to refuse it. If she really couldn't refuse, she would always find a way to switch with someone else.

If she really couldn't find a way out, Hailan was extremely careful, keeping her eyes and ears open, for fear of running into wolves again, just like that day.

Before reaching each courtyard gate, she would crouch low and peek to see if Wang Qin was at the entrance. If not, she would dare to go in; if he was, she would immediately turn around and run without delay!

They would wait until they were in a secluded spot, or even back in their embroidery room, and then wait another quarter or two before daring to come out again.

She was filled with anxiety for a long time, but fortunately the prince did not come looking for her again. It must be the Bodhisattva's blessing that he had forgotten about her.

As the days passed and things calmed down in the mansion, Hailan finally breathed a sigh of relief, and Chenguang gradually calmed down as well.

Think about it too.

What kind of women weren't there in the Prince's mansion?

The First Lady is bright and dignified, the Second Lady is elegant and beautiful, the Third Lady is charming and lively, and the Fourth Lady is gentle and quiet.

Hongli was only attracted to Hailan's gentle and delicate appearance for a moment. After being rejected, he felt ashamed and forgot about her after a while. Why should he keep thinking about her?

When Shen Guang told Ruo Fu about this judgment, Ruo Fu was leaning on a soft couch eating a plate of freshly steamed chestnut cake.

Upon hearing this, he merely chuckled and said nothing more.

November arrived in the blink of an eye.

The weather is getting colder day by day, and most of the leaves have fallen, leaving only a few withered branches.

It's time for everyone in the department to change their uniforms.

The embroidery room became busy again, and naturally, more people were walking towards the backyard.

Although Hailan still tries her best to avoid the chores in the backyard, now that everyone is busy and there are fewer and fewer people, she can't escape them either.

That afternoon, Hongli had his meal at Qingying Courtyard. Afterwards, he sat on the couch for a while before heading to the front courtyard to handle official business.

Qingying personally saw him out the door, and after Hongli's figure disappeared outside the courtyard, she went back to sleep for half an hour.

However, he didn't sleep well. In his hazy state, he seemed to hear A'Ruo say again, "Greetings to the Prince."

Qingying immediately woke up, put on her clothes, got out of bed, and went to the outer room, where she saw Hongli as expected.

Qingying quickly stepped forward: "Didn't you say you had official business to attend to? Why are you back so soon?"

"The official who was on my errand suddenly developed a fever and couldn't even get on the carriage. We'll have to call it a day and come back to rest."

Upon hearing this, Qingying immediately smiled: "It seems that even God felt that you had been working too hard these days, so He specially called you back to rest."

Hongli responded and casually sat down in the room. He had only subconsciously glanced around, but his gaze suddenly stopped when it fell on the table.

A set of winter clothes that had just been delivered was on the table.

Hongli stared at it for a moment, then suddenly reached out and picked up the matching purse beside him.

Qingying was also somewhat surprised: "It should have just been delivered from the embroidery workshop."

A'Ruo, standing to the side, responded with a "Yes."

Hongli paused, put the purse back on the table, and said casually, "Quick-handed."

Qingying laughed and said, "With the monthly salary you earn from working early and returning late every day, how could I dare not put my heart into it? If I can't even do this little job well, wouldn't it be a waste of their money?"

Hongli chuckled, as if everything remained the same.

-

Time flies by like flowing water, and before we know it, it's New Year's Eve.

On this day, a banquet was held in the palace, and all members of the imperial family, princes, and their wives were required to attend. According to the rules, Ruofu, the primary wife of Prince Bao, should naturally accompany Hongli to the palace.

But Ruofu refused.

Although she has now safely passed three months and her pregnancy is stable, palace banquets are hardly a pleasant place to go.

Early in the morning, one must be dressed in full regalia according to rank, and sit for half a day wearing a crown so heavy it could break one's neck. Upon entering the palace, one must bow to this person and pay respects to that person; one must smile when the emperor smiles, respond quickly when Consort Xi speaks, and exchange pleasantries with the relatives and noblewomen sitting beside one another.

The table was covered with dishes, but they were all cold.

You can't drink alcohol, you can't drink too much tea, and you even have to choose the right time to go to the bathroom.

We were not getting enough to eat, and we were exhausted.

If she were to suffer alone, that would be one thing, but now she is carrying her son, Hua'er.

She couldn't bear to part with it.

Therefore, Ruofu sent someone to the front courtyard to say that he was not feeling well and could not enter the palace today. He even gave the imperial physician a large red envelope for this purpose.

Emperor Hongli had to enter the palace alone.

No sooner had he left than Ruofu ordered a feast to be set up in the main courtyard and sent someone to invite Gao Xiyue and Fucha Zhuying.

Zhao Ying couldn't help but whisper a reminder: "Madam, what about Consort Qing... if she finds out you only invited Consort Gao and Consort Fucha, won't she say something about you...?"

"What did you say about me?"

Ruofu was choosing a hairpin to wear that day when she heard this and glanced at her in the mirror: "Forming cliques and isolating her?"

"Go ahead and say it."

One must understand some social etiquette and social dynamics to be a good person.

She really suffered during the initial period of morning sickness.

Everything smells disgusting; I can't eat or sleep.

Therefore, the matter of paying respects was stopped early on.

She told everyone in the backyard directly that she needed to take good care of herself during this pregnancy, and from now on, until the child was born and her postpartum period was over, she would not need to come to the main courtyard every day to observe the rules.

Fortunately, after three months, all the discomfort disappeared like the tide. Now I eat well, sleep well, and wake up naturally every day. When I wake up, I ask someone to bring me food. After eating, I slowly walk around the yard a couple of times. When I get tired, I go back to the house to rest.

Gao Xiyue is so sensible.

Although she was exempted from the customary greetings, she still visited the main courtyard every few days, and each time she was never empty-handed.

Sometimes he would bring a box of newly acquired beaded flowers, sometimes he would hold a parrot that could mimic speech, and sometimes when he heard that a new play was being staged outside, he would have someone practice it in his own yard until he was familiar with it, and then bring it over to entertain Ruofu.

She was naturally fond of lively conversation and could talk for half a day on her own. When she was in a good mood, she would even play a pipa tune or sing a song while gesturing with a fan.

If you don't spend time with her, she'll laugh heartily nine times out of ten.

Fucha Zhuying was not as lively as Gao Xiyue, but she was not entirely clueless either.

She knew she wasn't favored and didn't dare go to the main courtyard every day, but she would send something over every few days. Sometimes it was a small piece of clothing or apron that she had sewn herself, and sometimes it was a pair of tiger-head shoes. The stitching wasn't the best, but she put her heart into it, and the fabric was soft. Even if the child couldn't wear them for a while after birth, it was still a happy sight.

Later, upon learning that Rove liked sweets, she even went into the kitchen herself twice.

Her steamed chestnut flour cake with osmanthus sugar was especially outstanding. When she first tried it, Ruofu ate three pieces in one go. If Chen Guang hadn't stopped her, she could have eaten two more.

People, after all, should always reciprocate kindness.

People were willing to put in the effort to please her, and she wasn't the kind of heartless person who would only accept gifts and not do anything practical. Later, when arranging the days for Hongli to serve him in bed, she would often give Gao Xiyue and Fucha Zhuying a few extra days.

Upon receiving the news, Gao Xiyue was overjoyed and sent two more boxes of jewelry.

Fucha Zhuying didn't say anything, but sent over a plate of freshly made red bean pastries the next day.

If you don't eat it with a clear conscience.

In any case, Emperor Hongli had to go to a certain place to sleep every day.

If we don't give them to them, are we going to leave them all to Qingying?

Think beautiful!

That ungrateful woman, who doesn't know how to please her as the wife, why does she get all the benefits?

Today's small banquet is no exception.

So what if she only invited Gao Xiyue and Fucha Zhuying? Let her talk all she wants. Let her see how many people dare to betray her when she's in charge of Prince Debao's mansion!

We'll take care of it all at once then!

Zhao Ying dared not say anything more and quickly ordered people to prepare a feast.

Gao Xiyue arrived the earliest.

Before the person even entered the door, laughter rang out. He was holding a carved wooden box, saying that it contained a Western trinket that Gao Bin had specially found, which would play music on its own when opened.

Fucha Zhuying arrived shortly afterward, bringing two plates of freshly fried lotus flower pastries.

Ruo Fu tasted one and praised it repeatedly, then ordered everyone to bring out all the dishes he had prepared in his small kitchen.

The three of them sitting together felt a hundred times more comfortable than at a palace banquet.

During the meal, the three of them drank tea instead of wine and played a game of musical chairs.

The commotion continued until late at night before Gao Xiyue and Fucha Zhuying reluctantly took their leave.

Ruofu sent gifts back to each of them and told them to be careful on their feet. He also told them not to come to pay their respects early the next morning, but to just sleep in their own courtyards.

Once everyone had gone far away, she stretched contentedly and ordered someone to prepare water for a bath.

After washing up, Ruofu changed into her nightgown and was about to go to bed when she suddenly heard hurried footsteps outside.

The curtain was suddenly flung open.

Shen Guang's face turned pale.

"Madam, something has happened!"