The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

Hailan said, "The manor has clear regulations that all food and medicine must be reported to the main kitchen and pharmacy before being consumed. The manor will then purchase them in a unified manner, and each courtyard will receive them as needed. Even if the food or medicine is sent by the mistresses' families, it must be inspected and registered first. Only after it is confirmed that there are no problems can it be sent into the courtyard. It is absolutely forbidden to smuggle it in from outside."

Gao Xiyue immediately perked up: "What medicinal herbs did she bring in? What are they for?"

"I don't know yet," Hailan replied frankly. "I only found that when people from the Ulanara residence came a few days ago, the entry and exit records of the small storeroom in Qingzhi Courtyard didn't match the gatekeeper's register. If Your Highness permits, I would like to take people to Qingzhi Courtyard to investigate. If we find anything there, with all the evidence, Your Highness can then punish them just as logically as possible."

Gao Xiyue's eyes lit up when she heard this.

Based on past experience, every time Hailan bit Qingying... ptooey! Ptooey ptooey! Ptooey ptooey! It was only when she was absolutely certain that she would come to the main courtyard to ask the Fujin (the wife of the deceased) to make a decision after discovering Qingying's mistake.

In other words, if Hylanden personally intervenes, Qingying will most likely be unable to escape.

At best, they would copy books; at worst, they would be confined to their homes.

There's bound to be one waiting for her!

Ruofu, of course, knew Hailan's temperament, and upon hearing this, he simply nodded: "Since something has been found to be wrong, then let's go and take a look. Take a few more people with you, and we can handle it more efficiently."

Hailan bowed respectfully: "Yes."

Gao Xiyue glanced at her again and couldn't help but sigh from the bottom of her heart, "You've really worked hard, checking and filling in the gaps for her every day."

Hailan lowered her eyes and remained as gentle and quiet as ever: "Your Highness is too kind. I was just doing my duty."

After saying that, she selected a few reliable old women and maids, who then quietly withdrew with the booklet in their hands.

Gao Xiyue watched her walk away until she was out of sight, then turned to Ruofu with a smile: "The Princess Consort truly had foresight."

Ruo Fu was feeding Hua Lan a small piece of milk cake when he heard this and looked up, puzzled: "Huh?"

"We saved Hailan in time!"

Gao Xiyue beamed with delight: "Your intervention not only saved her life, but also made that Qingzhi Courtyard person shoot herself in the foot. How closely has Hailan been watching her these past two years? I think she probably dreads seeing Hailan more than seeing you now."

Ruof rolled his eyes at her.

What are you saying!

Is this legitimate wife some kind of demon? She's got a headache.

However, she also knew what Gao Xiyue meant.

Two years ago, on New Year's Eve, Hongli, drunk, sneaked into Hailan's room in the dark, intending to take advantage of her intoxication. Instead, Hailan grabbed a stick and beat him severely.

Afterwards, she issued a gag order, forbidding anyone from spreading the matter.

But since it has happened, there will inevitably be busybodies who will whisper behind closed doors.

She's not a god, how can she control what people think in their heads or what they plot in private?

As long as the matter doesn't spread beyond the masters' courtyards, let alone outside the Prince's mansion, and everyone knows about it, that's enough.

Unfortunately, Gao Xiyue, that simpleton, relying on her influence with her, had no concept of discretion and dared to excitedly share with her the whole truth—the truth that she and Granny Dai had secretly inquired about and even deduced—from beginning to end.

According to the rules of the manor, Hailan, a mere embroiderer, has no right to meet the prince.

Every time Hailan went to Qingzhi Courtyard to deliver embroidery, Qingying would refuse to let her wait obediently outside. Even though she knew Hongli was inside, she would still call her in.

It must be because Qingying had long taken a liking to Hailan’s beauty, honesty, and loneliness, and wanted to win her over to secure her favor!

However, despite all the planning, no one expected that Ruofu, the primary consort, would interfere. Not only did she save the person, but she also exposed Qingying's sinister intentions with a single sentence, turning a pawn that could have been in Qingying's hands into the brightest knife hanging over Qingzhi Courtyard.

Now, forget about gratitude, I'm practically a madman—cough!

Anyway, he just keeps an eye on Qingzhi Courtyard all the time.

In just the past year, countless mistakes have been uncovered. I heard that Qingying has almost mastered the skill of copying books with both hands!

Ruof: ...

That said, she had never seen anyone who could write and copy books with both hands before, so she had to think of a way to let her show off her skills in public one of these days.

No, no, no, I've gone off on a tangent.

Ruof quickly pulled his thoughts back.

She never considered any of this.

She only knew from Langhua's memories that Hailan would be harmed by Hongli, but she couldn't stand it, so she thought she would take the opportunity to teach Hongli a lesson.

It was indeed a trace of pity that arose later for Hailan.

By some twist of fate, it turned out like this.

But this is for the best.

If Qingying isn't made to take the blame, then Hailan's repeated appearances before Hongli will be difficult to explain.

Memorize it, memorize it.

She wasn't entirely wronged, either way.

Who told her to disregard the proper rules and insist on making decisions on her own, repeatedly summoning an inner courtyard embroiderer to the master of the house?

Moreover, Hailan has indeed been very useful since she came to her side.

He was literate, could do arithmetic, was meticulous, had a good memory, and was almost as good at managing accounts as Shen Guang.

Shen Guang's family has already arranged a marriage for her, and she will be released to marry in two years. If Hailan is truly determined not to serve the emperor, she can be promoted to a first-class maid and take over the duties from Shen Guang.

After all, Zhaoying, that silly child, although loyal, is impulsive and not very thoughtful. He's fine now in the Prince's mansion, but he'll probably be unfit for a major position once he enters the palace.

While Ruofu was lost in thought, Hualan had already finished the piece of milk cake in her hand and was reaching for the plate with her chubby little hand.

Ruofu snapped out of her daze, quickly moved the plate away, and carefully wiped her daughter's hands with a handkerchief: "You can't eat anymore. You just ate a piece. If you eat any more, you won't be able to drink your milk when it's time for bed. And if you wake up hungry in the middle of the night, you'll cry again."

Hua Lan couldn't understand this long string of reasoning at all.

All she knew was that the cake was gone. Her little mouth pursed, and she was about to express her dissatisfaction when suddenly her eyes lit up. She reached her little hand towards Ruofu's head again, babbling incessantly.

Ruo Fu understood immediately, reached into his hair and took a gold hairpin inlaid with a ruby, then waved it in front of Hua Lan.

Sure enough, the little guy immediately forgot all about the milk cake and started flailing his arms as if he wanted to fly.

Ruo Fu laughed uncontrollably, shoving the hairpin horizontally into her hand, not forgetting to scold, "Little money-grubber! You're so young, and you already know how to be greedy for money."

Laughter immediately filled the room.

Gao Xiyue objected: "How can you talk about your own daughter like that?"

She reached out and hugged Hualan, her face full of protectiveness: "Our eldest princess is born into wealth and has high standards! She wouldn't even look at ordinary things, would she?"

Hua Lan couldn't understand, so she turned her head to look at her, then stretched out her empty little hand and reached out to grab her head.

Gao Xiyue was taken aback, then overjoyed: "Oh dear, she's got her eye on my stuff too!"

Ruof: ...

The next moment, Gao Xiyue unhesitatingly pulled a pearl-encrusted butterfly hairpin from her hair and stuffed it into Hua Lan's hand.

Hua Lan held two sparkling hairpins tightly in each hand, completely satisfied, babbling happily.

Ruofu shook his head: "Just keep indulging her! When she comes to her senses one day and finds that she's tricked her out of all the valuables in her dressing case, don't come looking for me. Let me make this clear beforehand, I'm not going to compensate her."

Gao Xiyue, holding Hua Lan, raised an eyebrow: "What's this talk of compensation? As long as the eldest princess is happy, let alone a few hairpins, I'll make sure she gets her dowry when she gets married. Would I ever skimp on that?"

Gao Xiyue smiled with her lips pursed, without answering, but her smugness was almost overflowing from the corners of her eyes and brows.

If you can understand it at a glance, you won't bother to ask any further questions.

She simply leaned against the soft couch, watching Gao Xiyue play with Hua Lan.

The little child was dressed in bright and soft silk, with a small gold necklace around his neck and a pair of delicate gold bracelets on his wrists.

Two steps behind her, a wet nurse, maids, and old women surrounded her, serving her with utmost care.

At first glance, you can tell that this is a child who has been pampered and spoiled.

As Ruofu watched, he felt incredibly comfortable.

Hey.

The eldest daughter of the Prince's family.

Her Hua'er should grow up like this!