The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

"Madam!"

Hongli gritted his teeth: "Don't go too far!"

Ruof looked at him with a bewildered expression: "Where did I go too far? Didn't I already give in?"

She thought for a moment, then suddenly realized, "Oh! You think climbing the wall isn't dignified enough? That's easy, I'll have someone bring a horse, and she can ride it to see the view, that'll do!"

Hongli was so angry that his chest heaved, and he couldn't utter a word for a long time. Finally, he abruptly flung his sleeves, turned around, and left.

Ruofu watched his retreating figure and snorted smugly.

He couldn't help but spit out, "You're such a nuisance, always fickle and annoying!"

Who are you trying to impress?

Over the past year or two, how many times has Qingying been grounded? If she were truly the person he cherished most, he would have already had a major falling out with him over her!

They dared not seize the power of stewardship, dared not abolish the rules of the mansion, and dared not openly show favoritism.

She always talks about how special their relationship is and what her heart is set on, but when it comes to serious matters, she still has to swallow her pride and accept the rules of being the primary wife.

Still my darling!

While others pat themselves on the back, these two are the opposite; they smear each other's faces with mud until they believe it themselves.

"If I hadn't lived an extra life and become much smarter, I would have been fooled by your back-and-forth singing."

Pooh!

bah bah bah!

Meanwhile, Hongli had already walked out of the main courtyard.

Wang Qin followed behind with a resigned expression.

It's really strange how the prince and his wife are such an unlikely couple.

Although they couldn't stand each other, they could always sit down and discuss all the big and small matters in the mansion.

In his daily life, the prince always liked to speak in half and then pause, as if he wanted to say a sentence in three parts. He also liked to leave half of his words unsaid, leaving others to guess what he meant.

But once he was in front of his wife, his ailment seemed to disappear out of thin air.

When the two of them got together, they would exchange witty remarks, sometimes so much so that Wang Qin couldn't even find a moment to chime in.

The most amazing thing is that the prince would often storm into the main courtyard in a huff, and not long after, the sounds of the two of them laughing and talking could be heard coming from inside. Later that night...

cough.

Sometimes he even thought, if only the master had come to argue with the princess less often, the second noble heir in her womb wouldn't have come so quickly.

What's even more amazing is that no matter how aggressive the prince was before he went in, and no matter what happened in the middle, when he was about to leave, eight out of ten times he was still even angrier, even looking like he was half-dead with anger.

Wang Qin sighed inwardly.

Perhaps this is what they call "one thing subdues another".

Just then, Hongli in front of him suddenly stopped.

Wang Qin was caught off guard and lost his footing, crashing into it with a thud.

Caught off guard, Hongli staggered forward two steps from the impact, nearly falling flat on his face.

He whirled around: "You dog of a servant! You're on duty, how can you fall asleep while walking in broad daylight?"

After saying that, he raised his foot and kicked Wang Qin in the back of the knee.

Wang Qin hurriedly apologized, "This servant deserves to die! This servant deserves to die!"

Hongli cursed a couple of times, and his anger finally subsided. After thinking for a moment, he simply reached down and took a jade pendant from his waist.

The jade is warm and lustrous, and at the bottom is tied an exquisitely woven love knot.

"Take this and give it to Consort Qing."

Wang Qin hurriedly accepted it with both hands.

Hongli lowered his voice: "Tell her that she has suffered these past few days. She doesn't need to worry too much about her family; I will take care of them. Let her focus on recovering and not think about anything else."

"Yes, sir."

Wang Qin agreed and limped towards Qingzhi Courtyard.

After taking a few steps, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

The way the prince curses people these days... seems to be starting to resemble his wife more and more?

Wang Qin couldn't help but turn around and take a look.

Hongli remained standing in the same spot, gazing in the direction of Qingzhi Courtyard, his expression melancholy, his brows furrowed with sorrow at being unable to see his beloved.

The next moment, the melancholy prince turned around and went straight to Princess Gao's courtyard.

Wang Qin: ...

Wang Qin remained silent for a moment, then turned back and continued walking.

The love knot was given to Consort Qing, but the person went to accompany Consort Gao.

Whether my heart is the same or not, I don't know, but my legs certainly have their own ideas.

……

Ruo Fu is known for his swift and decisive actions.

The next morning, the opera troupe indeed entered the Prince's mansion, and the stage was indeed set up outside the Green Branch Courtyard.

Not only that, but Ruofu also had a tall viewing platform built against the wall in the Qingzhi Courtyard.

Beaded curtains hung all around, and tables, chairs, and cushions were all provided. Tea, fruit, and even something that Qingying would never be unfamiliar with was also prepared.

Hailan presented a pair of Western telescopes with both hands and said with a smile, "The Princess Consort said that the play 'Over the Wall' performed today is the Consort's favorite. It's a bit far because it's over the courtyard wall, and it would be a pity if you couldn't see it clearly. Fortunately, we have a telescope sent by the Fucha family. The Princess Consort is so kind as to give it to you to use for half a day. It would be perfect to use this to watch it."

Qingying looked at the high platform, then down at the telescope in Hailan's hand, and remained silent for a long time.

After a long pause, she softly said, "I understand."

But he never went up to the high platform.

When Su Xin stepped forward to take the telescope, Hai Lan glanced up and suddenly saw Qing Ying playing with a jade pendant in her hand.

A love knot is tied at the bottom.

Her gaze paused slightly: "Consort."

Qingying glanced at her sideways.

Hailan looked at the jade pendant: "I've never seen this item in the Qingzhi Courtyard's register before. Is it a recent gift from His Highness?"

A sweet feeling first swept through Qingying's heart, but when she saw the familiar booklet in Hailan's hand, her expression immediately became more wary.

She instinctively clutched the jade pendant, hastily explaining, "This is a gift from the Prince, a personal item of his. It shouldn't need to be registered, right?"

"Your Highness's wishes are beyond my control."

Hailan smiled slightly: "But all the items that the Prince sent into the inner courtyard, regardless of size, should be registered. Even if they were originally the Prince's personal belongings, once they were given to the concubine, they are still considered new items added to the inner courtyard of the Prince's mansion, and there should be a record of them."

Qingying remained silent for a moment, then said with a look of forbearance, "I understand."

Hailan curtsied to her: "This servant will remember it and will not disturb Consort's performance."

Having said that, he turned and left, clutching the booklet.

In the instant she turned around, a faint hint of mockery flashed across her eyes.

Qingying stood alone in the same spot for a long time.

Even after a long time, when the sounds of gongs, drums, and suonas rang out outside, and the lively opening music drifted over the high walls into the courtyard, she still did not make a move.

Su Xin had to speak up and remind her, "Consort, the play has already started. Shall we go up and sit down to listen?"

She pointed to the high platform on one side.

Qingying shook her head, her eyes filled with sorrow, yet her expression was unusually stubborn: "The play is still the same play, but the people are no longer the same as before."

Qingying sighed deeply, her eyes reddening, and said softly, "She is the primary consort, in charge of the household rules. It's only right that she disciplines me. But if she wants to use this method to make my memories with Brother Hongli seem ridiculous as well..."

Her expression was firm: "No!"

Qingying turned her head and looked at the tightly closed courtyard gate.

"Su Xin, whether they believe it or not, all I ask for in this life is a devoted person... I have never thought of competing with her for anything."

As soon as she finished speaking, she loosened her grip.

The valuable telescope fell to the ground with a thud.

Su Xin: ?

Su Xin paused for a moment, then quickly bent down and picked up the telescope.

Fortunately, it wasn't damaged.

Su Xin secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

She got up and looked back. After Qingying finished speaking, she did not go back into the house.

She simply sat back down on the chair outside, opened a book, and began to read quietly.

...you can still hear noises outside.

Fortunately, it was just another empty boast.