The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

Hongli took a deep breath, and the innocent and beautiful memories he once shared with Qingying seemed to shatter in that instant...

He never wants to eavesdrop on that play again in his life!

Inside the wall, Qingying's face turned pale and then red, her lips trembled slightly, she couldn't listen anymore and almost wanted to turn around and go back into the house immediately.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside, and a young eunuch announced loudly from a distance:

"Your Highness! Your Highness's Consort! People from the palace have arrived!"

The gongs and drums on the stage suddenly stopped.

Everyone turned their heads at the same time.

Hongli frowned: "What is it?"

The young eunuch ran up, panting, and bowed: "Your Highness, it's Eunuch Cui from Consort Xi's side, bringing with him a royal decree."

Hongli and Ruofu exchanged a glance, and the group rose to receive the imperial edict.

Before long, Eunuch Cui was invited into the backyard.

He greeted Hongli and Ruofu with a smile. Upon seeing the opera troupe, he didn't think much of it, but he couldn't help wondering why the Prince's mansion, which was so large, had chosen such a small place to set up the stage.

He didn't ask any further questions, but simply cleared his throat and read out the imperial edict from Consort Xi.

The imperial edict was short, but it essentially stated that the Fourth Prince's household still had few heirs, and that his primary consort, Lady Fucha, and Consort Fucha were both pregnant and should not be overworked. Furthermore, Lady Gao had always been physically weak.

Consort Xi, feeling sorry for her son's lack of servants in the inner quarters, specially selected two women from respectable families and with gentle temperaments to be bestowed upon Prince Bao's residence as princesses.

One of them was surnamed Su and named Lüjun.

One of them was surnamed Chen and named Wanyin.

Once the auspicious day is appointed, one may enter the mansion.

The last sentence is intriguing: "Your Majesty has heard that Consort Qing has been in the palace for several years and is eager to have an heir. The continuation of the royal family is a major matter, and it is not appropriate to burden Consort Qing alone with this task."

After he finished speaking, all around him fell silent.

Hongli himself was stunned for a moment, and then subconsciously looked up at Ruofu.

Qingying, separated by a wall, froze on the spot, her first thought being of the packet of fertility-enhancing medicine.

"Oh my!" Ruofe blinked and laughed, "This medicine really works! Before I even finished a bowl, before the baby even started to develop, two princesses have already appeared to help me give birth!"

Inside the wall, Qingying swayed and almost lost her balance.

Zhao Ying kept her head down, her shoulders trembling, but she still remembered the important matter and quickly stepped forward to hand over the reward money to Eunuch Cui.

After the palace staff left, no one had the heart to listen to the rest of the play. Hua Lan had already fallen asleep in her wet nurse's arms, and Fu Cha Zhu Ying also looked tired.

Seeing this, Ruofu immediately ordered someone to send Zhu Ying back to her courtyard to rest. After watching this famous play, she had lost much of her interest in this later-era drama. However, before sending the troupe away, she still thoughtfully asked Hongli, "Would Your Highness like to hear it again? Now that we're all leaving, what about you and Consort Qing...?"

Her gaze swept over the platform and the horses, the meaning of which was clear.

Hongli glared at her with a dark expression.

Ruo Fu continued fearlessly, "You'd better listen soon, because in a few days new people will be entering the manor, and the prince will probably be too busy."

"You can listen to it yourself, Madam!"

Unable to withstand the repeated provocations, Hongli simply stormed off.

Ruo Fu gave a light snort, then ordered Zhao Ying to take the reward money, which was then given generously to the opera troupe. He also had them carefully escorted out of the mansion.

When she turned around, she let the wet nurse carefully pick up the sleeping Hua Lan, and she also held Chen Guang's hand and slowly walked towards the main courtyard.

They hadn't gone far when Gao Xiyue suddenly caught up from behind.

"Madam!"

"Um?"

Gao Xiyue looked distressed: "Didn't you say the other day that you wanted the Prince to spend all his time with me these days?"

If Ruof remembered, he would nod frankly: "Yes."

Gao Xiyue felt even more aggrieved: "Then why are there two more?"

"It was sent from the palace!"

Ruo Fu shrugged confidently and said, "I'm just the primary consort of Prince Bao's household, not the Empress. What right do I have to close the palace doors?"

These words terrified Granny Dai, who was following behind, but no one present seemed to think anything was amiss.

Gao Xiyue opened her mouth but couldn't utter a word for a long time.

However, her expression gradually turned to grief and indignation, and she muttered, "The other day, I did send you several bolts of Hangzhou silk and light gauze..."

Ruofu immediately stopped and replied righteously, "What you gave me were a few bolts of fabric for summer clothes, not the prince's money for selling himself into servitude!"

"You think you can buy a whole person with just a few bolts of cloth? You're dreaming!"

"We'll see."

She patted Gao Xiyue's hand.

"A gift given away is like water spilled; if you ask for it back, what will happen to Hualan's summer clothes?"

Gao Xiyue glanced at the sleeping Hua Lan, gave up, and reluctantly accepted this reality.

Seeing her dejected appearance, Ruofu couldn't help but chuckle, "Alright, they're not entering the palace first thing tomorrow morning. The palace is choosing an auspicious day, teaching them the rules, and tidying up the courtyard—all of that takes time. There are still many days to go, what's the rush?"

Gao Xiyue thought about it and agreed.

She thought of Qingying again, and realized that no matter how unhappy she was, it couldn't compare to the unhappiness in Qingying's heart.

With this thought, Gao Xiyue suddenly felt much more at ease, and as she followed Ruofu towards the main courtyard, her steps became lighter again.

As they neared the courtyard gate, she suddenly remembered something and couldn't help but lean closer to ask, "Your Highness, what kind of celestial beauty do you think the palace will send this time? What will her character be like? Please, don't let her be one of two vixens!"

Ruo Fu couldn't help but chuckle at her alarmed expression.

It's really not.

Not only that, Su Luyun and Chen Wanyin were also rare honest and upright people.

Some are even too honest and upright.

If we're really talking about restlessness, and who has more talent for being a seductress...

Ruo Fu's eyes flickered slightly, and a figure suddenly appeared in his mind.

However, that's a story for another time.

……

"My name is Su."

"My name is Chen."

"Greetings to the Princess Consort, wishing her boundless happiness and peace."

Inside the main hall, the two new princesses knelt down on either side and respectfully performed a grand salute to Ruofu.

Ruo Fu openly and honestly looked him over.

Su Luyun was more plump than Chen Wanyin, with a round face. Although her eyebrows and eyes were not particularly beautiful, they exuded a gentle and charming temperament.

Chen Wanyin was pretty and slender. She stood there quietly and had almost no presence unless she spoke.

As usual, he first gave a few words of instruction, which were nothing more than that now that he had entered the Prince's mansion, he was now a family member, and it was best to behave himself. There were rules in the mansion about what one could and could not do. If he did not understand, he should ask. He should not be presumptuous and should not take advantage of the Prince's temporary favor to be disrespectful.

Su Luyun and Chen Wanyin both bowed their heads in agreement, showing no sign of dissatisfaction.

If Fu was very satisfied with this, he would also give the two of them the maids of the Xin generation who had been originally chosen for them. After they accepted the maids, they would also give them gifts as per custom.

Each person received a few bolts of fashionable fabric, a bracelet, and some other everyday items.

Unexpectedly, both of them had prepared return gifts.

Chen Wanyin even prepared a pair of small silver longevity locks for Hualan.

The items weren't particularly expensive, but they were made with great care. Ruo Fu was somewhat surprised, but he was still quite pleased with them, and his gaze towards Chen Wanyin became even more amiable.

However, she didn't say much, only instructing the two to return to their respective side courtyards to settle down. She said that Hongli had gone to the outskirts of the capital on business recently and would not return for at least ten days or half a month, so they should just wait patiently.

The two obediently complied.

As expected, after the two entered the manor, they remained quiet and did not cause any trouble.

It did add a few jokes.