The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

As soon as Ruo Fu entered the room, he saw that besides Fu Jia, Consort Xi was sitting two elegantly dressed young ladies.

The older one was eleven or twelve years old, and was beautiful and dignified; she was Princess Hengchu.

The other one, younger than Hua Lan, was sitting on the edge of the couch, swinging her little legs and playing with a jade hairpin. She was Princess Heng Ti.

Ruofu led Hualan forward and bowed, saying, "Your daughter-in-law greets Mother."

Hua Lan also curtsied respectfully: "Granddaughter greets Grandma."

"Get up quickly." Consort Xi immediately smiled and beckoned, "It's the New Year, no need for such formalities. Hua Lan, come to Grandma."

After Ruofu got up, Hengchu and Hengti also stepped forward to greet her.

Just as Ruofu was about to teach Hualan how to greet her two aunts, Fujia, standing to the side, suddenly covered her mouth in surprise: "Oh! Your Highness, look! The eldest princess and our Princess Hengti are growing more and more alike. Especially their eyes and noses—if it weren't for the age difference, people might believe they were twins!"

After she said that, everyone began to seriously examine the two of them.

Ruofu, in particular, was taken aback.

Hua Lan's cheeks were slightly rounder, and her expression was more lively, while Heng Ti was more slender and quieter because she had been weak since childhood.

However, the contours of their eyebrows and eyes, especially the way their eyes curve slightly when they smile, do indeed look like they were carved from the same mold.

The two little girls couldn't help but look at each other.

Hua Lan took a step forward, and Heng Ti also got off the couch, looking up at her with her small face.

The two felt as if they were looking in a mirror, and the more they looked, the more novel it seemed.

Consort Xi was also quite surprised, but as she looked at her, a layer of tenderness gradually spread across her eyes.

Hengti was not very healthy from birth. Later, a high monk prophesied that the child should not be raised by her biological parents in her early years, but should be sent to another family to be raised so that she could grow up safely. Therefore, Hengti was sent to Prince Cheng's mansion when she was only a month old.

Over the years, she longed for it day and night, but the mother and daughter were separated inside and outside the palace walls, and the time they could actually see each other was very few. On the rare occasions they did meet, the child was still young and inevitably shy, and it would always take half a day before they could get close to each other.

The same applies to Hualan.

When the child was young, her features had not yet fully developed. Consort Xi had seen her a few times before and felt that she looked vaguely familiar, but she never thought of Hengti.

This is the first time that both children have stood in front of her together.

The similarities become even more striking.

Consort Xi looked at Hua Lan, and her affection for her daughter was immediately extended to Hua Lan's family.

She patted the two children's heads and sighed, "This is truly fate."

Even Rufus found it amazing.

Hua Lan is her biological daughter, for both lifetimes!

Although she was taken in and raised by that old lady in her previous life, she was raised by her own side until she was three years old.

She remembers every smile, every habit, and every preference of her child clearly.

Now, though the time and place have changed, the surname has changed, and the identity has changed, she can guarantee that this is still her Hualan, her precious daughter!

How could she bear such a striking resemblance to the young Consort Xi?

However, Hongli was only the adopted son of Consort Xi. In terms of bloodline, Hualan and Hengti were far inferior.

After thinking about it, Ruofu could only attribute the matter to fate.

The two little girls soon found themselves holding hands and playing together, filling Yongshou Palace with laughter and joy.

Hengchu was much older, so she naturally didn't join in the fun. She just sat quietly next to Consort Xi, occasionally adding tea for her mother. Her affection for her mother was evident in every move she made.

When Consort Xi spoke to her, her demeanor and tone were exceptionally gentle.

The depth of their bond is self-evident.

As Ruofu watched, a sudden thought struck her; she remembered something very important.

The thought had barely formed when Fu Jia glanced at the time and reminded her with a smile, "Your Majesty, it's almost time. The banquet at Qianqing Palace is about to begin, and we should set off."

Consort Xi nodded: "Then let's go."

After the group finished packing, they headed towards the Qianqing Palace.

The hall was already brightly lit.

Ruofu and Consort Xi took their seats.

Before long, the sound of the emperor's arrival came from outside, and everyone stood up and bowed.

Yongzheng walked in from outside the palace, followed by one adult and two children.

Ruofu spotted his son immediately. The rascal still had a serious little face, following behind the emperor, and it was impossible to tell whether he was happy or not.

After everyone had paid their respects, Yongzheng told them to rise, and they all sat down again.

Hongli also returned to sit down next to Ruofu, but his expression was somewhat strange.

As the emperor raised his glass to give his address, Ruofu leaned closer and whispered, "What's wrong?"

Hongli hesitated, then picked up his wine cup in a sullen voice and took two sips.

Ruo Fu looked completely bewildered.

Just as he was about to ask another question, Emperor Yongzheng suddenly beckoned to Changbai: "Yongheng, come to Grandfather."

Upon hearing this, Changbai immediately stood up from his seat. He first gave a proper bow before running over with light, quick steps.

Yongzheng reached out and pulled him to his side, a very intimate gesture.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Yongzheng pointed to the various foods on the table and asked his grandson, "You handled things well just now, and your grandfather has rewarded you. Take a look at the table and tell me what you like."

The laughter and chatter in the hall seemed to subside immediately, and countless gazes turned towards them without making a sound.

Changbai's composed reply became clear: "Your Majesty, I have no particular preference when it comes to food. If Your Majesty were to reward me for my handling of the situation just now, a reward or two would suffice. However, just now, I did expose my father's secret, causing him to lose face in front of Your Majesty. To be precise, it seems to violate filial piety, and I am not worthy of a reward."

Changbai paused for a moment, then said, "However, Grandfather is still Grandfather. As the old saying goes, one should not refuse a gift from an elder. If Grandfather is simply being kind and insists on bestowing this upon his grandson, then the grandson will naturally accept it without hesitation."