The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

"Yesterday afternoon, I went to the main kitchen to report the dishes that the princess wanted to eat that day. I happened to see Yixin, who served Consort Qing, and Shunxin, who served Princess Chen, arguing over a bowl of bird's nest soup. That bowl of bird's nest soup was part of Princess Chen's rations and had been reported to the kitchen the day before and prepared in advance. But when Yixin arrived, she said that Consort Qing's rank was higher than Princess Chen's, so there was no reason for a princess to have the best things first. Without saying a word, she took the bowl of prepared bird's nest soup away. At that time, I saw Lixin standing around the corner, with Princess Jin's dowry maid next to her. I suppose they both saw what happened."

Gao Xiyue's eyebrows shot up: "That damned Yixin, how arrogant! She'd better not fall into my hands, or I'll definitely teach her a lesson!"

Mo Xin laughed, "That princess will probably have to wait a while. I think this Yi Xin is much smarter than A Ruo was back then. At least she knows how to pick on the weak. Before Su Gege gave birth to the Third Prince, she was always sarcastic and mean to Ke Xin. But since the Third Prince was born, and the Prince has been visiting Su Gege's courtyard more often, she only bullies Shun Xin, who is by Chen Gege's side."

Gao Xiyue's face darkened further: "What a cowardly, bullying, and snobbish lackey! I can't stand her anymore! Just wait, once I become a concubine, I'll see how I deal with her!"

After cursing for a bit, she came to her senses: "What does this have to do with what I asked? Does Jin Shi think Qingying is the most favored just because she snatched a bowl of bird's nest?"

Mo Xin explained, "Princess, who doesn't know how strict the Fujin (principal wife) is in managing the household? Whether it's the masters or servants in each courtyard, who dares to easily break the rules? But that one in Qingzhi Courtyard, along with her personal maid, always thinks she's different from everyone else. What will the newcomers to the manor think if they see this scene, since they don't know the old stories?"

Gao Xiyue stood there, thinking for a long time: "You mean... she thinks Qingying dared to act this way because the Prince allowed her to? How hateful! Even more hateful! Just wait! When I really promote her to the rank of Consort, let's see how I deal with her! The Consort is magnanimous, but I'm not! Let's go! Let's go back and make clothes!"

Mo Xin watched her back as she walked faster, her expression a mixture of anger and joy, and couldn't help but smile with a touch of doting affection.

"Yes."

……

And indeed, as Moxin said,

That day, Jin Yuyan was determined and ordered Zhenshu to find out everything about Prince Bao's mansion, no matter what.

For the sake of her master and for the important matter entrusted to her by the crown prince, Jung-sook had no choice but to rack her brains for a solution.

The rules of Prince Bao's mansion are really strict. If the personal maids of the princesses in each courtyard want to go out, they must have a proper job. It is absolutely impossible for them to just say they want to go out for a stroll and wander around the mansion.

After pondering for a while, Zhenshu set her sights on Lixin. She asked Lixin to take her along when she went on errands, so that she could familiarize herself with the place.

Lixin was somewhat surprised. After all, Zhenshu was a maid who accompanied the princess in her dowry, and was naturally closer to her mistress than Lixin, who came later.

She had prepared herself for Zhenshu to be domineering after entering the mansion and to push all the trivial tasks onto her, but to her surprise, Zhenshu was not only polite but also offered to share the chores with her.

The saying goes, "You can't hit someone who's smiling."

Lixin naturally reciprocated and readily agreed.

Zhenshu was very good at talking. She no longer asked obviously taboo questions such as who the prince liked the most. Instead, she asked which way each side path led, and then casually asked who the masters were in the mansion. She also subtly inquired whether these masters had any overt taboos.

Every sentence conveys the fear and anxiety of being far from home and having no relatives or friends around.

Li Xin, unsuspecting, revealed all the information that wasn't exactly a secret: "The Fujin is the most upright, Consort Gao is straightforward and generous in rewarding others, Consort Fucha is kind and easy to talk to, Consort Su is warm-hearted, and Consort Chen is quiet but very gentle. Even... even Qingce Fujin, as long as you don't run into Yixin by her side, it'll be fine."

Zhenshu's eyes flashed. Qingce Fujin, wasn't that the woman with the highest rank in the Prince's mansion besides the primary wife?

She immediately asked, "What do you mean?"

Lixin hasn't answered yet.

A sharp sound suddenly came from ahead.

"Haven't I made myself clear enough? Consort Qing wants bird's nest today, does she have to wait until Consort Chen to be served? What do you mean it was reported yesterday? A Consort is a Consort! If you can't even distinguish between master and servant, what kind of servant are you doing in front of your master?"

Zhenshu paused in her steps.

As she and Lixin turned the corner, they happened to see a brightly dressed maid coming out of the main kitchen.

He walked with his head held high and chest out, carrying a food box in his hand.

After everyone had gone some distance, Lixin said softly, "See that? That's Yixin. Of everyone in the manor, besides Hailan, she's the most difficult to mess with."

Zhenshu exclaimed in surprise, "A maidservant, how can she be so capable?"

Li Xin sighed, "Hai Lan may be formidable, but she's reasonable. As long as you follow the rules, one is one, and two is two. If you do the right thing, she'll even speak up for you. But Yi Xin... well, it's best to avoid her if you run into her."

Zhenshu thanked Lixin for her advice with a face full of gratitude. After returning, she informed Jin Yuyan. The two of them discussed it and immediately decided to start with Qingying.

Whether she was truly favored or not, having such an unbridled personal maid made her seem like the only opening in this rule-bound royal palace.

She didn't know Su Luyun's past, but she wasn't Su Luyun after all, and she wouldn't just listen to Qingying's words about everything.

She held her close, accommodating and coaxing Qingying to recount her past with Hongli from childhood to the present, over and over again.

"So the prince and his concubine knew each other since childhood?"

"Such a deep bond?"

"No wonder I felt that you were different from others the moment I saw you, Consort."

Every single word hit the spot that Qingying loved to hear most.

She dutifully acted as the most understanding listener, giving Qingying immense satisfaction while subtly probing into Hongli's every preference, yet never daring to fully trust him.

Instead, they turned around and verified the information one by one with Gao Xiyue and the others.

Because while she was close to Qingying, she was also very warm and welcoming to the rest of the people in the palace.

Gao Xiyue was sarcastic and only took her words literally, replying in a serious tone.

While praising the Third Prince's cuteness, she unceremoniously asked Su Luyun for a handkerchief, saying that Su Luyun's embroidery skills were superb and that she liked it at first sight.

Fucha Zhuying was gentle and skilled in cooking. She boldly came to his door to ask for food and stayed for a whole day, refusing to leave until she was full.

She was even amazed by Chen Wanyin's words, and without any hesitation, she asked Chen Wanyin to paint a portrait of her so that she could send it home to let her parents know that she was doing well in the Qing Dynasty, so that they would not worry about her.

While everyone was still confused, Gao Xiyue couldn't help but ask her directly why she always liked to go to Qingzhi Courtyard.

Jin Yuyan answered frankly, "I was born into the Yu family and most of the women around me were fiery and outspoken. Seeing Consort Qing's gentle and refined demeanor is refreshing and delightful!"

Her straightforward words, paired with her alluring, almost seductive face, created a strange contrast.

For a moment, everyone was completely baffled.

Is this person truly intelligent?

Or is it simply that he has a face that's too intelligent?

Not long after, Ruofu heard Gao Xiyue mutter to herself with a conflicted expression, "My lady, I originally thought she was both wicked and stupid, but I never imagined she was truly stupid! She actually believed Qingying's words and even read that novel, 'Over the Wall,' with Qingying, crying until her eyes were swollen and red! My lady, I wanted to say a few words to her, but seeing her so moved, I didn't dare to say anything more! I'm afraid that if I say anything more, it will seem like I can't stand to see Qingying doing well and that I'm deliberately trying to sow discord. Wouldn't that make me look like a villain?"

Ruo Fu didn't know what to say, and a sense of admiration even arose in his heart for this woman!

Jin Yuyan, despite plotting evil deeds, still manages to win everyone's favor.

It is said that even Su Luyun has completely forgotten her initial vigilance. Once the date for Jin Yuyan to serve the prince was set, she even specifically reminded her: "If Qingzhi Courtyard sends anything, just accept it, return the gift politely, and then immediately lock it in the storeroom! Especially poems! The prince must not see them! Also, if anyone from Qingzhi Courtyard comes unexpectedly, no matter what they say, turn them away first."

tsk...

It seems that in this world, it's not just seductive women who need talent; even venomous beauties need it!

……

On the day she was to be summoned to the emperor's bedchamber, Jin Yuyan meticulously dressed herself, slowly applying the last touch of lip rouge.

Upon hearing the news reported by Jung-sook, Kim Ok-yeon's eyes instantly turned playful.

"Are you saying that the fertility-enhancing medicine that Consort Qing has been drinking every day for years is actually a contraceptive? And even the most potent kind, completely disregarding her health?"