The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

But what was bound to happen eventually did happen.

In September of the thirteenth year of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign, the Yongzheng Emperor died at the Yuanmingyuan Garden. Hongli ascended the throne by imperial decree and simply stayed in the palace.

Changbai had been taken to the Yuanmingyuan Garden to accompany the emperor half a month earlier. In the last days of his life, Emperor Yongzheng's mental state fluctuated, but he always insisted on keeping this grandson by his side.

As the primary consort and the undisputed future empress, Ruofu was soon brought into the palace to assist in managing palace affairs, comforting the ladies of the court, and helping to prepare for the late emperor's funeral.

Before leaving, Ruofu once again entrusted all matters of the Prince's Palace to Hailan, and then took Hualan into the palace.

As the late emperor's princess, Hengti naturally had to enter the palace to observe mourning. Over the years, her relationship with Hualan has grown stronger.

The two children naturally looked alike, with one being active and the other quiet, yet they were remarkably in sync. People who had seen them often joked that they didn't look like aunt and niece, but rather like twin sisters with a significant age difference.

Now, Consort Xi—no, she should now be called Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager had just lost her husband and was facing a major upheaval in the palace. Although Hengchu could often enter the palace, she was already married and could not stay overnight.

With Hua Lan by Heng Ti's side, Heng Ti felt even more comforted.

When Ruofu left with her daughter, everyone in the Prince's mansion saw her off, their faces filled with sorrow and unease at the passing of the late emperor.

Yet beneath that deep concern, there was inevitably a touch of unspoken reverie.

Jin Yuyan was also standing in the crowd, but her gaze slowly fell on Qingying, who was standing not far in front of her.

A moment later, as Qingying turned to go back to Qingzhi Courtyard, she followed her.

……

Upon arriving at Qingzhi Courtyard, Zhenshu used an excuse to pull Yixin away. The door closed, leaving only Qingying and Jin Yuyan inside.

Qingying was wondering what was going on when, in the next moment, Jin Yuyan's eyes suddenly reddened, and pearl-like tears rolled down her cheeks without warning.

"Sister, why are you doing this to me?"

Ao-Ying: ?

……

About half an hour later, Jin Yuyan finally came out of Qingzhi Courtyard.

Her eyes were still red, and her expression showed both guilt and helplessness.

As she reached the door, she turned back several times, tightly gripping Qingying's hand: "Sister, don't worry. Now that I know about this, I will not stand idly by. I will definitely find a way to help you."

Qingying looked dazed and didn't know how to answer.

Jin Yuyan left with a worried expression, just as she brushed past Yixin who was returning.

Yi Xin bowed to Jin Yuyan with suspicion. After she left, she went inside and couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong with Princess Jin now? Princess, I told you long ago, that woman doesn't seem like someone to be trifled with. You must be careful of her... Princess, why are you looking at me like that?"

Qingying slowly withdrew her gaze, forcing herself to calm down.

"It's nothing. By the way, Yixin, the fertility-enhancing medicine that your family sent over the years hasn't been working much. How about... we try a different prescription?"

As she spoke, she looked at Yixin with hopeful eyes.

Upon hearing this, Yi Xin exclaimed in sudden realization, "I knew it! Did Princess Jin say something to you again? Did she say she wanted to let you try Yu's fertility-enhancing medicine? Princess, you can't believe the words of such a vixen! If she really had some amazing formula that could make someone pregnant with just one drink, why hasn't she had any results herself? It's not that I'm criticizing you, but you should stay away from her! How many times has it been? The Prince clearly promised to come and accompany you, but in the end, she intercepted him. She calls you 'sister' this and 'sister' that, but who knows what she's plotting against you in her heart?"

"Princess, don't believe just anyone anymore!"

Qingying didn't speak, but just quietly looked out the window.

Yi Xin spoke for a while, but didn't hear a response. When she turned around and saw her like this, she wasn't surprised.

Anyway, my master always likes to space out like this.

……

The funeral in the palace arrived as scheduled, keeping Ruofu extremely busy.

Every day, countless eunuchs, palace maids, and nannies come to report to her. She is so busy from morning till night that she can hardly even finish a cup of hot tea in peace.

The situation wasn't much easier for Emperor Hongli either. On the first day of the mourning period, some court officials proposed that the two empress dowagers be placed on the throne together.

As is well known, although Empress Ulanara is still alive, she has been imprisoned in Jingren Palace for many years, and her position as empress is merely nominal.

However, the late emperor did not formally depose the empress. Now that the new emperor has ascended the throne, some court officials have submitted a memorial in accordance with ancestral rules and etiquette, requesting that the empress of Jingren Palace be released and honored as the Empress Dowager.

To clarify the hierarchy and distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate children.

Emperor Hongli was naturally troubled, but he also had his own calculations, so he kept quiet and endured it. The most dissatisfied person, of course, was Consort Xi, who had just become Empress Dowager.

She and Ulanara fought for half their lives, openly and secretly, back and forth, and their hands were stained with the blood of the other's people, and their resentment ran deep!

She finally managed to completely control people in Jingren Palace and enjoyed many years of wielding absolute power.

How could she tolerate this mortal enemy coming out to challenge her again, and even suppressing her as the first wife?

Unfortunately, this was a political discussion in the previous dynasty, so she couldn't rush into the court to argue with the ministers.

Just when he was seething with anger and had nowhere to vent it, the oblivious Qingying happened to bump into him.

The funeral was only halfway through when the women of Prince Bao's mansion took turns serving the Empress Dowager. Qingying personally brought over a bowl of ham and chicken soup.

The Empress Dowager's face immediately darkened.

With phrases like "the guest usurps the host's place" and "the host doesn't distinguish between primary and secondary roles," they were utterly humiliating Qingying.

Qingying was caught in a dilemma, holding the scalding hot soup bowl. Her fingers were quickly burned red. The Empress Dowager saw this but did not tell her to put it down. Instead, she deliberately delayed.

Ruo Fu thought that the time was almost up, and as the future empress, she should step forward to take charge of the overall situation. After all, it would be bad if things got too messy at the late emperor's funeral.

"The Queen——"

But just as I took two steps forward, the aroma of the ham and chicken soup wafted over.

The so-called freshness and aroma had turned into an indescribable greasiness, saltiness, and fishiness, and Ruofu felt his stomach churn instantly—

"vomit!"

"Madam, what's wrong?"

Gao Xiyue, who was closest to her, changed her expression drastically upon seeing this and hurriedly came over to support her: "Madam—"

The next moment, the aroma of ham and chicken soup wafted right in front of her.

Gao Xiyue's face turned pale: "Ugh—"

Seeing the two people bent over and vomiting side by side, everyone in the room was completely dumbfounded.

The Empress Dowager was the first to regain her composure: "Summon the imperial physician! Quickly, summon the imperial physician!"

But upon closer inspection, the two people's vomit was right next to their flowerpot-soled shoes, and the sounds of them vomiting in a frantic rush surrounded them.

The Empress Dowager's nostrils twitched slightly; she tried to hold back, but ultimately couldn't resist.

next moment.

"vomit--"