The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

Chen Wanyin paused for a moment, then suddenly smiled and said, "That's it."

Su Luyun didn't understand: "What do you mean, 'just'?"

Chen Wanyin lowered her head and continued to coax Yongzhang with the cloth tiger, her tone casual: "Regardless of whether Consort Xian meant it or not, since the eldest prince heard it, then it must have meant it."

Su Luyun frowned and thought for a long time but still couldn't figure it out, so she simply gave up.

"You clever people, your words seem to float in the heavens; I, a mere mortal, cannot understand them."

She reached out and pulled Yongzhang back into her arms, kissing her son's chubby cheek. "Isn't that right, my little Yongzhang? You must never be like your mother, so single-minded. When others say three things, I can only understand the first part. You should learn more from your older brother. Look at him, how steady and smart he is, everything he says is reasonable and well-founded. If you can be even half as good as him in the future, I'll be burning incense in gratitude."

Chen Wanyin leaned against the side, watching the mother and son playfully bickering, a faint smile on her lips.

A storm is brewing, but what does it have to do with them?

-

Inside Changchun Palace, Gao Xiyue and Hua Lan, one big and one small, sat side by side at the front, each holding a pipa and playing it.

She was dressed in a light purple palace gown, her hair adorned with pearls and hairpins, and she was beautiful and radiant.

One of them was still a little girl, wearing a light yellow jacket and skirt, with only a few delicate pearl flowers in her hair, and her fingers were playing the strings with a very professional air.

Ruo Fu leaned comfortably on the couch, her eyes closed, her head nodding slightly to the tune. Soft pillows supported her lower back, and a little palace maid gently massaged her legs. As her pregnancy progressed, she became increasingly lethargic. Now that Gao Xiyue and Hua Lan had offered themselves up to play music for her, she had no reason to move.

On the other side, Changbai sat upright, holding a book in his hands.

Yonghuang held a piece of yam cake in his left hand and a piece of milk pastry in his right, with half a piece stuffed in his mouth, eating without even lifting his head.

As the last note of the pipa faded, Gao Xiyue pulled her wrist back and immediately revealed a smug smile on her face. Hua Lan also looked up at almost the same time, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Ruo Fu.

"Excellent!" Ruof generously expressed his praise: "The apprentice played well, but the master played even better. Just tell me what reward you want."

Hua Lan immediately smiled and leaned closer: "Daughter doesn't want anything, it's just that I saw a kingfisher feather hairpin with pearls in Mother's storeroom a few days ago, and I thought it was quite pretty."

Ruof's eyes snapped open: "You call that pretty? Your grandmother specially had it made for me! It has twenty-eight pearls in total, and I used to be reluctant to wear it more than a few times!"

Hua Lan blinked: "That's why my daughter likes it."

"You little rascal!"

"Here you go, go get it from Xin Xin yourself later!" Ruo Fu said irritably.

Hua Lan immediately beamed with joy: "Thank you, Mother!"

Gao Xiyue immediately looked over expectantly as well.

Ruo Fu laughed in anger, pointing at her face and scolding her for being spineless, always thinking about her little bit of private money.

In the end, however, he still had someone give her the two bolts of shimmering brocade that the Fucha family had recently sent.

Gao Xiyue was finally satisfied: "Her Majesty the Empress truly loves me!"

Ruof rolled his eyes: "I'm paying for peace and quiet, so you won't keep buzzing in my ear."

Gao Xiyue pretended not to hear.

Ruofu then noticed the two half-empty plates in front of Yonghuang and frowned immediately: "Are you having a snack or dinner here? If you keep stuffing yourself like this, you won't be able to eat dinner later, and your mother will worry again."

Yonghuang quickly wiped his mouth.

When Ruofu saw that his eyes were still glancing at the yam cake, she found it amusing: "If you really like it, ask someone to make some. Take it back later for your mother and sister to try as well. Don't let them all go to waste by themselves."

Yonghuang's eyes lit up immediately, and he replied crisply, "Yes! Thank you, Empress Dowager!"

Ruofu laughed when he heard him call out so fluently; he was just another little glutton.

The hall became lively again.

At this moment, Changbai slowly closed the book, got up and walked outside, where he found Hailan checking palace affairs.

"Eldest Prince."

"Aunt Hailan, there's no need for such formalities."

Changbai walked closer, but did not speak immediately. Instead, he turned around and glanced back.

The palace maids who were serving were very clever, and they all retreated a little when they saw this.

Hailan's expression also became serious.

Changbai then whispered, "Aunt, please keep a close eye on Yanxi Palace lately. There's no need to investigate anything specifically, nor is it necessary to have someone watch over it constantly. Just keep a copy of any records that Yanxi Palace has recently had, such as which imperial physicians have been invited, what medicines have been received, the entry and exit of palace servants, and the use of items. If there are any records related to Yanxi Palace, please have someone make a copy and send it to me."

After hearing this, Hailan's brows slowly furrowed.

"But what happened?"

Changbai was silent for a moment, then said softly, "Not yet. Perhaps I'm just overthinking it."

Hailan said, "If it were anyone else, I might also advise the First Prince to find evidence first, but if it's that person in Yanxi Palace... then the First Prince's suspicions are not unreasonable."

Changbai was genuinely surprised to hear this.

From as far back as he could remember, Hailan had always been one of the most reliable people around the Empress Dowager. She was cautious in her actions, fair in her dealings, and never changed the rules based on personal relationships.

He had almost never heard her express such clear personal likes and dislikes.

However, Changbai did not press the matter. He knew some of the adult's past events, but not others, and he had no intention of delving too deeply into them.

He simply said, "In any case, I'll see how it goes first. Also, I'd like to trouble you, Aunt, not to tell the Empress Dowager for now. She's pregnant and already has a hard time, plus she has to handle all the affairs of the six palaces every day. Right now, it's just a few of my baseless guesses, without any evidence. If I tell her from the beginning, wouldn't that just cause her unnecessary trouble?"