The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

Hongli actually thought the same thing.

He was sitting on a tall wooden ladder, holding a porcelain bottle and examining it closely.

But Ruyi, standing below, stubbornly asked the very question that Lang Shining had uttered, a question that all the men of the Qing Dynasty considered a madman's joke.

"A husband can only have one wife and no concubines."

Such an answer almost subconsciously flashed through his mind.

Then there would be no Xiyue, no Zhuying, and naturally, no Qingying either.

Given the circumstances at the time, it was destined that the only wife he could marry through proper channels, announce to Heaven and Earth and his ancestors, and now establish as Empress, would be Lady Fucha.

But if these words were actually said, they would be too hurtful.

Hongli still cherished their past relationship. He glanced down at Ruyi and said indifferently, "Customs vary from place to place. To apply other people's rules to the Qing Dynasty is nothing but wishful thinking and has no meaning."

Ruyi did not give up.

It seemed that ever since she returned from the Ruyi Pavilion, that thought had been lingering in her mind. Now that she had started, she desperately wanted an answer: "I was just thinking that if one day, all men in the world only had wives and no concubines, and if the affection between husband and wife ran out, the woman could leave on her own. In this way, everyone could be a devoted person, and if they couldn't, they could separate willingly."

Hongli's brows were already slightly furrowed.

Ruyi, however, seemed not to see it.

"Customs may differ, but people's hearts are always the same. Does Your Majesty not wish to experience only one heartbeat in your life, and to love only one person?"

Emperor Hongli finally lost his patience: "What exactly do you want to hear from me?"

Ruyi was taken aback.

Hongli's tone also turned serious: "If all men in the world can only have one wife and no concubines, then according to your logic, should I dismiss the six palaces, divorce all the concubines including you, and leave only the Empress? How will you all live then? Go back to your parents' homes and be supported by your fathers and brothers? Or shave your heads and become nuns, spending the rest of your lives in seclusion with only the ancient lamp and Buddhist scriptures?"

Ruyi's mouth was slightly open, as if she couldn't quite come to her senses.

How... how can we leave only the Empress?

Just as she stood there, stunned and unsure of what to say, footsteps suddenly came from outside.

Wang Qin strode in, carrying a sandalwood tray with a small, exquisite box on it: "Your Majesty, the items are ready. Please take a look."

Hongli then turned his gaze away from Ruyi and looked at Wang Qin.

The latter immediately stepped forward and raised the tray high above his head.

Hongli opened the box and took a look.

Inside was a sachet ball made of red gold filigree and inlaid with beads, only the size of a palm. The outer layer was made in a hollowed-out style, and inside was a small movable silver cup. It was also inlaid with a circle of small pearls, and in the very center was a ruby ​​of excellent quality. It looked both precious and not bulky.

Hongli picked it up and turned it around.

Wang Qin hurriedly said, "Has Your Majesty been feeling sleepy lately? The imperial physician said that pregnancy depletes qi and blood quickly, making you prone to fatigue during the day. However, Your Majesty is now in charge of the six palaces and cannot lie down to rest all the time. This servant thought that this sachet is quite unique. The small cup inside will not spill no matter how much you shake it. Fill it with some refreshing incense prepared by the Imperial Hospital. When Your Majesty is sitting and reviewing accounts or listening to reports, you can place it beside you to keep your spirits up. If you don't sleep well at night, you can change it to calming incense."

As he spoke, his smile grew even more ingratiating: "This servant specially ordered the Imperial Workshop to remake the outer casing. The original was too plain, but this servant thought that Her Majesty the Empress has always loved gold and jade jewelry, so this servant had pure gold used, and selected pearls and rubies to inlay it. It is both practical and befitting of Her Majesty's status."

Upon hearing this, Hongli couldn't help but raise the corners of his lips slightly.

He glanced down at the sachet again, his tone noticeably softening: "Yes, she's always loved these gold- and jade-inlaid things. The other day she complained that the pair of porcelain vases I gave her weren't worth much, saying they were too dull and wouldn't fetch a good price. Alright, send them to her. Also, have the Imperial Hospital prepare a few portions of both incense for stimulating and calming the nerves, and send them over together. Don't make the scent too strong; she can't stand strong fragrances lately."

"Yes, sir."

Wang Qin immediately agreed and carefully put the items away again.

Ruyi stood to the side, watching closely as Hongli spoke of the Empress's preferences with such familiarity, and her heart felt as if something was slowly pressing down on it.

Just then, she caught a faint scent of flowers and turned her gaze away to the windowsill.

Unexpectedly, I spotted a white porcelain vase filled with vibrant flowers, red, blue, and green, with several branches of flowers and leaves arranged at varying heights and colors that were somewhat mixed, yet somehow they looked incredibly lively.

She recognized whose work it was at a glance.

"In the Emperor's study, only flowers arranged by the Empress herself are displayed."

Ruyi felt her heart growing heavier and heavier, and even breathing became difficult.

Hongli, however, looked at her again: "Ruyi, if you have nothing else to say, you should go back now. Don't say such foolish things again, or others will laugh at you if they hear them."

Hearing this, Ruyi felt a surge of grievance welling up inside her.

Without even thinking, she replied, "Lately, I've been feeling rather sleepy and lacking energy. Since Your Majesty has prepared something like this for Her Majesty the Empress, could you perhaps give me one as well?"

Hongli paused for a moment, then frowned and said, "The Empress is pregnant, which is why she's so sleepy. Why are you arguing with her? If you're not feeling well, call the imperial physician. Hasn't that Physician Jiang been treating you lately? Have him take a closer look. If you think he's too young and inexperienced, and you're unsure, you can have a few older imperial physicians examine you together."

Ruyi lowered her head, concealing her instantly pale face, and remained silent for a long time.

When he raised his face again, his eyes were cold.

"Yes." Her voice was stiff. "Your Majesty, I am unworthy. Since entering your household, I have not been able to bear you a son or daughter. I have truly failed to live up to the Emperor and Empress's kindness over the years. I will now return to reflect on my mistakes. Farewell."

Hongli found it grating, especially the words "deep affection," and couldn't help but glance down at her.

But he happened to run into Ruyi looking up.

The undisguised indifference in his eyes startled Hongli.

Before he could think it through, Ruyi lowered her eyes, turned around and left.

Hongli shook his head, indicating that he must have misread it, and then looked at the porcelain vase again.

Ruyi left the imperial study, walked a short distance, then suddenly stopped and looked back.

The palace gates were quiet and peaceful; no one was chasing after them.

Rong Pei sensed something was wrong and cautiously called out, "Your Majesty?"

Ruyi slowly withdrew her gaze, sighed softly, and her expression grew increasingly forlorn: "It's nothing."

She paused, then said in a low voice, "I just suddenly feel that the young man in my heart seems to have changed a bit."

Rong Pei's eyes sharpened, and just as she was about to speak, someone walked up in front of her.

It was Li Yu, who had already changed back into his eunuch's clothes.

When Li Yu saw Ruyi from afar, he paused for a moment, then quickly stepped forward and bowed his head to pay his respects: "This servant greets Consort Xian."

Ruyi's face regained a smile: "You're back already? Finished painting?"

Li Yu kept his head down and carefully said, "Your Majesty, Lord Lang said that there are still a few materials that are not yet ready. We will stop here for today and continue tomorrow when everything is ready."

"I see." Ruyi said gently, "Alright, you've worked hard too, take a rest first."

Li Yu hurriedly said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."

Ruyi nodded and continued walking forward with Rongpei.

Li Yu maintained the posture of bowing with his hands clasped and head bowed throughout.

Only after the master and servant had walked past him did he slowly raise his eyes, his gaze falling on Rong Pei's back, his expression complex.

Li Yuzhi got up and returned to the entrance of Yangxin Hall, but did not see Wang Qin. He knew that Wang Qin must have gone out to run errands. The only place that could make this old fox personally go to curry favor with was probably the Empress's Changchun Palace.

A thought struck him, and he whispered to the few eunuchs standing on either side, "No matter what happens outside, you all must keep to your posts and no one is allowed to leave your posts without permission."

The two eunuchs exchanged glances, but since Li Yu was now Wang Qin's apprentice, they dared not ask any further questions and simply replied in unison, "Yes, sir."

On the other side, Ruyi was walking down the long street.

She rested one hand on Rong Pei's wrist, tilted her head slightly to look at the sky, and her eyes still held a hint of melancholy.

The words Emperor Hongli had just spoken still echoed in my ears, making me feel miserable just thinking about them.

Just then, a gentle and melodious voice suddenly rang out from the front.

"This servant, Hailan, greets Consort Xian."