The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

Ruo Fu's brows immediately relaxed upon hearing the praise, and she could hardly hide her pleased expression. She quickly curtsied to the Empress Dowager and said, "Thank you for the praise, Your Majesty."

Seeing her immediately becoming obsequious after gaining an advantage, the Empress Dowager's lips twitched slightly, but when she turned her gaze back to Ruyi, her expression slowly faded.

"Consort Xian, do you have anything else to say?"

Ruyi knelt there, her lips trembling, but she couldn't utter a single word.

Ruofu immediately said, "Since they can't explain, they should accept the punishment! Everything has come to this at once, which saves us some trouble. Consort Xian falsely accused the Empress without any evidence, so she should be punished! Wang Qin, with his audacity, not only harassed palace maids but also dared to deceive the Emperor and conceal his injuries; he deserves even harsher punishment! Both of them brought this trouble upon themselves, so they cannot be let off lightly!"

And then there's Rong Pei, a mere head maid who's caused so much trouble today, first slandering me, then yelling at the imperial physicians in front of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, and even daring to physically bind the Palace Attendant I personally appointed! All of this should be investigated thoroughly and she should be severely punished!

She paused slightly after speaking all this in one breath, then looked at Li Yu and the others: "However, although Li Yu privately gave items to the palace maids, there was a reason for it. His Majesty should decide how to punish those who act carelessly before the Emperor. But Su Xin, Lian Xin, and Hai Lan have all suffered an undeserved misfortune today. They are all loyal and good girls who protect their mistress, meticulous in their work, and of impeccable character, yet they have suffered such a great injustice for no reason. His Majesty should reward them handsomely as a sign of comfort and commendation. Your Majesty, don't you think?"

Hongli remained silent for a moment, but his gaze involuntarily fell on Ruyi, carrying an undisguised disappointment, yet also a hint of pity. In the end, he slowly nodded: "The Empress is right."

Ruyi suddenly raised her head and gazed at him with a deep look.

Hongli, however, had already shifted his gaze to Wang Qin, who was now prostrate on the ground. His voice turned cold: "Wang Qin, relying on his status as an imperial servant, has repeatedly harassed palace maids and behaved improperly. He also deceived me, falsely reporting his injuries as an accidental fall. With such conduct, he is no longer worthy to remain before the emperor. Thirty strokes of the cane, a six-month salary deduction, and after the beating... he is expelled from the palace and shall never again set foot in the Forbidden City."

Wang Qin's body went limp, almost collapsing to the ground. In the next instant, he kowtowed in terror: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty, have mercy! This servant has served Your Majesty for many years. Even if I have not rendered meritorious service, I have certainly worked hard. This servant was just confused for a moment. I beg Your Majesty to give this servant another chance, Your Majesty—"

Hongli didn't even lift his eyelids. He merely raised his hand, and immediately two eunuchs stepped forward, one on each side, to cover Wang Qin's mouth and drag him off the ground.

Hongli then turned his gaze to Li Yu, his tone softening slightly: "Li Yu privately gifted items to palace maids. Although there was no illicit relationship, he was still a servant in the imperial court. His carelessness gave others an opportunity to take advantage of him. He is hereby fined three months' salary and suspended from duty for seven days as a warning to others."

Li Yu immediately kowtowed: "This servant thanks Your Majesty for your grace."

"Lianxin, Xinxin, and Hailan." Hongli paused, his expression somewhat complicated as he thought of today's farce. "They are all loyal and good maids. As the Empress said, they have been wronged for no reason. I will reward each of them with three months' salary, a set of headdress, and a piece of Shu brocade as a consolation and a reward for their loyalty to their master."

Ruofu was finally satisfied upon hearing this and nodded solemnly: "Your Majesty is wise."

His Highness and the others also kowtowed to express their gratitude.

After this series of events came to a temporary end, Hongli finally looked at Ruyi again.

"As for... Consort Xian."

Hongli looked at her and remained silent for a long time.

Ruyi also looked at him quietly.

"Demoted to—"

"Your Majesty, I request to live in seclusion in the Cold Palace."

Ruyi spoke first.

Hongli choked, somewhat taken aback: "What did you say?"

The Empress Dowager also narrowed her eyes.

Ruyi said, "Since my evidence against the Empress today is all untenable, staying in the Six Palaces will only cause trouble for Her Majesty the Empress and annoy His Majesty. In that case, it would be better for me to go to the Cold Palace to live a quiet life and never interfere in the affairs of the Six Palaces again, so as to avoid getting in anyone's way."

Ruofu frowned upon hearing this. No matter how much he said, he was still unconvinced. But after glancing at Hongli, he remained silent.

Hongli's expression grew increasingly grim: "Consort Xian, I am here today to discuss right and wrong with you, not to force you to the Cold Palace. If the matter was wrong, admit it; if the people around you are not well-managed, then rectify them. If you feel wronged, you can explain it slowly. Who are you arguing with by putting on this act?"

Ruyi looked at him quietly, her expression growing increasingly serene: "Does Your Majesty think I'm just being stubborn?"

Hongli frowned, but Ruyi had already smiled.

"Your Majesty, I used to love being on the wall and on horseback the most."

Ruyi gazed quietly at Hongli: "We gazed at each other from afar, one glance and my heart broke. It turns out that even deep affection in youth can lead to mutual loathing. It turns out that in this world, there truly are cases of beautiful beginnings ending tragically."

Looking at the growing bewilderment in Hongli's eyes, her own eyes filled with tears, yet her smile grew even more vivid: "Li Qianjin and Pei Shaojun fell in love at first sight and stayed together for seven years. But in the end, seven years of deep affection could not withstand the command of their parents, nor the gossip of the world."

Back then, I always felt indignant for Lady Li, believing that since Pei Shaojun had pledged his deepest love, he shouldn't have yielded to propriety and his father's wishes. But now, I think, perhaps there really is a predetermined order to what kind of drama people enjoy…

From the fifth year of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign until now, I have accompanied His Majesty for eight full years. I have always believed that as long as I remember that time on the wall, as long as I remember the words we once spoke, the young man who promised me forever will always be there...

But only today do I realize that eight years is enough time for many things to change beyond recognition, and enough time for a person to no longer be the same person they once were.

Hongli remained silent.

The entire hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Ruyi slowly straightened her knees, looking into Hongli's eyes one last time: "Today, I request to be confined to the Cold Palace. From now on, Consort Xian will only be Consort Xian, and Your Majesty will only be Your Majesty. Let bygones be bygones, and I will no longer sing of past grievances. Back then, you said you wouldn't become Pei Shaojun. Now it seems I was wrong to believe you."

She paused for a moment, a very faint smile appearing on her lips.

"However, Pei Shaojun later went back to look for Li Qianjin."

"Your Majesty need not do that."