The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

Qingying glanced down at her armor, remained silent for a moment, and then said calmly, "It was just an accidental scratch, I'll pay for it, why be so aggressive?"

"Compensate? What are you going to use to compensate?"

Hearing this, the head maid became even angrier, slamming the torn piece of silk on the table. "You're working for the embroidery workshop now, paid by the piece, not like before when you could just sit in the palace and have things delivered to you with a word. Besides, this isn't the first piece. There was one the day before yesterday, and another one yesterday. How many times can you afford to pay for this? I told you before to remove your nail guards before doing delicate work, but you wouldn't listen! Isn't this deliberately wasting things?!"

Qingying frowned slightly: "I'm used to wearing this armor. It's a rule for Manchu women that armor cannot be taken off easily."

"Then don't do it!" the head maid replied without hesitation. "You're not the only one waiting for work in the Cold Palace. From now on, you won't get any delicate work either. I'll sort flower petals and wind yarn for you. You're a Manchu woman; surely not all the women doing the work in the six palaces are Han women?"

The people who had been quietly watching the commotion immediately lowered their heads even further, afraid of laughing out loud.

Qingying's face flushed and paled in turns, but before she could speak, a sharp shout came from behind her: "Insolence!"

Rong Pei had just entered the room when she heard her master being reprimanded in public. She was already trembling with anger, and now she couldn't hold back any longer. She rushed over in three strides, shouting, "Who do you think you are, daring to point your finger at my master and speak like that!"

The head maid was startled by her shout. Turning around, she saw an unfamiliar palace maid and her eyebrows immediately shot up: "And who are you? You've only just entered the Cold Palace and you dare to act so wildly?"

"I am a servant of the master!" Rong Pei said angrily, "What kind of tattered silk is this? So what if one piece is torn? You dare to make the master go hungry tonight for such a small thing, and even try to remove the master's nail guards! I think you have been bribed by someone to deliberately make things difficult for me!"

"What nonsense are you spouting!"

The old woman sneered, "She's already in the Cold Palace, what's with all this talk of 'princess'? She's a commoner now, and if she takes on any work in the palace, she has to do it according to the palace rules. Whoever ruins the fabric has to pay for it, and whoever doesn't do a good job doesn't get paid. These are the rules personally set by Her Majesty the Empress. If you're not satisfied, go ask the Imperial Household Department!"

Upon hearing the word "Empress," Rong Pei thought to herself, "As expected," her eyes instantly reddening. She rolled up her sleeves and lunged forward—

-

"Did they fight?"

In Changchun Palace, just as the concubines came to pay their respects, someone came to report the trouble that had occurred in the Cold Palace.

Ruofu rolled her eyes speechlessly: "As long as no one dies, punish them according to the rules. From now on, there's no need to come to me about these trivial matters anymore. They can all go to the Cold Palace. Who has the patience to listen to them bickering with someone today or pulling someone's hair tomorrow? There are only twelve hours in a day, and I have to live my life too."

The palace maid who came to report hurriedly bowed her head and acknowledged the order before leaving.

Ruofu then turned to look at Bai Ruiji, who was sitting at the end of the table, and said, "Since the Emperor has already bestowed upon you the title of Consort, you should serve him well from now on. I have already ordered people to clean up Yonghe Palace. All the necessary allowances, servants, and furnishings will be provided. If there is anything you don't understand, ask the palace matrons first, so as not to break the rules by mistake."

Bai Ruiji immediately rose and curtsied: "This concubine thanks Your Majesty the Empress for your grace. I am new here and do not understand many things. I will certainly abide by the palace rules in the future and learn from the ladies. I dare not cause Your Majesty any trouble."

If Fu nodded, he was quite obedient.

Gao Xiyue, holding her teacup, glanced at Bai Ruiji from head to toe, a hint of jealousy rising in her eyes. She scoffed softly, "I've heard that Consort Mei was most skilled at the pipa in the Southern Palace? Her skills must be exceptional, otherwise she wouldn't have caught the Emperor's eye. Why don't we sisters broaden our horizons as well?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Ruiji smiled and said, "Your Highness is too kind. I used to make a living with such trivial skills. I have heard that Your Highness is a true master of the pipa. How could I dare to show off my limited skills? I only hope to receive some guidance from Your Highness and not find my skills clumsy."

Everyone loves to hear nice things, especially the sweet words of young and beautiful people.

Gao Xiyue's initial displeasure dissipated considerably, and even her brows relaxed: "Indeed, there are few in this world who can rival me in playing the pipa. Since you came from the Southern Palace and your playing has been appreciated by the Emperor, your foundation must be quite solid. Whenever you have time, bring your pipa to Xianfu Palace, and I will listen to it."

Bai Ruiji quickly smiled and said, "I couldn't be happier, thank you very much, Your Highness."

Ruof, sitting up there, found it quite amusing.

She clearly remembered that Bai Ruiji in the original story was not so easy to talk to. Because of her youth and favor, she dared to provoke almost anyone, especially Gao Xiyue, with whom she could argue fiercely in less than three sentences.

It's strange now. He can actually flatter Gao Xiyue so much that she's all smiles, and you can't see any trace of his former fearless and rebellious self.

Ruofu was intrigued, but didn't ask any questions. She simply turned and glared at Gao Xiyue: "Alright, alright, all you do is show off your pipa. You're carrying one in your belly now. How's the baby doing these days? Have you been listening to what the imperial physician and Lady He told you?"

Upon hearing her question, Gao Xiyue immediately lost all her smugness and quickly patted her lower abdomen, saying, "I'm listening! This baby in my belly is my ancestor, how could I dare to be negligent? All my laziness from before has long since disappeared."

Ruof was then satisfied: "That's more like it."

No sooner had the words been spoken than a girl's clear yet annoyed voice faintly came from outside the hall.

"Cry, cry, cry! You still have the nerve to cry! You didn't study hard when you should have, and now you're worried and want me to plead with that cold-faced judge for you? How can I possibly have the face to do that!"

Then came a boy's sobbing and stammering explanation, but it was too far away to hear what he was saying.

Everyone in the hall stopped talking at the same time.

Ruof blinked: "Who's outside?"

Su Xin hurried out, then returned a moment later, her face beaming with barely suppressed laughter: "Your Majesty, it's the First Princess and the Second Prince. The Second Prince seems to be worrying about his studies, and the First Princess is scolding him."

All eyes immediately turned to Zhu Ying.

Zhu Ying was quietly drinking tea when so many people stared at her, leaving her completely bewildered: "Homework? What homework? Yonghuang came back yesterday saying that he had already finished all the homework assigned by the teacher with the help of his older brother."

Upon hearing that there was clearly more to the story, Ruof immediately perked up: "Don't leave yet, stay here, let's hear what's going on with these two kids."

After saying that, she looked at the others and said, "You should all go back for now. The child is all grown up and has his pride. If seven or eight people sit here listening to him get scolded, he'll avoid you in the future."

Su Luyun and Chen Wanyin laughed upon hearing this, and very considerately got up to take their leave.

Bai Ruiji immediately followed suit and bowed, maintaining a well-behaved and sensible demeanor from beginning to end.

Gao Xiyue sat there dawdling, her face clearly saying, "I want to hear too." It wasn't until Ruo Fu gave her a wink, clearly meaning that he would explain it to her in detail later, that she finally left, satisfied, patting her belly.

Before long, only Ruofu, Zhuying, and a few close attendants such as Suxin and Lianxin remained in the hall.

A moment later, the curtain was lifted, and Hua Lan walked in first.

Today she wore a begonia-red brocade jacket with gold trim, over which was a light apricot-colored floral vest. The collar and sleeve edges were trimmed with fine white fox fur. Her hair was not adorned with many jewels, but only with two small red gold hairpins inlaid with gemstones, and a string of delicate pearls was pressed into her hair.

The young girl was already bright and beautiful, and now that she's grown older, she's become quite graceful. Her eyes and brows are lively and bright, and the richness she wears doesn't make her look vulgar or old-fashioned.

Yonghuang, who followed behind her, was a completely different person.

The little guy had clearly just had a good cry; his eyes and nose were all red, his hat was askew, one sleeve was wrinkled, and it was hard to tell how many times he had used it to wipe his face. There was still a tear stuck in the corner of his eye, and his nose was twitching. He looked pitiful and a little disheveled.

Hua Lan gracefully bowed to Ruo Fu and Zhu Ying, saying, "Your daughter greets the Empress Dowager and Consort Zhe."

Yonghuang also bowed, but his voice was still trembling with tears: "Your subject greets Your Majesty, Your Majesty."

Ruofu, seeing his kittenish appearance, almost laughed and quickly waved him over, saying, "Alright, get up. What's wrong now? Why are you crying like this?"