The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

Ruo Fu readily sat back down, but his chin remained raised high, and his eyes glanced sideways at Hongli.

The meaning is self-evident.

Suppressing his anger, Hongli turned around and sternly shouted at the two old women holding A'ruo, "What are you all standing there for? Didn't you hear the Princess's orders? Drag her away and execute her, not a single stroke of the cane is spared!"

The color drained from A'Ruo's face instantly. She struggled to call for help, but the old woman covered her mouth and dragged her away.

A moment later, the dull thud of a board falling and A'Ruo's muffled groan as her mouth was covered came from the courtyard.

Hongli's gaze swept over Qingying, who was looking at him with tears in her eyes and a bewildered expression.

His heart tightened, and he awkwardly looked away: "Consort Qing is unwell. Someone, take her back to Qingzhi Courtyard... She is not allowed to leave without the consort's permission."

Qingying's lips trembled slightly, and tears finally rolled down her cheeks.

Wang Qin personally stepped forward to help her, and Qingying had no choice but to lower her head and walk out. But before leaving, she looked back at Hongli, but Hongli just stared away with a sullen face, refusing to meet her gaze.

Ruofu smiled contentedly: "That's right. Your Highness is a man of great things; I'll take care of these trivial matters in the backyard!"

Upon hearing this, Hongli felt even more frustrated, but what could he do?

He could only manage a forced smile: "What the Princess Consort says is true."

Ruo Fu was even more delighted to hear this. Turning around, she realized that Gao Xiyue and Fucha Zhuying were still there. After a pause, a smile returned to her face: "I'm sorry you had to see this. But since Consort Qing has already said it, I won't hide it from you. Last night, something like this did happen. Our Prince had been drinking and didn't recognize the way, so he mistakenly walked into the room of an embroiderer."

Hongli's face stiffened, and he was about to speak to stop him, but Ruofu continued with a smile: "The embroiderer's name was Hailan. She was clever and dutiful. Seeing that the prince was drunk and confused, she immediately woke him up and sent someone to the main courtyard to invite me. I arrived in time, and the prince did not do anything impolite. Hailan was still an innocent girl, so the matter was suppressed."

"This is not a big deal. After you two go back, you must keep a close eye on the people around you. Don't be like Consort Qing, who makes a scene as if she wants everyone to know."

"There's nothing new under the sun, and this trivial misunderstanding is even less worth mentioning. If we don't talk about this or that, and everyone keeps their mouths shut, in ten days or half a month, naturally no one will remember it."

At this point, she paused deliberately, calmly picked up the freshly brewed hot tea that Chen Guang had brought, elegantly tousled the floating leaves, and her voice turned cold:

"But if anyone insists on spreading rumors everywhere, asking questions today and gossiping about it tomorrow, turning falsehoods into truth... then they are deliberately trying to disrupt the Prince's residence and damage the Prince's reputation, and I will not let them off lightly!"

Upon hearing this, Gao Xiyue and Fucha Zhuying understood Ruofu's meaning and quickly rose to their feet to bow, saying, "Your Majesty, we will respectfully follow your teachings."

Gao Xiyue added, "Don't worry, Madam. When I get back, I'll gather everyone in the courtyard. Anyone who dares to utter a single word of gossip, I'll tear their mouth apart!"

Ruofu nodded in satisfaction: "You have always been sensible, so I am very relieved."

Hongli's expression softened when he heard her skillfully suppress the matter with a combination of calm and confrontation. Fucha was strong-willed and could not tolerate the slightest grievance. When her temper flared up, she was utterly reckless and dared to humiliate him.

However, he had to admit that in important matters, Lady Fucha was indeed worthy of being the legitimate daughter of a prominent family. Her vision and skills were first-rate, making her the most suitable candidate for primary consort.

However, when Ruofu said this, his expression froze again. Compared with Gao Shi and the other Fucha Shi, Qingying was indeed a bit naive, and had been instigated by that lowly maid A'ruo!

Otherwise, why would he have lost face in public?

Hongli was lost in thought, his expression changing several times. At this moment, Gao Xiyue and Fucha Zhuying, seeing that the matter had come to an end, also tactfully took their leave.

Ruof didn't intend to keep them, and after saying a few polite words, he dismissed the two.

After they left, Zhaoying led several maids and servants to clean the flower hall, picking up the account books and keys on the ground, cleaning up the broken porcelain and tea, and replacing them with new blankets and tea sets.

Ruofu, supporting her aching back, slowly stood up and casually asked, "I'm still a little sleepy and was planning to go back to my room to rest for a while. Would Your Highness like to come along?"

Her tone was calm, as if the mess on the ground and the commotion just now did not exist... When Hongli came to his senses, he felt a lump in his throat, unable to go down or come up.

After a long silence, he gritted his teeth and replied, "Several relatives and court officials will be visiting today, and I must go to the front courtyard to entertain them, so I will not accompany my wife."

Ruofu nodded and helped Chen Guang to the back, saying, "Then Your Highness, please go quickly. Take care."

Hongli remained where he was, his chest heaving, but he had no way to vent his anger, nor did he dare to. He could only flick his sleeve and leave with Wang Qin.

Ruo Fu returned to his dormitory at a leisurely pace, his lips slowly parting into a wide grin, finally revealing an incredibly joyful smile.

Zhao Ying finally breathed a sigh of relief: "My lady, you really scared me to death! I thought you were really going to turn against the Prince and go home!"

"Of course it's true!" Ruof said matter-of-factly. "If he hadn't asked me to stay, I definitely would have left. Did he expect me to stay and let them treat me like this?"

Thinking of how Hongli had been so unwilling yet had no choice but to act subserviently, she couldn't help but smile again: "Was this princess consort so imposing just now?"

"So impressive, so incredibly impressive!" Zhaoying clapped her hands and said, "You didn't see it? Even the Prince was terrified by you. Not only did he come to help you up himself, but he also personally confirmed the punishment inflicted on A'Ruo..."

Shen Guang suddenly said softly, "Zhao Ying, how can you talk about the Prince behind his back? You saw with your own eyes why A'Ruo was punished today. We who serve by the Prince's side should set an example and take this as a warning."

Zhao Ying's smug expression vanished instantly, and she obediently lowered her head: "Yes, Sister Chen Guang, I will never dare to do it again."

Ruo Fu glanced at Chen Guang with admiration: "You're absolutely right. It's no wonder I entrusted you with all the big and small matters in this courtyard; you've been very reliable."

She then looked at Zhaoying: "You are lively and efficient, but sometimes your mouth is faster than your brain. I know you don't mean any harm, but what Shen Guang said is true. You still need to learn and practice more, so that one day you won't get too carried away and give others a reason to find fault."

Zhao Ying replied with complete acceptance, "Yes, Madam, this servant has remembered."

So many things happened so early in the morning. Although they were all dealt with, Ruofu still felt a soreness in her lower back. She quickly changed out of her heavy and dignified clothes and into soft and light everyday clothes. She then sat down by the couch and let Zhaoying continue to remove the hairpins and ornaments from her hair.

As she removed the jewelry piece by piece, Ruofu felt much lighter and was able to continue, "What he's afraid of isn't me, but the Fucha family behind me."

"If I return to my uncle's mansion today, four months pregnant, with my dowry and the housekeeper's key, he won't be able to cover up what happened in the house."

"At that time, whether it's a seamstress or not, whether a servant is spying on her master or not, these are all minor matters. Others will only say that he is trampling on my dignity as the legitimate wife for the sake of Ulanara."

"At that time, how could my Fucha family possibly let him off so easily?"

"Besides, Consort Xi in the palace has never liked Ulanara and doesn't want the prince to get too involved with her. If she knew about this, wouldn't she have something to say? And wouldn't she use this as an excuse to give him a good dressing down?"

"But I don't care about any of that."

Ruof suddenly changed the subject: "Since he knows fear and knows that he needs my help right now, that's enough."

"I married into this royal household not to suffer his and his darling's temper, nor to clean up his messes like wanting to sleep with this girl today and taking that concubine tomorrow!"

"He wants me to manage the household affairs and keep this palace in perfect order for him, and he also wants to use the help of my Fucha family... Fine! Then he must respect me and follow my rules! The women in this backyard, whether they came in from the beginning, are currently living here, or will be brought in later, must all respect me!"

As Ruofu spoke, he became increasingly convinced of his own superiority, his chin rising higher and higher, his arrogance growing: "I'm not going to do something so stupid as to suffer in silence, exert myself, and end up with nothing to show for it!"

I'll never do it again!

Zhaoying quickly chimed in, "You're absolutely right, Madam! In my opinion, after today's outburst, Consort Qing should calm down for a while. Even Consort Gao and Consort Fucha will only show more respect for you from now on. Didn't you see how brightly Consort Gao looked at you just now?"

Ruofu then thought of the expressions on everyone's faces in the hall, and couldn't help but feel overjoyed: "Really?"

"Of course!" Zhaoying hurriedly replied.

Even Shen Guang nodded.

Ruof's eyes immediately crinkled with laughter.

This is the kind of life a proper wife should live!

The concubine was obedient, respected by her husband, and revered by all the servants in the household.

Just then, a maidservant came to see him. Shen Guang went out for a moment and quickly returned with a note: "Madam, it was Su Xin who secretly sent this."