The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

Once the arrow is released, there's no turning back.

Knowing more and more about the ruthlessness of Princess Fu Ning, Wang Ruo and Yue dared not gamble on turning back.

She could only bite the bullet and follow Fu Ning's lead, saying, "Your Highness is right; I misunderstood. But Your Highness needn't worry too much. It's said that we all prosper together and suffer together. If the Dongchang Marquis's mansion's reputation is ruined, what does it matter if Qin Shilan is a married woman? With a reputation for improper family conduct, her in-laws will look down on her. Besides, they're newlyweds; if this causes estrangement between husband and wife and makes her in-laws dislike her, isn't that a happy thing?"

Princess Fu Ning seemed to have truly seen Shi Lan, who had only been married for two days and was already being looked down upon by her husband. Her expression softened slightly, and then another thought came to her: "You've reminded me. I remember your good-for-nothing husband, who spends all his time out and about, knows all sorts of people, especially those lowlifes who do the sex trade?"

Wang Ruoyu was both ashamed and angry, but dared not retaliate: "I do recognize a few."

Princess Fu Ning couldn't help but sneer: "Then let's pick the most despicable, the most promiscuous, and the most clingy. When the lawsuit involving the Marquis of Dongchang's mansion becomes a huge scandal and all eyes in the capital are on it, find an opportunity to send her to Zhang Yun's side. No matter the method, make sure that slut gets entangled with him."

Thinking back to the Lantern Festival, in front of everyone, her fiancé Cao Zheng failed to plot against Zhang Yun and instead lost face by behaving improperly in front of the emperor.

After Cao Zheng returned home, her father beat her so badly that she couldn't get out of bed for half a month. As a result, she was also severely reprimanded by her father and confined to the mansion, becoming the laughing stock among her sisters!

All of this is because of Zhang Yun, because of Qin Shilan!

She won't let either of those two bitches get away with it!

Hearing this, Wang Ruoyu was secretly pleased. She was happy for others to experience the same suffering she had endured.

"The princess is intelligent!"

Princess Fu Ning then glanced at her with satisfaction and waved her hand as if bestowing a favor: "Do your best. After it's done, your Kang family will certainly reap the rewards."

Wang Ruo flattered Princess Fu Ning for a while longer, and seeing that she looked tired, he bowed and withdrew, happily going home.

-

Meanwhile, Zhang Yun and Shi Lan took advantage of Hua Jie'er's unconscious state and quickly said goodbye and went home.

Inside the carriage, Zhang Yun saw that Shi Lan had been silent since getting in, and assumed that she was reluctant to leave her family home. So he took her hand and said gently, "If we go back tomorrow, other people will probably gossip. How about this, the day after tomorrow, I will accompany you back."

Shilan snapped out of her daze and chuckled, "Why would I be so reluctant to part with it?"

She was actually still thinking about Princess Fu Ning.

Wang Ruo and the Kang family are not a threat, but Fu Ning is a princess with the Prince of Pu as her backer. How can we strike her down in one fell swoop and prevent her from ever recovering?

But the warmth from her palm and the man's tender words prevailed at that moment, driving away all her calculations.

Upon returning to the Duke of England's residence, the two first went to the main courtyard to pay their respects to their mother-in-law, Chen Ning, and explained why they had returned late.

Since Mangosteen had already returned to report the new year, Madam Chen did not blame them. Instead, she looked at them with a smile and said to Zhang Yun, "You're not late at all. The sun hasn't even set yet. Another day, remember to take Shilan to the Daxiangguo Temple to pray for peace of mind and also for many children."

Shilan hadn't expected her mother-in-law to make such a blunt joke, and her cheeks flushed red, making her even more beautiful under the lamplight.

Zhang Yun remained unfazed and replied solemnly, "I will heed Mother's teachings."

But the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

Shilan said, "Yes, Mother, I've remembered."

After having dinner, the two returned to their own courtyard and washed and dressed separately.

Shilan was originally thinking about Princess Funing, but later she couldn't help but shift her attention to Zhao Zongquan.

Zhao Zongquan was brought into the palace by the emperor when he felt hopeless after his own children died one after another. He was a legitimate child adopted by the emperor.

According to both patriarchal and ritual laws, he was considered a son of the official family, and could no longer be addressed as father and son or sister and brother to Prince Pu and Fu Ning.

But she remembered clearly that in a few years, the Emperor would have his own biological son, and then he would send him out of the palace. Many years later, when all these offspring died young, they would hopelessly bring Zhao Zongquan back.

Therefore, she has plenty of time.

With these thoughts in mind, Shilan looked at this official more and more, and he seemed more and more familiar to her.

Despite having many beauties in the harem and being able to have children, the emperor had more than a dozen children, most of whom were princesses. The few princes he had died young, and many princesses also failed to grow up.

This situation immediately gave Shilan, who had extensive experience in palace intrigue, a familiar feeling.

On second thought, it seems there is also a virtuous and gentle empress in this palace.

And she's an empress dowager again!

Wait a minute, is there still an Empress Dowager in the present day?

But was she the official's biological mother?

Lost in thought, I was suddenly hugged tightly from behind.

The man had just showered, his body carrying a refreshing scent of water vapor and soap, but his chest was burning hot, pressing against her back through her thin nightgown.

Shilan was caught off guard, but her body went limp first.

Zhang Yun smiled smugly, turned her around, and kissed her deeply.

The curtains fell, the red candles flickered, and the room was filled with the warmth of spring.

After a long while, the rain gradually subsided, and their breathing calmed down.

Shilan lay languidly on Zhang Yun's sweaty chest, but the man was still not satisfied, and his hands were still not at ease.

"Is this never going to end?"

Shilan glared at him coquettishly, her eyes filled with seductive charm.

Zhang Yun did not answer, but showed his attitude through his actions.

Shilan sighed softly, knowing she could only continue to indulge in it.

That's amazing! You're so good at it!

They're both men, how come they have such boundless energy?

Is she eating too well right now?

Shilan thought vaguely.

Is this the difference between a young general who has fought on the battlefield for many years and a sinister prince who can't even draw a bow with four and a half strength?

What did she miss in her past life?

I've finished washing and grooming.

Zhang Yun held her, playing with her long, dark hair that hung down beside the pillow. Suddenly remembering her earlier absent-mindedness, he brought up the old question again: "When I came in earlier, I saw you were thinking very seriously. What were you thinking about?"

Shilan's thoughts were still a little unsettled. She snuggled closer to him, looking for a more comfortable position, before slowly voicing her earlier doubts: "I was just thinking that so many children in the palace are dying young, which is really... illogical."

Zhang Yun's body stiffened almost imperceptibly: "You mean... someone deliberately plotted to harm the imperial heir?"

He paused, then pointedly added incredulously, "But those are all the blood and flesh of officials!"

"So what?" Shilan said dismissively. "The Emperor naturally hopes for many offspring, but what about the others?"