Reborn and returned, sisters swapped

The spring sunshine gently bathed the palace, and peonies and peach blossoms bloomed in the courtyard.

The Prince's residence appeared as peaceful as ever, but the Princess was nowhere to be seen.

The entire mansion was like a painting that had lost its color, lacking her warm care. Although daily affairs were carried out in an orderly manner, it always seemed somewhat deserted.

Princess Consort returned to her parents' home with her son, Gu Chengrui. Her family's business was in urgent need of resolution due to a business dispute, and as the only daughter in the family, she had an inescapable responsibility.

Although no one in the Prince's mansion ever said it aloud, everyone could sense the subtle changes that had occurred since her departure.

The old lady often sat in the courtyard, her gaze unconsciously drifting towards the gate of the mansion.

We eagerly await the Princess's return, hoping she will bring back the peaceful atmosphere of the Prince's residence.

Life in the mansion continued in an orderly manner. The old lady was accompanied by her illegitimate son, Qulanci, every day, who assisted in handling the trivial matters of the inner quarters.

Although she was young, she was clever and sensible, and was deeply loved by the old lady.

In contrast, Gu Jinyan, the legitimate heir, is low-key and composed, always acting discreetly and rarely attracting attention.

Gu Jinyan was not favored, but she had a sense of indifference in her heart. Although she lived in the palace, she did not talk much and spent most of her time alone in the garden or study.

"Sister, come with me to the garden today!" Gu Lanci gently tugged at Gu Jinyan's sleeve, her eyes filled with excitement.

……

Although I was very curious about why my half-sister dragged me to the garden to see the flowers every day, I decided not to move until she did, and just wait and see what tricks she had up her sleeve.

He nodded in agreement after a moment.

Quran was usually talkative and had a cheerful and lively personality. Although the two were not born of the same mother, their relationship was relatively harmonious, which was a rare friendship in the royal palace.

In the garden, the blooming peonies looked exceptionally vibrant under the sunlight.

The two strolled among the flowers, and Qulanci couldn't help but pick one.

She held it to her nose and sniffed it lightly, a smile appearing on her face: "Sister, if the Princess were here, she would definitely hold a flower-viewing banquet for us here."

A hint of longing shone in her eyes as she spoke.

Upon hearing this, Gu Jinyan smiled faintly, his tone gentle yet somewhat distant: "The Princess Consort is always meticulous and would indeed make such detailed arrangements."

There wasn't much emotion in her words; the queen was more like a mother to the Quran.

However, there was always a distance between herself and her stepmother, and the sense of alienation from never being integrated into her life taught her to deal with it calmly.

Quran felt a little bored, so he pursed his lips slightly, but a moment later he smiled and continued to chat enthusiastically about trivial matters in the palace.

She recounted how the princess cared for the servants, even the gardeners who were usually overlooked had received her attention.

Gu Jinyan listened silently, nodding occasionally, but said nothing more.

Just as the two were chatting, Gu Lanci's maid, Su Yun, rushed over and bent down to say:

"Miss, the old lady has summoned you to discuss tomorrow's accounts with you."

Upon hearing this, Gu Lanci frowned slightly, but quickly smiled and turned to Gu Jinyan, saying, "Sister, I'll go take care of my work now. Feel free to wander around by yourself."

After saying that, he hurriedly left with his maid, Suyun.

Gu Jinyan remained alone in the garden. A gentle breeze, carrying a slight chill, caressed her face as she strolled slowly among the flowers, silently contemplating her place within the royal palace.

Although she was the daughter of a prince, she lost her mother at a young age and was not as beloved by her grandmother and stepmother as the Quran describes.

She was already used to this desolation and never asked for much; she was just an insignificant figure in this vast mansion.

Just as she was lost in thought, Gulanci's maid, Suyun, returned without her noticing.

Seeing that Gu Jinyan was alone, she curiously approached him and whispered, "Miss, all those newly added reward expenses that I saw in the ledger were ordered by the Princess!"

You said that even though she wasn't there, she still thought about all these little things in the household; how thoughtful of her.”

Gu Jinyan smiled faintly and replied softly, "The Princess Consort has always been like this, understanding people's hearts." Her tone was calm, but her heart was filled with some complex emotions.

The princess has never lacked concern for the affairs of the household, but this warmth has never truly reached her.

Su Yun spoke at length about the princess's good intentions, while Gu Jinyan maintained a polite smile, seemingly listening but not really.

As evening fell, Gu Jinyan returned to his courtyard, where his maid, Hongyin, had already prepared tea and was waiting respectfully by his side.

Gu Jinyan sat down, picked up his teacup, his eyes fixed on the clear tea in the cup, but his thoughts drifted to distant places.

Looking at Hongyin, she couldn't help but feel a warmth in her heart.

Although Hongyin was her personal maid, she was exceptionally loyal to her.

He had long regarded her as his true master and took meticulous care of her in everything.

“Miss, you and the Second Miss went to the garden today, you must have had a great time, right?” Hongyin asked tentatively.

Gu Jinyan smiled slightly, put down his teacup, and said softly, "It's just looking at the flowers and plants, there's no question of being happy or unhappy."

Hongyin hesitated, then silently straightened her sleeves without saying anything more.

Watching Hongyin's meticulous movements, Gu Jinyan felt a warmth in his heart and said softly, "Hongyin, you've been by my side for so many years, thank you for your hard work."

……

There's a difference between the red and silver ones; Miss doesn't usually say such considerate things.

She raised her head, a hint of emotion flashing in her eyes: "What are you saying, Miss? It is my blessing to serve by your side."

As the night deepened, the palace gradually became quiet.

The old lady went back to her room to rest early, while the prince continued to handle state affairs in his study. Only Gu Jinyan and Gu Lanci remained in their respective courtyards, spending the quiet night.

The following morning, Qulanci and Gujinyan sat together in the courtyard, with Qulanci still accompanying the old lady as she handled daily affairs.

He frequently mentioned the princess's gentleness and meticulousness during their conversation, showing that he was completely focused on her.

Gu Jinyan, on the other hand, kept his head down and quietly sipped his tea, occasionally interjecting with a word, but his mind remained calm, as if he were merely an observer.

In the afternoon, Gu Lanci was tending to the flowers and plants in the courtyard with several maids when she suddenly remembered something and said to Gu Jinyan, who was standing nearby:

"Sister, when the Princess returns, I'd like to host a banquet to welcome her. What do you think?"

Gu Jinyan looked up at her and smiled slightly: "Go ahead and make the preparations. I have nothing to do, so I'll stay with you."

Her tone was calm, neither rejecting nor overly eager.

Quran nodded and continued making arrangements. Seeing her so happy, the maids gathered around to help.

Watching their busy figures, Gu Jinyan couldn't help but think of his own past, when he had also longed for this kind of warm atmosphere.

But time gradually cooled her heart, and she needed to learn how to remain virtuous in this mansion.

As the sun sets, the Prince's Mansion gradually returns to tranquility under the warm glow of the evening sky.

Everything is going on in an orderly manner.

Gu Jinyan stood in the courtyard, gazing at the distant sky, but he always knew in his heart that what he sought was not this small world within the mansion.

She raised her hand to gently brush the strands of hair from her forehead, silently making a wish in her heart that perhaps one day she too could find her own place to belong.