After Swapping Bodies, the Princess and I Became Each Other’s Cheat Code - Chapter 4

Ling’er bit her lip and whispered, “The Princess has always… been too afraid to look directly at Noble Consort Zheng, let alone…”

“Let alone talk back, right?” Jiang Tian forced a bitter smile. Great. My character’s already crumbling on day one. This palace intrigue storyline is way too hard!

Just as Jiang Tian was strategizing her next move, an announcement came from outside the door: “The Empress has arrived!”

The Empress entered, regal and dignified in her phoenix robes. Pearls on her phoenix crown swayed gently with each step, radiating a dazzling light. She hurried in, her face etched with worry and concern. Seeing Jiang Tian sitting on the bed, she visibly relaxed and rushed to the bedside, taking Jiang Tian’s hand. “Yue’er, are you feeling any better?” Her voice was gentle and affectionate, her eyes overflowing with maternal love.

Jiang Tian instinctively wanted to flinch away, but froze when she saw the Empress’s reddened eyes. The genuine fear and lingering anxiety in this mother’s gaze reminded her of her own mother back in the modern world, who always worried about her.

“Imperial… Imperial Mother,” Jiang Tian stammered awkwardly, her throat suddenly tightening.

The Empress scrutinized Jiang Tian’s face intently, then abruptly turned and snapped, “Didn’t the Imperial Physician say she was merely startled? Why doesn’t Yue’er even recognize This Princess?”

The entire room knelt in unison. Ling’er, trembling, explained, “Your Ladyship, the Princess has indeed awakened, but… she can’t remember some things.”

The Empress’s phoenix eyes widened. “What do you mean, ‘can’t remember’?”

Seeing the Empress’s agitation, Jiang Tian quickly tugged at her sleeve. “Imperial Mother, please don’t blame them. I’m just… a little dizzy. I need time to recall everything.” She struggled to mimic the formal speech patterns of historical dramas. “I’m so happy you came to see me, Imperial Mother.”

The Empress’s expression softened slightly. She waved for the others to withdraw. Once only the mother and daughter remained, she suddenly pulled Jiang Tian into a tight embrace, her voice choked with emotion. “If anything had happened to you… how could I have lived?”

Jiang Tian stiffened in the Empress’s arms, the faint scent of sandalwood filling her nostrils. This warm embrace reminded her of her own mother, whom she hadn’t seen in so long. Her eyes had already grown moist without her realizing it. She cautiously returned the Empress’s embrace.

“Imperial Mother, please don’t worry. Your daughter… your daughter is fine.”

The Empress released her, wiping away the tears at the corners of her eyes, and regained her regal composure. “Tell me, how did you fall into the water?”

Jiang Tian hesitated for a moment before deciding to tell the truth. “I only remember admiring the fish with my Second Imperial Sister and Fifth Imperial Sister by the pond when suddenly someone pushed me from behind…”

A cold glint flashed in the Empress’s eyes. “Just as I suspected! I should have known it was those venomous daughters of the Zheng Clan!” She gripped Jiang Tian’s hand tightly. “Rest assured, Imperial Mother will see justice done for you!”

Jiang Tian quickly shook her head. “Imperial Mother, please wait! I have no proof. Accusing them without evidence would only alert them.”

The Empress stared at her in surprise, seemingly taken aback by such words from her usually timid daughter.

Jiang Tian continued, “Moreover, Noble Consort Zheng enjoys the Imperial Father’s favor. Without irrefutable evidence, I fear…”

She didn’t finish the sentence, but the Empress understood perfectly. A complex emotion flickered in her eyes. “Yue’er… you’ve changed.”

Jiang Tian’s heart skipped a beat. Had she been found out?

But the Empress gently stroked her hair and said with relief, “You’re finally learning to protect yourself. Your Imperial Mother is so proud.”

Jiang Tian secretly breathed a sigh of relief and seized the opportunity to ask, “Imperial Mother, I want to learn more about the palace… Can you tell me?”

The Empress sighed and began to explain in detail the power dynamics within the palace, the temperaments of the various concubines, and the factions among the court officials. Jiang Tian listened intently, memorizing every detail—this was her survival guide in this foreign world!

After the Empress left, Jiang Tian immediately summoned Ling’er. “Quick, tell me everything about my daily habits, likes, dislikes, and the temperaments of the palace masters!”

Though puzzled, Ling’er explained everything meticulously. Jiang Tian listened intently, taking notes and occasionally asking clarifying questions. After four hours, she had gained a basic understanding of the palace and even memorized the key figures’ appearances.

Jiang Tian suddenly remembered something, her expression tightening as a hint of anxiety and confusion flickered in her eyes. “Ling’er, the day I fell into the water… was it raining heavily? With thunder and lightning? You must think carefully.”

Ling’er’s eyes widened in surprise, her gaze filled with bewilderment as she shook her head repeatedly. “No, Princess! The sky was clear and bright that day, the sun was shining warmly, and the flowers in the Imperial Garden were in full bloom. How could there have been a thunderstorm? Are you sure you’re remembering correctly?”

Jiang Tian’s confusion deepened. She distinctly remembered the night of her car accident being a violent thunderstorm, with thunderclaps and lightning flashes. Yet the weather here was completely different. What could be the explanation? Could there be a deeper secret behind this transmigration?

As she pondered, Jiang Tian’s gaze drifted to a jade pendant lying beside the bed. The pendant had an ancient, rustic design and a warm, lustrous texture, clearly of considerable value. Curious, she picked it up and examined it closely, noticing the character “Ling” carved into its surface.

She immediately summoned Ling’er and pointed to the pendant. “Ling’er, do you recognize this jade pendant? Where did it come from?”

Ling’er leaned closer, examined the jade pendant carefully, and shook her head with a puzzled expression. “Your Highness, this servant has never seen this jade pendant before. It looks exquisite and has a character engraved on it, so it must be something special.”

Jiang Tian’s heart skipped a beat. She immediately realized that this pendant had likely been torn off either the Second Princess or the Fifth Princess when the original owner of her body fell into the water. She held the pendant up to the light, squinting as she examined it while pondering, “This pendant has the character ‘Ling’ on it, which clearly indicates it belongs to a man. How could it have ended up on either the Second Princess or the Fifth Princess? This matter is definitely more complicated than it seems. Perhaps this is their weakness.”

Ling’er, noticing Jiang Tian’s unwavering gaze fixed on the pendant, leaned closer curiously. “Your Highness, does this pendant have some special significance? You’ve been staring at it for so long.”

A faint, confident smile curved Jiang Tian’s lips. “This pendant might conceal a major secret. Once I uncover the truth, I’ll make them pay for their actions.”