The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

Wang Ruofu?

Shilan's heart stirred, and she got up and walked to the window, asking Sun Baoqi to pull her back a little so that she could have the best view.

Seeing the commotion growing and attracting more and more spectators, Wang Ruofu, who was in the tree, turned pale. But looking at the little bird in her hand whose eyes were still closed, she gritted her teeth and climbed even higher.

She finally managed to get the baby bird into the nest before she started to climb down the tree.

However, his movements were no longer as swift and firm as when he went up; his hands and feet began to tremble, and his face was filled with visible panic.

As expected, the final leap resulted in a solid fall.

Her dress was instantly covered in mud, and the hem was torn by a tree branch, the sound of tearing fabric clearly audible. The young women who came to watch the spectacle burst into laughter.

"Ruoyu, your younger sister is really interesting."

"Ruoyu, is this really your sister? Or maybe they were switched at birth?"

"I happened to read a storybook the other day. Country folk are crude but cunning. They wish they could swap their offspring with those of us, so that even if they achieve nothing, they could still live a life they never dared to dream of. Ruoyu, you should go back and have someone investigate this thoroughly."

Everyone was chatting animatedly, but the Wang sisters' faces grew increasingly grim. In the end, Wang Ruoyu, who valued her reputation, couldn't bear the overwhelming ridicule. She stomped her foot angrily and stormed off.

Wang Ruofu, who had just injured her ankle, was left in a disheveled and helpless state, and cried out in fear.

"What's all the noise about?"

A reprimand came.

The young women's laughter abruptly stopped, and they looked somewhat embarrassed as they watched Shilan and the others emerge from the house.

They were all from official families, but their family backgrounds were far inferior to those of Shilan and others. Moreover, in the past two years, the women's polo team that Shilan and others had formed had become increasingly famous in the capital, and they were even registered with the empresses in the palace. Naturally, they could not compare to them.

Therefore, he hastily performed the standard greeting.

Shilan did not return the greeting, nor did the girls around her. She was used to being high and mighty, and as the legitimate daughter of a marquis, she had no reason to bow down and show goodwill to the daughter of a minor official of the second or third rank.

Leaning against the door, he said coldly, "Today is my eldest sister's special day. I invited you all here to enjoy the wine, not to gossip or cause trouble. You may all leave."

Everyone blushed at her merciless reprimand. Two people, who were particularly thin-skinned or had exceptionally high pride, were even teary-eyed but dared not utter a word in response.

Because they remembered that today was the auspicious day for her elder sister and the heir of the Marquis of Gu. In the future, the Marquis of Dongchang's mansion and the Marquis of Ningyuan's mansion would join forces, making Shilan's status even more prestigious.

They quickly apologized and took their leave.

Seeing that everyone had dispersed, Shilan gestured for Baoqin to come forward and help Wang Ruofu, who was still sitting on the ground, to get up.

"Miss, Miss Wang has sprained her ankle and can't move."

Baoqin exclaimed in surprise.

Shilan frowned slightly: "Find a strong old woman to carry her into the house, and then find a doctor. Don't forget to send someone to inform her parents."

It should be "holding a zither".

Shilan glanced at Wang Ruofu again, who was staring back at her blankly, her face still wet with tears and snot.

He really is a simpleton.

Shilan looked away, her eyes stinging, and turned to go inside.

Seeing this, Sun Baoqi and the others followed suit and returned.

"So that's Grand Tutor Wang's second daughter, whom he raised in his hometown," Sun Baoqi said. "She looks rather simple-minded."

She still felt some regret.

Wu Yueyin sensed something was wrong and was somewhat surprised: "What, you actually hope she's a good person?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Baoqi first looked around, then sent her maids out to guard the door to ensure that no outsiders would hear what she was about to say before speaking cautiously.

These were all things her mother said to her in her spare time.

The Wang family was originally a family of farmers and scholars, but this generation produced a person of extraordinary talent and brilliance like Grand Tutor Wang, who quickly rose to prominence and became a leader among noble families.

Logically speaking, families like theirs, which rely solely on their ancestors' achievements and are wealthy but whose descendants are not successful, would actually prefer to marry into families like the Wang family, which are successful but have a weak foundation.

However, Grand Tutor Wang's son and daughter were both mediocre talents.

Not to mention his only son, Wang Shiping, he was simply not cut out for studying, and even if he were to get into officialdom by chance, he wouldn't go far.

Their pampered daughter, whom they had raised with utmost care, could not possibly marry into that family. Otherwise, if Grand Tutor Wang were to retire or pass away, their daughter would become a commoner, or spend her life as the mistress of a minor official's household... How could they bear to do that?

Marrying off a concubine's daughter? That's pure fantasy. How utterly shameless must someone be to dare offend Grand Tutor Wang like that?

As for getting married...

At this point, Sun Baoqi could picture her mother's cold smile again.

"That Wang Ruoyu, seemingly shrewd but actually foolish, is arrogant and always striving to be the best. Needless to say, her heart is extremely narrow. What's the difference between marrying such a woman and welcoming back a jinx?"

"Unless they've lost their minds, or are short-sighted and only see the Wang family's current glory while their own children and grandchildren are not promising, they would think of coming to propose marriage."

But when people heard that Grand Tutor Wang had a young daughter who was being raised by his younger brother, they still held onto a sliver of hope.

What if this youngest daughter inherited Grand Tutor Wang's intelligence?

But it seems that's not the case now.

"I understand now. You feel sorry for your brothers, that they couldn't marry daughters of the Wang family, and that all the efforts Grand Tutor Wang has made over the years have been wasted." Wu Yueyin pointed out the key point directly.

Sun Baoqi nodded calmly. His elder brothers all wanted to enter officialdom through the imperial examination and take the civil service route. If they could marry a woman from the Wang family, it would be like adding wings to a tiger, and they would surely be able to go further and more steadily in the court.

It's not just our family that has this kind of plan. If others can do it, why can't we? Marriage is about getting what you need; what's there to hide?

Wu Yueyin accepted it well, while Shilan seemed to be deep in thought.

Only Chen Zhao showed a hint of displeasure, but ultimately said nothing.

Everyone has their own ambitions.

Before long, Baoqin returned, bringing news that Wang Ruofu's injuries had been treated promptly and she was now out of danger, and that she had been taken home by the eldest daughter-in-law of the Wang family.

Shilan nodded, still thinking about other things.

Baoqin added, "Miss Wang kept asking who you are, and I didn't hide anything. Madam Wang also said that she would definitely come to thank you on a chosen day."

Shilan's heart stirred.

That would be a good opportunity.