The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

Before we knew it, the imperial examinations were about to begin.

On this day, Bianjing City seemed to wake up exceptionally early, and the area outside the Imperial Examination Hall was bustling with people and carriages.

The street, usually quite spacious, was packed with students who had been studying hard, eagerly awaiting their return, and casual spectators.

The carriage from the Dongchang Marquis's residence finally found a relatively quiet spot to stop.

Qin Zhengyang got off the carriage first, then turned around and carefully led his father, Qin Muchuan, down.

Qin Muchuan felt better than usual, so he insisted on personally escorting his son to the venue. He really didn't want to miss such an important day.

Although he looked sickly and haggard, he still retained the essence of the Marquis of Dongchang, and his dark-patterned brocade robe accentuated his wealth and elegance.

Qin Zhengyang, dressed in a simple blue robe, stood beside the car. Although his expression was calm, his tightly pursed lips betrayed a hint of nervousness.

As soon as Qin Muchuan got out of the car, many familiar courtiers and officials came over to greet him.

He was, after all, the Marquis of Dongchang in this generation, and he was always generous with his money, so he was quite popular.

Like all noble ladies who value etiquette, Shilan remained reserved in the carriage, only slightly lifting a corner of the curtain to quietly watch the commotion outside.

If the person who came to exchange pleasantries with her father was a duke, marquis, or earl of equal status, she would nod slightly through the carriage window, showing perfect manners.

If they were just ordinary officials or their families, she would keep her eyes straight ahead, maintaining the aloofness and distance befitting a daughter of a noble family.

Just then, a young man dressed in a royal blue silk robe, with a somewhat timid expression, approached. Since Qin Muchuan was busy socializing and hadn't paid attention to this, he hesitantly cupped his hands in the direction of the carriage and said, "Sister Shilan, you've come to see me off to the exam too?"

Shilan didn't even lift her eyelids, as if she hadn't heard at all.

The person who came was Sun Baoqi's cousin.

He met with a firm rebuff, his face turning pale instantly, and he retreated sheepishly.

Not far away, Sun Baoqi, who was dressed up, took in the whole scene. Holding the exquisitely embroidered knee pads in her hands, she secretly gritted her teeth.

Fortunately, her mother, who was always watching her, gently nudged her and whispered, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and take the things to your future husband!"

This is a reminder, and also a warning.

Sun Baoqi finally came to her senses, barely suppressing her jealousy of Shilan and her anger at her cousin's lack of ambition, and forced a smile as she walked towards her fiancé—the eldest grandson of the Marquis of Zhongjing—who was not far away.

Watching her daughter's retreating figure, Sun's mother glanced again at the carriage of the Marquis of Dongchang's residence, secretly calculating in her heart:

I've heard that the second daughter of the Qin family has a very large private fortune, is exceptionally good at managing the household, and is also close to the only male heir, Qin Zhengyang. If my nephew can really get his hands on her, it would be a great help to my son.

Anyway, her only female relative, her own daughter, was already engaged, so she wasn't afraid of being implicated by the Qin family.

From the moment Sun Baoqi appeared, Qin Zhengyang's gaze unconsciously followed her.

Naturally, the scene of her holding knee pads and walking shyly toward her fiancé was also captured.

A touch of bittersweetness inevitably welled up in my heart, but before this emotion could spread, it was interrupted by a cheerful voice.

"Sister Shilan! Second Brother Qin!"

Wang Ruofu emerged from the crowd like a light, graceful bird.

She was wearing a pale yellow spring dress today, which made her look especially charming and lively.

Her mother and sister followed not far behind her, and her brother Wang Shiping was also going to compete today.

She ran to the carriage of the Marquis of Dongchang's residence, first giving Shilan a sweet smile inside, then turning to Qin Zhengyang. She pulled a small amulet embroidered with the words "Peace and Prosperity" from her sleeve and stuffed it into his hand, her eyes sparkling: "Second Brother Qin, here! I specially went to the Great Xiangguo Temple to get it; a high monk blessed it! It will surely bless you with abundant inspiration, brilliant writing, and success in the imperial examinations!"

She spoke quickly and sincerely, with a uniquely charming naiveté that made her exceptionally adorable.

Shilan couldn't help but laugh out loud in the car. The cold and dignified beauty suddenly smiled like spring water melting, shimmering and sparkling. Many people who had been attracted by the commotion caused by Wang Ruofu unconsciously held their breath.

Qin Zhengyang looked at the talisman in his hand, and then at Wang Ruofu's untroubled and encouraging smile. The lingering bitterness in his heart was instantly dispelled, and he smiled warmly as well.

He suddenly straightened his clothes, cupped his hands in a salute, and said, "Thank you for your kind words, Miss Wang."

His solemn demeanor drew the attention of everyone around him, and their conversations quieted down considerably.

Wang Ruofu was taken aback by his sudden seriousness, and feeling the teasing gazes of the people around her, her pretty face blushed slightly. She quickly climbed into the car and hid beside Shilan.

Only Shilan heard a few words whispered from her small mouth: "You're welcome, you're welcome."

Shilan was amused again, her bright eyes filled with laughter, as if they were filled with scattered stars.

-

In contrast to the cheerful and lively atmosphere at the Dongchang Marquis's residence, in another corner of the crowd, the stern-faced Madam Xu of the Sheng family was meticulously checking the writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones in Sheng Hong's examination basket for the last time.

Sheng Hong's face was upright, and he said in a low voice with a hint of ingratiation that was barely perceptible: "Mother, rest assured, I will do my best to make you proud when I go there."

Upon hearing this, Madam Xu sighed. Although she had defied public opinion to raise this illegitimate son who was not related to her by blood, her ultimate goal, as the child said, was to prove that her choice was right and to one day be able to hold her head high in front of her maternal family.

But people aren't plants or trees; after all these years of getting to know each other, how could she not have developed some genuine feelings for one another?

Many words swirled in his throat, but ultimately culminated in a word of comfort: "Just do your best. If you don't succeed this time, there's always next time."

Sheng Hong readily agreed, but his eyes couldn't help but dart towards where the Wang family members were. His mother had promised him that if he passed the imperial examination with flying colors, she would arrange for him to marry a daughter of the Wang family.

Looking at the tall, alluring eldest daughter of the Wang family, Sheng Hong secretly made up his mind:

I must pass the exam, and I must do well on it.

He has to climb up, climb high.

That would be worthy of the young woman who suffered so much and died trying to protect him.

-

In a corner a little distance from the entrance of the examination hall, two magnificent chestnut horses stood side by side.

"What are you looking at, Zhang Erlang? Are you also itching to go in and pass the imperial examination with top honors?"

The boy in red on the left muttered to the boy in blue on the right, "Let me tell you, you promised me we'd enlist together and go to the front lines to defend our country. You can't leave me behind!"

His voice was loud and clear, startling everyone around him, who turned around to look, but upon seeing the two people's attire, they all turned back to look away.

Those dressed in fine clothes and riding fine horses must belong to the sons of some powerful and wealthy family; they're not the kind of people to just watch the show.

Upon seeing this, the blue-clad young man, known as Zhang Erlang, frowned slightly and said in a low voice, "Shut up."

His gaze continued to search the crowd, until he spotted the carriage of the Marquis of Dongchang's residence. He then caught a glimpse of the radiant smile on the face of the noble young woman inside, a smile as bright as melting snow, caused by Wang Ruofu's actions. At that moment, his tightly pursed lips twitched almost imperceptibly, and a hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.

The boy in red followed his gaze and saw only a bustling crowd and various carriages. He didn't notice anything special and immediately felt bored.

He sighed, scratching his head in frustration. "I've finally come out, so forget about all this nonsense. You need to help me think of a solution. My parents are determined to make me get married and have children before they'll let me go to the army to fight! What am I going to do?"

Zhang Erlang's gaze calmly swept over the crowd at the entrance of the examination hall, only occasionally glancing at someone unintentionally, and said in a light tone: "Then marry one."

"Easy for you to say!" The young man in red immediately frowned. "You know all too well those young ladies, each one so delicate and fragile, afraid to even raise their voices. They'd faint at the sight of a tiny insect, and they're always either wallowing in self-pity or fighting over a man. Marrying one of them would just be adding to the chaos. How could I possibly concentrate on fighting the war?"

Zhang Erlang glanced at him sideways and saw his bitter and resentful look. But what came to mind was the figure on the polo field, as fiery as a blazing flame.

A faint, enigmatic smile curved his lips as he said softly, "Then marry someone who isn't delicate."

The boy in red pressed on, "Find me one."

Zhang Erlang, however, pulled on the reins, turned his horse around, and galloped away.

But in his heart he thought, "Dream on, she's the one I want to marry."