The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

The courtyard that the Wang family arranged for Langhua was named Zhaoshui Pavilion.

As Langhua and her entourage entered the courtyard, they saw several people already standing inside and outside the house.

The head of the household, a woman around forty years old, was well-dressed and had a kind expression.

She led two young maids forward and first respectfully bowed to Langhua.

"This old servant's surname is Shao. I used to serve the eldest mistress. The eldest mistress was worried that the young lady was new here and didn't have any suitable people around her, so she specially asked this old servant to bring two maids over first so that the young lady could get to know them."

Langhua nodded.

"Thank you for your help, Madam Shao."

Mrs. Shao smiled and responded, glancing back at the table.

The two young girls hurried forward, bowed again, and crisply announced their names.

"This servant is Zhi'er."

"This servant is Xing'er."

Madam Shao chuckled from the side, "These are their original names. The mistress has instructed that they will stay by the young lady's side to serve her from now on. If the young lady likes them, she can give them other names; if not, she can simply inform the mistress and send them back."

Upon hearing this, Langhua first nodded slightly, then said gently:

"Thank you for your trouble, Mom."

Madam Shao hurriedly said she dared not, and then turned around to instruct everyone to settle their luggage.

For a time, the second branch of the family who had come from Sichuan, and the maids and servants that the Wang family had originally prepared here, were all busy with their own tasks.

The trunks were opened, clothes were put away, and writing implements were sent inside one by one.

Granny Lai had been following Langhua around. Seeing that there were too many people talking, she took the opportunity to go outside under the pretext of getting water and tea.

When he returned, his expression had softened slightly, and he said in a low voice, "They put in the effort."

He leaned closer to Langhua and said:

"Young lady, you must be exhausted from your journey. I'll have them boil some water so you can wash up and rest, okay?"

Langhua glanced at her but did not refuse.

She knew that Granny Lai's behavior meant she probably had something to say.

as predicted.

Once inside the washroom, hot water steamed upwards, creating a misty atmosphere. Granny Lai helped her loosen her hair, and as she combed and moisturized it, she spoke softly:

"This old servant knows that you harbor resentment, young lady. I also know that the First Madam's actions have indeed been biased. However, this old servant must say that you are new here and it is really not advisable for you to be too sharp-tongued."

Langhua listened to these words with her eyes closed, her face showing no change.

She naturally understood what Granny Lai meant.

It's simply that in this world, filial piety is considered paramount.

Even if parents have faults, it's not their children's place to criticize them.

She could compete with Wang Ruoyu, but she absolutely could not let things get too tense or awkward, and she certainly couldn't completely offend her parents.

Moreover, they were parents who hadn't seen each other since they were three years old.

In the Song Dynasty, women were not considered for marriage earlier than in the Qing Dynasty, but even at the latest, they should have been properly considered for marriage by the age of thirteen or fourteen.

It's only been three or four years since then.

Logically speaking, she should have tried her best to mend the estrangement and rift between her parents over the years during this period, and put on a show of parental love and family harmony, so that she would have more leverage when it came to marriage in the future.

But Granny Lai didn't know.

People's hearts are unpredictable.

There is a distinction between close and distant relationships.

Was the original Wang Ruofu unfilial? Was she disobedient? After returning home, did she fail to fulfill her duties as a daughter and younger sister?

no.

Even though she was clumsy in manners and tongue-tied, Wang Ruofu always treated them all with a sincere heart.

But when it's no longer useful, it will still be a discarded piece.

In this family, the head of the household, Father Wang, is indeed upright and honest, a pillar of the nation.

A father is born with a barrier between himself and his daughter.

Just like her brocade zither, she was the apple of everyone's eye in her childhood, but as she grew older and faced with national affairs, she eventually had to give way.

As for the Queen Mother...

Langhua knew perfectly well that the woman felt a thorn in her side when she looked at her.

If this thorn isn't removed, I'll never be able to treat her like my aunt, wholeheartedly caring for her, planning for her, and sharing her joys and sorrows.

Then there's Wang Ruoyu, a narrow-minded person who can't stand seeing others do well, who's stirring things up from the sidelines.

Assistance?

She dared not even think about it.

If, when it comes time to discuss marriage, no one tries to trip her up, no one forces her to make way for Wang Ruoyu, and no one even arranges a marriage exchange, she will be thankful.

Thinking of this, Langhua slowly raised her hand, her slender white arm submerged in the warm water, her fingertips gently touching the surface, her tone extremely calm:

"My father and mother are both reasonable people, it's alright. When you return to Sichuan, don't say such things, lest you worry my aunt and the others."

"Trust me."

Granny Lai was taken aback, and opened her mouth as if to say something.

Langhua interrupted her first, her voice still calm.

"It's really nothing."

Granny Lai stared at her blankly.

The little girl in front of me was leaning against the edge of the bathtub, only her clear and delicate face was visible in the steam, and her eyes were very calm.

That gaze, gentle and warm, somehow instilled a sense of trust in one's very being.

Granny Lai's heart skipped a beat, and she suddenly remembered the master she had just met today.

That's right. At first glance, he seems gentle and refined, but when you really look into him, he has a kind of weight that makes people not dare to underestimate him.

She then vaguely realized—

The third daughter is, after all, the master's daughter.

She was the child that even the old scholar lamented more than once, saying that if she had been born a boy, she would undoubtedly have been a potential prime minister.

She started helping her mother with accounting at the age of seven. Within a few days, she became very good at using an abacus. She was even able to take care of the medicine and manage the household while her mother was too sick to get out of bed. She was a natural talent who could easily find a few cunning and deceitful people.

It's just that during her years in Sichuan, she was always dragged around by her two sons to play wildly, which is why people always thought of her as a lively and cheerful young lady.

As Granny Lai thought about it, she gradually calmed down.

She nodded and replied softly:

"Yes, this old servant understands."

As she nodded, she couldn't help but think of her own youngest granddaughter, who was also the youngest in the family.

After returning to Sichuan, she'll have to go home more often and keep a closer eye on things. If her little granddaughter shows even a hint of the intelligence of her third daughter, she'll definitely take charge of her upbringing. She can't let those mischievous kids run wild around the yard and waste their precious talents!

Langhua had no idea that in that instant, Granny Lai's thoughts had strayed so far, that even the carefree days she had deliberately indulged in in Sichuan over the years had become evidence of her two cousins' failure to advance her career.

Seeing that Granny Lai had finally stopped talking, she leaned back against her, closed her eyes, and let her continue washing her hair.

Throughout her journey from Sichuan to Bianjing, she had been pondering how she should re-enter the Wang family.

After much deliberation, only one rule was finally settled on—

She doesn't weigh the pros and cons with those who are truly kind to her.

I also don't speak sincerely with people who are full of scheming.