The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

Zhao Xu truly deserves to be called the epitome of a playboy.

His expertise in eating, drinking, and having fun is unmatched by ordinary people.

He knew exactly where to find the freshest sashimi, which shop had the smoothest cheese, which street had the sweetest but not cloying desserts with a lingering aftertaste, and even which bridge was the best for watching the sunset.

At first, Zhao Zhen still maintained a certain air of imperial dignity.

But in the end, he was dressed in ordinary clothes, in ordinary alleys, and without any entourage or entourage, only a few familiar faces by his side. Gradually, his composure was diluted by the excitement.

Langhua couldn't help but enjoy it.

The group played until dusk without realizing it, until Zhang Maoze, seeing that night was about to fall, finally couldn't help but step forward and whisper a reminder: "Your Majesty, it's time to go back."

Zhao Zhen then stopped walking.

Although reluctant to part, I know that today is a rare time to indulge myself. If I continue to be willful, it is easy to turn joy into sorrow and cause trouble.

He then took the initiative to say goodbye, and before leaving, he gave Langhua one last deep look.

Langhua smiled and curtsied, everything was understood without words.

Qin Yanwan first took a detour to send Langhua back to the Wang family. By the time she and Zhao Xu returned to the Yan Prince's Mansion, it was already quite late.

As soon as the carriage stopped, Qin Yanwan heard Ji'an call out, "Second Master?"

She helped Zhao Xu down from the carriage, and looking up, she saw Qin Zhengyang standing next to the stone lion at the entrance of the Prince of Yan's mansion.

They looked like they had been waiting for a long time.

Qin Yanwan thought for a moment, but ultimately decided not to ignore him. Instead, she walked over and spoke first, "Why are you here?"

Qin Zhengyang opened his mouth, but then hesitated and stopped.

Qin Yanwan's expression softened slightly: "If it's about today's homecoming, you don't need to say anything more. I know what I'm doing."

A hint of helplessness flashed across Qin Zhengyang's eyes, and he suddenly sighed. Then, he took out a wooden box from behind him and handed it to her.

Qin Yanwan didn't answer immediately, but instead asked with her eyes what it was.

Qin Zhengyang shoved the box into her arms and finally spoke, though his tone was as rude as ever: "If you're not coming back, then don't. And don't ever come back again. Live your life well. Here, take it."

Qin Yanwan looked down at the box, her brows furrowing slightly.

Qin Zhengyang added, "Stop looking down on people. You're not the only smart person in the world. Be sincere when you can, stop putting on airs, and stop playing mind games."

Qin Yanwan's eyes turned cold instantly upon hearing this, and she threw the box back into his arms: "What priceless treasure do you think you are, daring to lecture me?"

After saying that, she walked past him and was about to go inside.

Qin Zhengyang suddenly blocked her way.

In the dim light, his handsome face, which resembled Qin's mother, lost its usual nonchalance and instead revealed an unusual seriousness.

"I'm going to join the army."

Qin Yanwan was taken aback.

Zhao Xu, who had been silently stepping forward to separate his tactless brother-in-law, was also stunned.

"Join the army?" Qin Yanwan frowned. "You?"

Realizing Qin Zhengyang was serious, her pupils contracted slightly: "Are you crazy?"

"Yeah, I'm crazy. I've always been crazy, but nobody really cares, just like you."

Qin Yanwan was speechless for once, and did not immediately refute.

Qin Zhengyang shoved the box back into her arms and said quickly, "The house will probably be in chaos for a while. Mother will likely come looking for you, Qin Yanyun might too, and even the Gu family might come. Avoid them if you can. You can pretend to be sick, or say you just married into the Prince's mansion and aren't liked by your mother-in-law, so you're not qualified to see guests. Just don't see anyone."

Qin Yanwan grew increasingly uneasy listening: "What do you mean by that?"

"Just remember, don't get entangled with them, and don't get dragged into the mire. Now that you've finally broken free, live a good life from now on."

After saying that, he turned and left without looking back.

Qin Yanwan watched his resolute back as he walked away, then looked down at the box in his arms, her brows furrowing tightly.

Zhao Xu walked up to her: "Should we stop him?"

Qin Yanwan was silent for a moment, then shook his head: "First, send someone to find out what happened today."

But when they returned to the courtyard, they realized that there was no need to ask any more questions.

The Emperor's decree to recover the old debts of the nobility has spread throughout the court and the country.

All families who have borrowed money from the national treasury since the founding of the nation and have not yet repaid it must do so by March of the following year. If they cannot repay the full amount, they must at least repay half of it before they can be granted an extension of one year. If they still default, their property will be confiscated and their titles and ranks will be stripped without exception.

The Dongchang Marquis's Mansion, Ningyuan Marquis's Mansion, Yongchang Marquis's Mansion, and other first-class marquis mansions are all included in this list.

Qin Yanwan and Zhao Xu first went to pay their respects to the Prince of Yan and his wife. By the time they returned to their own courtyard, it was already late at night.

She sat under the lamp and opened the box Qin Zhengyang had given her.

Inside were two thin shop contracts and about three thousand taels of silver notes.

There was a letter at the very bottom.

Qin Yanwan opened the letter and saw that the handwriting was messy and the tone was as annoying as ever: "This is for your dowry. You brat, you've always been arrogant and self-important. It's best if you can't rely on me your whole life. From now on, I'll only fight for myself and grab for myself. Let's both live well for ourselves. We'll know our own joys and sorrows, and life and death are in the hands of fate."

Qin Yanwan read those few lines of text over and over again.

My eyes welled up with tears without me even realizing it.

"He still has some backbone."

She whispered.

Zhao Xu came in just as he overheard this sentence.

He unusually refrained from immediately cracking jokes, instead sitting down beside her and saying, "I've found out. Your second brother got a hereditary official position, a military post. He'll be heading north to the border soon."

Qin Yan paused slightly as he received the letter.

Zhao Xu glanced at her and then said, "Should we call him back? Besides, your family doesn't owe that much..."

Qin Yanwan immediately looked up at him: "Don't interfere."

Zhao Xu paused, then smiled dismissively: "It's only two hundred thousand taels, it's not like I don't have it."

Qin Yanwan didn't reply, but only asked, "How much does the Marquis of Ningyuan owe?"

Zhao Xu immediately perked up, his schadenfreude quite obvious: "Eight hundred thousand taels. I really didn't expect the Gu family to be so good at managing their money."

A hint of interest flickered in Qin Yanwan's eyes.

"In your opinion, do they still have a chance?"

Zhao Xu shook his head: "There's no legitimate way. If we take an unorthodox approach, there might still be a glimmer of hope."

Qin Yanwan raised an eyebrow: "What do you mean by taking an unconventional approach?"

Zhao Xu leaned back, grinning maliciously: "I already said it's an unconventional approach, how could I have come up with it so quickly? Otherwise, give me a kiss, and who knows, maybe I'll be in a good mood and my brain will suddenly become sharp."

Qin Yanwan rolled her eyes at him, turned around, and carefully put away the box Qin Zhengyang had given her.

"For the next few days, no matter who comes, whether it's the Gu family or the Qin family, if they seem to be here to borrow money, do not pay them any attention."

She paused, then her tone became more serious: "If you don't listen to me and lend out the money without my permission, and it's all gone, don't blame me. I won't take responsibility."

"I know, I'm not stupid."

As Zhao Xu agreed, he leaned closer and chuckled, "Such gleaming silver is quite attractive, and it doesn't bother me. Unless it can make my wife smile, make her love me more, and make her even more inseparable from me, I might try lending it out. But if it only makes my wife unhappy, or even angry with me, then why should I bother?"

Qin Yanwan remained silent as always, making his sweet words seem to fall into a deep pool without any echo.

However, when she lowered her eyes, the corners of her eyes and brows relaxed slightly.

Even in his eyes, a fleeting smile crossed his face.