The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

When my sister-in-law got married, the Dongchang Marquis's mansion still had some wealth left, and she had a grand wedding with a ten-mile-long red bridal procession.

Just by looking at the size of the chest, you can tell there are many good things inside.

If we can stay, even if we can't fill the hole, we can always have a way out.

"Shut up, all of you."

Old Madam Gu couldn't help but speak up, fearing that if she listened any longer, she would have to go see the old Marquis immediately.

...She really wanted to go down quickly, but she couldn't bring herself to completely stand idly by.

With the help of her trusted mother, Madam Gu managed to sit up. Her face was still ashen, but her eyes were cold.

Looking at her three sons, she felt a tightness in her chest.

One emotional hurdle is hard to overcome, two useless sweethearts.

What sins did she commit in her past life?

After catching her breath, Madam Gu slowly said, "Starting tomorrow, little by little, convert all the inconspicuous paintings, calligraphy and antiques in the Marquis's mansion into cash."

Everyone was taken aback.

Madam Gu continued, "Out of ten, three will be chosen, and each of you three brothers will keep one."

Gu Lao Si's expression changed slightly: "Mother, how did it come to this? Is there really no other way?"

Madam Gu sneered, "Yes. Go and beg the Emperor to rescind his decree."

Gu Laosi was speechless.

Gu Laowu finally realized he was scared.

Born and raised in the Marquis's mansion, they were accustomed to living their entire lives as the legitimate sons of the Marquis. No matter how absurd or incompetent they were, as long as the plaque of the Ningyuan Marquis's mansion remained, outsiders would always give them some leeway.

Now you're telling them that all of this is going to be gone?

Without the Marquis's mansion, where will they go next?

The room fell silent for a moment.

Only Gu Yankai was still thinking about that letter of divorce.

He said in a hoarse voice, "Mother, since Bai has already promised her to someone else, may I... go and bring Yanyun back?"

Madam Gu stared at him intently, without saying a word.

"Mother……"

"Go."

Just as a hint of joy was about to appear in Gu Yankai's eyes, he heard Old Madam Gu say, "As long as they can forgive and forget, what more could I ask for?"

He felt as if he had been doused with a bucket of cold water. Just as he was about to retort, a servant rushed in from outside in a panic.

"It's terrible! It's terrible! The Dowager Madam, the Marquis, the Fifth Master, and the Fifth Madam have packed their things and say they're going back to their parents' home!"

The expressions of everyone in the room changed simultaneously.

Gu Laowu, in particular, suddenly stood up, his face revealing a fierce expression: "That wretched woman needs to be taught a lesson! She's still so immature at a time like this, insisting on causing trouble and making everyone unhappy!"

Madam Gu suddenly remembered the clear slap mark on her fifth daughter-in-law's face in the courtyard earlier.

She suddenly looked at the fifth brother: "Did you slap her across the face?"

Gu Laowu's expression stiffened slightly, his eyes darting around: "Mother, this is nothing serious..."

The fourth brother, however, stood by gleefully and exposed the truth: "Mother doesn't know, but didn't the fifth brother previously fight over the eldest brother's title and to marry the Bai family? His wife overheard this and went back to argue with him. The fifth brother is as impetuous as ever, and in the midst of the argument, he got physical and lost his temper."

Old Madam Gu closed her eyes.

The fifth son continued to argue, "What's wrong with that? She was just being immature. Wasn't I doing it for the sake of our Marquis's mansion? Once the Bai family daughter marries into the family and we keep our titles, I can just bring her in as a secondary wife."

He became more and more self-righteous as he spoke: "How could a mere merchant's daughter possibly become the mistress of our Marquis's mansion—"

He couldn't finish his sentence.

Because Old Madam Gu opened her eyes again and was looking at him coldly.

The fifth prince suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, only then remembering that the merchant's daughter he had mentioned would soon become the future empress's sister-in-law.

This is precisely what has caused them to lose face today.

Old Madam Gu was too tired to scold him anymore.

She said wearily, "You'd better go and bring your wife back right now."

The fifth brother was taken aback.

"The imperial court confiscated your property but did not touch the women's dowries. In the future, you three brothers may all have to rely on your respective wives to make a living."

The three brothers present all changed their expressions at once. The fourth brother was about to say something when Old Madam Gu waved her hand.

"I'm tired. From now on, you can handle things yourselves, and don't bother me anymore."

The three brothers looked at each other, and finally could only get up, bow, and take their leave.

As soon as he stepped out of the courtyard, the fifth brother ran back to his own yard.

Back in the courtyard, I saw servants coming and going, busy packing boxes.

Fifth Madam stood under the corridor, the slap mark on her face still visible, but her expression was icy cold.

Gu Laowu strode forward, grabbed her wrist, and said sternly, "What are you doing now? Are you trying to embarrass everyone in front of so many people?"

The fifth wife sneered, "Can't you see? I want to go home, I want a divorce!"

Gu Laowu's eyes widened: "What nonsense are you talking about? Didn't you hear it yourself? Our deal with the Bai family is simply impossible!"

"It's precisely because it can't be done."

The Fifth Madam laughed, her eyes full of mockery: "Without the Bai family, it's a foregone conclusion that your Gu family will be stripped of its title. Do you think I'd rather we just fall into the mire together than divorce you?"

She forcefully shook off his hand: "Are you worthy?"

Gu Laowu was completely stunned.

The Fifth Madam looked at him, as if she had finally vented all the resentment she had held for years: "Why do you think I have endured this long? I married into the Ningyuan Marquis's family, to uphold the dignity of the youngest legitimate son of the Marquis's family, not to fawn over five good-for-nothings like you."

"I've tolerated your usual absurdity and cowardice. I've tolerated your debauchery outside. But you actually think of divorcing me for the sake of a title and marrying a merchant's daughter whom you despise."

"Such a humiliating disgrace, and you expect me to just accept it obediently?"

"Get out of here!"

Gu Laowu was filled with shame and indignation. He raised his hand to teach the woman another lesson, but was stopped by the trusted mother of the Fifth Madam.

The headmistress, though not very tall, was surprisingly strong. She grabbed his arms with both hands, twisted them behind his back, and easily subdued him, rendering him unable to move.

The Fifth Madam sneered, "You got away with it before because we were inside and I wasn't on guard. Now that everyone around me is here, you still want to mess with me?"

"I'll be waiting for your divorce papers at my parents' house. Remember, only divorce papers. If it's a letter of separation or anything else, we'll see you in court!"

After saying that, she led her people away.

Gu Laowu stood in the courtyard, feeling ashamed, angry, and somewhat bewildered.

The entire scene of the couple's struggle was witnessed by the fourth brother, who had come specifically to watch the spectacle, and he couldn't help but chuckle with schadenfreude.

"Fifth brother, this is what happens when you never do good deeds. Now look what's happened, you've lost both your money and your reputation."

Before the laughter had even subsided, his servant rushed over and whispered a few words in his ear, causing Gu Laosi's smile to freeze instantly.

"Fourth Master, Fourth Madam is also...packing her things, saying she wants to go back to her parents' home and divorce you!"

After hearing the news, Madam Gu fainted for half a day.

When I woke up again, even my last bit of spirit was gone.

Husbands and wives are birds of the same forest, and when disaster strikes, they fly separately.

Moreover, even before they faced a truly dire situation, they were already thinking of abandoning their wives and seeking other opportunities.

Now... we can't blame them.

-

News of the Gu family's affair quickly spread throughout Bianjing.

The Marquis of Ningyuan's family owed 800,000 taels of silver and wanted to fill the hole by marrying the daughter of a salt merchant from Yangzhou, but it turned out that she was already engaged to the brother of the future Empress.

Gu Jia divorced his wife, only to find that all his efforts had been in vain.

Gu Si and Gu Wu were vying for a title, a divorce, and to marry a merchant's daughter, but they were both abandoned by their respective wives and ended up in court demanding a divorce.

Each and every incident was more exciting than any story told by a storyteller in a brothel.

It occupied all the leisure time after meals in Bianjing City throughout the entire winter.

Just as Old Madam Gu had said, Gu Yankai went to the Dongchang Marquis's residence to request an audience with Qin Yanyun.

On his very first visit, Qin's father, now fully conscious, beat him out with a large stick.

Even so, he remained persistent.

He delivered invitations every day and stood outside the door every day.

After Qin Yanyun caught her breath, she practically ate medicine like food. Despite being frail and weak, she refused to see him.

As for how the two later went through twists and turns, and how they eventually reconciled, outsiders have no way of knowing.

"Who cares what they do?"

In the warm pavilion, Qin Yanwan leaned lazily against the soft pillows, holding a cup of hot tea.

The charcoal brazier was burning brightly, and while the cold wind howled outside the window, the room was warm and cozy.

Langhua sat opposite her, slowly warming herself by the fire.

"Anyway, none of them are good stuff."

"If they can remain entangled in this for the rest of their lives and not disturb others, it can be considered as accumulating good fortune and virtue."