The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

As dusk settled, the light on the tree-lined path gradually dimmed.

Looking into Shilan's bright eyes, Zhang Yun struggled to suppress his restless heart and spoke, trying to control his emotions:

"Third Miss Qin," he said with utmost solemnity, "I am Zhang Yun, the second son of the Duke of Ying's family. I am seventeen years old and currently serve as the patrol inspector of Hebei Road."

"It's getting late. If you'd be so kind as to escort you home, would you mind?"

Shilan was taken aback.

For his directness and frankness, and for his boldness.

Even though there are still many rules and regulations, women today are much freer than women in the Qing Dynasty of her previous life. They can come and go to places like the polo field whenever they want. Even if they take a liking to a man outside the family and make their feelings clear in private, it is not a big deal to ask their elders or matchmakers to propose marriage afterward.

But no matter what, the process always has to be done secretly, full of twists and turns, and complicated...

Who else would do something like this, blocking the carriage on the main road and clearly stating that they wanted to take her home—

This is no different from publicly announcing that you want to marry her.

After the initial shock, Shilan relaxed completely.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Zhang Erlangjun."

The sound wasn't loud, but it was clear enough.

Zhang Yun's eyes instantly lit up with an alarming light, as if he had received some incredible blessing.

He mounted his horse with such swiftness that it was impossible to look away. His dark blue riding attire accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist, and his upright posture on horseback exuded an indescribable air of authority.

The carriage moved slowly.

We didn't say a word the whole way, but it didn't feel awkward at all.

-

When the carriage stopped at the entrance of the alley where the Marquis of Dongchang's residence was located, it was already completely dark.

The lanterns hanging in front of the mansion gate had just been lit, their warm yellow light creating a small patch of sky.

Just then, the wheel lurched violently.

"Young lady, be careful!" Songzhi quickly helped Shilan up.

From outside came the anxious neighing of horses and Zhang Yun's voice, tinged with worry: "What's wrong?"

The driver's voice followed closely: "Oh dear, there's a big pothole in the road now; I didn't see it before."

"Are you injured?" Zhang Yun asked again.

Shilan shook her head: "It's alright." She then instructed the coachman: "Go tell the gatekeeper to find someone to fill this pothole. After all, this is in front of the Marquis's mansion; it wouldn't be good for someone else to slip and fall."

The driver readily agreed, thinking it was only a few steps, and Shilan asked Songzhi to help her out of the carriage.

Zhang Yun's gaze lingered on her face for a moment, and only after confirming that she was truly not frightened did he breathe a slight sigh of relief.

"Thank you very much, Zhang Erlang."

Shilan responded gently with thanks.

Zhang Yun quickly waved his hand, saying it was a small matter. After walking a few steps with the person, he suddenly spoke up, "Um..." His voice was a little tense, "Is the cooking of the cook in my household... to your liking?"

The question was completely off-topic.

Shilan was taken aback at first, but then she understood.

Crab meat pastry.

She turned to look at him.

As dusk fell, the young man's ears turned almost blood red, but his eyes stubbornly refused to look away, as if he were waiting for an answer.

Shilan's heart skipped a beat.

"fine."

Her voice was barely audible.

Zhang Yun's eyes suddenly lit up, brighter than the stars in the sky.

He opened his mouth, wanting to ask about the hairpin again, but jewelry was not as important as food, as it might be suspected of being a secret exchange.

In any case, let her know that he was the one who did it, and don't let her misunderstand and blame someone else, just like her mother said.

"That's good! Miss Qin, you should go back now."

Shilan gave him a deep look, then turned and left without looking back.

She didn't turn back, but she could feel that gaze following her until she entered the mansion and until the vermilion gate slowly closed.

-

Inside the gate, a figure stood beside the screen wall.

Upon seeing Shilan, he hurriedly came forward to greet her: "Sister, you're finally back."

Qin Zhengyang's gaze lingered on his sister's face for a moment, then looked at the closed door, his expression complex.

"Second brother, what are you doing here?"

"It was all to wait for you," Qin Zhengyang replied, then paused and asked directly, "Was it the second young master of the Duke of Ying's mansion who brought you back?"

Shilan didn't hide anything: "Yes."

Qin Zhengyang remained silent for a moment before saying, "A messenger from the Ningyuan Marquis's residence has come to report that our eldest sister is pregnant."

Shilan paused.

So fast... But thinking about it carefully, it's about time. She's been married into the Ningyuan Marquis's household for almost three years. Ten months later, her sickly eldest son was born. When he turns one, the court will begin to settle the debts. The Ningyuan Marquis's household, which is already in debt, can't repay the debts and has come up with the idea of ​​divorcing his wife and taking another wife...

That letter of divorce, listing numerous crimes committed by the Qin family, will bring unimaginable humiliation to the Dongchang Marquis's mansion.

...Her marriage really can't be delayed any longer.

"I understand." Her voice was surprisingly calm.

As Qin Zhengyang looked at his sister's increasingly outstanding appearance, the inexplicable worry in his heart grew even heavier.

He didn't know what the future held, only that his family was finally seeing some improvement, he was getting married, his parents' health was improving, and Qin Nanyan was finally pregnant. Logically speaking, his Shilan's marriage should also go smoothly.

But for some reason, he always had a bad feeling.

But this premonition was the hardest to put into words. He opened his mouth several times, but didn't know what to say. So he finally sighed and stepped aside: "Go and pay your respects to Father and Mother."

Shilan responded and took a few steps, but then suddenly stopped.

She turned around and said:

"Second brother, please ask me something."

"What is it?"

"Zhang Yun, the second young master of the Duke of Ying's mansion." She spoke each word clearly: "I need to know if he has a clean entourage—whether he has any concubines, and if so, who he favors most, what kind of person she is, what she looks like, and how he usually interacts with her. If not... then investigate whether he had any childhood sweethearts in the past, those he couldn't have or lost early on. We can't let that go."

Qin Zhengyang was stunned. What did all this mean? He could understand whether or not to investigate the concubines, but what did the rest mean?

However, he understood why Shilan had asked him to do this.

If the results of the investigation satisfy her sister, then the second son of the Duke of Ying's mansion should be her brother-in-law without a doubt.

"You..." Qin Zhengyang hesitated for a moment, then immediately agreed, "I will definitely investigate this thoroughly for you!"

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Second Brother." Shilan smiled slightly.

-

Shilan returned to her courtyard, took a bath, and changed her clothes.

After washing away the day's fatigue, she changed into a light apricot-colored casual dress, loosely tied up her long hair, and wore only a white jade hairpin in her hair before sitting in front of her dressing table.

A bright and beautiful face was reflected in the bronze mirror.

She examined herself closely.

At the age of fifteen, her skin was full and smooth, and her eyes and brows possessed both the charm of a young girl and the sharpness unique to Nian Shilan.

"As long as he doesn't have a birthmark, he's my ideal man..." she whispered, as if promising someone, or as if encouraging herself: "It's him."

This decision wasn't made hastily.

Compared to her previous life, when she was so desperate to marry Yinzhen after just one meeting, this was a result of careful consideration.

The British Duke's Mansion—according to the original work, it is indeed an evergreen tree.

More than twenty years later, when a new emperor ascended the throne, many noble families rose and fell, but the Duke of England's mansion remained steadfast and was still an object of the new emperor's efforts to win over.

It seems that the next generation after them, their descendants also became successful, and their titles and prestige remained the same.

This is exactly the stable family she wanted.

As for Zhang Yun...

His storyline is not included in the original work.

Yes, generals stationed on the border rarely return to the capital, so they naturally have no place in the stories of noble ladies in the capital.

fair enough.

At least her surroundings are clean, and she doesn't have to fight tooth and nail with those women in the inner quarters.

Shilan couldn't help but think of her past life.

In her past life, she fell in love at first sight and insisted on marrying Yinzhen. At that time, she was overjoyed and thought she was being rational. She investigated his family background thoroughly and only saw that his first wife had died early and he did not like his first wife. She thought that after she married him, she would be able to surpass Ulanara and be promoted to the position of first wife because of her successful family and the man's favor.

But she never expected that the man's affection was all an act; he had been scheming against her family from beginning to end.

In this lifetime...

It's funny, really. Her family background in this life has really nothing that the Duke of Ying's mansion has to scheme against.

And Zhang Yun...

She thought of the way Zhang Yun looked at her, so intense, so sincere.

Just thinking about it once makes Shilan's heart burn.

She had always planned to get married, especially before Da Qinshi was divorced and sent home.

Besides, having been given a second chance at life, if she doesn't marry someone, is she going to stay and wait for that thing, Yinzhen?

Bah! You'd be more like giving him a green hat!

Now, a Zhang Yun has emerged.

His family background and appearance were exactly what she wanted.

What's wrong with marrying someone?

As long as he doesn't have a Chun Yuan like that scoundrel Yinzhen.

As long as his heart is pure and clear, it's best if it can only hold her.

He's the one.