The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

Wei's father coughed so hard he bent over. Wei Shuyi's heart tightened, and he stepped forward, supporting his father with one hand and gently patting his back with the other.

"Father, slow down, don't rush."

She carefully blew on the medicine in her hand and brought it to her father's lips.

Wei's father coughed for a while before he could catch his breath. He drank two mouthfuls of medicine, but didn't rush to swallow the third mouthful. He just looked up at her.

"Where is Dalang?"

Wei Shuyi said softly, "A letter came the other day saying that they have passed through Shanzhou. I think they should arrive in the capital in a few more days."

Father Wei nodded, but his gaze couldn't help but fall on his daughter's increasingly striking face. For some reason, a thoughtful look appeared in his eyes.

Just as he was about to say something, he coughed heavily again.

Wei Shuyi quickly patted his back again and said urgently, "Father, don't talk. Drink your medicine first. It's important to rest well."

Wei's father waved his hand, panting, and asked, "Then what did the Duchess of Anguo say last time... that she wanted to be your matchmaker?"

Wei Shuyi was taken aback, her face flushed slightly, and she said softly, "Yes."

Wei's father leaned against the pillows, breathing heavily, and said, "Although the Duchess of Anguo is the Empress's mother, she comes from a commoner family and knows the hardships of life best. Like the current Empress, she has a kind and righteous heart. Over the years, because your brother has worked diligently under the Prince's uncle and knows our family's difficulties, he has taken good care of us. She is a truly kind-hearted person."

He paused for a moment, then added, "If she's willing to act as matchmaker, she probably won't be looking for a family with treacherous members... I'll explain it to your brother when he gets back."

Wei Shuyi frowned slightly.

"Father, these things aren't urgent. Your most important task right now is to recover your health. Why worry about these things?"

But Wei's father smiled.

"Silly girl, if I don't settle your life's most important matter, I'll be worried sick all day long, and that will only make it harder for me to recover from my illness."

Wei Shuyi opened his mouth, wanting to persuade him again, but seeing the tenderness in his father's eyes, he swallowed his words.

She simply lowered her head, picked up the medicine bowl again, and said gently, "You still need to drink your medicine first."

Father Wei drank it as instructed.

After the bowl of medicine was finished, Wei Shuyi wiped the corners of his lips and carefully tucked the blanket in.

Before getting up, he glanced at the brazier in the room, making sure the charcoal was burning steadily and the window cracks were tightly closed, before taking the empty bowl and leaving.

As soon as I stepped onto the veranda, I saw my younger sister, Yule, kicking pebbles with her head down.

Wei Shuyi couldn't help but smile and walked over to ask, "What's wrong? I asked you to clean your brother's room earlier, are you tired? Although you asked for the job yourself, there's no rush. If you're tired, go out and play for a while. Just remember to come back before dinner, so that no one can find you."

"I'm not tired."

Wei Yule stood with her hands on her hips, looking indignant: "Of course the house was cleaned. I'm not a child anymore, why would I be so playful?"

Her expression fell again as she said this, and she said angrily, "I'm just unhappy. Sister, do you know who used to live in this house?"

Wei Shuyi looked bewildered: "Who lived here? Why are you suddenly bringing this up?"

"It's that wicked woman!"

Wei Shuyi was stunned.

Wei Yule angrily said, "That wicked woman tricked our brother into thinking we were getting married, making Father so happy that he sold all the family's land and ancestral home, and even borrowed money from the clan, all to prepare a decent dowry. In the end, she was just playing us for a fool!"

"I really don't know what kind of spell she cast on my brother. Even in his condition, he still rented the house she had lived in."

"Yu Le," Wei Shuyi interrupted her softly, "Stop talking. Didn't I tell you? They're not bad people. There must be a reason for this."

Wei Yule was still unconvinced.

Wei Shuyi continued, "Think about it carefully. She extended a helping hand to your brother when he was in trouble, giving him clothes, food, and medicine. After he passed the imperial examination, she gave him silver and clothes, all so that he could enter officialdom with dignity. What kind of wicked person would play with people like that? What did she gain from it?"

Wei Yule gradually calmed down.

She thought for a moment, then muttered under her breath, "Maybe it's because her brother's official rank was too low that she looked down on him later."

Wei Shuyi was amused by her: "Even a minor official is still an official, and it's still more valuable than a candidate for the imperial examination. Besides, in the past two years, my brother has already risen to the position of Judicial Assistant of Huanzhou, which is a rank of eighth grade."

Wei Yule's eyes lit up immediately: "Brother is amazing. I heard that minor officials sent to remote areas usually have to endure five or six years before they can be promoted."

Wei Shuyi nodded, but said, "It's all about timing and fate. Given our family's circumstances back then, we didn't have the money to bribe officials. My brother could only go to Huan County and start as a lowly clerk. That place is harsh and cold, which is why he didn't want to take us with him, fearing that we would suffer. So he found this house for us in Bianjing."

"Who would have thought that less than a year after I arrived, trouble broke out in the western border region, with war raging everywhere. Huan County, where my brother was stationed, became a crucial place. He had the opportunity to make a contribution and was thus promoted ahead of schedule."

At this point, she sighed softly: "But this opportunity was ultimately won through war."

Upon hearing this, Wei Yule knew that her sister's old habit of being soft-hearted had resurfaced.

She hurriedly said, "But wars are bound to happen eventually, it's not like we suddenly have to fight because you became an official. Your promotion means you're doing a good job there. Father always says, 'Serve the country, and the country will honor you.' Since you were promoted, you must have done something good for the country and the people."

Wei Shuyi was taken aback.

Immediately, her brows relaxed, and she smiled as she tapped Wei Yule's forehead: "It really is. You're such a clever little devil."

Wei Yule proudly raised his chin, about to say something more, when he saw Uncle Pan, the steward of the house, running over with a happy expression on his face.

"Second Mistress, Third Mistress, Master is back!"

Wei Yule's eyes widened instantly.

"Brother's back?"

She lifted her skirt and ran.

Wei Shuyi's eyes lit up, and she rarely showed any liveliness. She quickly handed the medicine bowl in her hand to Uncle Pan and followed him, lifting her skirt as well.

"elder brother!"

From afar, Wei Yule saw a familiar figure standing in the main hall.

She was as happy as a little butterfly and rushed straight towards it.

Wei Jing'an opened his arms to catch her, and was knocked back half a step by her, but he smiled gently. Looking at his younger sister, who had grown to his chest, he was filled with relief: "You're almost a young lady now, and you're still so clumsy."

Wei Yule didn't care and just held onto him tightly.

Wei Shuyi arrived shortly after, and although she didn't rush over like her sister, her eyes were filled with undisguised joy: "Why did you arrive today? Why didn't you tell me sooner? I could have asked Uncle Pan to pick you up at the city gate."

Wei Jing'an laughed and said, "I hitched a ride with the Bai family's carriage on the way. They are the in-laws of Wang Dalang, so their carriages are faster, and I arrived a few days earlier. It would have been better if I hadn't come; there are plenty of people waiting to pick up others outside the city these days, it's crowded, why bother going and suffering?"

As he spoke, he stepped aside, moving half a step.

"Oh, right, this is Brother Di. He saved my life in the Northwest, and he's the one who escorted me back here."

The two sisters then looked at the person behind him.

The man was extremely tall, with broad shoulders and a dark complexion, and sported a large beard.

Standing there, he looked like a black iron tower, and even the light in the hall seemed to be blocked by him.

Wei Yule was younger and couldn't hide it the most. After taking one look, she was so frightened that she shrank into Wei Jing'an's arms.

Wei Shuyi did the same; she looked up and her eyes met the man's.

In that instant, she felt as if she had made eye contact with a tiger. Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly lowered her eyes, not daring to look any longer.

Di Yong stood there, feeling unusually uncomfortable, and inwardly he couldn't help but smile bitterly.

If I had known this would happen, I should have listened to Wang Lao Er and shaved my beard.

...What a jinx! He really hit the nail on the head, scaring the young lady.

He couldn't help but glance at Wei Shuyi out of the corner of his eye.

Wei Jing'an quickly smiled and smoothed things over, saying, "Brother Di and I are sworn brothers. He's the second oldest in his family, so you can just call him Second Brother Di."

Wei Shuyi then realized that this was probably her brother's savior, and immediately lost her fear. She stepped forward, curtsied, and said, "Second Brother Di."

Wei Yule also whispered, "Second Brother Di."

Di Yong quickly returned the greeting with clasped hands, saying, "I dare not accept such a salute."

Wei Shuyi quickly composed himself, ordered tea to be served, and said, "Second Brother Di, you've had a long and tiring journey escorting my brother back. Please stay for a simple meal today. It will be a little while, though. I thought my brother wouldn't arrive for several more days, and the shopping was scheduled for two days later, so I'm afraid there's not much left in the kitchen. But that's alright, I'll go to the market now and see if there's any mutton left. I'll buy a few pounds and some wine, okay?"

Wei Jing'an quickly stopped her: "No need to bother. When we came back just now, Brother Wang warmly invited us to go to the Duke of Anguo's mansion tonight. Just have someone boil some hot water, and Brother Di and I will freshen up."

Wei Shuyi was slightly taken aback: "Are we going too?"

Wei Jing'an looked at her with a gentle smile: "Since the Duchess of Anguo has asked, I suppose she wants it."

Wei Shuyi thought for a moment and then nodded in agreement. She turned around and went to call Uncle Pan to arrange hot water.

The Wei family is now considered officials' relatives, and with Wei Jing'an's salary, although they are not wealthy, they have hired a few people.

Putting aside other things, we can't expect the two young ladies to do all the rough work themselves, like boiling water, chopping wood, and sweeping.

Di Yong watched Wei Shuyi walk out the door and pursed her lips.

Wei Jing'an personally led him to the guest room, and only felt relieved when he saw that hot water had been served.

"Brother Di, please wash up first. I'm going back to see my father."

Di Yong nodded in agreement.

After Wei Jing'an left, he looked at the busy servant, his expression becoming increasingly awkward for a moment, before finally asking stiffly, "Is there a razor?"

Meanwhile, Wei Jing'an went to pay his respects to his father first.

When Wei's father saw him return safely, his eyes reddened, but he still insisted that nothing was wrong. He was very happy when Wei Jing'an said that he would take his two younger sisters to the Duke of Anguo's mansion for dinner that evening, and urged him to go and prepare.

"Don't keep the important person waiting."

Helpless, Wei Jing'an had no choice but to leave his father's room and return to his own bedroom.

As soon as I entered, I stopped in my tracks.

Looking at the unchanged furnishings, Wei Jing'an's expression gradually darkened, and a familiar yet long-lost ache began to throb in his heart.

After a long while, he let out a long sigh.

-

Half an hour later, everyone gathered at the entrance, all dressed in their newest clothes.

Wei Shuyi wore a light-colored dress and only a few simple pearl hairpins in her hair, which made her look even more elegant.

Wei Yule was the happiest, wearing her new clothes as if it were a festival, her eyes sparkling.

My brother is safe and sound, and he can go to the Duke's mansion for dinner looking beautiful again.

Who wouldn't be happy?

But as soon as she looked up, she saw a handsome man suddenly standing next to her.

The man was tall and had dark skin, but his features were striking, and his nose was high and straight.

Wei Yule was so happy he couldn't close his mouth.

"Who...who are you?"

Wei Jing'an was taken aback for a moment upon seeing this, then burst into a rare hearty laugh: "What day is it today? Has our Second Master Di finally decided to reveal his true colors?"

Wei Yule suddenly realized what was happening and her voice rose in surprise.

"Are you a bearded man?"

"I'm so happy!"

Wei Shuyi quickly tugged at his sister's sleeve.

Di Yong touched his clean-shaven face and felt a surge of heat, but fortunately his skin was dark, so it wasn't very noticeable. He forced a smile and said, "I come from a military background, so I'm used to being unkempt. Please don't take offense, Third Sister."

"No problem, no problem."

Wei Yule stared at him without blinking: "But Second Brother Di, you look much better like this, at least you don't look like a big black bear!"

"I'm so happy!"

Wei Shuyi was really getting anxious this time.

Wei Jing'an also rubbed his forehead, but Wei Yule laughed first after finishing her sentence.

Di Yong also laughed.

Wei Jing'an had no choice but to say, "Alright, it's almost time. Let's go, don't keep people waiting."

The two young women boarded the rented carriage.

Wei Jing'an and Di Yong sat outside the carriage. Di Yong held the reins and gave them a gentle shake, and the carriage slowly drove out of the alley and headed towards the Duke of Anguo's mansion.