The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

Shengfu, Dengzhou.

Dong Rong lifted the curtain and came in, and Sheng Hong almost immediately sat up straight: "How is it?"

Dong Rong lowered his head, pondered for a moment, and then said in a low voice, "Madam said that the court has its own laws and regulations. The promotion and transfer of officials are all determined by the Ministry of Personnel after assessing their performance, and it is not something that a mere woman like her can interfere with. She is truly powerless to help you, my lord. I beg you, my lord... either to plead with the Wang family more, or to do your job diligently. If your performance is excellent in three years, you will surely be promoted and return to the capital."

The room fell silent, and Sheng Hong's face gradually paled.

Three years, then another three years?

Two imperial examinations have passed since he passed with flying colors.

Many of those who passed the exam in the same year have already been promoted, some to prestigious positions, others to positions of real power; they are all moving upwards.

Especially the two brothers from the Wang family, who at a young age had already both become fifth-rank officials.

But what about him?

He was still only a seventh-rank official. He was still trapped in this small corner of Dengzhou, facing these tedious and mundane affairs every day. He could not see the political situation in the capital when he looked up, nor could he get rid of the trivial matters that were happening around him when he looked down.

Sheng Hong suddenly laughed and closed his eyes weakly.

Wang family.

If the Wang family had been willing to help him, would he have ended up in this state today?

Wang Shi'an got married before the Lunar New Year, but they didn't even send him an invitation.

Just then, the curtain was suddenly thrown open again, and Wang Ruoyu walked in. Seeing Sheng Hong's dejected appearance, she immediately sneered, "What's wrong? Did you run into a wall again?"

Sheng Hong's expression changed slightly.

Dong Rong quickly lowered his head and quietly slipped out.

Wang Ruo and Jing took their seats and continued their sarcasm: "I told you long ago, your stepmother is no longer the person who only loved you. But you wouldn't believe me and kept trying to win her over."

Sheng Hong suddenly opened his eyes: "Shut up."

Wang Ruoyu, however, became even more agitated: "Why should I shut up? Did I say something wrong?"

She looked at Sheng Hong with a mocking gaze: "Don't you know? Your good Shuang'er has already had a son with some other man outside, and he even has the surname Xu."

Sheng Hong's expression suddenly turned ugly.

Wang Ruoyu let out another cold laugh and continued to curse, "That vixen Lin Qinshuang, she really has some tricks up her sleeve. She couldn't bewitch you before, so now she's turned to bewitch that old hag. Not only has she completely fooled her, but she's even made her son take the surname Xu. Let me tell you this: if you don't find a way to return to the capital, I'm afraid that in a few years, all the savings that old hag has will be gone and she'll be surnamed Lin."

Sheng Hong suddenly stood up: "Enough!"

"How dare you say that?"

Sheng Hong glared at her angrily: "If it weren't for your ruthless actions back then, which offended my mother and implicated the Wang family, how could I have ended up like this today?"

"I?"

Wang Ruoyu suddenly stood up: "What happened to me? What does it have to do with me! Did I force you and Madam Xu to stop being a loving mother and son? Did I force you to be rejected by Madam Xu, who would rather choose a stray dog ​​she adopted halfway through life than have you, the son she raised with her own hands?"

Sheng Hong was taken aback by her question.

Wang Ruoyu approached step by step:

"Why don't you realize that it's clearly your own incompetence that's the problem! If you were truly capable, would Madam Xu have abandoned you? If you were truly competent, would the Wang family have refused to even send you an invitation? If you could truly rise through the ranks and return to the capital based on your own abilities, would you need to send a servant to grovel and beg an old woman today?"

"you!"

Sheng Hong's face turned ashen.

Wang Ruoyu, however, still refused to give up.

"Xu Changfeng, Xu Changfeng..."

She uttered the name, her eyes filled with unspeakable malice: "She took the Xu surname, but insisted on using the Sheng family's generational name. Isn't that clear enough? Not only does she treat Lin Qinshuang as your daughter in place of you, but she also wants to use that little beast to take Changsong's place!"

"shut up!"

Sheng Hong suddenly raised his hand.

Wang Ruoyu, however, was not afraid at all. Instead, she took a step forward, raised her face, and her eyes were almost crazed.

Go ahead and hit me.

Sheng Hong's hand froze in mid-air.

Wang Ruo sneered, "Go ahead and hit me if you dare! Our Wang family may not help you, but we won't just stand by and watch you humiliate me. Sheng Hong, don't forget, no matter what, I'm still a daughter of the Wang family. Try touching me!"

Sheng Hong's chest heaved more and more violently.

But the raised hand never came down.

After a long while, as if all his strength had been drained, his hand slowly fell to his sides.

Wang Ruoyu's eyes held an even deeper sarcasm.

Sheng Hong suffered another defeat and practically ran out of the house in a disheveled state.

As soon as they reached the porch, they heard children's laughter coming from the courtyard in front.

Sheng Hong paused, looking in the direction of the sound.

Sheng Changsong was squatting beside the stone steps, holding a small knife in his hand, and looking at a snake on the ground with a grin.

The snake, which he had cut into several pieces, was still wriggling slightly in the mud.

Sheng Changsong watched with great interest, and even poked at one of the sections with the tip of his knife. When he saw the snake's tail move again, he immediately chuckled.

Sheng Hong felt a chill run down his spine.

"Nagamatsu!"

Sheng Changsong was startled. When he looked up and saw that it was Sheng Hong, the smile on his face quickly faded.

He stood up, dusted off his hands, and said without much reverence, "Father."

Sheng Hong stared at the few pieces of the snake's body still wriggling on the ground, feeling a churning in his stomach.

"What are you doing?"

Sheng Changsong didn't take it seriously: "Just playing around."

"Playing?" Sheng Hong's voice trembled with anger. "You should be studying in your study at this hour. Who gave you permission to play with these things here?"

Sheng Changsong frowned: "I've already spoken to my mother, so let's relax for a couple of days."

Sheng Hong could hardly believe his ears: "What did you say?"

Sheng Changsong raised his chin, and his expression vaguely resembled that of Wang Ruoyu.

"I'll continue my studies once Father invites that scholar Zhuang over. Otherwise, how can these mediocre people be qualified to teach me?"

Sheng Hong's temple throbbed with a sharp pain: "What kind of person is Zhuang Xuejiu? How could he be invited so easily? There are plenty of people in the world who don't study under great scholars and still manage to pass the imperial examinations. Stop using these excuses and go back to your studies!"

"I'm not going."

Sheng Hong's anger flared up completely. He took a few steps forward and grabbed Sheng Hong's wrist.

Are you going or not?

Sheng Changsong immediately struggled.

"I'm not going!"

"Let me go!"

"I've already spoken to Mother, so what right do you have to tell me what to do?"

Sheng Hong tightened his grip: "I am your father!"

Sheng Changsong was in pain from being grabbed, and a hint of malice flashed in his eyes. He yelled at him, "So what if you're my father? Shouldn't you listen to Mother? If you're so capable, go talk to Mother! What kind of ability is it to only take your anger out on me?"

Sheng Hong froze.

As if struck on the head, the strength in his hands unconsciously loosened.

Sheng Changsong immediately seized the opportunity to break free and ran away without looking back.

The pieces of snake's body on the ground were still twitching slightly.

Sheng Hong stood there, first stunned, then his face slowly revealed a deep pain and bewilderment.

Why did it turn out like this?