The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

It took Gu Tingyu a while to catch his breath.

He raised his hand and waved it: "It's alright, you've had a long day, go and get some rest."

Manniang refused to leave: "If you don't want to sleep, young master, I won't go either. We can just stay up together."

Gu Tingyu was both amused and exasperated. He put down his book and said gently, "Alright, I'm fine. I just slept too much during the day and I'm not sleepy right now, so I wanted to read a book. It's not that I'm feeling depressed, as you think, and I certainly won't do anything foolish."

"Really?" Man Niang asked.

Gu Tingyu pointed three fingers to the sky: "If I'm lying to you, may I fail the exam next time too."

Before he could finish speaking, Manniang raised her hand to cover his mouth: "Pah! Pah! Pah! Quickly, spit it out! How can you say such things?"

Her eyes were slightly red, brimming with a gentle, moist quality: "Young Master will surely achieve the highest rank in the imperial examination."

She said earnestly, "I definitely will."

Gu Tingyu looked at her.

The two were so close that he could see himself clearly in her eyes.

He was handsome, but his eyes lacked spirit and he was thin.

In an instant, something seemed to surge gently within him, forcing him to blink and forcefully suppress that emotion.

He slowly pulled her hand down, his movements still gentle, yet subtly creating some distance between them: "Alright, I'm really fine. You should go to sleep. Otherwise, you'll be all flustered tomorrow and get scolded by Aunt Zhong."

Manniang looked at him, still worried.

"Can……"

Helpless, Gu Tingyu had to try another method: "If all else fails, take all the remaining candles."

Man Niang was taken aback.

Gu Tingyu pointed to the candle on the table, which was only half-burnt: "Once this one burns out, even if I wanted to keep burning candles, I wouldn't be able to."

Man Niang glanced at the candle and saw that it was indeed only half-burnt; even if she let him look at it, he wouldn't be able to for much longer. Thinking it was a good idea, she nodded: "Then it's settled, young master, you should go to sleep early."

Gu Tingyu smiled and agreed, "Okay."

Man Niang added, "You must get up on time tomorrow as well. I will personally prepare breakfast for you, young master."

"it is good."

Man Niang was satisfied and turned around to put away the rest of the candles in the study.

Before leaving, she glanced back at Gu Tingyu and saw him smiling at her. Only then did she feel relieved and closed the door to leave.

As soon as the door closed, the study fell silent, and the smile on Gu Tingyu's face gradually faded.

He lowered his head again, looking at the books spread out on the table.

But I couldn't concentrate on reading a single word.

The candlelight flickered gently.

He stared blankly at that faint light, lost in thought.

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

The next morning, as expected, Man Niang personally prepared breakfast and brought it over.

A bowl of hot porridge, two small dishes of side dishes, and a few pastries she made herself.

Gu Tingyu smiled and ate some, his appetite seemed stronger than usual, and he even said gently, "In a little while, tidy up the study."

Man Niang was taken aback, then her eyes lit up, and she answered crisply, "Yes."

Since failing the last exam, the young master has locked himself in his study, saying he was reading and reviewing his books to prepare for the next exam. But how could she, who had grown up with him since childhood, not see the loneliness and discouragement in his heart?

Now that he's finally willing to ask her to put the stack of books away, he's truly moved on.

Before leaving, Gu Tingyu turned back to look at her one last time. Seeing her bright eyes and happy expression, he smiled as well.

In the main courtyard, Old Madam Gu had already gotten up. When Gu Tingyu entered to pay his respects, she was sitting on the couch, with a maid serving her tea.

Upon seeing Gu Tingyu, Old Madam Gu beamed with joy and eagerly invited him to sit down. While the maidservants prepared tea, she examined him closely, becoming more and more satisfied with her assessment.

She was a bit thin and her face still showed signs of illness, but her back was straight, she was tall and graceful, and every move she made was elegant and graceful.

Grandma Gu felt proud at first, but then felt endless regret.

If the Gu family still held their title, and with a eldest grandson like Yu-ge'er to uphold the family's honor, one can only imagine what a magnificent scene it would be.

What can be done?

Things in this world are just so unpredictable!

After Gu Tingyu sat down, he dismissed everyone around him.

Only the grandfather and grandson remained in the house.

Grandma Gu looked at him, her voice softening slightly: "I'm so glad you can cheer up. This is my grandson. It's just one failure, what's there to be afraid of?"

Gu Tingyu lowered his eyes: "I'm sorry to have worried Grandmother."

Grandma Gu waved her hand: "I never intended to force you. Our family is already in such a state. Even if you return to the court, you won't be of much help, and you'll probably just be ridiculed. My original intention was for you to guard the little family fortune we have left and live a life of wealth and leisure. It would be best if you married and started a family as soon as possible, and gave me a big, healthy son. Then I can close my eyes in peace and go to find your grandfather."

Upon hearing this, Gu Tingyu chuckled softly: "Then I can't get married so easily. Compared to that uncertain child, I can't bear to be separated from my grandmother."

Grandma Gu was taken aback at first, but then her heart softened.

"You silly child."

She rolled her eyes at him, but couldn't help it; her eyes welled up with tears.

But soon, she became serious and said, "Stop joking around and get down to business! What have you thought about what I told you last time?"

The room was quiet for a moment.

Gu Tingyu slowly lowered his eyes: "I came today precisely for this matter. Manniang and I grew up together since childhood, and our relationship is extraordinary... I urge Grandmother to take her in as her goddaughter and find her a good marriage."

Grandma Gu was all smiles when she heard the first part, but her smile vanished when she heard the second half.

After Gu Tingyu finished speaking, his brows furrowed even more, and his hands trembled with anger: "You considered it for three days, and this is the answer you came up with for me?"

Gu Tingyu said in a low voice, "Grandmother, please calm down."

"I can't calm down!"

Old Mrs. Gu looked at him with exasperation: "Do you think I can't see it? She has feelings for you, and you have feelings for her. If this happened in any other family, how many mistresses wouldn't tolerate it? I didn't say I wanted to break them up, nor did I say I wanted to kick her out. I even allowed you to take her into your room as a concubine. And you still won't agree?"

Seeing that she was emotional, Gu Tingyu quickly stepped forward to support her: "Grandmother, please let me explain."

"I won't listen!"

Grandma Gu flung his hand away: "What you're going to say is nothing but nonsense about your poor health, that you're not destined for longevity, and that you might be hindering people's lives. I won't listen!"

"grandmother……"

"You saved her!" Old Mrs. Gu said with red eyes, "If you hadn't saved her back then, her parents would have sent her to an opera troupe to become a singing girl. Not only would she have suffered, but with her looks, who knows who she would have been sent to be someone's plaything when she grew up! It was you who knelt down and begged me back then that made me buy her indenture and remove her from the slave register."

Gu Tingyu pursed his lips.

Grandma Gu looked at him, her eyes filled with both heartache and anger: "Over the years, she has been a maid in our household in name only. But apart from the delicate tasks around you, has she ever truly suffered the hardships of a maid? Her clothes, her meals—even the legitimate daughters of wealthy families outside don't live like this."

Gu Tingyu said in a low voice, "Grandmother has a soft heart, I know that."

Grandma Gu sneered, "What do you know?"

She took a deep breath, too lazy to argue with her clever grandson any longer: "Yes, I have ulterior motives! I hope that with her healthy body, she can give you a son or daughter as soon as possible. Only then can I close my eyes in peace, so that you won't be left all alone in this world, with no one to plan your marriage."

Grandma Gu choked back tears, saying, "But we won't mistreat her! Leaving aside our past kindness to her, I'm willing to divide my dowry into three parts: one for you, one for your children, and the third specifically for her!"

Gu Tingyu's eyelashes trembled slightly.

Grandma Gu saw this and immediately grasped his hand, her voice low and almost pleading: "Yu-ge'er!"

"Grandma doesn't have many years left to live, and she just wants your marriage to be settled."

"Grandma just wants to see my Yu-ge'er have both a son and a daughter, and a house full of descendants!"