The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

After entertaining the elated Wang Ruofu.

After not seeing him for half a year, Fu Ge'er, who had become extremely obedient and didn't utter a single word she didn't like, finished their meal together affectionately.

I coaxed Anjie to sleep again.

After washing up at night, the maid who was on night watch also retreated to the outer room, and all was quiet.

Shilan gently turned over in bed and reached out to precisely pinch a soft piece of flesh on Zhang Yun's lower back.

"When the men of your Zhang family pursue the girls they like, is that sneaky, thieving way of doing things hereditary?"

Zhang Yun was just starting to feel sleepy when she was taken aback by her question: "What ancestral method? Who's been stealing again?"

Shilan, in a bad mood, repeated Wang Ruofu's words about how Zhang Rui pursued Hua Jie'er like a thief, and Hua Jie'er's words about catching a turtle in a jar.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yun was wide awake and burst into laughter in the darkness.

He pulled his wife into his arms, his voice tinged with laughter and reminiscence: "How can you blame us? If anyone is to blame, it's you two for being too dazzling, like the bright moon in the sky, like the blazing sun. When we're in your presence, our hearts betray us, beating fast and wildly, unable to utter a single, steady word, leaving us only with awkwardness. Weren't you the same back then? I went to the polo field every day, and if you were on the field, I would definitely join you. Other girls would have understood by now, but you remained unchanged towards me, and your passion only grew stronger with each game, so how could I not feel insecure?"

Following his words, Shilan recalled the scene of their first meeting, and those previously overlooked details suddenly became clear.

I couldn't help but laugh too.

A long-lost flutter of emotion stirred within me, sweet as ever.

-

The following day, Shilan received a letter from Hai.

The letter stated that the Sheng family had arrived safely in Bianjing and had been settled for more than half a month, with everything initially settled.

To celebrate moving to a new house, I'm thinking of hosting a small banquet to invite relatives and friends from Beijing to gather together.

The young ladies in the family were all very fond of the two young ladies from the Marquis's and Duke's mansions, and she dared to invite Shilan to the mansion for a chat.

The second half of the letter contains another important matter.

The scholar Zhuang, whom the Sheng family invited, agreed to teach at the Sheng family's home this time because he remembered a favor he owed Sheng Hong in the past. However, due to his advanced age and limited energy, he did not wish to take on any more students.

If the nephews and nieces mentioned in Shilan's letter are truly eager to learn, they can study at the Sheng family school. Moreover, Scholar Zhuang also suggested that whether or not to accept them would be decided after he personally examined the students' academic performance and character.

After reading the letter, Shilan immediately sent someone to invite Wang Ruofu and instructed that Chengbai be brought along as well.

At twelve years old, Qin Chengbo was already a handsome young man, with a tall and straight figure. His features showed both his father's uprightness and his mother's gentleness.

Standing next to him was Fu Ge'er, who was about the same age and height as Cheng Bai. Because his face resembled Shi Lan's by about 50%, he was exceptionally handsome.

The two children stood side by side, like elegant orchids and jade trees, a sight to behold.

"Mother."

"aunt."

The two children bowed respectfully.

Shilan nodded, quite satisfied with the scene before her.

"The good teacher you've been thinking about has finally made progress."

Having lived here for many years, Shilan has been influenced by what she sees and hears, and she understands that the literary style of this dynasty is far more flourishing than that of the Qing dynasty in which she was born.

The imperial examination was an extremely competitive process, with thousands of candidates vying for limited spots.

To stand out, one needs either exceptional talent or guidance from a renowned teacher; both are things that are hard to come by.

Shilan couldn't help but think of the scholar Zhuang from the Sheng family in the original story, whose achievements were truly outstanding.

Sheng Changbai, Sheng Changfeng, Qi Heng, and Gu Tingye, who were taught by him, all passed the imperial examination and became Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations).

No wonder even the haughty Princess Pingning, who clearly looked down on the Sheng family's status and disliked the possibility of Sheng family daughters trying to climb the social ladder, still sent Qi Heng to the Sheng family to audit classes.

Shilan also wanted to emulate her.

After all, nothing is more important than the children's future.

Although in her heart she thought that as long as her son Fu-ge was safe, happy and had a smooth life, he didn't have to suffer the hardship of studying hard.

It is well known that no one is better than their mother. Fu Ge'er is naturally intelligent, and over the years he has been deeply influenced by his grandfather, uncle, father and Cheng Bai, who are around him. He has a broad vision and lofty aspirations.

Therefore, he has devoted himself to studying and practicing martial arts in recent years. Even last year when the whole family went on a trip to the south, he was able to harden his heart and say that he would not go, insisting on staying in the capital to study with Chengbai.

Shilan felt both proud and heartbroken to have such a promising and ambitious child.

But more than anything, it was pride.

Her children, like Nian Shilan's, should be self-reliant and strive for excellence!

Naturally, we are willing to do our best to support them.

"However, whether you can ultimately win over the gentleman depends on yourselves."

Shilan explained that Zhuang Xuejiu wanted to test their knowledge and character first.

Upon hearing this, the two boys were not intimidated at all. Instead, their eyes lit up, they exchanged a glance, and then bowed solemnly to Shilan.

"Thank you, Mother!"

"Thank you, Aunt!"

On the day of the Sheng family's small banquet, Shilan indeed brought Chengbai and Fuge'er along. Coincidentally, Qi Heng was also there.

Although Princess Pingning married young, she was frail and waited many years for her only son, who was a year younger than Fu Ge'er.

The three young men passed Zhuang Xuejiu's test and agreed to study at the Sheng family school every day from now on.

Sheng Hong was overjoyed that his teeth were visible but his eyes were not.

A young duke and two young marquises were studying at the Sheng family school. What an honor and prestige this was!

When the news reached Linxi Pavilion, Lin Qinshuang's eyes reddened, and she couldn't help but mutter curses under her breath: "That bitch Hai, she's so stubborn, she'd rather suffer than let herself be! Three excellent young men from noble families are right in front of her; she could marry any one of them and enjoy endless wealth and luxury. But at a time like this, she sends all the girls in her family to her maternal family's school! She's completely missed this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

-

Time flies, and the year is drawing to a close.

The Duke of England's family formally proposed marriage to the Qin family, seeking a marriage between Zhang Rui and Hua Jie'er. The two families happily passed the engagement ceremony.

Another year has passed, and the Lantern Festival is here again, with lanterns shining brightly.

Hua Jie'er and Zhang Rui, now engaged, blushed and walked together amidst the teasing and joking of their siblings.

At first, the two deliberately kept a distance and walked silently. After passing through the noisy area, they tacitly approached each other again.

At first, neither of them dared to look at the other, only stealing glances from the corner of their eyes. Occasionally, their eyes would meet, and they would immediately turn their heads away, their blushes and the fluttering in their hearts growing stronger.

The adults followed at a distance, watching the young couple's innocent and beautiful appearance, their faces filled with knowing smiles, and they couldn't help but feel a sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a feeling of deep emotion or reflection) about the passage of time.

Especially Shilan and Zhang Yun.

The feeling of excitement that quietly blossomed under the fireworks that year seems like it happened just yesterday.

Before we knew it, the children had all reached the age where they should be getting married.

Shilan was in a daze.

I'm almost thirty already?

In her previous life, she seemed to have only lived to the age of twenty-eight.

But even though the years were roughly the same, why was the previous life so long and unbearable?

Is it because the nights in the deep palace are too cold and too long?

Before I could think it through, my hand was grasped by Zhang Yun's warm, dry hand.

The man's body temperature was always higher than hers, soothing her slightly cool fingertips.

"Do you want to wander around aimlessly, or go to Fanlou and watch the fireworks later?" Zhang Yun asked in a low voice.

Shilan tilted her head, thought for a moment, then her eyes crinkled into a smile, and without hesitation, she said, "I want them all!"

Zhang Yun chuckled: "Okay, whatever you say."

-

Hua Jie happily accepted the prize lantern that Zhang Rui had won for her.

This is an extremely exquisite glass lamp with a rotating swivel pattern.

The flickering lamplight illuminated her radiant smile, adding to her beauty.

Zhang Rui couldn't take his eyes off it.

In the shadows of a corner, a man stared blankly for a long time until the couple left hand in hand. Only then did he bitterly withdraw his gaze and tilt his head back to gulp down a large mouthful of cold wine.

"I was only born two years after him."

Yuan Wenshao muttered to himself, his voice filled with dejection and resentment: "Am I not worthy of anything at all? If I were the eldest son, why would I have trouble marrying a noblewoman? But now... even the daughter of a lowly sixth-rank official dares to look down on me..."

He was drunk and staggered away from the main street, instinctively heading into a quiet, dark alley, as if trying to avoid the bustling street and hide his disappointment and inferiority.

They hadn't gone far when a startled cry rang out.

A young girl suddenly rushed out from the depths of the alley, grabbing his arm tightly in a panic, as if she saw him as her only lifeline: "Young master! Young master, save me! There's a... there's a thief trying to kill my brother! He's in the alley ahead!"

Yuan Wenshao was startled by the cold touch, and his drunkenness subsided somewhat.

By the bright moonlight, I could see the fear and pleading in the girl's tearful eyes.

The alcohol fueled both his arrogance and rage, and he abruptly threw down the wine jug.

"How dare such audacious and reckless individuals exist right under the emperor's nose!"

He then followed the girl, running deeper into the alley...

-

Another month or so passed.

Wang Ruofu and her sister-in-law Shilan arranged to listen to music at a famous theater in Bianjing.

Winter is long, and it's a rare treat that all the little girls are sent to play at the Duke of England's mansion, which makes their mothers happy to relax for half a day.

After the play ended and the accounts were almost settled, Wang Ruofu looked at the two empty seats beside her and couldn't help but sigh, "Sister Bai is just too soft-hearted. That child can't forget his mother, and being able to keep his distance like this, sending a message of peace during festivals, is already the best possible outcome. He was born weak, which is the result of his mother's cruel actions back then. Why does Sister Bai have to take all of this upon herself?"

Shilan did not speak.

She has always kept Gu Tingyu's affairs to herself.

Today was supposed to be a day for the four of them to get together with Wu Yueyin and Bai Qing, but at the last minute, the other two were absent.

Bai Qing left a message saying that Gu Tingyu, who was far away in his hometown, was seriously ill, and she and Gu Yankai rushed over as soon as they heard the news.

They had seen Gu Yankai's attitude over the years.

That scoundrel seems to have forgotten the fact that when the Ningyuan Marquis's mansion was driven into poverty, he weighed the pros and cons between being demoted and being purged, and chose to marry Bai, using the position of Marquis's wife to obtain a huge dowry to help him through the crisis.

Once they've crossed the river, they dismantle the bridge, suppressing and humiliating Bai Shi and her son Gu Tingye at every turn.

He only has these two sons.

Gu Tingye was forced to distance himself from him and went to the frontier alone to seek merit and fame.

Gu Tingyu refused to go home again, and now he is seriously ill. If something were to happen to him, unless Gu Yankai takes a young concubine and has a son, it is unknown whether he would willingly hand over the title of Marquis of Ningyuan to his nephew from another household, or whether he would shamelessly turn back and reconcile with Gu Tingye.

Shilan sneered inwardly, unable to suppress a hint of anticipation for a good show.

As they were talking, the door to the private room was pushed open, and Wu Yueyin hurriedly entered with snowflakes still clinging to her shoulders. The head maid beside her rushed to clear the snow for her, but she pushed her away and didn't even bother to take the hand warmer offered by the maid.

"You've finally arrived!" Wang Ruofu greeted him. "We thought you were also tied up with something."

Wu Yueyin's eyes gleamed with barely suppressed gossip as she sat down close to the charcoal brazier: "I almost couldn't make it!"

They'd been best friends for many years, and seeing her like this, Wang Ruofu immediately perked up: "What happened?"

"Do you all still remember the story from last year when the Marquis of Zhongqin's family went south to Yangzhou to propose marriage, only to be rejected?"