The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

After reading about the other person's life, Nian Shilan put down her book, a look of contempt on her face: "More insidious than ruthless. Since you're so willing to destroy everything, wouldn't it have been better if you had just flipped the table earlier? If I were you, I would have set that fire before the wedding, in that beastly brother and sister-in-law's room!"

Madam Qin also finished reading the book in her hands. Facing Nian Shilan's evaluation, her face remained as gentle as ever for the past ten years.

"People's hearts can't be ruthless overnight. If they hadn't driven me to this dead end, why would I, the noble and precious eldest daughter of a marquis's family, put myself in this mess and risk it all on those worthless stones? As for you, with your background and such a promising brother, how did you fall for a man's sweet words?"

Seeing Nian Shilan's darkening face, Madam Qin smiled with satisfaction: "Even at my worst, I've never believed a man's words."

boom!

Nian Shilan slammed the book onto the table, but when she thought of all the things she had done for that person, the things she had done as if she had lost her mind… she couldn’t muster any more anger. Her imposing aura dissipated, and she said softly, “Fine, fine… let’s switch! You will protect my Nian clan, and I will teach a lesson to everyone who has driven you to your doom!”

Madam Qin nodded: "Deal!"

-

"Girl, it's time to get up."

Nian Shilan slowly opened her eyes.

The curtain was gently lifted by a pair of skillful hands and secured with a silver hook. Light flooded in, and a young maidservant wearing a light green vest and with her hair styled in double buns peeked in, a warm smile on her face: "Miss, you look much better today. Madam just sent someone to inquire about you."

Nian Shilan didn't respond. Her sharp gaze swept over the little maid before slowly shifting away to examine the bedroom.

A carved rosewood canopy bed stands beside a small mother-of-pearl inlaid table, upon which sits a warm bowl of ginseng soup. In the distance is a curio cabinet displaying jade artifacts and porcelain trinkets, with meticulous flower-and-bird paintings adorning the walls—everywhere exudes exquisite craftsmanship and opulence.

It was indeed the Marquis's residence.

With such a fortune, we won't have to suffer for at least the next four or five years.

Nian Shilan forced a smile and comforted herself.

She never wanted to experience the same miserable life she had in the cold palace in her previous life, where she lacked food and clothing.

"Young lady, it's time to wash and groom yourself."

The maidservant spoke again.

Nian Shilan composed herself and gave a faint "hmm".

The next moment, the door was gently pushed open, and a group of people filed in. A full twelve maids, dressed in the same color, lowered their eyes, held their breath, and silently knelt on the floor, each carrying a washbasin, handkerchief, cosmetic box, and perfume. Their movements were perfectly synchronized; even the rustling of their clothes was barely audible.

The head maid brought over warm mouthwash, while another carried an exquisite spittoon. Nian Shilan rinsed her mouth using the maid's hand, and immediately a third person handed her a wrung-out hot towel. Cleansing her face, applying fragrant ointment—every step was meticulously attended to, as smoothly as if it had been rehearsed a thousand times.

Makeup complete.

Nian Shilan stood up, and a maid immediately draped an outer garment over her shoulders. It was a lake-blue brocade jacket embroidered with delicate plum blossom branches. She raised her hand to straighten the cuffs; the fabric was smooth to the touch, and the stitches were fine—it was indeed of superior quality.

Despite being a marquis's residence, the manners of service these people followed were in no way inferior to those in her Yikun Palace.

Nian Shilan was even more satisfied with this identity.

"Go and pay your respects to your father and mother."

-

The main hall of the Dongchang Marquis's residence.

Marquis Qin Muchuan of Dongchang and his wife Ying Qiongfang sat upright.

Qin Muchuan was nearing forty, but his face remained handsome. He did not have the imposing presence of a powerful family head, but rather the refined elegance of a scholar.

Madam Ying was equally stunning, with a slender figure and gentle, watery eyes.

Suppressing her turbulent emotions, Nian Shilan, relying on the memories left to her by Xiao Qinshi, respectfully bowed: "Daughter greets Father and Mother."

"Get up quickly, you've just recovered from your illness, no need for such formalities."

Qin Muchuan's voice was very gentle.

Madam Ying also extended her hand to Shilan.

The latter understood and stepped forward.

Just as Madam Ying pulled the person to her side, about to offer some words of concern, a soft, almost tearful voice rang out from the side: "Sister... are you feeling much better? That day, that day by the lotus pond, it was all my fault. If only I hadn't been unwell..."

Nian Shilan turned her gaze and saw that the speaker was a girl sitting at the lower end of the table. She was about twelve or thirteen years old and her appearance was five or six parts similar to the original owner, but she was more delicate and frail. At this moment, she was holding a plain white handkerchief and gently pressing it against the corner of her eye. Her eyes were red and red at any moment, and tears were about to fall but were hanging on her eyelashes. She looked like a pitiful sight.

This is the original owner's biological older sister, the eldest daughter of the Qin family, Qin Nanyan.

Fragments of memory flood back—the lotus pond, the argument, the accidental fall into the water, and the seemingly panicked yet secretly forceful hand of this kind older sister before the fall…

Nian Shilan's inward sneer deepened. She had seen far too many of these lowly tactics for vying for favor in the palace! If it were in the past, such a vile woman would have been punished severely and dragged to a mass grave long ago!

She didn't respond to Qin Nanyan's words, nor even glance at her, as if Qin Nanyan's tearful posture and choked apology were merely a passing breeze. She turned directly to the Marquis of Dongchang, seated at the head of the table, her voice clear and resolute:

"Father, I've been thinking a lot while I'm sick. I've come to understand many things. Good health is the most important thing. I want to learn to ride horses and play polo."

Upon hearing this, the entire room fell silent.

Qin Nanyan's hand, clutching the handkerchief, froze. Tears welled up but wouldn't fall, hanging there in the air, making her look somewhat comical. The maids and servants attending to her also lowered their heads, even holding their breath.

Qin Muchuan was also taken aback. He looked at his second daughter, who seemed somewhat different, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. But that surprise quickly turned into a subtle appreciation. He stroked his beard and pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Hmm... daughters of the Qin family shouldn't be confined to their chambers. Nowadays, many noble ladies in the capital play polo and arrow-throwing games in their spare time. Learning some would be good for their health and also show the refinement of our noble family. Not bad."

Upon hearing this, Madam Ying's face was already beaming with joy, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw her eldest daughter beside her, whose expression instantly dimmed and who looked even more pitiful.

The scales in my heart immediately tipped.

"But a young lady should ultimately prioritize chastity and virtue," Madam Ying said softly, her tone carrying an undeniable air of authority. "Riding horses and playing polo are ultimately somewhat improper. What if you were to fall and hurt yourself? Besides, we've just hired a new tutor, a master of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. You two sisters should focus on your studies and cultivate your character. Third sister, your elder sister is frail; wouldn't it be better if you spent more time with her and studied alongside her?"

Qin Nanyan lowered her head at the opportune moment, her shoulders hunched slightly, making her appear even more frail and helpless.

A hint of smugness flashed in his eyes.

Nian Shilan was slightly taken aback.

These words seem to be a key.

Instantly, the memory treasure chest in her mind, unique to Xiao Qinshi, was opened.

Countless fragments splattered out from within.

Each fragment contains a scene accompanied by Madam Ying's soft, gentle voice.

This caused the anger that had been burning inside Nian Shilan to suddenly flare up.

Whom am I supposed to cultivate my character with? This pretentious wretch.

She abruptly raised her head, her gaze intense, meeting Ying Da Niangzi's eyes directly. Her voice was clear and crisp, with a distinctly sharp edge:

"Mother, you are mistaken! The six arts of a gentleman are rites, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics. Riding and archery are among them, so how can they be considered improper? Furthermore, when the late Emperor was alive, he loved polo and often held matches in the palace, drawing huge crowds! The late Empress was renowned for her superb polo skills and heroic bearing, serving as a model for women throughout the land! How can you say that, Mother, it means she is unambitious and unable to cultivate her character?"