The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

"Well said!"

Just as the maids were terrified by Nian Shilan's words, a voice full of praise rang out.

Everyone turned their heads, saw the newcomer, and greeted him respectfully: "Second Young Master!"

Nian Shilan also looked in the direction they came from. There was a boy who looked to be about ten years old, dressed in a silver robe, and whose eyebrows and eyes were somewhat similar to her own.

The visitor was Qin Zhengyang, the elder brother of Madam Qin and the only male heir of the Qin family in this generation.

Qin Zhengyang came closer, a smug smile on his face: "Third sister, you've really suffered for nothing. Your brain has become much sharper after being washed by the cold pool water, and even your speech is clearer than before."

He even tried to tap Nian Shilan's head, but she rudely turned her head away.

Nian Shilan looked at him with a mixture of scrutiny and disdain.

The tragedy of Xiao Qinshi can be attributed seven-tenths to her selfishness and willfulness, one-tenth to her parents' unfair treatment, and the remaining two-tenths to the people around her.

After the Qin family took away half of the remaining family property, Qin Zhengyang's long-standing resentment towards his parents and sisters finally erupted.

He hated the eldest Qin woman, who had divided his family property, to the core, and he was even more ruthless towards the youngest Qin woman, who was about to divide his family property.

After Qin's parents passed away, he and his wife conspired to keep all the dowry that his mother had secretly left for Xiao Qin. They also dismissed all the servants in Xiao Qin's courtyard under the pretext of supplementing the family income, and made her do embroidery and needlework by hand in exchange for food and drink.

Finally, they secretly plotted to marry Xiao Qinshi off to an elderly widower who could afford a high dowry as her second wife.

This forced Lady Qin to marry Gu Yankai.

They're all pits of fire.

At least Gu Yankai is the heir of the Ningyuan Marquis's mansion, with a real title hanging in his hands.

"I'm talking to you." Qin Zhengyang, having waited a long time for Nian Shilan's response, grew somewhat annoyed: "Why are you looking at me like that? Have you gone mad again?"

"You're the silly one. I was thinking that you've come at the perfect time. Father is taking me to the horse farm tomorrow to pick out a horse. You've been complaining that reciting books is boring, so why don't you come along and pick one out too? We can learn polo together from now on, so we can keep each other company."

Nian Shilan extended an invitation.

Upon hearing this, Qin Zhengyang waved his hands repeatedly: "No need, no need, I have no interest in that thing."

He was too embarrassed to mention that because he wasn't good at academics, his family had found him a martial arts instructor a while ago. The instructor had already taken him on horseback, but his buttocks were sore from the jolting all night afterward, so he secretly abandoned martial arts in his heart.

I'll just wait until I pick an auspicious day to tell my family, especially my parents.

Qin Erlang is not only incompetent in literature, but also incompetent in martial arts.

"Take it easy. Learning to play polo isn't something you can do overnight, and it'll be tough. If you really don't want to be following in her footsteps and picking up what she's already learned, learning some household management skills is a good alternative. Why should a young lady have to suffer?"

Qin Zhengyang casually asked a question.

In the past, he wouldn't have liked his third sister either. Although she wasn't like Qin Nanyan, who stole their parents' attention and everything he, as the eldest grandson, was entitled to, and thus had a deep-seated feud with him, her aloof and disdainful attitude towards him whenever she saw her second brother was quite nauseating.

You look down on your own brother, and I look down on you, you callow brat.

But today, first there was the fierce argument in front of his parents, and then he went on a cheek-to-cheek confrontation with Qin Nanyan.

That line, "A bitch is just being pretentious," really resonated with him.

Qin Zhengyang suddenly found his third sister much more pleasing to the eye.

Nian Shilan sensed his goodwill and raised an eyebrow slightly. She had only intended to offer a few simple words of advice, but now she felt compelled to delve deeper: "Speaking of not wanting to pick up what she doesn't want, Second Brother, we're on the same page. But what you said isn't entirely correct. Qin Nanyan may not have learned household management, but it's not that she can't. It's just that she considers herself an ethereal fairy, untouched by worldly concerns, and finds gold and silver vulgar and household management mercenary. If I were to learn, wouldn't I still end up picking up what she disdains, thus losing face?"

Qin Zhengyang stroked his chin: "That makes sense, so how about playing polo..."

"Isn't she always complaining about being frail?"

Nian Shilan looked up. The morning sun was shining brightly, and dewdrops glistened on the lush green vegetation beside the path, exuding vitality.

"We are all children of our parents, but you and I are healthy, while she was born weak."

Qin Zhengyang's eyes darkened as Nian Shilan spoke softly.

His weak constitution was precisely that wretch's greatest advantage in his struggle against him.

But if he had known earlier that he would be ignored by his parents time and time again because of his good health, and that they would have asked him to give in and go along with them.

He'd rather not be healthy!

She's just physically weak, not disabled. Besides, over the years, we've sent her all sorts of precious things and taken meticulous care of her. Even the doctors say that as long as she doesn't cause trouble, her life is safe.

They're going to try and take his share too!

"She's frail, so she should stay home and rest properly. She shouldn't be able to leave the house; she should just spend her days reading poetry and playing music and painting in the courtyard." Nian Shilan then changed the subject: "Since you and I are both healthy, why don't we live life to the fullest? Let's ride the fastest horses, taste the strongest liquor, climb the highest mountains, and swim in the widest lakes."

Qin Zhengyang was startled. His third sister's words were like a pebble that struck his calm heart, causing ripples to spread.

"She's unlucky and doesn't deserve these things; we shouldn't miss out."

-

Qin Zhengyang left in a daze.

Nian Shilan returned to her small courtyard and belatedly discovered that the place was called Konglan Courtyard.

It is taken from the meaning of "orchid in a secluded valley".

Marquis Dongchang obtained it personally. He was quite an interesting man; despite being born into a noble family, he considered himself a scholar. But fate didn't give him the brains of a literary genius; no matter how much he crammed in his belly, he wasn't qualified to take the imperial examinations and enter officialdom. He could only feign refinement.

Later, when Xiao Qinshi began her studies, she disliked the word "Kong" in Konglan, which she considered unlucky, and changed it to Zhitingyuan.

Actually, what she disliked wasn't the name of the courtyard.

Having seen the memories, Nian Shilan shook her head. In fact, it was because Xiao Qinshi was unhappy that her eldest sister monopolized their parents' affection, leaving her always lonely and empty. She wanted to vent her resentment, so she used the name of the courtyard to curse out the word "bad luck".

That being said, Shilan felt that she and Xiao Qinshi were indeed destined to be together.

Because Xiao Qinshi's real name was Menglan, which also contained the character "lan".

However, she still planned to ask the Marquis of Dongchang to change her name after some time. Even if she became someone else, she, Nian Shilan, had to be Nian Shilan.

Her temperament, preferences, and even her name must all be her own.

"I want to eat crab roe pastries. Tell the kitchen to make some."

The maids exchanged glances, and Biqin, the maid who had woken Shilan up that morning, asked somewhat awkwardly, "Miss, are you referring to some snacks?"

"Yes, ask the kitchen if anyone knows how to make it. If they do, I will reward them handsomely."

If no one knows the recipe, she will reveal the general formula after a few days.

Shilan was making plans in her mind.

Biqin accepted the order and left. The other maids were also sent off to do their work, leaving only Baoqin alone.

Seeing that no one was around, Baoqin said in a low voice, "What you said to the Second Young Master today, Miss, was a bit too much. If others overheard it..."

Before she could finish speaking, the teacup slammed down at Baoqin's feet, splashing tea and shards that soaked her shoes and socks.

Baoqin was startled. She looked up and met a pair of cold, stern, and imposing eyes, and her heart sank.

"This servant deserves to die."

She knelt down without hesitation.

Shilan looked away and poured herself another glass of water as if nothing had happened. The tea people drank these days was really not to her liking. She had taken a sip this morning and spat it out without hesitation.

"If others hear this, they'll say I'm incompetent in managing my subordinates, turning you all into traitors. Then I won't escape my parents' discipline, and you won't get away with it either! When I use people, I only care about loyalty and obedience; I don't value clever people, because the world is full of fools who think they're clever!"

"Yes, yes!"

"Clean this up."

"Yes."

"You and Biqin are both head maids, and you have the authority to manage everyone in the courtyard. Remember this: if even a single word of my words gets out, and I find out, I will hold you both accountable!"

"……yes."