The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

On the tree-lined path east of the polo field, Zhang Yun caught up with the figure in crimson purple, his tone tinged with helplessness and embarrassment:

"Mother, what are you doing here?"

Lady Zhang Ning, the Duchess of England, stopped and turned to look at her second son, who usually had a cold, icy expression but was now clearly flustered. A slight smile played on her lips: "If I hadn't come, how would I have known which deity had captivated your heart?"

Zhang Yun's ears turned red, but she couldn't help taking a step forward, her eyes sparkling: "Then what does Mother think of her?"

"You can judge a person's character by their sportsmanship." Zhang Ning recalled the sharp and beautiful playing style of the girl in red on the court, and his eyes showed approval: "She is straightforward, her attacks are fierce but not without strategy, and she is also upright and honorable when defending. It is clear that she has a straightforward personality and is not someone who is treacherous at heart."

Zhang Yun couldn't help but smile, his face beaming with pride.

"I've inquired about it too," Zhang Ning continued. "The third daughter of the Qin family is extremely filial to her ailing mother. A filial child can't be too bad, no matter how bad they are."

Suddenly, she changed the subject: "However—"

"But what?" Zhang Yun immediately tensed up.

"You blockhead, you're unlikely to win her over," the Duchess of England bluntly exposed. "Sending her pastries, hairpins, and silk—you do all these nice things secretly, like a petty thief framing someone. If I were her daughter, I'd set a trap for you, catch you, and beat you out with a big stick!"

She rolled her eyes at her son: "Don't blame me for being a jinx, but if you keep hiding like this, what if the girl thinks some random guy is trying to woo you? Just like in those storybooks, all that misunderstanding leads to the beauty marrying someone else, and you'll have nowhere to cry."

"Mother! Quickly, spit it out!" Zhang Yun hurriedly said, "You're hoping your son will do well."

Even so, the Duchess of England's words truly struck a chord with him.

As the evening breeze rustled through the treetops, Zhang Yun led his horse slowly back, his mind filled with his mother's teasing.

Be honest?

But every time he saw her, seeing her radiant appearance on horseback, or her slightly furrowed brows when she sat quietly, he was filled with joy and excitement, and all the words he had prepared beforehand were completely forgotten.

I'm afraid that if I confess, I'll only embarrass myself instead.

---

Meanwhile, outside the rest area on the west side of the polo field, Shilan was about to leave when she was stopped by a gentle voice.

"Sister Shilan."

She paused slightly and turned to look at the person who had come.

Wu Yueyin stood a few steps away, wearing a pale yellow dress that accentuated her fair complexion.

She and Shilan were the same age, had known each other since childhood, and were once close playmates, but alas...

Shilan nodded slightly, without saying a word.

She was proud and narrow-minded; she would never look back on those who abandoned her.

Wu Yueyin looked embarrassed, but instead of turning away, she stood there wringing her handkerchief for a moment before resolutely asking, "Do you know who that lady you were playing polo with just now was?"

Shilan already had a guess in her heart, but she didn't show it on her face: "Who?"

"It's the Duchess of England," Wu Yueyin said softly, carefully observing Shilan's expression.

Shilan was indeed not surprised.

As a noblewoman from a noble family who had been strictly raised since childhood, she had seen portraits of all the mistresses of the Dongchang Marquis's household in Bianjing City whose rank was higher than that of the Dongchang Marquis's household. She knew their well-known likes, dislikes, taboos, and general style of doing things.

When that lady left the stage today, even the usually arrogant Princess Pingning smiled and nodded to her, which shows how high her status was.

There were only a handful of people in the entire capital who were of such high status and lived in seclusion, whom she had never met in person.

After excluding those who are too old and have long since retired, only the Duchess of England remains.

Wu Yueyin took a step forward, lowering her voice even further: "There's something you should know. The Duke of Ying's family has commanded troops for generations. It's an honor, but it was earned by generations of Zhang family men fighting on the battlefield. Since the heir Zhang Xian has already stayed in the capital to take up his post, then the second son Zhang Yun... following the old precedent, should be stationed on the frontier."

She paused, observing Shilan's reaction: "Zhang Erlang joined the army at a young age and is already used to military life. This time he returned to the capital because he has reached marriageable age, and the Duchess of Yingguo wants to find him a proper wife."

Shilan listened quietly, her face expressionless.

"Zhang Erlang is an extremely promising man, and the Duke of Ying's family is of high social standing," Wu Yueyin said, her tone complex. "But... he's never home. If the border is in turmoil, and war is merciless..."

She didn't say anything more.

Shilan already understood.

Marrying Zhang Yun may seem glamorous on the surface, but in reality, it could mean facing the risk of being alone for many years, or even becoming a widow at a young age.

"I understand." Shilan finally gave her a proper look. "Thank you for letting me know."

After saying that, she turned and left without the slightest hesitation.

Wu Yueyin stood there, watching the red figure gradually disappear into the distance, and sighed softly.

---

As Shilan sat in the carriage, Wu Yueyin's words still echoed in her mind.

Zhang Yun.

Duchess of England.

Stationed permanently on the frontier.

Crab roe pastry, orchid hairpin, brocade... these fragmented clues finally strung together into a clear line in my mind.

It was him.

Shilan's gaze fell on the plate of crab roe pastries on the table.

She suddenly felt like laughing.

The second son of the Duke of England, a man of great stature, pursues someone in such a clumsy way.

The sounds outside the carriage suddenly ceased, leaving only Songzhi calling her softly, "Miss..."

As if sensing something, Shilan lifted the curtain and looked up.

Under the old locust tree, a figure in dark blue stood quietly, leading a fine horse.

Despite not being well-read, she suddenly recalled a line of poetry she had idly come across many years ago while staying at home.

I was young then, and my spring clothes were thin.

Riding a horse and leaning against a sloping bridge,

The entire building is filled with beauties beckoning.