The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

As the lingering heat of midsummer gradually dissipated and the August wind brought the first hint of autumn coolness, bright red silk "double happiness" characters were pasted up inside and outside the Dongchang Marquis's residence.

The maids and servants were all dressed in newly made clothes, carrying wedding platters as they moved between the courtyards and corridors.

The day of Qin Zhengyang and Wang Ruofu's wedding arrived.

Shilan dressed up in full traditional attire early in the morning.

Today she chose a light purple satin dress with gold brocade, and wore a moon-white jacket embroidered with plum blossoms on the front.

If we were to say what the biggest change in Shilan's habits has been over the years since she came here, it would be her choice of headdress and jewelry.

Nowadays, people like to appear cultured and consider it superior to use natural materials such as flowers, pearls, and jade as adornments, while gold and silver, even if precious, are considered vulgar. Therefore, the more prestigious a person's status, the less they care to wear them.

Of course, this excludes the phoenix coronet and embroidered robe of a Lady of Imperial Decree, which symbolize the honor of being able to appeal to Heaven and the ancestors, and should therefore be treated with solemnity.

As for kingfisher feather inlay, it was explicitly prohibited by the government, which said it was against the natural order.

However, it's not a big problem. Shilan thought about it carefully and realized that what she really liked was not the things themselves, but the meaning they symbolized.

Rare and valuable.

It can only be obtained by the supreme being.

Even if it weren't for something perfect, Nian Shilan wouldn't even bother with it.

After careful consideration, Shilan chose a newly made pearl headdress. The hairpin in this headdress had a large pink bead, which was perfect for today's joyous occasion.

The woman in the bronze mirror was radiant and beautiful, exuding wealth and elegance.

"You look so beautiful, young lady." Songzhi straightened her skirt, her eyes full of admiration.

Shilan smiled with satisfaction, then stood up: "Let's go, it's time to go to the front hall."

The main hall was already packed with guests.

Ying Qiongfang was also dressed up for once today, and her complexion was excellent. She greeted the guests with a beaming smile.

Seeing Shilan approaching gracefully, her smile deepened: "Lan'er, you've arrived? Quickly, come with your mother to greet the guests. These are all my close friends."

Shilan stepped forward calmly, following behind her mother, and exchanged greetings and pleasantries with the ladies. Her movements were unhurried and exuded an air of nobility.

The ladies nodded to each other in approval.

Just as things were getting lively, the gatekeeper announced, "The eldest mistress of the Ningyuan Marquis's residence has returned!"

The hall fell silent instantly.

That famous Grandma Qin...

Everyone looked over and saw Qin Nanyan slowly walking towards them, supported by her maid.

She was nearly five months pregnant, her belly was noticeably protruding, but she was still very thin. She wore a loose, light purple long gown, her face was pale, and she had to rest after walking a few steps, looking frail and weak.

Upon seeing her, Ying Qiongfang's smile froze, and her eyes immediately filled with worry. She hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Yan'er, what brings you here? You should be resting at home."

"Mother, today is a joyous occasion, how can I, as the eldest sister, be absent?" Qin Nanyan smiled gently, her voice light and airy.

"Nonsense." Ying Qiongfang frowned and reached out to help her. "There are so many people here. What if you get bumped into? Let me help you to the back to rest."

Just as Qin Nanyan was about to comply, Shilan suddenly stepped forward and gently tugged at Ying Qiongfang's sleeve.

"Mother," she said, her voice low but clear, "the gatekeeper just reported that the Duke of England's carriage has arrived at the alley entrance. Such distinguished guests should be greeted by Mother herself."

Ying Qiongfang was taken aback. Shilan had already turned to Gu Yankai, who was standing to the side with a cold expression: "Brother-in-law, don't be idle. My sister is pregnant, so please take good care of her."

The surrounding air fell silent once more.

Yu Guangzhong chuckled softly, and Qin Nanyan's smile froze, her gaze towards Shilan turning cold.

Just then, a hearty laugh came from outside the door: "Wow, what a lively scene!"

Everyone turned their heads and saw the Duchess of England walking in with Zhang Yun.

The Duchess of England wore a deep purple floral-patterned jacket and a large pure gold hairpin with a ruyi design, looking very elegant.

Beside her stood Zhang Yun, dressed in a dark blue robe with gold-embroidered sleeves and a jade belt, his posture upright as a pine tree. As soon as he entered, his gaze fell directly on Shilan, his eyes burning with intensity.

Qin Nanyan immediately concealed the fleeting unpleasant expression that had crossed her face, replacing it with a gentle and graceful smile: "Mother is right, I should indeed go and rest. But..." She paused, looking at Shilan.

"Zhengyang is overjoyed. Shilan, as the younger sister, is here helping to entertain the guests. How could I, as the eldest sister, be so lazy? Wouldn't that be impolite?"

This was a clever remark, showing both consideration and putting Shilan in a good position.

Upon hearing this, the Duchess of England glanced at Qin Nanyan, then at Shilan, and suddenly smiled: "Miss Qin is right. As expected of the eldest daughter-in-law of the Marquis of Ningyuan's mansion, she is indeed considerate and thoughtful."

She changed the subject: "Perfect timing, I need to have a heart-to-heart talk with your mother. With you here to entertain the guests, I can leave with my people with peace of mind. Madam Ying, may I have a cup of tea?"

She said the last sentence directly to Ying Qiongfang, which shows that she is straightforward and decisive.

Ying Qiongfang glanced at Zhang Yun, whose face was slightly flushed, behind the Duchess of England, and then recalled her youngest daughter's seemingly unintentional words from last night. She immediately understood.

A surge of joy welled up inside her, and she could no longer suppress her smile: "It's just a cup of tea, how could I not have it? Please, please have a seat in the side room!"

As she spoke, she personally led the Duchess of England to a side hall, then turned back and instructed the maid, "Quickly, bring the best tea!"

Seeing this scene, Qin Nanyan felt uneasy. She lifted her foot to follow, but Gu Yankai grabbed her wrist.

"Madam," Gu Yankai shook his head disapprovingly, "It's probably inappropriate for the Duchess of Yingguo and my mother-in-law to be having private conversations. It would be better for you and me to follow along."

He paused, then added, "Besides, Young Master Zhang is also here."

Qin Nanyan was startled.

I finally know what I was worried about.

Zhang Yun, the second son of the Duke of Ying, is seventeen years old, about the same age as Shi Lan.

The British Duchess was just now clearly protecting Shilan again...

A terrifying thought exploded in her mind.

---

The aroma of tea wafted from the side hall.

The Duchess of England and Ying Qiongfang sat down as host and guest, respectively, while Zhang Yun stood properly behind his mother, but his eyes kept glancing towards the door—Shilan had not followed them in.

"I have three sons, all of them are sturdy and mischievous rascals." The Duchess of England noticed her sons' absent-mindedness and smiled as she replied to Qiongfang, "Just like their father, they're not very considerate. I envy families with daughters, especially you. Your eldest daughter is stunningly beautiful, and Shilan is a true heroine, one in a million. I heard she took over the household management at the age of ten? She's truly capable. If I could have a daughter like that, I'd gladly close my eyes right now."

Ying Qiongfang was overjoyed to hear this, but she said modestly, "Pah, pah, why are you saying this? Daughters are good, but they can't be like sons who can carry on the family line. Besides, everyone in the capital knows that the three sons of the Duke of Yingguo's mansion are all exceptionally intelligent and talented young men. As for daughters, you have three sons, so you'll have three daughters-in-law in the future, which is a joyous occasion for the family. Unlike me, no matter how good my daughter is, she'll still marry out of the family, alas."

As they talked, they became reluctant to part.

Duchess Chen Ning of the British Empire hurriedly replied, "Who said that? Isn't a son-in-law half a son too? I'm not bragging, but whichever daughter-in-law comes into the family in the future, I will treat her like my own daughter. I just hope that my three daughters can also meet the expectations of their future parents-in-law."

Her attitude was almost straightforward, but without any hint of coercion. Ying Qiongfang's goodwill towards the Zhang family increased greatly. Moreover, with her youngest daughter's prior reminder, the Zhang family's behavior was not entirely unexpected.

He then smiled and said, "Of course. Not to mention others, even I feel an involuntary joy when I see the Second Young Master."

This means it's settled.

Chen Ning was overjoyed, and Zhang Yun blushed as well, her eyes sparkling like stars.

"That's great." Chen Ning turned to the side and gently pushed Zhang Yun forward. "I think Madam Ying is a straightforward person, so I won't beat around the bush. To be honest, Madam Ying, I've come here today with two reasons: firstly, it's a joyous occasion at the He family's house, and secondly... it's also for my silly son, to ask for a great blessing."

Zhang Yun stepped forward and bowed solemnly to Ying Qiongfang, his voice clear and firm: "This junior, Zhang Yun, has long admired Miss Qin. If you, Madam, would not despise me and grant me your hand in marriage, I will cherish it dearly and never betray you in this life."

Even though Ying Qiongfang was prepared, her heart still raced when she heard these words.

She forced herself to remain calm, took a sip of tea, and then looked up at the Zhang family mother and son with a smile: "Madam Chen's sincerity is beyond question, and I am extremely satisfied with your son. However, this is a major matter of marriage, and we still need to consult my lord, and also... ask Shilan's own opinion."

"Of course." Chen Ning slapped the table happily. Young ladies are usually proud and wouldn't agree to every request. Even if a formal matchmaker came to their door, they would still have to put on a little airs to avoid being impolite. But Madam Ying's attitude meant that the matter was practically a done deal.

"We are merely conveying our message and expressing our intentions today. The formal formalities of sending official letters and paying respects will naturally have to wait until both families have reached an agreement and an auspicious day has been chosen."

Ying Qiongfang nodded, remaining as reserved as ever, but her gaze towards Zhang Yun showed increasing satisfaction.

Just then, a commotion and joyful music arose outside, and someone shouted, "The bride has arrived!"

"Oh, look at me, I'm so happy I've lost my mind. Madam Ying, today is your big day, you absolutely can't afford any mistakes, you go and get busy. Don't worry about the banquet in the front yard tonight, I'll have this boy and his brothers keep an eye on things for you."

Chen Ning didn't stand on ceremony at all.

Ying Qiongfang was somewhat taken aback, but she was still much happier inside. Their family was indeed small, and today was her son's wedding day, but only the master was there to greet everyone in the front yard. She had hoped that her eldest son-in-law could help out, but her daughter was frail and needed someone by her side.

The Zhang family's actions were not only thoughtful, but also a blatant display of how much they valued their Shilan, which is why they rushed to call themselves in-laws even before the two had officially settled their relationship.

How could Ying Qiongfang not be pleased with such an act of flattery for the Qin family and for Shilan?

"Okay, thank you very much, Sister Chen."

-

Inside the hall, red candles burned brightly, filling the room with joy.

Qin Zhengyang was dressed in a bright red wedding robe, his face shining brightly. He held a red silk ribbon in his hand, and at the other end was his bride, Wang Ruofu, wearing a phoenix coronet and a red veil.

Amidst the matchmaker's resounding chanting, the newlyweds slowly entered and, witnessed by a hall full of guests, bowed to heaven and earth, bowed to their parents, and then bowed to each other.

After the ceremony, they were escorted to the bridal chamber.

Watching her brother and sister-in-law walk away hand in hand, and seeing the blinding red all around, Shilan felt a sudden surge of indescribable envy.

In her previous life, when she married Yinzhen, she was only a concubine.

There were no matchmakers, no bridal sedan chairs or music, and certainly no wedding ceremony involving bowing to heaven and earth and informing ancestors.

That was the regret she would have in countless midnight dreams later on.

At first, she thought that priceless treasures were easy to find, but a true lover was hard to come by.

As long as she has Yinzhen's heart, why should she care about a wedding that everyone can have?

But later, when men's hearts became unpredictable, she realized that what everyone could easily possess had become what she had been desperately seeking her whole life.

She will never have such a regret again in her life.

She subconsciously turned her head to look at the person beside her.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Yun's gaze never left her. When their eyes met, his eyes were filled with undisguised focus and tenderness.

Shilan felt a warmth in her heart, and gave him a radiant smile that was beyond compare.