The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

"Now that Father has agreed to let me learn riding, archery and polo, I should start preparing riding clothes and pads. I should send someone to the embroidery room to arrange it as soon as possible. I also need to prepare waist and knee pads."

Shilan was in high spirits at the thought of her upcoming polo lesson.

Baoqin looked troubled. Her young lady must have forgotten how she had argued with the madam in the main hall and made the madam cry.

"Young lady... the Marquis has never agreed to that..."

Shilan glanced at her, a half-smile on her face.

Under Baoqin's terrified gaze, he suddenly pulled the tablecloth away—

Shilan glanced at her, a half-smile on her face, then suddenly grabbed the corner of the tablecloth and yanked it open—

"Splash!"

The sharp sound of shattering porcelain pierced the tranquility of the courtyard.

The teacup and teapot fell to the ground with a thud, scattering shards and leftover tea everywhere.

Baoqin cried out in fright and took two steps back. The other maids standing outside were also terrified and dared not utter a sound.

Shilan stood there calmly, slowly brushing non-existent dust off her fingertips.

"Then why don't you hurry and inform Father?" Her voice was clear and resolute, brooking no argument. "Because he hasn't responded, I've become furious and anxious, crying and making a scene in the courtyard. If he still doesn't respond, I will refuse to eat or drink anything until Father agrees!"

---

In the main hall, suppressed sobs had not yet completely subsided.

Marquis Qin Muchuan of Dongchang was gently patting his wife Ying Qiongfang's back, softly comforting her, "Alright, alright, it's normal for children to bicker, why take it to heart? Third Sister is young, and her temper is a bit too quick..."

Ying Qiongfang raised her tearful eyes, shook her head, her eyes filled with unyielding worry and sorrow: "My lord, this time is different... You saw it yourself, the way Third Sister looked at Nanyan, it was like ice shards... Moreover, she doesn't just resent Nanyan, she... she probably hates me, her mother, too. That's why she said those words that pierced my heart."

"How could that be?"

"Of course you will! Have you forgotten how she humiliated me today?"

Ying Qiongfang felt a pang of pain in her heart at the thought of her youngest daughter's merciless expression, and tears streamed down her face. "She's blaming me. It must be because I wasn't by her side when she fell into the water and developed a high fever. She hates me now. But this child, why can't she understand? She and Nanyan are both my flesh and blood. How could I not love her? But Nanyan was born weak and had a difficult life, so I showed her more affection. How did that turn out to be so wrong?"

Her crying made Qin Muchuan's heart race: "I know, I know, how could I not know? How much you love our three children..."

Just as Qin Muchuan was about to say something more comforting, the butler rushed in from outside, looking troubled, and reported that Shilan had smashed things in the yard and threatened to go on a hunger strike.

Upon hearing this, Ying Qiongfang trembled with anger, both anxious and furious: "How can this child be so insensible? Is she trying to drive me to my death?"

Qin Muchuan's face also darkened.

The atmosphere in the hall was tense when Qin Zhengyang stepped in, his face beaming with excitement. His naturally thick-skinned nature made him ignore his parents' expressions, and he went straight to the point: "Father, Mother, I've made up my mind. I also want to learn riding and archery with my third sister. With me, as her older brother, watching over her, I think..."

"Nonsense!" Qin Muchuan was already furious, and hearing this only fueled his anger. Before he could finish speaking, he interrupted sharply, "Your sister is being silly, and you're adding to the chaos! Nobody's allowed to go! Stay home and study properly! I heard from Teacher Zeng that you've skipped school again? When will you ever improve? Can't you learn from your older sister and stop causing me so much worry?"

"Big sister, big sister, it's always 'big sister,' why don't you just have her too!"

Qin Zhengyang was already furious because of his father's arbitrary decision. When he heard his father talk about Qin Nanyan again, and started with the same old clichés about how he, a grown man, was inferior to Qin Nanyan, his pent-up resentment immediately exploded.

"Anyway, she's naturally frail, so you two can stay by her side constantly and focus solely on taking care of her!"

"My third sister and I were born healthy. Is that our fault? So we deserve to be ignored by you and seen as the shadow of our eldest sister."

"If our eldest sister can't go out, are my third sister and I also going to be confined to this small courtyard, living the same lifeless life as her? We shouldn't even have the right to run, jump, and laugh, is that it!"

Qin Zhengyang's question struck Qin Muchuan and Ying Qiongfang like a heavy hammer.

Seeing his son's eyes redden with emotion, and recalling his youngest daughter's resolute "hunger strike" threat, as well as his wife's heartbroken appearance, the anger in his heart deflated like a punctured balloon.

A deep sense of exhaustion washed over me.

He sighed dejectedly, rubbed his throbbing temples, and finally waved his hand weakly.

"...Fine, fine. If you want to go, then go."

Ying Qiongfang covered her face and ran away. Today, she was just a mother who was misunderstood and rejected by all her children.

Qin Zhengyang clenched his fists. The boy who had just made those harsh words now looked just like a hedgehog with its quills raised. After the attack, he also needed to catch his breath.

He gave a stiff bow and quickly left.

……

When the news reached Shilan's courtyard, Baoqin breathed a long sigh of relief and hurriedly directed the maids to clean up the mess.

Shilan simply gave a soft "hmm," a faint smile playing on her lips, before turning and walking toward the inner room. She thought to herself that the women in the harem were right: the enemy of my enemy is the most natural and the most steadfast ally.

Qin Zhengyang was one of the main culprits who harmed Xiao Qinshi, but that was after he grew up and got married.

This boy, who is just over ten years old, is not only a person of high status and identity in the Dongchang Marquis's mansion, but also happens to be the one who hates Qin Nanyan the most.

She was the perfect choice to use to disgust Qin Nanyan.