The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

Shilan gently patted Wang Ruofu's hand as a gesture of comfort, but didn't say anything more.

The past three years have indeed been the most comfortable and fulfilling time of her life since she came here.

Qin Zhengyang and Wang Ruofu both genuinely cared for her, and in this household, they always put her first.

Little Hua Jin grew up little by little, bringing her much novelty and joy.

His businesses are thriving and making a fortune every day.

Occasionally, she would receive concise yet heartfelt letters from the border, along with simple yet thoughtful gifts, all of which brought her genuine satisfaction.

These days are just like the years she spent waiting to be married in her previous life—carefree, relaxed, and content.

But this won't stop her from thinking about getting married.

No matter how good the Qin family is now, it is ultimately Qin Zhengyang and Wang Ruofu's small family.

Seeing the deep affection between the couple, and watching Hua Jie'er grow up little by little, enjoying their company.

She inevitably longs for the unwavering love and affection that belongs to her, and for her children.

Who could blame her for being so absolutely certain about this marriage?

Wang Ruofu was a simple-minded person; his reluctance came and went quickly. Nothing in the world was more important than Shilan's happiness.

"Don't worry, sister. I will definitely make this marriage happen for you, and I will make it a grand and glorious one."

She patted her chest, full of pride, which amused Shilan. The slight sadness she had felt earlier vanished completely.

-

Time flies, and before we knew it, it was time for the plum blossom appreciation banquet.

The Dongchang Marquis's residence has been completely transformed, shedding its former simplicity and now adorned with new decorations.

Following behind Old Madam Wang, Wang Ruoyu stepped into the grand gate of the Marquis's mansion and walked all the way to the backyard. She saw that the pavilions and towers she passed along the way were so exquisite and rich, and the servants who passed by were dressed in fine clothes and were well-mannered.

Thinking of her own Kang family, which was gradually declining and whose servants were unruly and disorganized, she felt as if her heart was being scraped by a dull knife, both sour and painful.

What upset her even more was that the noblewomen who used to not even give her a second glance when they met outside were now all surrounding Wang Ruofu, chatting and laughing, polite and courteous to the point of being somewhat flattering.

"Madam Wang's outfit today is truly exquisite. Look at the luster of the fabric; is it top-quality brocade?"

"I've long heard of Madam's exceptional skills in managing the household affairs, and it's certainly true. This banquet today looks even better than what the Duke of Anguo's mansion hosted last year!"

Wang Ruofu greeted everyone with a smile, her every move exuding the composure of a matriarch, a far cry from the boisterous and shallow-minded woman she once was.

After Wang Ruoyu sat down with the stewardess, she couldn't hold back any longer. She leaned close to her mother and whispered resentfully, "Mother, look at her! She's putting on airs like she's got her eyes on the top of her head! She's only been the Marquis's wife for a few years, and she doesn't even respect her own elder sister anymore?"

Since it was a rare occasion for her and her mother to visit, Wang Ruofu didn't even personally come to the second gate to greet them; she even had a servant lead the way to their seats.

Madam Wang slowly picked up her teacup, without even raising her eyelids: "Your sister is now the wife of a Marquis of the highest rank, in charge of the household affairs, and her acquaintances are all nobles and dignitaries. If she doesn't put on airs, people will look down on her."

"But she also..."

"How has she treated you?" Old Madam Wang finally raised her eyes, her gaze sharp. "If she truly didn't respect you, would you be sitting here today?"

Wang Ruoyu was speechless, choked up.

Old Madam Wang put down her teacup, her voice even lower: "As the elder sister, you should have the demeanor of one. It's your good fortune, and the good fortune of the Wang family, that your younger sister is now more successful than you. If you want to leverage the Marquis's influence to gain a foothold in your husband's family and your own, you must first give your younger sister the respect she deserves. If you need something from someone, you should act as if you need something. Do I have to teach you this principle again?"

Wang Ruoyu's face turned pale and then red. Thinking of her increasingly depleted dowry, she gritted her teeth, swallowed back all her complaints, and forced a smile: "Mother is right, I understand."

Before long, the Gu family's carriage arrived.

Bai Qing carefully led Gu Tingyu out of the car.

She was slender, but her protruding belly was already quite obvious.

Three-year-old Gu Tingyu was dressed warmly, his face still somewhat pale, but his features were delicate and his eyes were bright. He obediently followed Bai Qing, curiously looking around.

"Mother, is this my uncle's house?"

Bai Qing replied gently, "Yes, Yu-ge'er is so clever. You remembered it after I only said it once."

Upon seeing Wang Ruofu approaching, Bai Qing smiled before speaking and gently nudged Gu Tingyu: "Brother Yu, this is your aunt. Quickly greet her."

Gu Tingyu looked up and said in a clear voice, "Auntie, are you well?"

Wang Ruofu looked at the child, her feelings extremely complicated.

This is the only bloodline left by Qin Nanyan. Looking at him, one can't help but recall all the things his mother did back then.

But the child is so beautiful and lovely, and so polite...

Wang Ruofu, now a mother herself, felt a softening in her heart. She knelt down and touched Gu Tingyu's slightly cool little hand: "Good child. Go with your mother to the warm room to warm up, don't catch a cold."

He then stood up and said to Bai Qing, "I have had a quiet, warm room prepared. There is plenty of charcoal and a soft couch. Today there are many people and things to do, so I am a little overwhelmed. But you are in poor health, so if you feel unwell, you must speak up immediately and don't be shy."

There was surprise in Bai's eyes, but also gratitude: "Thank you for your trouble, sister-in-law."

The term "sister-in-law" actually places her in the position of a sister.

Wang Ruofu was somewhat slow to realize what was happening, but she didn't refuse. Instead, she had someone bring Hua Jin over.

The little girl was wearing a peach-colored jacket today, which made her face look rosy. She wasn't shy at all. As soon as she arrived, she opened her big, round eyes and stared at Gu Tingyu.

"Hua-jie, this is your cousin Tingyu."

Wang Ruofu explained, "I must say, the two beautiful little ones standing together make for a very pleasing sight."

Hua Jin blinked, then suddenly stretched out her chubby little hand and handed a small velvet plum blossom that she had been clutching to Gu Tingyu: "Brother, it's pretty, here's a flower for you."

Gu Tingyu was stunned for a moment. Looking at his smiling little cousin, a shy smile appeared on his pale face. He took the flowers and whispered, "Thank you, little sister."

Hua Jin blinked again and suddenly hugged Gu Tingyu.

"Brother, it smells good!"

Gu Tingyu's face turned slightly red, and the adults all burst out laughing.

Wang Ruofu spat, "This child has always liked good-looking people since she was little. At home, she always sticks to her aunt and can pick out anything pretty or fragrant without hesitation."

Seeing this, Bai Qing's smile deepened. She took out a thick, exquisite red envelope that she had prepared beforehand and stuffed it into Hua Jin's hand: "It is said that children are bright-minded, and those who can be liked by children are people with great fortune. This red envelope is for Sister Hua. Thank you, Sister Hua, for bringing blessings and longevity to our Brother Yu."

Upon seeing the weight of the red envelope, Wang Ruofu quickly declined, saying, "This is too precious; the child is still young..."

"Sister-in-law, please don't be so polite," Madam Bai said sincerely, pressing her hand down. "It's just a small token of my appreciation. I like Hua'er so clever and bright the moment I saw her. It's a blessing for the children to play together often in the future."

Having said that, Wang Ruofu couldn't refuse any longer and had no choice but to accept it, feeling even more favorably disposed towards Bai Qing.