The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

"Sister...Brother."

Gu Tingyu is another example of someone who, even in his sleep, doesn't forget his friends.

Bai Qing and Granny Chang, who were watching from the side, couldn't help but laugh.

Bai Qing looked down at the child in Granny Chang's arms. Seeing that his face was rosy from sleeping, a stark contrast to his usual frail and pale appearance, she felt even happier.

Granny Chang also said, "Young master is reluctant to part with his younger siblings. That's true, what child doesn't like playmates? It's just a pity..."

Her words came to an abrupt end, but Bai Qing already understood what she meant by what she hadn't said.

Tingyu was born weak and sickly, and as the only son of the first wife, he was very precious and inevitably treated like a fragile porcelain doll.

But if it's called taking care of someone, isn't it just another form of constraint?

From the time the child could remember, he only had wet nurses, maids, and doctors around him. He had no playmates of the same age and was never allowed to play freely.

Today at the Dongchang Marquis's residence, Hua Jie'er pulled him around, took him to stroll in the garden, and played hide-and-seek with Liang Jiaxu. The child was overjoyed and refused to go home no matter what. It wasn't until Hua Jie'er was exhausted that they worked together to coax all three children to sleep before successfully bringing the child home.

"It will be nice when our young master or young lady comes out." Granny Chang's gaze fell on Bai Qing's bulging belly, full of anticipation: "Then the boy will have a younger brother or sister to keep him company."

Bai Qing gently stroked her belly with one hand, a tender smile appearing in her eyes, but she said seriously, "Granny, please don't say such things again. What 'our family' and 'their family'? Since we are all family, we are all the same. Since Yu-ge'er calls me 'Mother,' he is my son. This child is precocious. Don't underestimate him because of his young age; he can understand everything. Granny, please be careful with your words in the future."

Granny Chang quickly patted her mouth lightly: "Yes, yes, Miss is right, this old servant was confused."

She verbally admitted her mistake, but in her heart she couldn't help but worry about her daughter.

Being a stepmother is tough.

Although the previous wife, Lady Qin, was divorced because of her own misdeeds, she was still Yu Ge'er's birth mother.

As the girl said, Yu-ge'er is precocious. How could such a child not know who his biological mother is when he grows up? And when he does find out, how could he not miss her?

There are many wicked stepmothers in this world, but there are also kind ones.

Are there few examples of kind-hearted stepmothers who treat their firstborn children as their own and raise them with great care, only to have those children turn their backs on them and only remember their birth mother when they grow up?

Yu Ge'er lost his mother at birth and was weak, which was very pitiful. She often felt sorry for him when she saw him.

But in the end, she still favored the girl who had breastfed her.

This is a secluded mansion, and people's hearts are unpredictable; she must always be careful for the young lady's sake.

As they were talking, they arrived at the Ningyuan Marquis's residence.

Just as Bai Qing was helped out of the carriage by Granny Chang, she saw a figure rushing over – it was Gu Yankai.

Without even glancing at Bai Qing, he walked straight to the wet nurse, picked up the sleeping Gu Tingyu and held him in his arms. He looked the child up and down to make sure he was just asleep before he felt relieved.

"Why are you so late?" He frowned, his tone carrying undisguised reproach: "Yu-ge'er is frail and can't handle hardship, didn't you know that?"

Granny Chang's expression changed slightly, and she was about to speak when her young mistress stopped her.

Bai Qing said calmly, "Young Master, please don't worry. It's just that Yu-ge'er and Hua-jie'er from the Qin family really get along well. It's rare for them to have a playmate of the same age, and they can't bear to be apart, which is why they were delayed for a while. But please rest assured, Young Master, I have taken good care of him and haven't let him suffer too much."

Gu Yankai looked down at his sleeping son in his arms. Yu Ge'er had always been in poor health and had been a light sleeper since childhood. Even now, as he was talking to Bai Shi like this, his breathing was still long and even, which showed that he was really having a great time.

He didn't say anything more, picked up the child, turned around and left: "Let it go this time, but don't let it happen again."

Watching his stubborn back, Granny Chang couldn't help but mutter under her breath, "I was really worried about the child. Why didn't I send a carriage to pick him up? He's already home, and who is he trying to impress with this act..."

"Granny," Bai Qing gently stopped her.

There was no anger on her face, as if she had long been used to Gu Yankai's attitude.

She smoothed her temples, turned and walked towards her courtyard, calm and composed.

-

Meanwhile, the Kang family's carriage sped back to their residence.

Wang Ruoyu was seething with anger and unwilling to go to bed peacefully. When she reached the second gate, she turned and headed towards the study.

When they arrived outside the study, they saw the most trusted servant of their husband looking bewildered, and heard their husband, Kang Haifeng, laughing and joking with his concubine inside the study, including some vulgar and embarrassing words.

Wang Ruoyu was stunned at first, then a bellyful of anger suddenly ignited within her, and she could no longer suppress it. She pushed aside the servant blocking her way, rushed to the study door, and kicked it!

boom--

The loud noise startled the two people inside, and their laughter and movements came to an abrupt halt.

Seeing the two disheveled people in front of her who seemed oblivious to the world, Wang Ruoyu completely snapped.

"Two bastards!"

She grabbed a porcelain vase and smashed it, then a teacup, a teapot—basically anything she had on hand.

He smashed things while cursing, "You can't even handle your duties to the imperial court, but you're a master at indulging in pleasure at home!"

The porcelain bottle smashed at Kang Haifeng's feet, the teacup hit the concubine's forehead, and the teapot also smashed on Kang Haifeng, startling the concubine into screaming.

Kang Haifeng, now mostly sober, was both ashamed and furious: "Wang Ruoyu! What's wrong with you?!"

"I'm crazy?" Wang Ruoyu sneered, "Yes, I'm crazy! Let me tell you, Kang Haifeng, from now on, don't even think about using a single penny of my dowry to support this good-for-nothing! Either go out and find your own way and get a job, or buy a packet of arsenic and poison yourself! If you dare to stay at home every day fooling around with these sluts, I'll divorce you! Let's see how long you can remain so glamorous without my dowry to support you!"

"You—" Kang Haifeng's face turned ashen with anger.

"What do you mean, 'what do you mean, 'what do you mean, 'what do you mean'?" Wang Ruoyu's anger grew with each word. Thinking of her younger sister's triumph today, and looking at the mess in their home, her eyes reddened. "You good-for-nothing! What's the use of passing the imperial examination? You can't even handle a proper job, and now you're just sitting at home eating my money! If I had known this would happen, I would have been better off marrying Sheng Hong. At least he was a county magistrate with a real position! And you? You're a piece of trash!"

"Snap—"

A resounding slap landed on Wang Ruoyu's face.

Kang Haifeng trembled with rage: "You shrew! You shrew!"

Wang Ruo covered her face, but instead of crying, she threw her head back and laughed loudly: "Yes, I am a shrew! Kang Haifeng, if you won't let me have a good time, you won't have a good time either!"

Without giving him another glance, she turned and rushed back to her room, hastily packed her valuables, and ordered the coachman to prepare the carriage for her family's residence that very night.

She refused to believe that her mother wouldn't stand up for her this time!

-

Two flowers bloom, one branch each.

Inside the Dongchang Marquis's residence, however, a completely different scene unfolded.

The guests had all left, and the mansion gradually quieted down.

Wang Ruofu was overjoyed today. Shilan's marriage was finally settled, and it was to a very good family like the Duke of Ying's mansion. A huge weight was lifted off her shoulders, and she couldn't help but drink a few more cups at the banquet.

At this moment, her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were sparkling. Qin Zhengyang helped her back to the main courtyard, and she was so excited that she refused to rest.

"Husband, please stay here and don't move. I'll go get you your things."

She pulled Qin Zhengyang to sit down on the couch, then ran to the inner room and laboriously carried out several thick account books, spreading them all out on the table with a clatter.

Qin Zhengyang chuckled: "What are you doing? It's so late, and you're still looking at the accounts? You're such a money-grubber."

He affectionately pinched her nose.

Wang Ruofu dodged, shooing him away as if he were a mosquito: "It's not about checking the accounts, it's about dividing the accounts!"

When Wang Ruofu opened the account book, his eyes lit up again, brighter than the stars in the sky.

She pointed to the numbers in the account book and listed them off for him one by one: "Let me tell you, you have to say our ancestors were blessed with great fortune. There were many rules during the three-year mourning period, and many things we couldn't do, but thankfully, they didn't say we couldn't make money! The shops in Jiangnan, the estates in the capital, and the shipping fleet we partnered with Brother Wang—they've all made a fortune. Now, our Qin family's assets are more than quadrupled compared to three years ago!"

She got more and more excited as she spoke, picked up a pen and started scribbling on the paper: "I've thought it through, we'll divide these businesses into three parts."

"This portion is for both of us." She cut out a large piece, her eyes crinkling with a smile. "For now, it's for us to use, but when we have a son in the future, we'll leave it to him to ensure he's wealthy and worry-free for life."

"This one is for Hua Jie'er. Our Hua Jie'er is our firstborn child, and no one can surpass her. She will definitely have a grand wedding with a magnificent dowry, and no one will look down on her. Of course, no matter how many children we have in the future, we must treat them all equally and never let the same thing that happened to my sister-in-law happen again."

"This last one." Before Qin Zhengyang could even feel moved, she circled the largest piece, her tone solemn: "It's for Shilan. As her brother and sister-in-law, we must give her the respect she deserves! So what if the Duke of Ying's family is of high social standing? The dowry Shilan brought is more than enough to support ten generations of them!"

By candlelight, she confidently recounted the wealth she had earned for her family.

Her expression carried a touch of naivety from being drunk, yet it also revealed a sincere concern for her family, making her so adorable that it warmed one's heart.

Qin Zhengyang looked at her, his Adam's apple bobbing, and suddenly leaned over and kissed her rosy cheek.

"So generous?" His voice was a little hoarse.

Wang Ruofu was startled by his kiss, then laughed: "Of course! Money is meant to be spent! And it should be spent on those closest to you. The happier you are when you spend it, the more enjoyable it is for me to earn it!"

Qin Zhengyang chuckled softly, then couldn't resist leaning down to kiss the corner of her lips, teasing her, "So, between me and Shilan, who would be happier spending your money?"

Wang Ruofu thought about it carefully, then answered honestly, "Shilan."

Qin Zhengyang paused in his kissing, his face darkening slightly: "...Think about it again. I am your husband."

He patiently persuaded and coaxed him.

Wang Ruofu thought about it carefully again: "It's still Shilan."

Qin Zhengyang protested, "Why should I?!"

"Because Shilan came first, and then you came into being."

Wang Ruofu's answer was perfectly reasonable.

Qin Zhengyang gritted his teeth: "I'm your husband!"

Wang Ruofu looked at him as if he were a fool: "If it weren't for Shilan, who would know whose husband you are?"

Qin Zhengyang: "..."

He was completely defeated, chuckled, and suddenly picked the person up in his arms.

"Oh no—the ledger! The ledger hasn't been collected yet—" Wang Ruofu exclaimed softly.

Qin Zhengyang carried her into the inner room, drew the curtains to block out the flickering candlelight, and completely silenced that little mouth that couldn't say nice things.