The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

The mother and daughter hugged and cried for a long time before they finally stopped crying.

At this moment, Songzhi returned and whispered that Steward Li from the outer courtyard had been ordered to go and investigate.

Shilan nodded.

As the sun rose higher and it was almost lunchtime, A-Chang helped Wang Ruofu to the inner room to wash her face and put on makeup again.

To avoid Qin Zhengyang or Zhang Yun noticing anything amiss and causing further complications.

Just as Wang Ruofu was being helped out of the flower hall by Achang, Hua Jie'er, who had been sobbing in Shilan's arms, suddenly raised her little face. Seeing that her mother had indeed gone far away, she said to Shilan, "Don't worry, Auntie. If Mother doesn't keep her word, I'll tell you."

Shilan was startled and looked down at the little one in her arms.

Tears still clung to her youthful face, but her eyes held a cleverness and earnestness beyond her years, showing no trace of her earlier grievance.

A slight stirring ran through her heart, and she suddenly asked softly, "Did you get this wound on your stomach yesterday?"

Hua Jie'er's eyes darted around, and she nodded decisively: "Yes, it was yesterday!"

Seeing her behavior, Shilan immediately understood, but didn't expose her. She just smiled and gently tapped Hua'er's pert little nose: "Okay, Auntie understands. It's good that you remember. When your mother feels sorry for you, she will definitely apply the medicine herself, so you mustn't cry out in pain."

Upon hearing this, Hua Jie'er's little face flashed with a barely perceptible hint of nervousness. She quickly hugged Shi Lan's neck and said, "Mother, you've worked so hard. No need for you, Mother. Just... just let Sister Jin Shu do it for me! She's so gentle, and she can even tell stories!"

Shilan couldn't help but chuckle and hugged her tighter: "You little rascal."

She felt much more at ease. This child had inherited her mother's kindness, but she was not without foresight. On the contrary, at such a young age, she knew how to use others' strengths against her, making her a truly clever child.

Yes, she looks like Nian Shilan's niece.

At lunchtime, the whole family sat together.

Seeing the table full of his loved ones, Qin Zhengyang felt greatly comforted and drank several cups of wine.

Wang Ruofu forced herself to be cheerful and socialized, and fortunately, she had applied powder, so not much of a difference could be seen.

Hua Jie'er was even more well-behaved, sitting in her special high chair and eating with a small spoon by herself. Zhang Yun seized the opportunity to praise her, saying, "Our Hua Jie'er is so capable!"

"So clever!"

"What would you like to eat, Hua-jie? Your uncle will get it for you."

After several attempts to win him over, including a generous promise of a day trip to the village outside the city, he finally regained the title of "uncle."

While Shilan found it amusing, a sweet feeling involuntarily welled up in her heart.

Throughout the meal, the hall was filled with laughter and chatter, and all the rules about not talking while eating or sleeping were completely forgotten.

After the meal, according to custom, Shilan and Zhang Yun should set off back to the Duke's Mansion.

After eating, Hua Jie'er felt sleepy, and her stubbornness kicked in. She completely forgot all of Zhang Yun's earlier attempts to please her, and clung tightly to Shi Lan's leg, crying out, "Auntie, don't leave! I want Auntie to stay with me for my afternoon nap! You bad uncle, don't take my auntie away!"

No matter how much Wang Ruofu coaxed and persuaded him, he simply wouldn't listen.

Looking at the child's stubborn face, Shilan's heart softened, and she said to Zhang Yun, "How about we stay a little longer, until Hua-jie falls asleep, before we leave?"

Zhang Yun naturally agreed, and said with a smile, "Mother already told us to do as we please, there's no rush. I also want to ask my elder brother some more questions about military equipment."

So Shilan took Hua Jie'er to her usual warm room where she rested at noon.

Nestled in her familiar embrace, inhaling the delicate fragrance emanating from her aunt, Hua-jie quickly fell into a deep sleep.

As Shilan smelled the milky fragrance emanating from Hua Jie'er, her beautiful eyes half-closed, she was also drifting off to sleep when she suddenly heard footsteps behind her.

Wang Ruofu tiptoed in, closed the door behind her, and after meeting Shilan's questioning gaze, her feigned composure completely collapsed, and she looked terrified.

"Shilan..." Her voice trembled as she grasped Shilan's hand, her fingertips icy cold. "Manager Li just sent someone in to deliver a message. It's clear now that eldest sister indeed didn't go to apologize!"

Wang Ruofu's tears welled up again, this time purely from fear: "Not only did she not apologize, but she also sent men to that concubine's family village, where they brutally beat her father and elder brother. Now both of them are lying in bed, half-dead! The villagers all say that the thugs who beat them claimed to be from the Dongchang Marquis's mansion, and that they were sent by me, the Marquis's wife, to warn them to shut up! Everyone in the village heard it!"

She trembled all over, saying in disbelief, "How could she do this, Shilan? She's trying to pin all the blame on me! She's determined to make me bear the infamy of abusing my slaves and bullying the people! If anything happens to that family, this... this will be a murder case! Shilan, I treated her with all my heart, why would she do this to me? I'm her own sister! What should I do?"

Seeing her sister-in-law's distraught state, Shilan's eyes flashed with a cold light. She sat up, gripped her sister-in-law's cold hand tightly, and said in a low voice with a resolute force, "What's the panic? A clear conscience fears no accusation. Since she dared to commit such a heinous act and then tried to frame someone, then we'll show her what it means to be caught in her own trap."

At worst, we'll put righteousness before family ties!

She looked up at Songzhi, who was serving her, and said, "Go and invite Steward Li to the side hall. I have something to tell you."

Songzhi responded and went out. Shilan got up and dressed, while Wang Ruofu hurriedly combed her hair.

Just as she finished dressing, Songzhi returned: "Miss, Steward Li has arrived at the second gate, saying he has urgent business to report back to immediately."

What else could it be?

Shilan and Wang Ruofu exchanged a glance, both seeing the confusion in each other's eyes.

"Go to the west wing; it's quiet there."

"Yes."

In the west wing, Steward Li looked travel-worn, but his eyes remained sharp and steady.

He was a hereditary servant of the Qin family and Shilan's most trusted subordinate, responsible for managing her businesses in the capital. He was known for his meticulousness and thoroughness in handling affairs.

"Greetings to the young lady and madam."

After bowing, Steward Li didn't exchange many pleasantries and went straight to the point: "A few days ago, Madam ordered us to find the concubine who was sold off by the Kang family, and now we have found her."

Shilan narrowed her phoenix eyes slightly: "Where?"

"After passing through several hands, it has been sold to a private hut in Yangzhou."

Seeing Wang Ruofu's bewildered expression, Manager Li had no choice but to explain, "It's just a place where ordinary men seek pleasure."

Wang Ruofu covered her mouth in surprise, gaining a deeper understanding of her elder sister's ruthlessness.

Steward Li looked at Shilan with a heavy tone: "This matter was not solely the work of Madam Kang; Princess Funing is also behind it."

Shilan's brows furrowed suddenly, and the spoiled and arrogant face of the Princess Fu Ning from the Lantern Festival immediately flashed before her eyes: "Princess Fu Ning? How did those two get involved together?"

Steward Li replied, "The specific reasons have not yet been investigated, but the middleman who arranged the resale of that concubine is indeed connected to the steward of Princess Fu Ning's fiancé's family. It is also true that Madam Kang has been frequently visiting the princess recently."

Shilan pondered for a moment, but to no avail, so she simply stopped thinking about it.

Why bother investigating why they colluded? A den of snakes and rats is never plotting anything good.