The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

Wang Ruofu was cursing fiercely, but her eyes were still red.

Madam Wu quickly handed her a handkerchief and comforted her, "Calm down. It's understandable that she's getting old and thinks relatives know each other better. If you really don't want to, just politely decline. Don't upset yourself."

"A polite refusal? A mere polite refusal isn't enough! I wanted to tear the letter to shreds and throw it back!" Wang Ruofu said viciously, "Hua'er is my firstborn daughter, the apple of my eye! How biased she was towards my eldest sister back then, how she would have trampled me into the mud for her sake—has she forgotten all of that? If it were back then, when my father was at the height of his power, and my maternal grandmother wrote to ask my cousin to marry my eldest sister, do you think she would have been willing to strengthen family ties, or even value this deep understanding between them!"

"To put it bluntly, she's still trying to control and bully me!"

As Wang Ruofu spoke, two tears fell from her eyes.

Before anyone could comfort her, she quickly raised her sleeve and forcefully wiped her face, her tone even more resolute: "I won't let her succeed! I'll write back to her right now, telling her that I can't bear to see Hua'er leave home, that I'll keep her for another two years no matter what, and that I can't bear to see her marry so far away. I'll find her a respectable family in the capital. If she encounters any trouble in her husband's family in the future, I, as her mother, will be there to support her and make decisions for her in no time! I won't follow her example, treating her married daughter like water spilled from a cup, ignoring her normally and only remembering her when she needs her!"

She thought of herself.

Over the years, if it weren't for marrying Qin Zhengyang...

Instead, it's any family where there's a formidable mother-in-law, distant children, and a husband who's also drifting away.

With a mother acting like this, wouldn't she be subjected to even more abuse?

Of course, she wanted to find a reliable partner for Hua Jie'er, just like herself, but she would never allow her daughter to be bullied and have no one to confide in or support her.

Hearing this, Shilan's eyes showed relief: "I'm relieved that you think this way. There's really no need to rush Hua'er's matter. She's only fourteen. Even if she's found a husband, according to etiquette, she should wait another year or two before going out. We'll take our time and choose carefully, making sure we pick the most suitable and appropriate one."

Her tone was firm.

Hua Jie'er was not only Wang Ruofu's first daughter, but also the first child that Nian Shilan had raised, so their relationship was naturally different.

When they get married, dowry will be secondary; having support is a must.

Madam Wu quickly chimed in, "That's absolutely right! A girl's marriage is not like a boy's marriage; it requires utmost caution. Social standing is secondary; what matters is the character of her future in-laws, whether her sisters-in-law are easy to get along with, and whether the young man himself is capable and responsible. We must thoroughly investigate all of these things. Girls from families like ours are pampered and cherished, and they must grow up to be successful and live a happy life. Otherwise, we might as well raise them ourselves."

After Wang Ruofu finished her venting, she already felt much better. Hearing Madam Wu's words, she felt even more that she had met a kindred spirit and couldn't help but open her heart:

"I used to think that among us, you were the only one who couldn't have a daughter, which was quite pitiful. Now I realize that no one is more fortunate than you. Your family is full of sons, so you'll only have children to grow up in the future, without the heartache of worrying about your daughter getting married!"

Madam Wu paused in her fanning motion, and the corner of her mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.

But she had long been used to Wang Ruofu's occasional inability to read people's expressions and her tendency to bring up sensitive topics with unwavering seriousness.

They quickly adjusted.

He raised his chin, his voice crisp and clear:

"That's right! I'm not trying to flatter myself, but when my sons get married, I'll definitely be the best mother-in-law in Bianjing! So what if I wasn't lucky enough to have daughters? I have six sons! They'll bring in six daughters-in-law, which is like having six daughters! Oh, in the future, you'll all be envious of me."

When she was boasting, she deliberately glanced at Shilan.

Wang Ruofu was amused by her unique theory about six daughters, and the sadness she had felt earlier completely disappeared.

Seeing her smile, Madam Wu smiled too, but Shilan didn't react much. However, Madam Wu wasn't disappointed, and continued, "I'm not just saying this offhand. Have you heard about the Zhongqin Earl's mansion?"

Wang Ruofu immediately perked up: "What is it?"

Shilan also looked over.

Madam Wu waved her fan with a smug pace: "The marriage of his second son has been arranged. It's the daughter of the prefectural magistrate of Yangzhou, the daughter of a minor official. They'll be going to settle the betrothal in a few days. That's fine. There is a difference in social standing between the two families, but after all, he's the second son who doesn't inherit a title. The Yuan family isn't wealthy either, so even if they split up in the future, they won't give much money. Otherwise, there would be no need to go all the way to Yangzhou."

She paused, then added, "This magistrate isn't a high-ranking official, but his stepmother was the only daughter of the Marquis of Yongyi, and they still own a large mansion in a prime location in Bianjing. Clearly, they are quite wealthy."

"But I heard that Madam Zhang looks down on this second daughter-in-law's social standing. She doesn't want to go to Yangzhou to arrange the betrothal herself, and only plans to send her eldest son and daughter-in-law!"