The Gu residence, Rongxi Hall.
Gu Qinlian was overjoyed, her eyes sparkling with hope.
She snatched the marriage certificate sent by the Ji family, her hands trembling as she unfolded it, her voice filled with a mixture of pride and determination: "Mother, I am willing to accept the marriage with the Ji family! This young master of the Ji family is exactly the one I have in mind!"
Madam Song sat in the mahogany chair, her face instantly turning grim. She glanced coldly at the marriage certificate in her daughter's hand, then at Gu Qinlian, her tone hard: "Qinlian, you're being ridiculous!"
Gu Qinlian's face stiffened, but she did not back down. Instead, she straightened her back and looked at Madam Song with a firm gaze: "Mother, my mind is made up. No matter how bad the Ji family is, it is still better than those pretentious young masters. I am willing to marry into the Ji family!"
Madam Song turned pale with anger, slammed her hand on the table, and roared, "You think you can find happiness by marrying into the Ji family? Ji Yinli is not suitable for you at all. You're just deceiving yourself!"
Gu Qinlian bit her lower lip tightly, a resolute glint in her eyes: "Mother, I know the Ji family is not a prominent one, but I have fallen for the young master of the Ji family, and my heart has already made up its mind. Even if I have to endure all the suffering in the world for him, I am willing. If you do not agree, I will threaten to kill myself."
Mrs. Song stared wide-eyed at her daughter, a sense of helplessness welling up inside her.
She sighed deeply, thinking to herself: Qinlian is becoming more and more like her father. Stubborn and willful, once she's made up her mind, nothing can change it! This marriage arranged by the Ji family was supposed to be for Gu Qinlan!
Gu Qinlan watched this scene with cold eyes and couldn't help but let out a cold laugh in her heart.
So, my third sister, Gu Qinlian, has also been reborn, just like me!
Looking back, Gu Qinlan's eyes revealed a chilling coldness.
She was framed by the vicious Gu Qinlian and Ji Yinli and suffered a terrible fate!
In her past life, she humbled herself and married Ji Yinli—the second son of the Ji family who has come to propose marriage today.
For over a decade, she diligently and tirelessly managed everything for Ji Yinli. She racked her brains to expand her network of connections, personally propelling the mediocre Ji Yinli to the prestigious position of second place in the imperial examination and helping him rise to the rank of a first-grade official.
Clearly, Ji Yinli did not reveal the truth behind his achievements and official positions to Gu Qinlian.
This is understandable. The Ji family has always been known for their vanity and love of face. How could they possibly let Gu Qinlian know that all of Ji Yinli's achievements actually depended on her, the daughter of a merchant who was unable to have children and was not recognized?
Gu Qinlan lowered her eyes to hide the turmoil in her heart. When she raised her head again, her gaze had returned to calm as she coldly watched Gu Qinlan's crazy behavior.
Seeing her daughter Gu Qinlian clutching the marriage certificate from the Ji family so tightly, Madam Song was so anxious she was jumping up and down. The wrinkles on her face seemed to be shrouded in worry, appearing even more pronounced. She slammed her hand on the table and angrily said, "Qinlian, what are you doing? Are you trying to drive me to my death?"
Gu Qinlian raised her head, her eyes shining with determination. She gently stroked the marriage certificate, her tone calm but resolute: "Mother, this is my own choice. Although the Ji family is broken, Ji Lang is sincere to me, and I am willing to spend my life with him."
Madam Song stared wide-eyed at her daughter in disbelief: "What nonsense are you spouting? The Ji family has fallen on hard times. You'll only suffer if you marry into it! The Duan Prince's Mansion is a prestigious place, the dream home of countless people. Why do you insist on refusing it?"
Gu Qinlian's eyes pleaded, "Mother, I know that the Duan Prince's Mansion is of noble status, but I prefer Ji Lang. Love should not only be about status and wealth, but about finding someone who truly understands and loves me."
Madam Song trembled with rage. Pointing to her chest, she cried, "Qinlian, do you know how much effort I've put into you? I did it all for your own good, hoping you could marry into the Prince Duan's household and live a better life. Why can't you understand my good intentions?"
Gu Qinlian's eyes reddened, and she clutched the marriage certificate tightly, tears welling up in her eyes.
Mrs. Song looked at him with a disappointed expression.
Gu Qinlian had a lot to say and wanted to have a detailed discussion with Madam Song, but she couldn't help but glance at Madam Song cautiously and lower her voice, saying, "Mother, come out with me for a moment. I have something important to discuss with you."
Despite Song's reluctance, Gu Qinlian firmly held onto her, brooking no refusal.
So the mother and daughter left Rongxi Hall and went to the back garden, dismissing the maids around them.
"Qinlian, don't be silly! I deliberately left Ji Yinli's marriage certificate for Gu Qinlan so that she could marry into the Ji family to help them get rich! Back when there was war, the country was in chaos and the treasury was empty. The old master donated most of the family's wealth to help the Southern Camp pay its soldiers and replenish its supplies. The Emperor was overjoyed and granted our Gu family an opportunity to form a marriage alliance with the Prince Duan's family. You are the eldest daughter of the Gu family, so by all accounts, the position of the Crown Prince's consort belongs to you! But you're going to rush off to help the Ji family get rich!"
When the marriage agreement between the Prince Duan's Mansion and the Ji family was mentioned, Madam Song was filled with resentment.
The Gu family has been merchants for generations, but the patriarch Gu harbors great ambitions and longs for the family to break free from the constraints of being a "merchant" and rise to a higher social class. However, the younger generation in the family does not seem to have a natural talent for academic pursuits.
Therefore, Old Master Gu took a different approach and planned to marry his daughters into official families, so that the Gu family could also be associated with the officialdom and improve the family's status.
After careful planning and execution, Grandpa Gu actually achieved his grand ambition.
Thus, the marriages of the Duan Prince's Mansion and the Ji Family, two vastly different unions, were arranged.
Although the Song family looks down on the Ji family today, they should know that in the past, when the Gu family's patriarch made a marriage agreement with the Ji family, the Ji family was at the height of its power and influence.
However, times change, and the Ji family is now in decline, its former glory gone. Amidst this upheaval, the Prince Duan's mansion has become the most illustrious in-law the Gu family can rely on.
Madam Song had meticulously planned and schemed, determined to marry her daughter, Gu Qinlian, into the family.
Gu Qinlian could naturally see through her mother's elaborate arrangements. But her mind was made up; she was absolutely unwilling to step into the cold walls of the Duan Prince's mansion again and die alone!
The Ji family may appear dilapidated now, but in just two years, Ji Yinli will rise to prominence and become the third-ranked scholar in the imperial examinations. After that, he will rise steadily in his career until he becomes the Grand Secretary.
In her past life, she died young and was unable to witness the glory. If it weren't for the harm done by a despicable person like Gu Qinlan, she would definitely have been honored as a Lady of Imperial Decree!
Therefore, she vowed to hold Ji Yinli firmly in her hands for the rest of her life, and no one could take him away!
She was determined to become a star admired by all women in the capital, especially Gu Qinlan, whom she hated with a passion!
After she became the wife of the Grand Secretary, she vowed to crush Gu Qinlan under her feet and make sure she would never have a chance to rise again!
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