Gu Qinlian gently shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes again: "Mother, I know you mean well, but the Ji family is my destiny. Although Ji Yinli has never expressed his feelings to me, I believe he is not a heartless person. I am willing to marry him and face the difficulties and challenges of the Ji family."
Madam Song's eyes widened, her face full of worry: "Lian'er, why are you doing this? Do you know how difficult your life will be after marrying into the Ji family?"
Gu Qinlian smiled slightly and wiped away her tears: "Mother, I know the road ahead will be difficult, but I have confidence. I believe in my abilities and can handle anything. Moreover, the Ji family is not without warmth, and I will try my best to let Ji Yinli see my goodness."
Looking at her daughter's determined eyes, Madam Song felt a sense of relief, but she was still a little worried: "Lian'er, are you really sure? This is a major event that concerns your entire life."
Gu Qinlian nodded and held her mother's hand tightly: "Mother, I've made up my mind. I believe in my choice and I believe in Ji Yinli. I will use my sincerity to move him and make him understand my value."
Madam Song sighed and gently patted Gu Qinlian's shoulder: "Since you've made up your mind, I won't say anything more. But you must remember that no matter when or where, I will always be your strongest support."
With tears welling up in her eyes, Gu Qinlian nodded: "Thank you, Mother. I will remember that."
After crying, Gu Qinlian wiped away her tears, blinked, and looked at Madam Song, saying, "Mother, you have managed Aunt Jiang's dowry for many years. Could you consider giving me some so that I can be independent in the future?"
Upon hearing this, a flicker of surprise crossed Song's eyes, which quickly turned cold. She glanced at Gu Qinlian indifferently, her tone tinged with anger: "Do you think I covet Jiang's dowry? Do you think I've hidden away valuables?"
Gu Qinlian lowered her head, not daring to meet Song Shi's gaze. She bit her lower lip and whispered, "That's not what I meant. I just feel that since you manage so much property, there should be some distribution."
Madam Song sneered, "Distribute? Do you think I have any property left to distribute? What do you think I've done all these years? I've used all my money to support my family, without leaving any way out for myself or my family. Now, I can barely support myself, and you come to me asking for my property."
Gu Qinlian raised her head, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes: "Mother, why did you do this? Don't you know what the consequences of doing this will be for you?"
Madam Song sighed, her eyes filled with endless regret: "I really didn't know. I thought I could rely on my family, that they would support me in crucial moments. But I was wrong. They only saw me as a cash cow, and once I lost my usefulness, they would discard me like trash."
Gu Qinlian listened to her mother's words, her heart filled with mixed feelings.
She looked at Madam Song with suspicion and asked, "Mother, are you perhaps planning to leave all the family property to my brother? Do you think your daughter is so insignificant?"
Suppressing her anger, Madam Song replied as calmly as possible, "Qinlian, you don't understand. The inheritance of the family has always been passed down to the son. Your brother, as a man, will have to shoulder the heavy responsibility of the family in the future, so naturally I will hand over the family property to him."
Gu Qinlian pouted and said indignantly, "Mother, in your heart, is it only sons who can inherit the family business, and daughters are destined to be ignored?"
Madam Song's eyes narrowed and her brows furrowed. She looked at Gu Qinlian and said in a serious tone, "Lian'er, as a woman, you will get married in the future, and your husband's family's property will be your support."
Gu Qinlian sneered: "Mother, this is your view, but I don't agree with it. A daughter can have her own career, why must she depend on a man?"
Madam Song slammed her hand on the table in anger: "You little brat, you're getting more and more outrageous! How dare you talk back to your mother! This is unfilial!"
Gu Qinlian's face darkened. She stood up and looked at Madam Song with a determined gaze: "Mother, I am not unfilial. I just want to fight for my rights. If you insist on leaving the property to my brother, then I will not be polite. I will rely on my own abilities to create my own career."
Madam Song's eyes widened, her anger rising. She pointed at Gu Qinlian and said, "You unfilial daughter, how dare you threaten your mother! Look at you, where is your dignity as a lady of a respectable family?"
Gu Qinlian sneered: "Mother, I have never liked those restrictive rules. I want to live my own life and not let anyone control me."
Song was so angry that she trembled all over. Suddenly she felt dizzy and swayed, almost falling over.
Gu Qinlian quickly stepped forward to support her, looking at her with concern: "Mother, what's wrong?"
Madam Song pushed Gu Qinlian away and said angrily, "I don't need your fake kindness! Let me tell you, even if I give all my property to your brother, you won't get a single copper coin from me!"
Gu Qinlian's eyes turned cold. She took a deep breath, suppressed her anger, and said calmly, "Fine, Mother, since you are so determined, then we'll see. I will prove that as a daughter, I can also achieve something."
After saying that, Gu Qinlian turned and left, leaving Song Shi alone in the room, panting angrily.
...
Hongye ran in with a big smile on her face, a few beads of sweat still on her forehead. She said breathlessly, "Miss, you have no idea, there was quite a commotion in the courtyard just now. The Third Miss and Madam had a huge argument. I heard a lot of interesting things."
Gu Qinlan was embroidering her wedding dress in the room when she heard Hongye's words. She put down her needlework, looked up, and a hint of amusement flashed in her eyes: "Oh? Hongye, tell me, what interesting things have you heard?"
Hongye sat down next to Gu Qinlan and clapped her hands excitedly: "Miss, you don't know, the reason why the Third Miss and Madam were arguing was actually about the dowry. The Third Miss said that the dowry given by Madam was too little and unfair, while Madam thought that the Third Miss was selfish and only cared about her own interests. The two were at loggerheads and their argument became more and more heated."
Gu Qinlan chuckled, a hint of disdain in her eyes: "Both of them are indeed selfish. However, the third sister is more extreme; she only cares about her own interests and doesn't care about anything else."
Hongye nodded in agreement: "Yes, Miss, look at the Third Miss's appearance, it's really hard not to laugh. However, I think you look even more beautiful when you're embroidering your wedding dress."
Gu Qinlan smiled slightly, a hint of shyness on her face: "Hongye, you're teasing me again."
Hongye hurriedly replied, "This servant wouldn't dare; this servant speaks from the heart. Miss, what are your expectations for the future?"
A glint of anticipation flashed in Gu Qinlan's eyes: "I look forward to marrying the Prince of Duan as soon as possible, so that I can leave this place of trouble and gain my freedom."
Hongye's eyes widened, and she asked curiously, "Young Miss, are you really that eager to get married?"
Gu Qinlan smiled and said, "Hongye, you don't understand. For me, marrying the Prince of Duan means that I can break free from the constraints of my family and live the life I want. This is my only way out."
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