Gu Qinlian tugged at Madam Song's arm and pleaded in a coquettish tone, "Mother, you must persuade Father to give me a larger dowry, otherwise how can I establish myself in the Ji family?"
Madam Song looked at Gu Qinlian with a troubled expression. She gently patted Gu Qinlian's hand and said, "Lian'er, I understand your father's meaning, but you also know that the current situation at home is not optimistic. I have done my best, but I really cannot get more dowry for you."
Upon hearing this, Gu Qinlian's face immediately turned grim. She bit her lower lip tightly, a resolute glint in her eyes: "Mother, I know you have done your best, but I really cannot accept this outcome. The Ji family is not an ordinary family. If my dowry is too small, I will be bullied there."
Looking at Gu Qinlian, Madam Song felt a sense of helplessness. She sighed deeply and said, "Lian'er, I know your worries, but you should also understand that the situation at home is beyond my control. I can only try my best to support you in the days to come."
Upon hearing this, Gu Qinlian's resolute gaze was gradually replaced by disappointment. She looked at Madam Song, tears glistening in her eyes: "Mother, can you really bear to see me like this? I am your daughter, are you willing to see me suffer in the Ji family?"
Seeing her daughter's tears, Madam Song felt a pang of pain in her heart. She gently stroked Gu Qinlian's hair and said, "Lian'er, I know the pain in your heart, but you should also understand that as your mother, I am in even more pain than you. However, I am truly powerless to help you now."
Upon hearing this, Gu Qinlian angrily waved her arms and stomped her feet. She looked at Madam Song and shouted, "Mother, I hate you! I hate your whole family! Why do you always treat me like this? What did I do wrong?"
Looking at her daughter's angry expression, Madam Song felt a pang of guilt and said softly, "Lian'er, I know the resentment in your heart, but I really hope you can understand me."
Gu Qinlian looked at Madam Song, tears streaming down her cheeks, and said coldly, "Understand? How can I understand? How should I understand? Mother, do you know the bitterness in my heart? Do you know what I will face in the Ji family?"
Looking at her daughter, Madam Song felt helpless. At this moment, Gu Qinlian was no longer able to listen to anything.
Gu Qinlian looked at Song Shi with disappointment and resentment in her eyes. She turned and left, leaving Song Shi standing alone.
As Mrs. Song watched her daughter's departing figure, her heart was filled with pain.
She said softly, "Lian'er, I'm sorry, but I really can't help you."
...
Gu Qinlan returned to the Duan Prince's Mansion with a whole cartload of books, attracting everyone's attention along the way.
As soon as she stepped into Princess Duan's courtyard, she was greeted by Princess Duan, who was waiting there.
Princess Duan looked at Gu Qinlan with loving eyes and smiled, "Qinlan, you're finally back. These past few days, the affairs of the manor have caused you worry, and it pains me to see you like this. Now that you're back, I have a plan to hand over the management of the household to you."
Gu Qinlan was slightly taken aback, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes.
The power to manage the Duan Prince's mansion has always been held by the Princess Consort herself. The fact that her mother-in-law suddenly proposed to hand it over to her must mean that someone is stirring things up.
She slightly concealed the doubt in her eyes, bowed slightly, and said, "Mother, you know that I am young and inexperienced. This management of the household is so important that I am afraid I am not up to the task. Why don't you continue to manage it, and I will learn from you so that I can better assist you in the future?"
Princess Duan's eyes darkened slightly, seemingly disappointed by Gu Qinlan's answer. She sighed softly and said, "Qinlan, I know you are filial, but you should also understand that the rise and fall of a family depends on the efforts of every member. Entrusting you with the management of the household is to make you responsible for the future of the Duan Prince's Mansion."
Gu Qinlan's heart tightened. She understood her mother-in-law's expectations, but she was indeed troubled by the mess at the Duan Prince's Mansion. She hesitated for a moment, then mustered her courage and said, "Mother, it's not that I'm unwilling to take responsibility, but I'm worried that I'm not capable enough and might ruin the important affairs of the Duan Prince's Mansion. I'm willing to learn from you, Mother, and it won't be too late to take over when I'm confident enough to manage the household."
Upon hearing this, Princess Duan's expression turned slightly somber.
Princess Duan patted Gu Qinlan's hand with a smile, her eyes full of trust, and said, "Qinlan, you are, after all, the only daughter-in-law of our Zheng family. The power to manage the family belongs to you alone."
Gu Qinlan lowered her head slightly, her face showing humility, and said softly, "I am not worthy of such a heavy responsibility, and I am afraid I will not be able to fulfill it."
Princess Duan smiled slightly, her eyes firm: "You are my Zheng family's daughter-in-law, so of course I trust you. Dinglian had already made arrangements for this matter before he went to war, and I trust his judgment."
At this moment, Zheng Huiyi chimed in from the side, "Yes, sister-in-law, you don't need to be modest. Before my brother went to war, he specifically told me to support you. He said you are smart and capable and will definitely be able to handle the task."
Hearing this, Gu Qinlan felt a surge of warmth in her heart. She looked at Zheng Huiyi gratefully and smiled, "Thank you for your support, sister. I will do my best to not disappoint my mother and brother."
Granny Cen stepped forward and handed the account book, the storeroom key, and the family seal to Gu Qinlan, saying, "Madam, this is the trust that the Old Madam and the Heir Apparent have placed in you. Please keep it safe."
Gu Qinlan accepted the items and solemnly said, "I will do my best to manage the Duan Prince's Mansion well."
Looking at Gu Qinlan's determined eyes, Princess Duan felt even more reassured and smiled, "Alright, I believe you."
Princess Duan turned to Granny Cen and said, "Granny, you go with Qinlan and assist her well so that she can quickly become familiar with the affairs of the mansion."
Granny Cen replied respectfully, "This old servant obeys."
Gu Qinlan yawned, a hint of fatigue flashing in her eyes. She then stood up, bowed to everyone, and said softly, "Everyone, I'll take my leave now. I'm a little tired and need to rest for a while." With that, she turned and walked towards the inner room.
Zheng Huiyi watched Gu Qinlan's retreating figure, her eyes filled with the satisfaction of her successful scheme. Once Gu Qinlan had disappeared behind the screen, she turned to the Princess Consort and said, "Mother, look at my sister-in-law..."
Princess Duan nodded slightly, her expression somewhat grave, and said, "She has indeed had a hard time these past few days, so let's not disturb her any further."
Zheng Huiyi sighed softly and said, "Mother, what should we do now? The family's financial situation is getting more and more strained, and I'm really worried."
Princess Duan sighed, looked at Zheng Huiyi, and said, "Yes, this is indeed a difficult problem. However, your sister-in-law Gu Qinlan has a generous dowry, so perhaps she can find a way to solve it."
Zheng Huiyi's eyes lit up, and she nodded, saying, "That's right, my sister-in-law is indeed a resourceful person. She will definitely find a way to help us get through this difficult time."
Princess Duan frowned slightly and said, "However, I always feel that it is a bit unreasonable to rely on her dowry to live. We have to think of a long-term plan."
Zheng Huiyi looked at Princess Duan and said softly, "Mother, you don't need to worry too much. Now that my sister-in-law has married into our Zheng family, she will naturally care about our family. Moreover, as a merchant's daughter, it is only right that she contributes some money."
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