A son-in-law who rises to the rank of a third-grade official in his early thirties is destined to become a cabinet minister in the future.
By then, their status as family members will also rise accordingly.
And her beloved son could also take this opportunity to shed his merchant status and become a member of the gentry!
The more Song thought about it, the more excited she became. She held Gu Qinlian's hand tightly and said, "My son is right. This marriage must be arranged no matter what!"
Gu Qinlian seized the opportunity and said, "Mother, Yinli is currently at a critical moment where he needs support. The Ji family is obviously unreliable, and only our Gu family can lend a helping hand. When Yinli rises to prominence in the future, he will surely remember our family's kindness. Therefore, this dowry must not be meager."
Madam Song, no longer showing any of her previous stinginess, readily replied, "That's right. I will personally handle the dowry matters. You just need to wait patiently for your wedding. As for that lowly concubine from the Ji family, I will take care of her completely."
My daughter's path to success will not be allowed to be obstructed by anyone!
Being born out of wedlock may be insignificant, but being born out of wedlock as the eldest son is absolutely intolerable.
Gu Qinlian finally showed her first genuine smile in days: "Mother, you are so thoughtful."
Mrs. Song hugged her and said softly, "You are my daughter. If I don't treat you well, who else can I treat well?"
After leaving Gu Qinlian, Song went straight back to her residence and had a private talk with Gu's father until late at night.
The following evening, a spy from the Ji family delivered a message to Gu Qinlan: Ji Yinli's newly favored concubine had unfortunately suffered a miscarriage.
When Gu Qinlan learned of this news, she was carefully pruning a bonsai that a gardener had recently delivered.
A young maidservant reported in a low voice: "The Ji family is currently in chaos, and Old Madam Ji is sending people to thoroughly investigate the matter."
Gu Qinlan chuckled and instructed, "Inform Ji Yinli and that concubine separately of the news that our Gu family has secretly bribed the servants of the Ji family."
The Ji family was poor and small; each of the married sons had only two servants and two maids in their household. Ji Yinli himself only had one servant and one maid. The newly appointed concubine was his only maid.
As a matriarch of the family, Madam Ji was provided with two maids, one old woman, and one servant. In addition, there was a gatekeeper and a coachman; the number of servants was even less than that of the mistress.
She initially intended to place someone into the Ji family, and Hongye spared no effort to achieve her goal.
The servant whom the Gu family bribed this time was the old woman who served Madam Ji.
Ji Yinli's only remaining maidservant has now been promoted to concubine and is pregnant. Naturally, Old Madam Ji can no longer have her serve Ji Yinli; instead, she needs to take special care of her. Therefore, she sent one of her own servants to temporarily look after the concubine.
The old woman had served Madam Ji for many years and could be considered one of her confidantes. However, the Ji family's poverty had corrupted people's hearts, and loyalty had greatly diminished.
Since the Gu family did not offer a high price, the old woman tampered with the food of Ji Yinli's concubine.
Gu Qinlan trimmed the branches, a cold smile playing on her lips. Ji Yinli had a deep affection for that maid; the two had been together for many years, and the maid had taken meticulous care of him.
When she married into the Ji family, the maid even tried to intimidate her, but she cleverly defused the situation.
Now that Gu Qinlian is not even married into the family, she has already caused that maid to lose her child, her greatest support. How could she let this go?
Ji Yinli and his maid had been close since childhood, so he naturally valued this child highly. For men, the importance of offspring is beyond words; they don't care too much about the child's status as legitimate or illegitimate, because they are all their bloodline.
This is why women yearn to give birth to their first child, because the first child holds great significance for a man.
Once Ji Yinli learns that his first child died because of Gu Qinlian, he will likely harbor resentment towards her.
Gu Qinlan was in high spirits, so she ordered a sumptuous meal to be prepared, intending to have a few drinks. Fuyu was also in a good mood and immediately went to arrange everything.
The food and wine had just been laid out when a strange maidservant appeared outside the door, looking around furtively.
Hongye asked in a deep voice, "Which courtyard are you from? How can you be so ignorant of etiquette?"
The maid was terrified and knelt down with a thud: "Madam, I am from the eldest young lady's courtyard. Please go and visit her immediately, our young lady has fallen ill."
Is Zheng Huiyi sick?
Gu Qinlan paused slightly with her chopsticks, then gently put them down, stood up, and asked, "Have you called a doctor?"
The maid, with tears in her eyes and a mournful face, replied, "We asked, but the young lady refused to open the door and let the doctor in for a diagnosis. She would rather die on her own."
Upon hearing this, Gu Qinlan understood that Zheng Huiyi was resorting to her old tricks again, so she calmly said, "I'll go take a look."
Fuyu hurriedly instructed the maid to cover the dishes first, and then quickly followed Gu Qinlan out.
Before the group even arrived at Zheng Huiyi's courtyard, they could already hear the commotion coming from inside.
"Girl, please open the door quickly."
"Young lady, the doctor has arrived. Please let him take your pulse. It's important to take care of your health."
Several maids and old women braved the scorching sun, patiently and earnestly persuading them.
Zheng Huiyi replied through the door, "No opening the door, no treatment, I have no intention of living! Go tell Gu Qinlan to come over!"
Gu Qinlan said coldly, "I have arrived. If you have any last words, speak them now so as not to delay your journey."
Silence fell inside the door, then it was suddenly flung open. Zheng Huiyi, furious, pointed at Gu Qinlan and demanded, "What do you mean by this?"
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