jdhmnovel Chapter 163 Keeping Tight
Chapter 163 Keeping Tight
If she had not spent several years with Ji Yinli in her previous life, she would have suspected that she had recognized the wrong person.
After hearing this, Song's face turned red and white.
After a long silence, she slowly said, "Have you considered anything else?"
Gu Qinlian asked anxiously: "How do you say that?"
Song said quietly, "Perhaps, the Ji family was like this before it rose to prominence. But you didn't notice it at that time, or maybe they were very good at covering it up. As for that woman Gu Qinlan, she has always been vain and competitive. Even if she had a hard life in the Ji family, she was unwilling to reveal a single thing to us."
Gu Qinlian's eyes widened with astonishment: "Does mother mean that we have been kept in the dark?"
After all, Song had lived for decades longer and her insight into worldly affairs was far sharper than her daughter's.
Her face was as solemn as lead, and she nodded slowly, her tone revealing an unquestionable certainty: "It is very likely that this is the case. As the old saying goes, the poor are cunning, and the rich are kind. When a person is struggling to make ends meet, how can he have the energy to stick to etiquette and laws? When you met the Ji family in your previous life, they had already fallen into poverty. At that time, even if they were pretending, they would try their best to show their glamorous side."
Gu Qinlian was shocked as if struck by a bolt from the blue. She could not help but complain, "Mother, if this is true, what should I do? My marriage life in the past six months has been like hell. They are even more hateful than those people in the Zheng family."
Although the family in Prince Duan's Mansion was also full of disputes, at least they would not be greedy for her dowry and would not be too stingy with her.
Song couldn't help but sighed and said earnestly, "I tried my best to persuade you, but you didn't listen. Look at that bitch Gu Qinlan, how carefree she is now. If you had listened to my advice, wouldn't you be the one enjoying a good life now?"
Gu Qinlian immediately retorted, "She doesn't have a good life at all! Didn't mother just say that she is the best at pretending? No one knows the situation of the Zheng family better than me. Her life there is not much better or worse than mine."
That ignorant mother-in-law, the domineering sister-in-law, the three troublesome stepchildren, and the mess in Prince Duan's Mansion, just thinking about it made Gu Qinlian's scalp tingle.
However, when she thought of the various difficulties Gu Qinlan was facing now, she felt an inexplicable sense of pleasure in her heart.
"In a few months, Zheng Dinglian will be back. By then, even if Gu Qinlan is good at disguising herself, it will be difficult for her to maintain the status quo."
Gu Qinlian was even eager to try and couldn't wait to see Gu Qinlan's miserable appearance after falling from a high place.
However, Song was somewhat confused. Was the Zheng family really as bad as her daughter said?
After all, in the six months since Gu Qinlan got married, except for some bad rumors in Prince Duan's Mansion in the first month, everything has been going quite smoothly.
Moreover, during the last heavy rain, Gu Qinlan successfully won a lot of praise for Prince Duan's Mansion.
Song had to admit in her heart that Gu Qinlan, whom she called a "bitch", was indeed more resourceful and scheming than her daughter. But she naturally did not dare to show it in front of her daughter.
The mother and daughter were immersed in the warmth of their conversation when suddenly a maid quietly walked in and bowed to report: "Madam, Miss, the son-in-law and the wife of the in-laws are here."
Upon hearing Ji Yinli's arrival, Gu Qinlian's face instantly froze like ice: "What are they doing here! Let them go! Throw them out!"
Song hurriedly dissuaded him, saying sternly, "Don't do this!"
Gu Qinlian's eyes were filled with anger: "Mother! They made me suffer so much..."
Song's eyes were filled with endless pity: "I understand, child. Every bit of pain you suffer is most distressed to me. You are a piece of flesh that fell from my body. I have held you in my palm and cared for you for eighteen years, and never let you suffer the slightest grievance. But since you married into the Ji family in the past six months, they have tortured you into this state. Whenever I think of this, my heart is as painful as a knife. If I hadn't had so many concerns, I really wanted to tie them up one by one and teach them a lesson."
"However, what can a good beating change? You have already become a member of the Ji family, and your life must go on no matter what. Besides, he may be able to achieve great things in the future. For this reason, you should forgive him a little."
Gu Qinlian's eyes were red. "So all the grievances I've suffered were in vain?"
Song gently stroked her cheek and comforted her softly, "Of course not. When a woman gets married, she will inevitably suffer grievances."
"Your suffering this time is indeed severe. If you want to use it to restrain them, it will certainly be powerful. But after a long time, even if he has a good heart, he will get tired of it."
Gu Qinlian bit her lip and asked in confusion: "Then what should I do?"
Song smiled lightly, with a sly look in her eyes: "Of course, I will use your grievances to exchange for what you desire. Back then, I used this method to make your father make me his principal wife. And over the years, he has always been more tolerant of me than others."
Gu Qinlian's eyes sparkled with light: "Mom, your words really woke me up! How could I have forgotten your methods back then?"
Gu Qinlian knew very well how Song successfully rose to power from a concubine.
After all, this was the strategy that Song had personally taught her, and it had even nearly allowed her to succeed.
Song's expression was a little unnatural: "You know everything?"
Gu Qinlian smiled brightly: "Of course, you told me in your previous life. I even know how Gu Qinlan's short-lived mother passed away."
Song's face suddenly changed, and she quickly covered her mouth: "You must keep this matter to yourself and never let it out!"
Gu Qinlian gently brushed her hand away, curled her lips, and said with a hint of disdain: "Mother, I really don't understand why you are so worried. She never knew the truth until her death in her previous life, and it is impossible for her to know it in this life. Her unfortunate mother has been dead for eighteen years. Even if she has doubts, it is difficult to trace any clues."
Song's eyes were wide open, her gaze was like lightning, and she scolded, "I told you to keep silent, yet you dare to say more! What do you know! It's better to be safe than sorry! Your father has repeatedly warned us not to reveal any news to the outside world. This matter involves serious consequences. If even a little bit is leaked, our whole family will be in an irreparable situation."
Gu Qinlian didn't care about it at all. She had experienced a lifetime and knew many inside stories. How could she not know the severity of the risk?
However, in order to prevent Song from continuing to nag, she just responded casually: "Okay, I will keep my mouth shut."
Song was relieved and her tone became gentler: "Now do you understand how to deal with it? The Ji family is in a difficult situation now. Even if you are unwilling, you can only accept it temporarily. When Ji Yinli passes the imperial examination in three years, the Ji family's situation will naturally improve."