Reborn and returned, sisters swapped

A few days later, the Zhao family sent a token of their sincerity in the marriage proposal.

Gu Jinyan accompanied his father to the Zhao residence to meet Zhao Lingfeng.

Zhao Lingfeng was tall and had sharp eyes. His hands were as strong as iron, and his words and actions exuded an air of arrogance.

At the banquet, he looked at Gu Jinyan with a critical and disdainful gaze, as if he were examining a traded item.

Gu Jinyan sneered inwardly, revealing no emotion whatsoever.

She raised her head slightly, looked directly at him, her eyes calm and undisturbed.

Zhao Lingfeng seemed somewhat displeased and said coldly, "The eldest daughter of the Gu family is so bold; it seems her reputation is indeed well-deserved."

However, once married into the Zhao family, one must abide by our family rules. The implication was clear: they had no tolerance for her independent personality.

Gu Jinyan smiled calmly and replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Now that I have married into the Zhao family, I will certainly respect the family."

Jin Yan also hopes that there will be respect and reverence.

These words sounded humble, but in reality they concealed a sharp edge. Zhao Lingfeng was speechless for a moment, his face darkening slightly.

The banquet continued, with Gu Jinyan sitting calmly among the guests, secretly observing Zhao Lingfeng's temperament.

She pondered to herself that although this unruly personality made her difficult to approach, it might not be impossible to use it for her own purposes if she made good use of it.

Upon returning to the Gu family mansion, Gu Jinyan knew that if he wanted to gain more power in this marriage, he needed to have a deeper understanding of Zhao Lingfeng.

She gripped the jade pendant tightly, silently recited the incantation, concentrated her mind, and focused her consciousness in Zhao Lingfeng's direction.

In an instant, a sharp emotion surged into Gu Jinyan's heart. It was a murderous aura originating from the battlefield, mixed with violence and loneliness.

She felt as if she were amidst a vast army, sensing the clash of swords and the scent of blood and sweat. Zhao Lingfeng's mind was like a solitary peak, carrying a suffocating sense of oppression.

But beneath that unruly exterior, she sensed the weariness and confusion deep within him.

Although he held military power and was young and promising, he was ostracized in the court. His contempt and disdain for the civil officials made it even more difficult for him to integrate into the power struggles in the court.

On the one hand, he longed to consolidate his position, but on the other hand, he was troubled by his inability to find reliable allies in the court.

Gu Jinyan understood that this was precisely her breakthrough point.

Although she was forced to become a pawn in this marriage alliance, if she could take advantage of Zhao Lingfeng's ignorance of court politics, she could gain more say in the marriage.

She decided to exploit his weaknesses to gain more autonomy and room for development for herself.

A refreshing autumn breeze blows, and fallen leaves dance like butterflies in the courtyard. The ancient mansion is quiet, save for the occasional low, mournful cries of crows perched on the branches.

Quran stood under the veranda in the side courtyard, his gaze serene, toying with a pure white flower in his hand.

Suddenly, a few maids whispered in her ear: "I heard that the master is arranging a marriage for the eldest young lady. She is going to marry into the Zhao family!"

"Yes, the Zhao family is a powerful clan that holds military power. If this marriage goes through, the Gu family's status in the court will definitely rise to a higher level."

Upon hearing this, Quran's brow twitched almost imperceptibly, but she maintained a calm expression, as if these matters had nothing to do with her.

After the maids had left, she slowly turned around and walked lightly into the depths of the courtyard, as if she were a ghost, silent and unnoticed.

Walking alone on the path covered with fallen leaves, Quran felt a chill in his heart.

If this marriage goes through, the elder sister, Gu Jinyan, will marry into the Zhao family. The Zhao family not only wields immense power in the military, but also has a strong local influence, making them a reliable source of support for military generals in the imperial court.

Once Gu Jinyan marries into the Zhao family, it will be as if he has sprouted wings, and his prestige in the family will inevitably rise day by day, making it impossible for her to hold her head high.

Thinking of this, a shadow crossed Quran's eyes.

She was intelligent from a young age and had long seen through the power structure within the Gu family.

Their father, Gu Yuande, only valued power and influence. Although he had expectations for his two daughters, when it came to inheriting the family business, he clearly preferred to support the only male heir in the family—his young brother, Gu Chengrui.

However, if her elder sister Gu Jinyan were to marry into the Zhao family and use the Zhao family's influence to support the family, her father would inevitably trust her sister more in the future, and she herself would only be a secondary figure in the Gu family, becoming an insignificant pawn.

That was definitely not the fate she wanted to accept.

A night breeze blew as she stood at the end of the corridor, gazing thoughtfully at the distant lights.

The wind ruffled her hair, and she raised her hand to gather it up, a hint of coldness flashing in her eyes.

At that moment, she had made up her mind.