Reborn and returned, sisters swapped

The next morning, the garden of the ancient mansion was filled with the faint scent of dew.

Quran, as always, strolled leisurely in the garden and flowerbeds, a gentle smile on his face.

She made a point of visiting several elders after breakfast to pay her respects and inquire about her sister's marriage.

"I heard that Father has arranged a marriage for my sister, and the whole family is busy with it." She smiled and offered a cup of tea to Elder Gu Zheng, her voice gentle yet inquiring.

Gu Zheng glanced at her, his wrinkled face expressionless, and nodded slightly: "This marriage is related to the interests of the family. Jin Yan marrying into the Zhao family will be of great benefit to the Gu family."

The Zhao family's military power is enough to ensure the family's stability for many years. If this marriage goes through, the Gu family will be as solid as a rock.

Quran nodded slightly, his face remaining calm, but his heart was in turmoil.

She gently echoed, "My elder sister is intelligent and self-reliant; this marriage is the icing on the cake for her."

However, my elder sister has a strong personality, and she might suffer some grievances if she marries into the Zhao family. She lowered her eyes and sighed as if it were nothing.

“Hmm,” Gu Zheng pondered for a moment, then slowly said, “Your eldest sister’s temperament is indeed difficult to tame. If something unpleasant happens in the Zhao family, it may also affect the relationship between the two families.”

Gu Lanci was secretly pleased, but he remained expressionless and said softly, "If you have family to help you, things might be better for you in the Zhao family."

"Does the elders know of any suitable candidates to assist my sister? The burdens of the family cannot be borne by a woman alone."

Her tone was sincere and humble, but she was actually implying that she could play an important role in the marriage.

Gu Zheng glanced at her thoughtfully, as if pondering the deeper meaning behind her words.

Quran, sensing the situation, did not press further, but smiled and took his leave, leaving him more room to think.

As night fell, the ancient mansion appeared exceptionally quiet under the starlight.

In the room filled with Quranic verses, only the candlelight flickered faintly.

She sat alone in front of the dressing table, quietly gazing at herself in the mirror.

Those clear eyes revealed a depth and shrewdness beyond her years.

If one wants to gain a foothold in the family, one must use this marriage as a stepping stone.

She couldn't allow Gu Jinyan to further solidify his position by leveraging the Zhao family's influence.

She needs to create opportunities to make Gu Jinyan waver on the marriage, or even give up on it voluntarily. Only in this way can she have a chance to become the focus of the Gu family.

Her fingers lightly traced the jade hairpin on the table, her brows furrowing slightly.

My sister is strong-willed and not easily manipulated. If we want her to give up the marriage, we need to target her weakness.

What the older sister cares about most is her own freedom and independence.

The next day, Qu Lanci made a point of having a private moment with Gu Jinyan. The two sisters sat facing each other, surrounded by the aroma of tea.

"Sister," Qu Lanci said gently with a smile, "I heard that Father is arranging a marriage for you. Is it to be with the Zhao family?"

Gu Jinyan nodded, his expression calm: "That's right. I have no objection to Father's arrangement."

Quran sighed softly, his tone tinged with worry: "Although the Zhao family wields great power, its independence also makes it subject to the constraints of many forces in the court."

Zhao Lingfeng, in particular, was known for his violent temper, and many officials in the court had reservations about him.

If my sister really marries into the Zhao family, she'll probably have to be very careful and deal with all their rules and regulations.

Gu Jinyan was slightly taken aback, and his brows furrowed involuntarily: "I have heard about this matter before, but since the family has made such arrangements, I cannot say anything more."

Quran secretly observed his sister's reaction and had already made up his mind.

She continued, "My sister has always valued herself. If she loses her freedom after marriage, I'm afraid she will find it hard to get used to it."

"But the Zhao family has strict military discipline, and if my sister can't adapt, it might cause trouble." Her tone was gentle, as if she were genuinely worried about her sister.

Gu Jinyan's expression darkened slightly. Although he didn't speak, there was a hint of wavering in his eyes.

Seeing this, Quran was secretly pleased, knowing that her instigation had worked. If her sister continued to hesitate, she could further influence the opinions of the family elders.

As Gu Jinyan's attitude toward the marriage wavered, Quran began to secretly win people's hearts.

That evening, Quran used the pretext of checking the accounts to deliberately go to the accounting office in the mansion.

The butler was sitting at the table fiddling with an abacus when he saw her enter. He quickly stood up and bowed, saying, "What brings you here, Second Miss?"

Qulan smiled slightly, casually flipped open an account book, and said in a relaxed tone, "Steward, I heard that if my sister marries into the Zhao family, the accounts of this mansion will be temporarily taken over by someone else."

If I were willing to lend a hand, would I be able to help out as well?

The butler was taken aback, then quickly waved his hand and said with a smile, "Miss is joking. I always follow the arrangements of the master and the elders, and I dare not speak presumptuously."