The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

What will happen?

Bai Qing's already pale face turned even more astonished after just a moment's thought, and fear showed in her eyes.

According to the law, daughters have no right to inherit. Once their father dies, the family business he built up with his own hands may be taken away by the clan.

"Father, are you trying to use the Marquis's power to protect your daughter? But have you heard how the Gu family treated that old Mrs. Qin? Aren't you afraid they're just like the Bai family? What if they're all wolves in sheep's clothing..."

Bai Chunian interrupted his daughter: "Qin Shi has only herself to blame. She is extremely jealous and disrespectful to her mother-in-law, which has long aroused the disgust of the entire Gu family. The court's pursuit of debts has only given the Gu family a good opportunity to make a decisive move."

Bai Chunian took out a letter from a hidden compartment under the desk and handed it to Bai Qing.

Bai Qing took the book and unfolded it. Inside, there was a detailed record of everything Qin Nanyan did after marrying into the Gu family, how she used cruel methods to get rid of all the concubines who had served her, and how one of them was half a month late in her period and was very likely pregnant.

How did she, relying on her weak health and her husband's affection, disrespect her mother-in-law and fight with her sister-in-law?

The letter clearly states that some of the information was gathered from the common people, because the story of Granny Qin had already spread throughout Bianjing, not only among the nobles but also as a topic of conversation among the common folk.

However, some information was top secret, such as Qin's faking pregnancy to frame her mother-in-law, and Qin drinking labor-inducing drugs to protect her position but not the pregnancy.

The last point also stated that Qin Shi did not die of illness. It was the Gu family that gave the Qin family a last bit of face by not divorcing her in a big way, but still forcibly sending her back to the Qin family and holding a grand funeral.

After reading it, Bai Qing felt her head buzzing.

She never doubted her father's abilities, therefore the information she possessed was absolutely true and reliable.

But precisely because of this, she couldn't believe that the Qin family would dare to go to such lengths.

Standing there stunned for a long time, Bai Qing finally came to her senses and looked at her father with deep eyes: "Was the matter of the imperial court pursuing the debt your doing, Father?"

Since things had come to this point, it was time to lay everything out. Bai Chunian didn't hide anything: "It's not a matter of manipulation. The higher-ups had this intention all along, and your father was just going with the flow. It's like how Lady Gu Hou originally intended to divorce her and marry someone else, but the young master Gu was young and impetuous and insisted on his own way. But no matter how insistent he is, he is still the heir on whom the Gu family places high hopes, and he carries the future of the entire marquis's mansion on his shoulders."

"Everything just happened naturally; I was simply going with the flow."

Seeing that his daughter could think of this, Bai Chunian felt deeply comforted.

"Qing'er, there are many noble families in the capital who hold titles but are only nominally powerful. They are still arrogant and look down on us merchants. Even if they were willing to marry you for money, you would never be their principal wife. Gu Yankai is the best among the few remaining options. He is about your age, and although he is not entirely kind, he is certainly not malicious. If you marry him, even if he is a second wife, he will never mistreat you. At least he won't abandon you after using you."

"Mrs. Qin has given birth to a son, but like his mother, he is frail and sickly. It's uncertain whether he will survive. If you marry into the family and give birth to a son, and if he inherits a title, he will surely bring great honor to the Bai family!"

Bai Chunian was somewhat agitated, but to avoid putting pressure on his daughter, he forced himself to remain calm, suppressing his inner turmoil, and said in a gentle tone, "Even if it's not possible, as long as you have a son or daughter who can establish themselves in the Marquis's mansion, I can safely and secretly dispose of the family business, and in the future, transfer it to your child's name. At that time..."

At this point, Bai Chunian couldn't help but sneer: "Even if those beasts in the Bai family had the greatest courage, they probably wouldn't dare to compete with the young masters and ladies of the Marquis's mansion."

"Father..." Bai Qing's eyes welled up with tears again, her heart filled with warmth and guilt.

When she first heard that the Gu family was so despicable, she truly believed that her father only saw her as a tool to curry favor with the powerful and wealthy.

Now, after hearing my father's plan, I realize his good intentions.

According to the law, daughters cannot inherit the family business. If the father dies and there are no male heirs in the family, the family property is destined to be divided up by the wolves in the clan.

At most, she could receive a generous dowry, and only one dowry, all of which was listed on the dowry list at the time of her marriage.

With such a generous dowry, who could she possibly marry?

Ordinary, kind-hearted families couldn't protect her.

She dared not marry into an unusual or unkind family, for it would only bring endless trouble.

As my father said, it's easy to attach oneself to the powerful and wealthy, but difficult to maintain that position for long.

Since Qin was at fault first, the Gu family's actions were at most heartless, not despicable. But she married into the Gu family not for love, but for a stable home.

By leveraging the Gu family's influence and protecting the Bai family's assets, she can wait until she has a son or daughter. Even if the Gu family has wolves and tigers, so what? She has her own child and plenty of money to rely on. Behind closed doors, her life may not be any worse than anyone else's.

If the child is promising, he will grow up to achieve great things and earn her an official title...

Bai Qing thought to herself that she could then protect her father, and that his hard work in planning this for her would not have been in vain.

Her eyes gradually hardened: "Daughter understands, Father. I will listen to you. I will marry Gu Jia!"

Seeing his daughter like this, Bai Chunian felt both bittersweet and comforted.

Just like when he was a child, he reached out and gently stroked her head.

There were some things he didn't want to say right now. His beloved wife, who died young, had known him since he was poor and had suffered with him for several years. When the family's situation finally improved, that unfortunate and heartless woman abandoned him and left him alone, leaving behind only their daughter as a memento.

If possible, he would certainly hope that his daughter could find a good man who would treat her sincerely and share hardships, just like he and her mother.

Gu Yankai of the Ningyuan Marquis's Mansion is a rare romantic. When he is not acting recklessly for women, he is excellent in both civil and military affairs.

Anyway, Qin was in the wrong first, and it was his own mother, Lady Gu, who broke up the couple. Once his daughter enters the family, with such a smart and kind girl and a million taels of silver to pave the way, how could he not control a lovelorn man who has been hurt in love?

But how could a father talk to his daughter about such childish sentiments?

Just then, his daughter came to ask him something, looking so aggrieved. He could only start from the big picture, break down the reasons, explain them in detail, and weigh all the pros and cons thoroughly.

Thank goodness.

The daughter may appear gentle, but she has her own plans in mind.

"Good that you understand."

-

The Dongchang Marquis's residence is a secluded and quiet courtyard.

With tears streaming down her face, Ying Qiongfang carried a bowl of steaming hot medicine to the bedside: "Yan'er, Yan'er, get up and drink your medicine. After you drink it, you'll get better."

"Mother...this time, your daughter really can't hold on any longer."

Qin Nanyan opened her eyes and looked at her mother, whose hair had turned completely white overnight. Tears welled up in her eyes. "Mother, can I ask you for one last thing?"

Feeling her daughter's breathing becoming increasingly shallow, Ying Qiongfang burst into tears: "Tell me, tell me."

"I can't let go of Yu-ge'er, I'm so sorry... Please, please let Shi-lan marry into the Gu family, so she can take good care of Yu-ge'er for me, okay?"