My stepsister tried to steal the prince's hand in marriage, but little did she know I had been

Upon hearing this, Granny Lin was startled.

"Absolutely not!" she quickly advised.

Madam Wen frowned: "Do you expect me to save her? Once this person enters the Dali Temple, she'll be lucky to escape with her life. Even my sister might not be able to get her out, let alone me?"

The moment Manager Yuan was taken away by the Imperial Guards, he was already dead in Madam Wen's mind.

Lin Mama sighed inwardly. Seeing that Madam Wen seemed completely indifferent, even though she was loyal to Madam Wen, she couldn't help but feel a sense of shared sorrow.

Over the years, apart from the dowry left by Chu Wanqing, what has sustained Madam Wen and the Zhang family's luxurious lifestyle are these two shops. Baohua Pavilion is quite famous in the capital, all thanks to Manager Yuan's skillful management.

It can be said that without Manager Yuan, there would be no Baohua Pavilion.

However... in Madam Wen's eyes, she was still an object that could be killed at will.

“Madam need not worry.” Lin Mama calmed herself down and spoke again, her expression much more peaceful. “I have already warned Manager Yuan. She is a smart woman and knows what to say and what not to say.”

“She was born a slave, and she knows best the value of life.” Lin Mama analyzed for Madam Wen in an orderly manner. “If she sticks to her story and refuses to let go, you can still rescue her. But if you are implicated, she will have no hope.”

After Lin Mama's words, Madam Wen's anxious heart was somewhat relieved.

“You’re right.” Madam Wen nodded. “If she knows what’s good for her, I will definitely rescue her after things calm down.”

Until this point, Madam Wen had no idea that this storm would engulf her.

Even the usually cautious and timid Granny Lin thought so.

It's just lending money at exorbitant interest rates; which aristocratic family doesn't do that? If they were to arrest people, none of the aristocratic families in the capital would be spared.

Your Majesty may punish one or two families, or even four or five, but how many powerful families are there in the capital? Are you suggesting that they all be punished?

It's just a matter of giving more money.

Both Madam Wen and Granny Lin shared this view.

But there are also many clever people in the capital.

Overnight, the number of people delivering name cards to the Prince of Chaojing's residence increased by more than half, and among them, all were seeking an audience with Wen Shuyao.

"The Duchess of Dingguo?" Wen Shuyao flipped through the name cards, raising her eyebrows slightly. "The wife of the heir of the Duke of Zhuguo? And people from the Lu family?"

Granny Qi was completely baffled: "These families are usually so arrogant. Before your wedding to the Prince, they didn't even bother to get to know you. Why did they suddenly..."

On the contrary, when rumors about Wen Shuyao spread throughout the capital, they eagerly sent over their visiting cards?

Could it be that they want to offer help in a time of need?

As soon as the idea popped into her head, Granny Qi couldn't help but shake her head. She was really getting senile; how could she even think of such things?

After a moment's thought, Wen Shuyao tapped the table lightly: "I think they came for something else."

Under Granny Qi's watchful gaze, Wen Shuyao spoke gently: "In that case, please invite all the ladies in."

She did not see those of lower status for the time being.

Even after a selection process, more than a dozen ladies from prominent families still ended up in the Prince Jing's residence.

They looked at each other, and after observing each other's expressions, they realized that the other person, like them, had come to Prince Jing's residence for the same reason.

The Duchess of Dingguo was over forty years old, with faint silver strands in her hair. She stood tall and straight, with her chin slightly raised, looking every bit like a proud noblewoman. Even when she saw Wen Shuyao, she did not lower her chin.

"I've met the princess."

Those present were either duchesses or princesses of the county or county; they merely gave Wen Shuyao a perfunctory bow.

Wen Shuyao didn't care about this.

What she cared about was the purpose of these people.

However, Wen Shuyao's indifference did not mean that the people who came to visit were indifferent.

Lady Dingguo was always arrogant and haughty. She came from a noble family and was the late emperor's most beloved concubine. She was also married to the Duke of Dingguo. Among the women in the capital, even Consort Zhang in the palace did not dare to be presumptuous in front of her.

Moreover, although she and the current emperor are not biological siblings, she is nominally the emperor's sister, and even the empress shows her great respect.

Therefore, when she spoke, it sounded as if she was instructing Wen Shuyao to do something.

In her eyes, Wen Shuyao was nothing more than a sparrow that had flown up a branch and become a phoenix.

No matter how noble Wen Shuyao's status is at this moment, it still cannot conceal her bad reputation in the capital over the years.

“Yesterday, the Imperial Guards sealed off many shops on Zhuque Street and took away quite a few people.” She took a sip of tea and said casually, “I’m here today to take away the managers of my family’s shops.”

"The Imperial Guards have sealed it off?" Wen Shuyao's beautiful eyes widened. "Then Madam should go find the Imperial Guards, what are you doing at Prince Jing's residence?"

The Duchess of Dingguo narrowed her eyes and sharply swept them over Wen Shuyao.

"What?" the Duchess of Dingguo sneered. "You're not willing to help us?"

Wen Shuyao sat above her, facing her overbearing attitude without backing down: "Even if you're going to help, there should be a reason."

“The Imperial Guards don’t arrest people randomly,” Wen Shuyao said softly. “What you should do now is not come to Prince Jing’s residence to demand people, but think carefully about what wrong your manager did that alarmed the Imperial Guards.”

Even if she were confined to her quarters and had no one she could rely on, she would never back down because of pressure from the Duchess of Dingguo.

not to mention……

Fortune changes, and she is no longer the submissive and humble Wen Shuyao of yesteryear.

Her eyes flashed with a chilling light: "The country has its laws. Neither I nor the prince can help you with this matter."

Lady Dingguo stared at Wen Shuyao for a long time, then suddenly sneered: "What a country with laws! But now, your Wenguo Duke's Mansion is also involved in this case!"

"You've been holed up in the Prince Jing's mansion all day, so you probably don't know, do you?" the Duchess of Dingguo said in a deep voice, "The shops under your Wenguo mansion have all been seized!"

Wen Shuyao was startled, but remained outwardly calm: "In that case, let the Court of Judicial Review handle the matter..."

"The matter of lending money at exorbitant interest rates can be a big deal or a small deal," the Duchess of Dingguo said coldly. "At the very least, it might result in a fine, but at worst, it could lead to the confiscation of property and the extermination of the entire clan!"

With dozens of lives laid bare before the emperor, he would not treat them lightly.

Meanwhile, the other ladies echoed the sentiment.

"Your Highness, please plead with the Prince to let this case drop. It would be better for both of us!"

Wen Shuyao raised an eyebrow. She finally understood why these ladies had come in such a hurry.