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

Although Madam Chen pretended to be surprised, the fear in her eyes could not be hidden from Granny Yun.

Upon hearing this, Madam Li smiled and said, "Of course I'll go!"

Chen nodded and pretended to be relaxed as she followed behind Li.

Seeing the two walk towards the main hall, a sharp glint flashed in Granny Yun's eyes, and she gave a wink to the maids she had brought with her.

Chen was unaware of everything that had happened behind her. Her heart was in turmoil. She wanted to get information from Granny Yun, but she was also worried that Granny Yun would see through her.

The atmosphere inside the main hall was unusually tense.

As soon as Chen and Li walked in, they both froze on the spot.

Li was surprised, while Chen was alarmed.

"Mother, Father."

Li quickly regained her senses and bowed to the two men.

Then she strode in, glanced at Wen Shuyao, and a smile appeared in her eyes: "This must be Shuyao, right? She's as beautiful as her name suggests."

As she spoke, she took off the bracelet on her wrist.

“I’ve been far away at the border all these years and haven’t had the chance to meet you. This is the first time we’ve met,” Li said with a smile. “This is a gift from your second aunt.”

Wen Shuyao raised her head, her eyes, clear as glass, filled with a twinkling smile, and softly called out, "Thank you, Second Aunt."

In this atmosphere, Chen's heart was in her throat.

Her subconscious told her that something was wrong with what was happening today.

But General Chu and his wife had indifferent expressions, and no matter how she looked at them, she couldn't get any information out of them.

Left with no other choice, she could only follow Li's example and prepare a gift for Wen Shuyao.

Just as she was about to make a move, Old Madam Chu let out a cold snort.

"You've got some nerve."

Upon hearing this, Madam Chen felt a chill run down her spine. Her expression was one of fear and unease as she met Old Madam Chu's cold and sharp eyes.

"Mr. Chen, what have I been telling you all these years?"

Old Madam Chu slammed her hand on the table, and the chilling aura emanating from her made Chen's hair stand on end.

Chen's heart skipped a beat. She knew that they had found out what she had done!

This question startled Li Shi, who felt somewhat bewildered. However, upon seeing the angry face of Old Madam Chu, she wisely stood aside.

"Before I left the capital, I earnestly instructed you to take good care of Shu Yao and to visit the Wen family often to prevent her from being bullied or harmed by that vicious woman, Zhang."

“What did you promise me? You said then—Mother, I will definitely treat Shuyao as my own daughter.”

"I believed you! I thought you were a good person!"

Old Madam Chu's eyes were extremely sharp, like sharp swords stabbing fiercely at Madam Chen.

Mrs. Chen knelt down with a thud: "Mother! I've been busy with household chores, so... so I've neglected my duties! I really..."

"If that's the case, then what about all the things we've sent back over the years? Those were all carefully selected by your father, your husband, and me," Old Madam Chu said with a sneer. "Those were all birthday gifts we meticulously prepared for Shu Yao."

"Chen, where did you send these birthday gifts? For fifteen whole years! You've never sent these things to the Wen family!"

"The entire Wen family believes that we have abandoned Shu Yao, and they bully her without restraint! Look at what kind of material Shu Yao is wearing! She's not even as good as the maids around you!"

Madam Chu was so angry she laughed. She stood up and walked step by step to Chen Shi, staring at her fiercely: "Do you know how much grievance Shu Yao has suffered in the Wen family all these years?"

"You're her aunt, don't you feel even a little bit..."

“Mother! I knew nothing about this!” Madam Chen quickly shook her head. “You brought these things from the Northwest; the journey was long. What if they were lost along the way…”

"found it!"

The one who spoke was Granny Yun, who had rushed over.

Behind Granny Yun were several maids, all of whom Chen Shi recognized—they were all people who served Old Madam Chu.

Upon seeing these people, Chen's eyelids twitched, and her hands trembled involuntarily.

Then, Granny Yun announced loudly, "I found all the birthday gifts you gave to the young lady in the First Madam's room!"

Chen felt a sudden darkness before her eyes, and blood rushed to her brain. She wished she could faint right then and there.

But Old Madam Chu was quick-witted and agile, and with a speed that seemed beyond her years, she swiftly grabbed Chen's arm and then pressed hard on Chen's philtrum.

"You must make this matter clear today."

"Old Madam Chu said coldly."

General Chu, who was standing to the side, did not speak, but his eagle eyes were fixed on her.

Under such gazes, Chen trembled and remained silent.

Madam Chu sneered repeatedly: "It seems you won't shed tears until you see the coffin. In that case, I will tell Tingfeng the truth about this matter and wait for him to return to deal with it."

"No!" Chen cried out in alarm, "He mustn't know about this!"

Over the years, the relationship between Chen and Chu Tingfeng has become increasingly strained. If she hadn't given birth to two sons and a daughter for Chu Tingfeng, she would probably have been replaced by the woman Chu Tingfeng kept at the border.

Thinking of this, she felt indignant and clenched her hands.

Ultimately, Chu Tingfeng resented her for not going to the border with the whole family back then. But the border was harsh and cold, and she had been raised with a lot of love and care since she was a child. How could she go to a place like the border?

I've heard that the sandstorms there are so strong they can blow a person away.

In recent years, Chu Tingfeng has rarely returned to the capital, and their marriage exists in name only. If Chu Tingfeng finds out about this, then she... will probably be kicked out.

Chen's expression shifted between light and shadow; she knew that she now only had two choices before her.

First, the two elders of the Chu family informed Chu Tingfeng of this matter. Chu Tingfeng doted on his younger sister, Chu Wanqing, and upon learning of this, he would surely divorce her.

Secondly, if she reveals the real reason, she might be able to stay thanks to the kindness of the elderly couple...

After only a moment's hesitation, Chen made her decision.

“It was Zhang.” She closed her eyes, her voice low and somber. “It was Zhang who made me do this.”

Old Madam Chu's face turned ashen, her usually kind face now contorted with rage: "Zhang Shi? You actually helped an outsider who harmed Wanqing to harm Wanqing's daughter?"

When she said this, there was hurt and disbelief in her eyes.

She would rather it was Zhang who was short-sighted and secretly kept the things.

Knowing she was in the wrong, Madam Chen raised her head and pleaded with Old Madam Chu, "Mother! I was forced into this situation! It was Zhang who threatened me!"

"Threatening you?" Old Madam Chu's eyelids twitched, and she immediately sensed something was wrong.

Because of the feud between the Chu family and the Duke of Wen's mansion, Chen and Zhang had never had any contact. But now Chen said that she was being threatened by Zhang.

"What evidence do you have against you?" Old Madam Chu asked anxiously and angrily, "What exactly did you do?"