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

However, Chen was extremely stubborn and refused to get up.

Old Madam Chu gave Granny Yun a wink with a cold expression.

Granny Yun immediately stepped forward and firmly pulled Madam Chen up: "Madam, the young lady is a junior and cannot accept your kneeling."

"Sister-in-law, walls have ears. If word gets out, what you're doing will be harming Shuyao," Li Shi kindly reminded her.

Chen's body stiffened, and she was reluctantly helped to the side by Granny Yun.

Granny Yun looked old, but the strength in her hands was no less than that of an adult man. With her support, Madam Chen could neither sit nor kneel, and could only stand aside.

"I didn't mean to..."

Chen opened her mouth, trying to explain herself.

However, Wen Shuyao lowered her head and avoided her gaze.

The old lady and the old general looked displeased; there was no way to explain it to them.

In desperation, Chen could only turn her pleading eyes to Li, her sister-in-law from a humble background whom she had always looked down upon.

Ms. Li was taken aback at first, but she quickly understood.

"My sister-in-law has worked so hard all these years, guarding our rear in the capital," Li said in a low voice. "But she's not entirely without merit."

Although Chen disliked the hardships of the border region, she stayed in the capital and took care of the younger generation in her family, so she could be considered to have made some contributions.

After a moment's thought, Li thought of the compensation that Chen had mentioned earlier.

Her maternal family were imperial merchants, so it's inevitable that she would share similar ways of thinking with them.

Since the matter has already caused irreversible consequences, even if Chen is divorced, it will not make up for the suffering Wen Shuyao has endured over the years.

It would be better to...

"Why don't you let your sister-in-law make it up to Shu Yao properly?" she said in a low voice. "Whether it's gold, silver, or other jewelry, at least make up for the loss Shu Yao has experienced over the years."

Wen Shuyao remained obedient, leaning her head down beside Old Madam Chu.

Upon hearing this, Old Madam Chu frowned.

In her opinion, the grievances Wen Shuyao suffered could not be bought back with money.

However, at that moment, her sleeve was gently tugged.

Only Wen Shuyao could do that.

A thought struck her, and she subconsciously looked down at Wen Shuyao.

Wen Shuyao winked playfully at her, mouthing, "Say yes."

Although Madam Chu was puzzled, she would never disobey Wen Shuyao's opinion on these matters. So, under Madam Chen's expectant gaze, she nodded solemnly.

Seeing this, General Chu waved his hand and said, "In that case, let's calculate how much silver you should give Shu Yao."

"All the things I've sent to the capital over the years have been the best," General Chu sneered. "Just the Tianshan snow lotus alone, I've had five or six of them sent over."

Tian Shan snow lotus is a unique herb of the Northern Di people and is very precious. General Chu thought that Wen Shuyao was born prematurely and needed to be properly nourished, so he searched for Tian Shan snow lotus at the border.

He has made some progress over the years, and he sent it all to Wen Shuyao.

Li spoke up at the opportune moment: "Over the years, I have kept a record of everything that our family has sent from the border to the capital. We will know once we check it together."

Madam Chen's face stiffened, but as long as she could stay, she didn't mind losing some money. She had already stored these things in the storeroom and would take them out later.

However, at this moment, Madam Chu added, "But if we simply return the things you took from us, you won't suffer any loss."

"How about..." Old Madam Chu said calmly, "you give her fifty thousand taels of silver as compensation for Shu Yao."

Fifty thousand taels!

Even the Li family was shocked for a moment when this number was announced.

If Chen's dowry is all included, it would probably only amount to two or three hundred thousand taels.

This was her livelihood for the rest of her life; taking 50,000 taels from it would be like cutting off a piece of Chen's flesh.

A look of heartache appeared on Chen's face.

"What? You're not willing?" Old Madam Chu asked back.

"No!" Chen reacted quickly. "How could I not? All the grievances Shu Yao has suffered over the years were indeed caused by me! I must make it up to her!"

"Besides the things you sent from the border, Father and Mother, I'll give Shuyao an extra 60,000 taels of silver." She suppressed her heartache and quickly said, "Have someone count them today!"

It's just 60,000 taels of silver; once it's given away, it's given away.

If she is divorced, let alone the 60,000 taels of silver, she may not even be able to keep her dowry.

Chen quickly figured out the pros and cons and made a decision.

Wen Shuyao was flattered: "Sixty thousand taels of silver?"

“Of course!” Chen said hastily, fearing that she would regret it. “Shuyao, I’ll take you to choose one right away.”

Fearing rejection from Wen Shuyao, Chen couldn't wait to pull Wen Shuyao away as soon as she finished speaking.

Old Madam Chu coughed lightly and said, "This matter is not in a hurry."

As intelligent as Madam Chu was, she immediately saw the room for maneuver in this matter.

She looked at Chen and asked in a deep voice, "Tell me, how did Zhang find out that you were lending money at exorbitant interest rates?"

Although Chen was selfish, she was not stupid. She must have done this very discreetly.

But even such a secretive scheme could be discovered by Zhang.

That makes one think deeply.

A sudden thought struck Chen, and she abruptly raised her head: "I remember now!"

"I've heard that Zhang is a big lender of exorbitant interest!" she said urgently, as if grasping at a straw. "Mother, can we use this as a reason to threaten her into keeping the secret?"

In this way, she would no longer need to apologize to the Empress.

However, Old Madam Chu's calm eyes swept over her, and she said indifferently, "No matter what, you must go to the Empress to apologize."

If this abscess is not punctured and is kept hidden, it will always be a hidden danger.

As the saying goes, "No destruction, no construction," the Chu family has acted uprightly and honestly, and even if they are punished for this matter, they have no regrets.

Chen paused, wanting to say something, but under Old Madam Chu's gaze, she swallowed back the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

She made a terrible mistake, and now she has no say in this family.

She could only do whatever Old Madam Chu asked her to do.

At this point, there was no longer any chance for Chen to speak.

After pondering for a while, Madam Chu turned the Buddhist prayer beads in her palm and made a decision.

"Alright," said Madam Chu calmly. "Go back and rest first. I will have someone call you when it's time to enter the palace."

Upon hearing this, Chen's face turned deathly pale.

But she still lowered her head and whispered, "I'll go back and stay there now."

She left absentmindedly, even forgetting the 60,000 taels of silver she had just intended to give away.

Seeing this, Li also prepared to leave.

Unexpectedly, Old Madam Chu called out to her, "Second son's wife, I remember that your Li family is quite well-informed?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Li stopped in her tracks and bowed respectfully to Old Madam Chu: "Mother, is there anything you need me to inquire about? Please give your instructions."