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

Duke Wen hesitated for a moment, then glanced at Lady Wen.

"The reason why Shu Yao was given such a large dowry is because the Prince Jing's mansion gave a generous betrothal gift."

“Our dowry is not even a third of the betrothal gifts given by Prince Jing’s mansion.”

"But the dowry given by the Chen family..."

The unspoken meaning in Duke Wen's words was clear enough for everyone to understand.

Madam Wen stood there awkwardly, the coldness in her eyes spreading inch by inch.

Is this what she wants?

This wasn't something that Wen Yitong, that debt collector, had to collect for her!

But now that things have come to this, she has no choice but to fight for her daughter's interests.

"Husband," she whispered, "Yitong is our daughter, whom we have raised with such care. Are you really going to just stand by and watch her become the laughingstock of the capital?"

"Besides, a woman's position in her husband's family is secured by her dowry," she said bitterly. "If we don't give her a dowry to rely on, how can she establish herself in the Chen family?"

Lady Wen stared intently at Duke Wen, hoping to get a definite answer from him.

However, to her disappointment, Duke Wen still refused.

"Shu Yao's dowry has already consumed most of the family's savings. If we give it to Yi Tong as well... then the entire Duke's mansion will starve!" Duke Wen said coldly, his tone impatient. "Don't forget, we have more than one daughter, Yi Tong!"

They also have a son studying at Bailu Academy. If their son enters officialdom in the future, what aspect of his life will not require money?

The Duke of Wen's words caused Lady Wen to fall silent.

Seeing that she didn't speak again, Duke Wen continued, "The Chen family isn't some high-ranking family. The dowry you prepared for Yitong is enough for her to establish herself in the Chen family."

"Moreover... in such a small family, bringing too much dowry may not necessarily be a good thing."

After saying this, Duke Wen said nothing more.

He knew that with Madam Wen's intelligence, she would never fail to understand this.

As expected, after a moment of silence, Madam Wen did not mention the matter of adding more makeup. She curtsied to Duke Wen and hurriedly walked towards Tingqin Pavilion.

Inside Tingqin Pavilion, Wen Yitong rubbed her forehead as her maid carefully applied medicine to her forehead.

When the medicine touched her wound, she couldn't help but gasp.

When Madam Wen entered and saw this scene, her heart jumped into her throat.

She quickly asked, "What happened?"

Upon seeing Madam Wen, Wen Yitong disregarded her ordeal that day and hurriedly asked, "Mother, how is the matter you mentioned going?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Wen hesitated.

Wen Yitong's anxious expression gradually turned cold. She raised her head and looked at Madam Wen: "Aren't you going to help me either?"

“It’s not that I don’t want to help you,” Madam Wen sighed. “It’s just that now is not a good time. If you are short of money, your mother will send it to you, but it must not be written on your dowry list.”

"Why?" Wen Yitong ignored her injuries and sat up abruptly from the bed. "Mother, why can't it be written on the dowry list? This is my..."

The dowry lists of each household were kept on file at the yamen (government office). With a little inquiry, it was easy to find out how much dowry each daughter brought, which would affect her reputation among other noble ladies in the future.

Madam Wen sighed: "That Chen family is not a good place. You brought so much silver there. Once they find out, wouldn't it be like throwing a meat bun to a dog—gone and never to return?"

"But this money of mine was originally intended for Chen Che's use!"