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

Upon hearing this, Madam Wen clutched her chest, her vision blurred, and she nearly choked.

She looked at Wen Yitong in disbelief: "What nonsense are you talking about? Are you crazy?"

What do you mean this dowry was originally for Chen Che? Does Chen Che even deserve it? These are all good things that she carefully selected for Wen Yitong, for Wen Yitong to use as a backup.

A look of confusion crossed Wen Yitong's face as she listened as Madam Wen continued, "Tong'er, have you forgotten what I taught you before? The most important thing for us women after we get married is to take good care of our dowry."

"This dowry is your last resort. How can you give it to Chen Che? Although the Chen family has declined, a lean camel is still bigger than a horse. Supporting Chen Che is no problem. Why would they need your dowry?"

Madam Wen spoke earnestly, but Wen Yitong slowly shook her head upon hearing it.

"Mother, you don't understand."

She uttered a sentence in a low voice, and Madam Wen took a step back. She never wanted to hear anything like that from Wen Yitong again.

However, Wen Yitong did not notice her expression and continued to say to herself, "What's the use of adding flowers to brocade? Only by providing charcoal in the snow can he truly remember my kindness."

She would never forget the momentous event that shook the entire capital that year.

—Wen Shuyao spent all her dowry, amounting to 200,000 taels of silver, just to make up for the Chen family's shortcomings.

At that time, everyone laughed at Wen Shuyao for being foolish, but later, when Chen Che went to Jiangnan and solved the flood problem for His Majesty, the reward sent to the Chen family was more than all of Wen Shuyao's dowry.

Chen Che gave all these rewards to Wen Shuyao and also helped her obtain the title of a fourth-rank imperial lady.

She would never forget this incident, because when Wen Shuyao was awarded the title of Fourth-Rank Imperial Lady, she was at home crying to her mother about Xie Jinghan's indifference and the servants' neglect of her.

In just one year, she became increasingly haggard, while Wen Shuyao, with a capable husband and a well-behaved in-laws, remained the most radiant one at banquets.

Thinking of this, Wen Yitong's eyes shone with determination.

This time, this glory belongs to her!

As Wen Yitong's mother, Madam Wen could clearly see Wen Yitong's attitude.

Her face looked extremely pale, but no matter what she said, she couldn't bring herself to utter the words.

Even Wen Yitong's confident attitude gave her a glimmer of hope—what if? What if Chen Che was the one with unparalleled luck?

or……

Her eyes turned cold as she stared intently at Wen Yitong: "You're unwilling to marry Prince Jing, have you heard some rumors?"

Upon hearing this, Wen Yitong's eyes darted away, avoiding Madam Wen's gaze.

However, under Madam Wen's repeated questioning, she finally managed to whisper, "Mother, you are right. I have indeed heard some rumors about the struggle for the throne."

Madam Wen gasped and quickly asked, "Please tell me everything."

……

At this moment, in the small courtyard, Wen Shuyao looked at the newly renovated boudoir without giving it a single extra glance.

She sat down directly in the courtyard, while Aunt Hua waited cautiously to her side.

“Young Miss, I have found out everything you asked me to inquire about before,” she whispered. “Here is the whereabouts of those people.”

Aunt Hua had always both respected and feared Wen Shuyao.