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

"I'm a little tired."

Wen Shuyao lowered her head, pretending to be unable to hold her liquor.

The magpie understood and immediately helped Wen Shuyao up, saying, "This servant will help you back to your courtyard to rest."

Although she had already married, thanks to the prestige of the Duke of Wen's mansion and Wen Shuyao's status, her courtyard was naturally preserved intact.

Moreover, there is no rule that a married woman cannot return home to rest.

As Madam Wen watched the magpie help Wen Shuyao away, a glint of shrewdness flashed in her eyes.

"As expected." Madam Wen sneered a few times, "These two have been colluding behind the scenes for a long time."

"That treacherous, ungrateful woman." Madam Wen's sharp nails gripped the armrest, leaving deep marks on the wooden surface.

Seeing this, Granny Lin quickly comforted her, "Madam is incredibly resourceful. She had already foreseen that the two would join forces. That's why she used a trick to lure them out of their hole, which made them restless."

“Aunt Hua is nothing but a big-breasted, brainless fool. All her actions were exactly as you, Madam, expected.”

Lin Mama's few words of praise made Madam Wen feel good, and her mood, which had been repeatedly ruined by Wen Shuyao today, finally improved.

"Remember to keep a close eye on her," Madam Wen instructed. "We can't let them succeed."

"Don't worry, this old servant has already set up an inescapable trap," Lin Mama replied confidently. "Those surveillance locations will not be discovered."

……

"Your Highness, there are people watching the artificial hill on the left and the tree on the right front."

Granny Qi stood beside Wen Shuyao and spoke in a whisper.

She was able to protect Xie Jinghan in the deep palace not only because of her intelligence and wisdom, but also because of her superb martial arts skills.

While the location where these people were keeping watch was indeed well-hidden, it was still far too rudimentary compared to the methods used in the palace.

She saw right through it.

Upon hearing this, Wen Shuyao remained unfazed, not even glancing at those places.

Seeing her so calm, Granny Qi admired her even more.

"How about we change our seats and talk?"

"No, I won't change it." Wen Shuyao smiled lightly. "If I did, wouldn't I be letting down my stepmother's good intentions?"

There is no one but Madam Wen who could have set up so many people to keep watch over the Duke of Wen's mansion.

Presumably, Aunt Hua's appearance today was also part of her plan.

However, since she didn't know Madam Wen's next plan, she might as well play along and lure the snake out of its hole.

These years quickly came to mind.

She made her decision very quickly.

Granny Qi did not stop her, but simply moved a little closer to Wen Shuyao.

Regardless, it's enough for her to protect Wen Shuyao.

As long as it's not a serious crime like treason, no matter what Wen Shuyao does, her status as Princess Jing is enough to protect her safety.

Aunt Hua had already lost her composure. The moment she saw Wen Shuyao, she ignored the magpie's constant winks and pounced on Wen Shuyao, kneeling on the hard floor with a thud.

"Young Miss! Save Pearl!"

As soon as Aunt Hua finished speaking, tears streamed down her face.

She knelt on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably, her mind blank, only the phrase "Save Zhu'er" kept coming out of her mouth.

Hearing her words, Wen Shuyao was not shocked; on the contrary, everything was within her expectations.

"She wants to marry off Pearl?"

Although it was a question, Wen Shuyao's tone was confident, clearly indicating that she had already guessed Madam Wen's plan.

Upon hearing this, the emotional Aunt Hua raised her head, stared at Wen Shuyao, and asked, "Did the eldest young lady anticipate that she would do this?"

“She has lost a large sum of money and needs to make up for it,” Wen Shuyao replied calmly. “Zhu’er’s marriage is a good solution.”

"Miss is incredibly insightful!" Aunt Hua revealed a smile that was more like a grimace. "Yesterday she sent me to the main courtyard and told me that she had found a good marriage for Zhu'er with a wealthy merchant from Jiangnan."

"For someone as heartless as her to suddenly show such kindness, there must be something fishy going on!" Aunt Hua said through gritted teeth. "I spent money to have someone inquire among the merchants from Jiangnan, and I learned that the wealthy merchant she's going to marry Zhu'er to is over fifty years old, several years older than the master!"

"Zhu'er will marry into the family as a concubine, or what's called the principal wife, but that wealthy merchant has already killed more than a dozen principal wives! They were all tortured to death by this man! If Zhu'er marries into the family, what's the difference between that and pushing Zhu'er into a fire pit?"

"Zhu'er is my only daughter!" Aunt Hua pleaded, clutching Wen Shuyao's dress. "I can't just watch her go down in a fire! She's only sixteen! How... how can she marry such a man?"

"Please, young lady, have mercy and save Zhu'er!"

Aunt Hua's words were filled with anguish, and the tears in her eyes almost soaked the floor in front of her.

“Aunt, please stand up and speak.” Wen Shuyao personally helped her up and said softly, “Zhu’er is my sister, so of course I will help her.”

“This marriage is off the table,” Wen Shuyao said calmly. “Although she is the mistress of the Wen State Duke’s Mansion, she doesn’t have the final say on her children’s marriages.”

Upon hearing this, a glimmer of hope appeared in Aunt Hua's eyes.

But then she shook her head with a wry smile: "The household is short of money, and I'm afraid the master... has also had this idea, otherwise why would she have arranged this marriage?"

"She has already given Zhu'er's birth certificate to that person," Aunt Hua said bitterly. "Even if Zhu'er doesn't have to marry that person, the fact that the birth certificate has been switched has ruined Zhu'er's reputation!"

Thinking of this, Aunt Hua wished she could devour Madam Wen alive.

But Wen Shuyao remained extremely calm. She patted Aunt Hua on the shoulder and said, "I will talk to Father."

Upon hearing this, Aunt Hua's eyes widened immediately.

"what do you mean……"

“Zhu’er and I are sisters. It’s only natural that I would ask Zhu’er to stay at the Prince’s residence for a few days while the Prince is away,” Wen Shuyao said calmly. “Auntie, you don’t need to worry. With me here, no one can take Zhu’er away.”

"But Auntie needs to be careful these days," Wen Shuyao said softly. "You should be careful that a cornered dog doesn't do anything rash."

Aunt Hua shivered, clenched her arms, and nodded vigorously: "With Zhu'er with you, I am at ease."

"Though I am of lowly rank, I am not one to be trifled with." A sharp glint flashed in her eyes. "If she dares to do such a despicable thing, even if it means our mutual destruction, I will not let her get away with it!"

Her only hope in her entire life was her daughter.

If she can't even save her daughter, she'll risk her life to make the culprit pay the price!

Wen Shuyao shook her head: "Aunt, you shouldn't waste your life on this."

"Do as I say..."