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

Upon hearing this, Madam Wen nearly lost her composure.

"Tell you?" Madam Wen frowned. "Although the princess is of noble status, she is still a married woman. How can she interfere in family matters... especially since it's a sister's marriage... there's no such rule."

“That’s not quite right.” Wen Shuyao shook her head gently. “If you, Madam, were to do everything perfectly, then as a married woman, I naturally have no right to manage household affairs. But unfortunately…”

Although she didn't say everything, everyone could hear the sarcasm in her tone.

It is now an undeniable fact that Madam Wen attempted to sell her illegitimate daughter for money.

No wonder Wen Shuyao was worried.

Madam Li nodded: "With the Princess Consort here, we can feel more at ease."

Upon hearing this, Madam Wen rolled her eyes in anger. How come there's such a vile woman as Li everywhere?

Li was a busybody, and if she used her influence against Wen Shuyao, she would be happy to see it happen. But this time, Li's dart pierced her own body, and she realized just how annoying Li was.

Her face looked pale, and she seemed somewhat embarrassed.

But then Lin Mama coughed softly behind her: "Madam, don't forget your plan."

In an instant, Madam Wen's troubled thoughts vanished. She gritted her teeth and nodded to Wen Shuyao: "In that case, I will do as the Princess says."

"From now on, if any of the sisters in the family need anything, just send someone to Princess Jing to deliver a message." Madam Wen's tone became very gentle. "If the Princess can help with the marriages of the sisters in the family, that would be even better."

Madam Wen's words did not seem sincere, but they had already achieved Wen Shuyao's goal.

—At least Madam Wen no longer had to make all the decisions regarding Wen Zhu's marriage.

As for the other sisters... like Wen Yitong.

What does it have to do with her?

Moreover, Madam Wen wouldn't dare let her interfere in Wen Yitong's affairs.

Wen Shuyao smiled and agreed, her eyes crinkling.

At first glance, they do indeed appear to be a happy and harmonious family.

Wen Yitong was pinned to her seat by Ruyi and unable to move. She dared not speak, for fear of ruining Madam Wen's plans again.

Once the banquet was over, she could no longer contain her anger and shouted, "Those two traitors! They actually helped Wen Shuyao to go against you, Mother!"

Today's homecoming banquet has completely humiliated Madam Wen, leaving her with no face or dignity.

Upon hearing this, Madam Wen rubbed her furrowed brows and said, "Things are different now. She is now the Princess Consort of Jing. Even if we want to deal with her, we have to think twice. If we anger Prince Jing and those two... we will all suffer the consequences."

Wen Yitong's anger was only half-vented when she choked on her words at Madam Wen's words.

She wanted to say something, but she couldn't outpace Madam Wen.

Madam Wen sighed: "If you hadn't been in such a hurry to arrange the marriage, we wouldn't be in this situation."

Wen Shuyao got a great deal, she got such a bargain for free!

Wen Yitong was indignant and was about to speak when she heard Madam Wen say coldly, "The Chen family will be coming to propose marriage in a few days. I ask you, are you really sure you want to marry him?"

Chen Che was in a bad position with Madam Wen in every way.

In her opinion, even if Wen Yitong became a nun, it would be better than marrying Chen Che.

However, to her disappointment once again, Wen Yitong shook her head: "Mother, my choice will never be wrong. Believe me, Chen Che will definitely achieve great things in the future!"

Upon hearing this, Madam Wen couldn't help but let out a cold laugh: "A great undertaking? What great undertaking?"

"Was it because he had such great achievements as the eldest son of a concubine before he was even married?" Madam Wen said coldly. "Or was it because he repeatedly failed the imperial examinations?"

“This time is different,” Wen Yitong said confidently. “He will definitely be on the list!”

She spoke with absolute certainty, but Madam Wen, seeing this, reached out and placed her hand on her forehead: "Are you delirious from the fever?"

Wen Yitong angrily brushed away Madam Wen's hand, her eyes red like an angry rabbit: "Mother, please stop saying such things! Since I was willing to marry Chen Che, it proves that he must have extraordinary abilities!"

Whenever this matter is brought up, the mother and daughter always part on bad terms.

This time is no exception.

Madam Wen snorted coldly, took out the betrothal gift list that she had been keeping in her sleeve, and threw it on the table.

"In that case, take a good look. This is your betrothal gift! The Chen family sent it yesterday."

"This is Wen Shuyao's betrothal gift."

After she finished speaking, she took out Wen Shuyao's betrothal gift list.

Unlike the betrothal gift list from the Chen family, the betrothal gift list sent by the Prince Jing's mansion was a booklet, a full two inches thick.

The difference between a thick booklet and a thin sheet of paper was immediately apparent to Wen Yitong.

This stark contrast made Wen Yitong's face appear as black as the bottom of a pot.

"What do you mean?"

"It's just to show you."

Madam Wen said in a low, melancholy tone.

Wen Yitong looked displeased: "You're clearly doing this on purpose. You just want me to regret it..."

“I’m just letting you get a feel for the difference between you and Wen Shuyao in the future,” Madam Wen coldly interrupted her. “It’s not just about the betrothal gifts, but also about your status and your seating arrangements at every banquet in the future.”

"Furthermore, from now on, you are merely the wife of a scholar who passed the imperial examinations. When you meet Princess Jing, you must perform the full kowtow."

After saying her last words, Madam Wen left without looking at Wen Yitong again.

Wen Yitong remained standing there, her body icy cold.

She couldn't believe that her mother would say such a thing.

Granny Lin stood beside her, hesitant to speak.

"Granny, I did nothing wrong." Wen Yitong met her sympathetic gaze, wiped away her tears, and said each word with utmost determination, "One day, you will understand how right my decision was!"

After saying that, she raised her head firmly: "I believe in Chen Che!"

Hearing this, Madam Wen, who hadn't gone far, trembled with anger: "Granny Lin, why aren't you leaving? Do you want this wretched girl to drive me to my death?"

"This servant knows her mistake!" Lin Mama gave Wen Yitong a look and quickly left with Madam Wen.

Wen Yitong was left alone in the front hall. A look of confusion flashed in her eyes before her gaze fell on the betrothal gift lists of the two parties.

"Money is an external thing."

A struggle flickered in Wen Yitong's eyes. Soon, she reached out and tore Wen Shuyao's betrothal gift book to shreds.

The hatred in her eyes and the ruthlessness in her movements sent chills down Ruyi's spine.

At this moment, Wen Yitong was not at all as indifferent to material possessions as she claimed.

She clearly cares a lot!

Ruyi shivered. It was clearly a crisp autumn season, yet she felt a chill run through her body.

When will this end?