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

That evening was a family dinner.

Although Xie Jinghan was not present, he had already instructed Granny Qi to prepare gifts.

The brocade boxes brought in by carts of all sizes made Duke Wen's face beam with joy.

Even knowing that Madam Wen had made a fool of herself again today, he only glared at her coldly and said nothing more.

"Shuyao, eat more."

Duke Wen took care of Wen Shuyao with a smile, checking from time to time whether she had picked up any food. He even directed all the maids serving in the front hall to serve Wen Shuyao.

In contrast, Wen Yitong, standing to the side, only had one maid, Ruyi, by her side.

Seeing this, even though she had expected it, she still couldn't help but tighten her grip on her chopsticks.

Once upon a time, she was also treated like this?

However, after losing her status as Princess Jing, she was as if she didn't exist in her father's eyes.

Now, in Duke Wen's eyes, there is only Wen Shuyao.

While greeting Wen Shuyao, his gaze remained fixed on her.

Seeing that Wen Shuyao had almost finished eating, he tentatively asked, "Shuyao, in a while, Grand Secretary Shi will retire, leaving a vacancy in the Hanlin Academy. His Majesty will definitely select someone new to join the cabinet."

His gaze was somewhat unfocused as he spoke.

As he spoke, many thoughts raced through his mind. He had expected Wen Shuyao to refuse him, but he hadn't expected her to agree so readily.

"Whom does Father want to recommend for the cabinet?"

Wen Shuyao's casual remark brought a look of excited joy to the Duke of Wen's face.

"So you're agreeing?"

As he spoke, he poured Wen Shuyao a cup of tea with great courtesy.

Wen Shuyao drank the tea and reminded him, "I can only say a word for my father in front of the prince, but there's nothing else I can do."

"With your words, I am relieved." Duke Wen slammed his hand on the table, excitedly saying, "I knew I hadn't misjudged you! Shu Yao, you are the future hope of our Duke's mansion!"

Nominating someone for the cabinet is inherently difficult, and he never placed his hopes on Wen Shuyao.

But Wen Shuyao's straightforwardness really put him in a good mood.

Regardless of whether this matter succeeds or not, Wen Shuyao's straightforward personality alone has shown him countless possibilities.

He has truly climbed up to the powerful tree of Prince Jing's mansion!

Just as Duke Wen was feeling pleased, Wen Yitong, who had been silent, let out a few cold laughs.

"Who doesn't know that Prince Jing distinguishes between public and private matters?" Wen Yitong glanced coldly at Wen Shuyao, as if looking at a clown. "What good are your words?"

"Did you really think that Prince Jing was deeply in love with you and would do anything for you just because you asked?"

"Father, you should find another way."

The moment Wen Yitong opened her mouth, her sharp and sarcastic manner made it impossible to connect her with the dignified and elegant Wen Yitong from before.

Madam Wen was eating her meal when she suddenly heard Wen Yitong speak, and her expression changed drastically.

"Shut up!" Madam Wen shouted sharply. "You have no right to interrupt when your elders are speaking."

Wen Yitong was still unconvinced and wanted to continue speaking, but a sharp palm strike came directly from her side, knocking her head to the left and making her face burn with pain.

She covered her right cheek, looking at Duke Wen in disbelief.

"Father……"

When did her father, who had always doted on her, become like this?

"Insolence!" Duke Wen said coldly, "Prince Jing is of noble status; how dare you speak ill of him behind his back?"

"Moreover..." Duke Wen lowered his voice and warned, "You have no right to spout nonsense about matters within the Prince's residence!"

"You've disappointed me so much!" He looked coldly at Wen Yitong and threw out his last words.

Upon hearing this, Wen Yitong felt as if she had been struck by lightning.

She couldn't remember what Duke Wen had said before; only this last sentence remained in her mind.

"You have let me down too much!"

She had heard similar words in her dreams.

Her insistence on divorcing Xie Jinghan made her a laughing stock in the capital, and the reputation of the Wen State Duke's Mansion was also brought to its lowest point.

She became the talk of the town, which infuriated the Duke of Wen. During one of their arguments, he said the following.

Now, she heard these words from Duke Wen once again.

Wen Yitong trembled all over, and before she knew it, tears were streaming down her face.

"Master, even if Tong'er is wrong, what you're saying is far too harsh," Madam Wen said, feeling sorry for her daughter.

She held Wen Yitong in her arms with heartache, comforting her constantly.

When Wen Yitong met Madam Wen's concerned gaze, she felt even more aggrieved and choked up as she said, "What I said was not wrong at all. How could she, a mere woman, interfere with the prince's decision?"

Seeing this heartwarming scene of mother and daughter, Wen Shuyao chuckled softly.

“I really can’t interfere with the prince’s decision. I just agreed to my father’s request to mention it to the prince. Whether it works or not depends on the prince’s decision.”

“I wouldn’t dare interfere with Your Highness’s decision.” Wen Shuyao looked at Duke Wen with a smile. “Father, I’m sure you and I share the same opinion.”

"Of course!" Duke Wen quickly replied, "Who can interfere with the Prince's decision?"

"I would be satisfied if Shu Yao could mention it to Your Highness." After saying this, Duke Wen felt that he was being a bit too obsequious. He quickly coughed and made his voice more steady. "Besides, I am not a scheming person. It's just that Lord Gan is usually diligent and hardworking for the country and the people. It would be a pity if he didn't join the cabinet."

Upon hearing the words "Lord Gan," Wen Shuyao let out a cold laugh.

Was Lord Gan diligent and conscientious, serving the country and its people?

This man is simply the biggest parasite in the entire court. She remembered that when Gan Yi was arrested, the bedroom he lived in was made entirely of gold bricks, which amounted to more than 100,000 taels of gold.

Is this the kind of person who serves the country and its people?

Duke Wen truly has a thick skin, able to say such things without batting an eye.

A cold glint appeared in her eyes, but she quickly concealed it.

Now is not the time to make it clear.

At least... Gan Yi is indeed a diligent and honest official now, and he has a good reputation both in and out of the court.

In his previous life, Gan Yi had entered the cabinet.

In this life, since she already knew this person's true colors, she naturally wouldn't let Gan Yi enter the cabinet.

Wen Shuyao smiled gently and said softly to Duke Wen, "Father is absolutely right. I will definitely speak well of Lord Gan in front of the Prince."

Upon receiving Wen Shuyao's affirmation, Duke Wen beamed with joy and poured her another cup of tea.

Wen Yitong, standing to the side, had red eyes, swollen cheeks, and disheveled hair, coldly watching this scene of fatherly love and filial piety.