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

Chapter 136 defection

Five days in prison, Manager Yuan had become a sorry sight, but her eyes were wide open, staring intently at Wen Shuyao.

She knew this was her only chance.

Wen Shuyao walked slowly to her and carefully examined Manager Yuan's appearance.

Unfortunately, even in her memories of her past life, she had never seen Manager Yuan.

"Tell me," Wen Shuyao said calmly. "I want to see what kind of secret could get me out of this case."

Manager Yuan asked anxiously, "Doesn't Your Highness want to know... the truth about the late Madam's passing?"

Wen Shuyao chuckled lightly: "My mother's death was all caused by Zhang Shi. Do you need to tell me that?"

She was trying to trick Manager Yuan with those words.

While Lady Wen was undoubtedly involved in her mother's death, Duke Wen must have played a very important role, and... Prince Xin...

Her eyes flickered slightly before she looked at Manager Yuan.

Manager Yuan shook his head and said in a low voice, "Although it was Zhang who did it, Zhang's original plan was to let the late Madam die slowly from illness, rather than suddenly. The reason she suddenly took such drastic measures was because... the late Madam knew a secret."

"It was this secret that forced Zhang and Duke Wen to ruthlessly kill the late Madam."

What Manager Yuan said matched exactly the information that Aunt Hua had learned from Duke Wen.

Wen Shuyao already believed Manager Yuan to a large extent; the rest was...

"Where's the evidence?" Wen Shuyao raised her eyes, her gaze intense. "This isn't something you can convict someone with just a few words. Investigating cases requires solid evidence. Do you have any evidence?"

"I have a letter!" Manager Yuan's face hardened. "If the Princess can rescue me, I will present this letter! The contents of this letter are enough to prove that Zhang committed the crime of murdering the late Madam!"

Wen Shuyao narrowed her phoenix eyes and looked Manager Yuan up and down.

After a moment, she said in a low voice, "It seems that Manager Yuan doesn't know what that secret is either."

Manager Yuan possessed exceptional self-control, but Wen Shuyao was equally adept at reading people's expressions and demeanor.

After she said that, she noticed that Manager Yuan blinked very quickly.

Upon seeing this, Wen Shuyao knew that Manager Yuan knew what the secret was, but... she dared not say.

After a moment, Wen Shuyao smiled, pretending she hadn't seen it.

“This letter…” Wen Shuyao paused for a moment, then, seeing the unease on Manager Yuan’s face, continued, “It does indeed tempt me, but your crimes…”

"Heaven and earth bear witness!" Manager Yuan raised his hand and swore to the heavens, "I have never harmed any of those people! I have never even handled matters such as lending money at exorbitant interest rates. It was Zhang who was secretly acting under the guise of Baohua Pavilion!"

"Please, Your Highness, see the truth!" she said, then added, "If I were truly involved in this case, I'm afraid I would have been dragged out and beheaded just like those others."

Wen Shuyao turned to look at Si Qing, who nodded: "She indeed did not handle it directly."

Wen Shuyao nodded: "In that case, please give me that letter after you leave, Manager Yuan. Otherwise... I can spare your life, and I can also take yours."

"Of course!" Manager Yuan knelt down in fear and trepidation, finally feeling a huge weight lifted from his heart.

She's finally saved her life.

Returning to the present moment, Wen Shuyao met the magpie's questioning gaze and smiled gently.

"Go to the Duke of Wen's residence."

Her smile was so bright and radiant that the magpie was momentarily stunned.

After a moment, the magpie whispered, "This servant will go and prepare."

In the eyes of the magpie, the Duke of Wen's mansion is like a dragon's den and a tiger's lair. This time, it is necessary to muster troops and be well prepared.

……

When the carriage from Prince Jing's residence arrived at Duke Wen's residence, it was noon.

It was lunchtime, but the Duke of Wen's mansion had no leisure time at all during lunch.

All because of one thing—Wen Yitong woke up.

"Mother!" She struggled to get out of bed and threw herself onto Madam Wen's lap. "Mother! You must help Chen Che! Chen Che must be being targeted! This is definitely not up to Chen Che's standards!"

"He has the potential to be a third-place scholar!"

Wen Yitong was in tears, looking utterly pitiful.

But when Madam Wen heard this, she was so angry that her eyes rolled back.

"Are you crazy!" She shoved Wen Yitong away and looked at Wen Yitong kneeling on the bed, coldly shouting, "You didn't believe the servant who came to deliver the news, so you insisted on looking at the list. Now you've looked at the list, and you saw with your own eyes that Chen Che's name wasn't on it."

"How could something you saw with your own eyes be fake?"

The more Madam Wen spoke, the angrier she became.

She never expected that Wen Yitong would be the kind of person who wouldn't turn back even after hitting a wall.

"If you were smart, you should sever ties with Chen Che from this moment on. After these troubles have subsided, your aunt can arrange a divorce for you, and you can then choose a good husband!"

"Good husband?" Wen Yitong was in a daze, tears welling up in her eyes. Before she could say the next sentence, two streams of tears flowed down her cheeks.

"Who else can compare to Xie Jinghan?"

She murmured something, and the tears flowed even more fiercely.

Upon hearing this, Madam Wen gasped.

Then, she sneered, "Now you finally understand! You realize that Prince Jing is the best husband ever!"

"But it's too late!" Madam Wen gritted her teeth. "You've handed over this wonderful marriage to Wen Shuyao! All my years of hard work and planning have come to nothing!"

Wen Yitong closed her eyes in pain, and the metallic taste in her throat rose again.

Yes! It was she who handed Xie Jinghan over to Wen Shuyao!

Now... now she's become a joke!

No! Absolutely not!

Her gaze suddenly turned fierce as she stared intently at Madam Wen.

"Mother, you'll definitely find a way, won't you?" Wen Yitong lowered her voice. "You'll definitely find a way to resolve Chen Che's matter!"

Madam Wen said coldly, "What other options do I have? Do you think I can force him into the palace examination? Your mother is just a minor duke's wife!"

Wen Yitong shook her head, tears wetting her hair, which clung to her face, making her look particularly disheveled.

"You must have a way." She gripped Madam Wen's hand tightly, as if grasping at a last straw. "Are you just going to watch me become the laughingstock of the entire capital?"

Madam Wen closed her eyes: "What a tragedy! What a tragedy!"

"Get up and talk first." She sighed, finally deciding to help Wen Yitong this time.

Just then, there was a sound of hurried footsteps outside the door.

But then Lin Mama exclaimed in a panic, "Madam, the eldest young lady is back!"

"What is she coming back for?" Madam Wen's face turned ashen, but only now did she realize that she couldn't guess Wen Shuyao's intentions.