But then she thought of the power of the Marquis of Yongyi's mansion, and hardened her heart again.

“Chaoxi, how could your mother abandon you? You will always be your mother’s daughter. Listen to your mother, the Yongyi Marquis’s family is of much higher social standing than ours. Marrying into the family would be the best marriage for you.”

"The Marquis's family helped Emperor Gaozu establish the empire and is deeply trusted by the Emperor. The current heir of the Marquis of Yongyi, Xie Qinglan, is the Emperor's own nephew. Our Earl's family has no foundation in the capital and cannot afford to offend the Marquis of Yongyi's family. This marriage cannot be reversed, and one of the Earl's daughters must marry into the family."

Lady Bo spoke earnestly, wiping away tears from the corners of her eyes with her handkerchief, and continued, "Your sister is young and straightforward, and I'm afraid she might offend people if she marries into a higher social class. You are calm and composed, and I believe you will get along better with the people in the Marquis's mansion after marriage."

"As for Ling'er, I have already found her a man from an ordinary family. She is willing to marry him. If all goes well, you two sisters will get married around the same time."

"Or is it that you've never considered yourself a member of the Ye family, and are unwilling to make any contribution to the family?" the aunt asked rhetorically.

Making a contribution? She doesn't seem to have enjoyed anything in return, does she?

Ye Chaoxi finally saw Fang Zengrou for who she really was. After all, she wasn't the child she raised herself, so to Fang Zengrou, she was just an insignificant presence.

He'd give her a little treat when things were going well, and pull her out to step in when things got tough.

"It's not that I'm unwilling, it's just that the Marquis's heir is on the verge of death. If I were to marry into the family to bring good luck, everyone in the Marquis's household would look down on me. I've heard that the more powerful a family is, the more complicated their interpersonal relationships are. I have neither connections nor money in the capital, how can I gain a foothold in the Marquis's household?" Ye Chaoxi hesitated before expressing her inner concerns.

"That's easy." The aunt clapped her hands. "I'll prepare more dowry for you, and see who in the Marquis's mansion dares to look down on you." Hearing that Ye Chaoxi was willing to marry into the family, the aunt was immediately relieved and quickly agreed to give her more dowry.