Mother Yuan was completely panicked. She quickly wiped away her tears and said, "No, you can't go to the police station. You can't go to prison! He said you tried to kill Yan San, but Yan San is still alive and well. You've already apologized in front of Old Master Yan. That should be enough. And as for Ji Xinyue, she was dying anyway. You were doing her a favor. Living like that was worse than death. These can't be counted as murder!"
"Mom, stop talking. I... I don't want to disappoint Yan Zhen. Since he wants me to face legal sanctions, then I'll go. Maybe after I get out of prison, I'll be qualified to stand by his side and pursue him, pursue my own happiness?"
Yuan Ya'er looked up and smiled naively.
Mother Yuan stroked her daughter's little face and cried, "Ya'er, my baby, why are you so silly?"
"Mom, love is like this. There's nothing I can do." Yuan Ya'er replied.
Suddenly, Mother Yuan's expression changed. A hint of cruelty flashed in her eyes. She leaned over and whispered a few words in Yuan Ya'er's ear. At first, Yuan Ya'er sighed, but then she shyly took out a small medicine bottle from her pocket.
Mother Yuan squinted and grabbed the small medicine bottle. "Don't worry. Leave this to me. No matter what, I won't let you suffer in prison."
Yuan Ya'er lay on Mother Yuan's lap and cried, "Mom, you're the one who loves me the most."
Not long after, Yan Zhen carried a handbag and followed Father Yuan downstairs. By this time, Yuan Ya'er and Mother Yuan had separated. Mother Yuan sat expressionlessly on the sofa, while Yuan Ya'er stood by the door waiting for Yan Zhen.
Yan Zhen strode towards the door.
"Yan Zhen!" Mother Yuan called out.
Father Yuan sized up his wife. Although they didn't communicate verbally, their years of living together gave them a tacit understanding. With just one look, he knew his wife intended to protect their daughter.
Yan Zhen also stopped in his tracks.
Mother Yuan stood up from the sofa and walked towards him.
"Yan Zhen, Yuan Xi is my daughter, and Yuan Ya'er is also my daughter. But I never expected that both my daughters would end up involved with you. I understand your anger towards Ya'er for what she did to Yuan Xi. Ya'er has done so many wrong things and indeed deserves legal sanctions. I'm a reasonable person and won't stop you."
"However, I'd like to ask you one thing. Ya'er truly loves you and genuinely wants to repent. After she gets out of prison in the future, would you still give her a chance?"
Yan Zhen replied, "Hasn't Yuan Ya'er told you? I've given up my right of inheritance and left the Yan family. I'm planning to start my own business. Would your Yuan family still be willing to accept a son - in - law like me who has nothing?"
Both Mother Yuan and Father Yuan instinctively thought it was a no!
A son - in - law who couldn't bring any benefits to the Yuan family was unacceptable. But their daughter had committed a crime. Even if she got out of prison in the future, no one in the wealthy circle would want to marry her, right?
Father Yuan immediately weighed the pros and cons in his mind. Although Yan Zhen said he was starting his own business, Old Master Yan couldn't really ignore his grandson, could he? He believed Yan Zhen still had a chance.
"Of course, we're willing." Father Yuan said, with a rather kind expression on his face. "As long as Ya'er likes you, even if you become a beggar, we'll accept you."
Yan Zhen asked again, "Will you publicly apologize to Yuan Xi? Will you publicly admit that you misunderstood Yuan Xi and return everything that rightfully belongs to her?"
Father Yuan and Mother Yuan readily agreed to whatever he said. "Yes! After Ya'er goes to the police station, we'll apologize to Xiaoxi."
Yan Zhen's expression softened a bit. "Then I'll give Yuan Ya'er a chance."
Seizing the opportunity, Mother Yuan said,
"Yan Zhen, just thinking about Ya'er leaving and not knowing when she'll come back makes me really reluctant. Today was supposed to be your day of returning to your maiden's home. I've prepared a table full of delicious dishes, all your and Ya'er's favorites. How about letting Ya'er have a meal before she goes?"
Have a meal? Father Yuan was stunned for a moment, then immediately chimed in, "Yes, let Ya'er have a meal at home before she goes."
Just when everyone thought Yan Zhen wouldn't agree and were about to persuade him further, Yan Zhen relented. "Alright."
Since today was the day for the newly - wedded couple to return to the bride's family, the meals were already prepared. There was no need to wait. At Mother Yuan's invitation, Yan Zhen and Yuan Ya'er came to the dining table and sat down. Mother Yuan personally served them both a bowl of soup.
"Yan Zhen, this might be your last meal at the Yuan family. You may not have a chance to come here again in the future. If you can, eat more." Mother Yuan said.
Yan Zhen didn't eat much, but he was very polite and tasted every dish.
Across the table, Yuan Ya'er ate while silently shedding tears. She looked extremely pitiful, but in fact, she was carefully observing Yan Zhen.
Seeing that there was one thing Yan Zhen never touched, Mother Yuan couldn't help but feel anxious. But she was afraid Yan Zhen would notice something, so she didn't dare to persuade him.
Finally, Yan Zhen picked up the bowl and brought the soup to his lips.
Mother Yuan and Yuan Ya'er's hearts instantly rose to their throats. Seeing Yan Zhen gulp down the soup, Yuan Ya'er also drank the soup in front of her to hide the smile on her lips.
After drinking the soup, Yan Zhen put down the empty porcelain bowl.
Mother Yuan and Yuan Ya'er pretended to be calm and lowered their heads. They were both silently counting down in their hearts.
17, 18, 19...
Suddenly, Yan Zhen felt an unusual heat rising in his body. It was as if there were thousands of ants crawling all over him. He closed his eyes and propped himself up on the table, unable to control a muffled groan.
Both Mother Yuan and Yuan Ya'er were overjoyed. Mother Yuan stepped forward and pretended to help Yan Zhen. "Yan Zhen, what's wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell? Ya'er, come and take a look!"
Yuan Ya'er immediately put down her chopsticks, walked around from the other end of the table, and helped the flushed - faced Yan Zhen up with Mother Yuan.
Mother Yuan hinted to Yuan Ya'er, "Take Yan Zhen to your room to rest for a while. After he recovers, you can go to the police station."
Yuan Ya'er's eyes flashed. "Okay, Mom."
Yan Zhen leaned heavily on her. His breath was hot, and his eyes were already beginning to look hazy.
Yuan Ya'er was extremely happy. As long as they had another encounter and she could get pregnant with Yan Zhen's child, she would be able to...
At this moment, the Yuan family's door slammed open. Liang Zuo led a group of people and rushed in, ignoring the servants' obstruction. They stepped forward and snatched Yan Zhen from Yuan Ya'er's hands.
"Liang Zuo, what do you mean by bringing so many people in?" The plan was interrupted, and Mother Yuan shouted angrily, her face changing.
The tallest man among them took out his police badge from his clothes and said seriously, "Police! Raise your hands and stand against the wall! We received a report that there was someone poisoning here. From now on, everyone here is a suspect. Every word you say will be used as evidence in court!"
Police! Father Yuan, Mother Yuan, and Yuan Ya'er all changed their expressions. The same two words flashed through their minds - "Doomed"!
Yan Zhen leaned on Liang Zuo. He tried his best to stay awake and raised his trembling finger towards the dining table. "The soup..."
Captain Wang Hao of the criminal police waved his hand. "Collect the soup on the dining table and take it back for testing!"
Not long after, a plain - clothes police officer ran out of the kitchen with a transparent evidence bag. "Sir Wang! Found it!"
Inside the transparent evidence bag was an empty small bottle.
The evidence was conclusive!
One could hear the clicking sounds one after another. Everyone in the Yuan family was put in cold handcuffs.