Zhuo Wei has always been selfish and heartless. He was only a little disappointed about this matter. After all, he had raised his daughter for so many years, but she couldn't help him make friends with a wealthy in-law. However, he was still able to make use of her one last time, so it wasn't too bad. Therefore, he was still quite satisfied.
In his heart, he was always concerned with interests and never thought about these personal feelings, after all, he had more than one daughter.
But now, seeing Zhuo Jiayu speaking to him with such difficulty, and still so focused on his own good, he was truly moved, and felt that raising her had not been in vain.
He said, unusually, "It's good that you have such good intentions. Your reputation is ruined. Even if you live, your future will not be easy. Just go in peace. Your parents will burn more paper money for you. If you have any resentment in your heart, go find He Jiu Niang and the Lu family. After all, if it weren't for their appearance, you wouldn't have to go down this path."
At this final moment, Zhuo Wei still tried to shift the blame onto Lu Baichuan and his wife.
Zhuo Jiayu's eyes darkened, and she asked with curiosity, "Father, before...didn't you...say He Jiuniang...wasn't she my sister...sister? How come..."
"What kind of sister is she! She's just a bastard and doesn't deserve to be called one!"
Zhuo Wei's expression changed instantly, as if he had gone mad, which startled Zhuo Jiayu.
But this proves that there was something fishy about what happened before.
Zhuo Wei said He Jiuniang was a bastard, which means he knew He Jiuniang's true identity. So, his previous desire to recognize her as his daughter was simply for personal gain?
Zhuo Jiayu instantly understood. She should have known long ago that her parents always prioritized profit.
"That's... fine too..."
She nodded wearily, looking at the bowl of cold medicine.
Madam Yan understood her meaning and took the initiative to hand over the bowl of medicine.
Zhuo Jiayu reached out and took it, then slowly brought it to her lips.
Zhuo Wei and Yan Shi both stared intently at her. This was the first time they had experienced something like this, and they couldn't help but feel a little nervous. They stood together and held each other's hands tightly.
Although there is some reluctance, there is more anticipation for the benefits the other party will offer after this.
Zhuo Jiayu had only been brought home not long ago, so her death at this time was the easiest explanation. They could say that she was too poisoned in prison and couldn't survive after returning home. They could still pin the blame on Lu Baichuan and He Jiuniang, since it was common knowledge that Zhuo Jiayu was poisoned in prison. Even if there were doubts, they wouldn't be able to produce any evidence.
Zhuo Jiayu moved slowly. She glanced at her parents out of the corner of her eye and saw that they were looking at her expectantly. A cold smile appeared on her lips. Since they were unkind to her, then she wouldn't be so ruthless in return.
"Smack!"
She threw the medicine she was about to put to her lips onto the ground, the sound of the ceramic cup shattering echoed, and the medicine spilled all over the floor.
"What...what are you doing?"
Zhuo Wei and Yan Shi were both frightened, staring incredulously at their daughter sitting on the bed with a half-smile on her face. At that moment, they felt that Zhuo Jiayu was a frighteningly unfamiliar stranger.
Zhuo Jiayu ignored them, maintaining her ambiguous smile as she stared at the couple, as if trying to see into their very souls.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps came from outside, sounding like there were many people. Zhuo Wei was startled and wanted to go out to check, but he had just been beaten and was not able to move easily. In the meantime, a group of people rushed in.
Lu Baichuan walked at the front, and someone immediately went to the ground to pick up the broken porcelain shards for testing. The results came back quickly: "General, it's poisoned."
"The Duke of Mu and his wife colluded with the people of Dongting, and even murdered their own daughter and took her away."
"yes!"
Lu Baichuan gave an order and turned to leave, while the others forcibly took the two away despite their resistance, leaving only Zhuo Jiayu in the room soon.
Only then did she dare to look up at the doorway where everyone had left.
Lu Baichuan had already walked far away, surrounded by many people; she could only see the back of his head.
Soon, Zhuo Jiayu withdrew her gaze. This was the last time; from now on, she would never look at him again.
If I hadn't fallen for him, I wouldn't have had to go through all of this.
She didn't want to be imprisoned again, nor did she want to experience death again; she just wanted to live her life quietly.
Thinking of this, she let go, took out an antidote pill from the porcelain bottle and swallowed it, a tear slowly rolling down her cheek.
A moment later, a little maid stumbled in and threw herself at the bedside, crying, "Miss, waah, I thought I would never see you again!"
This was her personal maid, who had grown up with her since childhood, and they had a deep bond. It was only after she had been back for so long that the little maid came over crying.
She glanced at the maid, her eyes questioning. The maid then explained, "After Miss was imprisoned, Madam sent me to serve in another courtyard. Yesterday, when I learned of Miss's accident, I wanted to go and see her, but Madam wouldn't let me. This morning, she forbade me from coming here either, saying that she wouldn't need me anymore. Just now, something happened in the manor, and I managed to run here in the chaos, sob sob sob..."
"Miss, what exactly happened? How did the Duke and his wife get arrested? I heard they were trying to harm you."
"During the time Miss was imprisoned, the Duke and Madam were very anxious and tried their best to rescue her. How could they possibly harm her?"
The maid asked a series of questions, genuinely wondering why things had turned out this way. She had been in the mansion the whole time, so how could she not know about such a big thing?
Zhuo Jiayu gave a bitter smile. If she hadn't experienced it herself, she wouldn't have believed that her parents really wanted her life in exchange for her future, and that they were even cooperating with the Dongting people.
Although she was foolish and did many things without thinking, she knew what the consequences of colluding with the enemy and betraying the country would be.
If the court was in decline when the old emperor was in power, then the Eastern Court might have had a chance of winning. But now the Crown Prince is in power, and he has a group of capable people under his command, such as Lu Baichuan. He has even captured the Eastern Court's third prince, yet the Eastern Court has been unable to bring the third prince back. This shows that the Northern Yan is no longer a country that the Eastern Court can bully at will. The father's treason will definitely not end well.
As the legitimate daughter of the Duke's mansion, her fate wouldn't be much better.
Therefore, when they abandon her, she must make the right choice.
This was the opportunity He Jiuniang was giving her: by personally sending her parents in, she could fight for a chance to survive.
"I... want to rest..."
She didn't have the energy to explain so much to the maid, but at this moment, she was still quite happy to have someone by her side, worrying about her.
At least in this world, it's not that nobody really cares about her.
On the other side, Zhuo Wei and Yan Shi were taken directly to the Heavenly Prison. Lu Baichuan only gave them one sentence: "Didn't you always want to come in? Then enjoy the experience."
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