Everyone turned and saw Shen Ruojing walking over in huge strides. “China’s law has it that one will be sentenced to ten years or more of imprisonment for beating someone to death. They could even be given the death penalty. Even if we obtain the understanding of the deceased’s family, there’s still no escaping the ten years of imprisonment. You’re calling this help?”

“Ten years?” Chu Ciyuan was a little stunned too. He looked toward Ding Miao and said, “Miaomiao, didn’t you say that he would be given a lighter sentence?”

When Matriarch Chu heard this, she pointed angrily at Chu Ciyuan and scolded, “What kind of lousy idea is this? If we were to plead guilty, Cimo would really become a murderer! How can we do this when he didn’t kill anyone?! If Ding Miao could leave after taking money back in high school, how can she treat you sincerely? Did she hoodwink you into becoming distant from me?”

After Matriarch Chu said this, Ding Miao’s countenance suddenly turned pale.

She bit her lips and held onto her chest.

Chu Ciyuan immediately turned to look at her nervously. “Miaomiao, what’s wrong?”

Ding Miami stroked her stomach with her other hand. “I’m fine. It’s just that… I feel a little hurt that my goodwill is misunderstood like this.”

After saying that, she looked at Chu Ciyuan and Matriarch Chu, saying, “If he doesn’t plead guilty, he’ll give the judge the impression of being unrepentant. When that happens, the sentence will be more serious and he might even be given the death penalty. The situation is really bad for him. Is the death penalty really better than ten-year imprisonment?”

Chu Ciyuan said blankly, “That’s true too…”

“To hell that’s true!” Chu Ciyuan’s manner caused even the well-mannered and graceful Matriarch Chu to curse. “What great feud did you have with your younger brother?! To think that you want him to be jailed for ten years?!”

Matriarch Chu then looked at Ding Miao and said, “There’s no way that my son would kill. Take this in mind. We’ll definitely defend it to the point where Cimo is judged innocent!”

After saying that, she pointed to the door. “The two of you, please leave!”

Chu Ciyuan tensed.

The reason he came back today was because he really wanted to help. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have brought Ding Miao here despite knowing that Ding Miao and Matriarch Chu weren’t on good terms.

He looked at Ding Miao.

Ding Miao sighed. “I knew that Aunt wouldn’t trust me. If some other lawyers were to say this, she might still listen to them… but I’m fine.”

As she spoke, she also stood up. However, she was struck by a bout of dizziness and sat back on the sofa.

Matriarch Chu sneered. “Why? Are you not leaving because you want me to call the guards to invite you out?”

Ding Miao waved her hand. “No need. I, I just didn’t manage to catch my breath and feel a little uncomfortable…”

Her face was pale and it couldn’t have been faked.

Chu Ciyuan’s heart ached to see her like this. He said to Matriarch Chu, “Miaomiao is frail but she still came to help out of goodwill, yet you’re treating her like this! She must have been angered!”

After saying that, he helped Ding Miao up. “Miaomiao, let’s go. It’d be better for us not to come to the Chu Manor in the future!”

When Matriarch Chu heard him saying this in the end, her body trembled from fury.

Chu Ciyuan was an illegitimate son on the surface, but Matriarch Chu knew his real identity. She knew that her husband had never betrayed her, so she had put in great effort into bringing Chu Ciyuan up since young.

When Chu Ciyuan was young, he and Chu Cimo would act coquettish to her…

She had truly treated Chu Ciyuan as if he was her biological son.

But Chu Ciyuan had grown to become more and more distant from her. He wouldn’t listen to anything she said anymore…

At this moment, Shen Ruojing took a step forward and supported Ding Miao. “Oh, Miss Ding isn’t feeling well. It happens that I’m a doctor. Let me help take a look…”

After saying that, she grabbed Ding Miao’s wrist and took her pulse.

Ding Miao frowned.

A minute later, Shen Ruojing looked at her with the shadow of a smile. “It’s true that Miss Ding doesn’t have a strong constitution, but it’s not to the extent that she can’t handle a little quarreling. Miss Ding, did your period not come this month?”

When Ding Miao heard this, a hint of panic suddenly appeared in her gaze.

Chu Ciyuan, who was next to them, asked, feeling perplexed, “What do you mean by that?”

“It means that she’s pregnant. It has been over a month.” Shen Ruojing shrugged.

Matriarch Chu was shocked and chided Chu Ciyuan, “You, to think that the two of you have gotten together to this stage! Are you really trying to drive me to my grave from anger?”

Matriarch Chu had always been teaching the two of them to have personal integrity and keep themselves in check.

Even though they were guys, they still had to protect themselves and not have premarital s*x. Chu Cimo had been schemed back then, but he didn’t progress any further with Bai Shanshan now.

On the other hand, Chu Ciyuan and Ding Miao hadn’t gotten married, but to think that…

Why did all three children she had brought up get someone pregnant before they got married?!

Chu Ciyuan subconsciously retorted, “I didn’t. I’ve always remembered your teachings…”

When he said this, he suddenly realized something and looked at Ding Miao in shock.

After the initial panic, Ding Miao’s gaze calmed down. She put on a sad appearance and said, “Aunty, I know that you don’t like me. Back then, you bribed my mother with money and had her force me to leave with her. And now, you’re doing this!

“I’ve been thinking of Ciyuan all these years and didn’t even get a boyfriend. I’ve been waiting for him all this while. How can you slander me like this?”

After Ding Miao said that, she looked at Chu Ciyuan. “Do you believe them too?”

Chu Ciyuan quickly protected Ding Miao behind him. He didn’t look at Matriarch Chu but looked at Shen Ruojing instead. He said angrily, “What kind of doctor are you? Do you have a practicing license? Why have I never heard that you know medicine? Don’t be spouting gibberish here! Miaomiao is a young lady. How can you taint her name like that? You quack! Did my mother tell you to say this?!”

Shen Ruojing. “?”

Matriarch Chu. “??”

The two of them exchanged a glance and immediately understood.

It turned out that Chu Ciyuan had been taken advantage of.

Matriarch Chu’s countenance was grim and she didn’t say anything.

On the other hand, Chu Cichen had been standing at the side and hadn’t said anything all this while. However, his gaze suddenly turned sharp.

He had always watched the arguments between Madam Chu and her two other sons coldly and never interfered. This was because he didn’t know how a son should get along with his mother either.

Quarreling might also be a way for them to get along.

As a result, when Chu Ciyuan and Matriarch Chu quarreled, he didn’t say anything. But now, to think that Chu Ciyuan was doubting Shen Ruojing?

His voice was deep, but he spoke in a commanding tone, “Chu Ciyuan, show some respect.”

The moment Chu Cichen spoke, a layer of pressure immediately enveloped the entire living room. Chu Ciyuan didn’t dare to be overly agitated.

As it was with Chu Cimo, Chu Ciyuan was also very fearful of his eldest brother.

However, Ding Miao spoke in an aggrieved tone, “It’s alright, Ciyuan. Don’t quarrel with them anymore. Let’s go. As long as you trust me, it doesn’t matter what they say about me.”

Chu Ciyuan held her hand. “Let’s go!”

When the two of them turned, Shen Ruojing suddenly smiled. “Miss Ding, this is a friendly reminder that you are having an ectopic pregnancy. It’s best for you to go to the hospital right away to get an operation. Otherwise, you’ll undergo severe bleeding and your life might be in danger.”

The moment Shen Ruojing said this, Ding Miao’s body stiffened up.

She then felt a little uncomfortable and lowered her head to look over.

There were traces of blood stains on her pants.

Chu Ciyuan’s countenance gradually changed.