Chapter 120: Principles and Bottom Lines

He looked at Jiang Jianguo's unmoving face, then at Jiang Ran's cold eyes, his voice dropping lower, carrying a humble plea.

"I know Xiaowei deserves a thousand deaths, but she's still young… if a criminal record is left on her, her whole life will truly be over…"

"Consider this my begging: leave some bloodline for the Lin Family, leave some hope…"

"Over? Hope?"

The previously silent Jiang Jianguo finally spoke; his voice was not loud, yet it bore the weight of a thousand pounds, each word striking the silent night with crystal clarity.

"Lin Gong, you are also a sensible person."

"You should ask your daughter, when she took out that bottle of potion, did she think that the child in RuanRuan's womb is also the Jiang family's bloodline and hope?"

"Did she consider that her splash could ruin a family that has just begun and is full of hope?"

He stepped forward, his gaze like a torch, staring directly at Lin father's flickering, evasive eyes: "Some mistakes can be made, and can be corrected."

"But some bottom lines, once crossed, leave no room to turn back."

"Your daughter's actions today are no longer a simple dispute; this is intentional harm, an attempted murder! The target was a pregnant woman!"

"This touches the legal red line, the moral bottom line!"

"Today, if our Jiang Family issues a letter of forgiveness because of your apology and compensation, where does that place the law? Where does it place justice?"

"Does that mean that in the future anyone with money and power can brazenly hurt others and then settle it with money?"

Jiang Jianguo's words rang out like a thrown stone, bearing an unquestionable resolve.

"I, Jiang Jianguo, put my words here today: we will not handle this privately! We must go through legal procedures; whatever the judgment, let it be that judgment!"

"As for your compensation…"

He glanced at the thick envelope; his eyes held no trace of greed, only cold rejection.

"Our Jiang Family does not lack that money. What we want is justice!"

"A justice that will allow my daughter‑in‑law and my grandson to walk the night roads safely in the future!"

"A justice that will let anyone harboring ill intent know that some deeds, once done, must be paid for!"

Jiang Jianguo's words completely shattered all hope of the Lin parents.

Lin father seemed to have all his strength drained, staggered back a step, and the envelope in his hand fell to the ground with a "thud", and he was too weak to pick it up.

He knew the Jiang Family was set in iron resolve, leaving no room for any reversal.

Lin mother let out a desperate wail, collapsed on the ground, and completely fainted.

Lin father hurriedly tried to help, the scene a chaos.

Jiang Jianguo stared expressionlessly and said to the newly arrived Gu Yanshen, "Yan Shen, please help Lin Gong bring his beloved back."

Gu Yanshen nodded, stepped forward to assist.

The Jiang Family's main gate slowly closed under the Lin parents' desperate gaze.

It sealed away the unbearable pleas, the shattered cries, and all the opportunistic thoughts outside the gate.

Inside, Jiang Ran watched his father's steadfast, upright silhouette; the raging anger in his chest gradually subsided, replaced by a deep understanding and acceptance.

He knew his father's actions were not only to seek justice for Su Ruan and the child, but also to establish a principle, a bottom line.

In this household, relatives are a dragon's vulnerable spot—any transgression will be punished!

Li Huijuan wiped her eyes, walked to Jiang Jianguo's side, and gently clasped his hand.

Although her heart was soft, at this moment she fully supported her husband's decision.

Jiang Nainai let out a long sigh, twirling the Buddhist Beads, and whispered, "Good and evil will eventually be repaid… the heavens are but three feet above our heads…"

The Jiang Family's gate closed, completely cutting off that drama filled with desperation and pleas.

Within the courtyard, the heavy atmosphere did not dissipate immediately.

The burn on Jiang Ran's back throbbed faintly, but what truly pained him was Su Ruan.

He hurried back to the bedroom, gently pushing the door open.

Su Ruan was not sleeping; she leaned against the headboard, her complexion a bit pale, eyes gazing at the heavy night outside the window, lost in thought.

Hearing the movement, she turned her head, saw Jiang Ran, and forced out a soothing smile.

"They… left?" Her voice carried a barely perceptible fatigue and hoarseness.

"Hmm, they left."

Jiang Ran walked to the bedside, sat down, carefully avoiding his back wound, and gently pulled her into his arms.

He could feel a slight stiffness in her body and a faint tremor.

Tonight's events still frightened her, even though she had kept a composed demeanor.

"Don't be afraid, daughter‑in‑law, it's all over." Jiang Ran's chin rested on her crown, his voice low and gentle, bearing unquestionable resolve, "As long as I'm here, no one can hurt you or the baby again."

Su Ruan buried her face in the hollow of his neck, inhaling deeply the reassuring scent of him; the forced composure finally crumbled, and lingering fear surged like a tide in her heart.

She clutched his chest tightly, her voice choked, "I was… really scared… scared that thing would splash onto the baby…"

"I know, I know…"

Jiang Ran, feeling heartache, tightened his arms, repeatedly stroking her back as if soothing a frightened little animal.

"No, I won't let anyone hurt you. See, I'm fine, and the baby is fine too; he just kicked me a moment ago, still full of strength!"

He tried to dispel her fear with a lighthearted tone.

Su Ruan laughed through her tears, lightly punching him, "Nonsense, how could you feel it?"

"How could I not feel it? My heart is connected to yours!"

Jiang Ran saw her mood improve and felt a slight relief.

He cupped her face, looking earnestly into her eyes, "RuanRuan, listen, Dad handled the Lin family's matter very well."

"Lin Wei will pay the price for what she did; the law will not spare her."

"This matter ends here; don't think about it any more, okay?"

"Your most important task right now is to eat well, sleep well, and happily wait for our baby to be born."

His rough thumb gently brushed away the tear streak at her eye corner, his gaze filled with an unbreakable love and protection: "From now on, I will stay by your side without moving a step, and I will never let such an accident happen again, I swear."

Su Ruan looked at her own reflection in his eyes, which were full of worry, but more so a warmth and sense of safety that came from being wholly cherished.

She nodded and strained to push those negative emotions down.

Yes, for the baby, she must also become strong.

"Hmm, I won't think about it," she leaned back into his arms, feeling his steady heartbeat, and whispered, "We will both be fine."

That night, under Jiang Ran's clumsy yet sincere soothing, Su Ruan finally fell into a deep sleep.

Jiang Ran, however, barely slept the whole night.