If She Dies, It's On Me
Dr. Rowan Lin saw Margaret Evans gently serving him porridge, and his expression softened considerably. Taking the bowl, he ate and said, "It's so cold, you shouldn't cook yourself. I'll just eat whatever the kitchen prepares."
"How could that be? Treating Third Brother takes a lot of energy, so you need to eat well. Besides, if I don't cook myself, I can't be at ease. I know you—you’re picky, and if it doesn’t suit your taste you’ll just eat a few bites and go hungry. That won’t do." Margaret Evans said as she walked out, "You drink your porridge, I'll go cook."
"Maggie, the road outside is slippery, walk slowly," Dr. Rowan Lin said as he sipped his porridge. The fragrance of Laba Porridge filled the air, sweet and comforting. Watching Margaret Evans's departing figure, his eyes were full of warmth.
Margaret Evans went to the kitchen to cook, while Lily Evans and the others stayed inside, enjoying bowls of Laba Porridge.
Quentin Lin was overjoyed as he drank, constantly praising Susan Hayes’s cooking skills. His words were as sweet as honey, calling her 'Aunt Susan' with every sentence, making Susan so happy her heart bloomed.
After finishing their porridge, feeling warm all over, they had just set down their bowls when a commotion was heard from inside the manor. The noise came from Sophie Sun’s courtyard, and faintly, there were sounds of women crying and shouting.
"What's that noise? I'm going to take a look!" Quentin Lin, still a child at heart and curious about everything, bounced out to see what was happening.
Lily Evans, feeling uneasy, took Lola and followed after him.
Susan Hayes tidied up the bowls and took them to the kitchen. Seeing Margaret Evans still cooking so carefully, she teased, "Aunt Margaret, you’re so meticulous making food for Uncle Rowan. He’s truly a lucky man."
Margaret Evans blushed, shy as a young maiden in her prime.
Meanwhile, Quentin Lin jogged all the way to Sophie Sun’s courtyard, where he saw a long bench placed in the yard. Bound tightly to the bench was an old maid.
The maid’s mouth was stuffed, her body securely tied to the bench, eyes wide with terror.
Sophie Sun stood with her hands on her hips, clutching a thick stick, looking every bit the petty tyrant reveling in her moment. She stared at the maid and sneered, "You wretch! You used to beat me and bully me, but now I’ve turned the tables. I’m in charge—and you’re the first I’ll make an example of!"
The maid whimpered in fear, while Sophie Sun’s eyes glinted with a bloodthirsty light. She swung the stick and struck the maid on the head.
Lily Evans hadn’t expected Sophie Sun to actually strike so ruthlessly. She quickly covered Quentin Lin’s eyes.
They heard the maid scream in agony as blood gushed from a gaping wound on her scalp, the steaming crimson staining the snow in vivid splashes—like clusters of plum blossoms blooming in the winter frost.
But Sophie Sun was delighted. Beside her, Cheng Jin smiled and didn’t intervene; instead, she clapped and said, "Lanxiang, well done! This wretch provoked you, you should teach her a lesson! She’s just a servant of the Cheng family, and you’re the young mistress. Even if you beat her to death, it’s fine!"
The maid turned pale at Cheng Jin’s words, desperately shaking her head in plea.
She had served the Cheng family for decades; even if she hadn’t done great deeds, she’d worked hard. Was the young mistress really going to let her be beaten to death?
But Cheng Jin’s face showed not a trace of sympathy. Instead, to please Sophie Sun, she encouraged, "Lanxiang, don’t be afraid. If anything happens, I’ll back you up!"
Sophie Sun giggled, spat into her hands, then swung the stick again with savage force, cracking it down on the maid’s head.
The maid screamed in pain as blood gushed even more fiercely.
At that moment, Sophie Sun noticed Lily Evans and Quentin Lin standing at the doorway. She raised her brows provocatively at Lily and said, "This is a Cheng family servant who offended me, the young mistress. I can beat her however I want. Princess Consort, are you really going to meddle in our family affairs? Even if you take it to the magistrate, the officials won’t care!"