Sent to the County Office
May Parker suddenly felt a chill rise from her feet, shooting straight to her pounding head. Her teeth chattered, and she couldn’t move a single step. Trembling, she stammered, "I-I already swore an oath! What more do you want from me?"
Helen Parker sobbed, "Lily, if you end up killing my daughter, you’ll be facing a murder charge too!"
"I’m a law-abiding citizen, not like some people who prefer scheming and stabbing others in the back." Lily Evans smiled sweetly at May Parker, then instructed the servants, "Tie up this would-be murderer and send her to the County Magistrate. Bring along a few beggars from town as witnesses, so the magistrate can properly investigate this attempted murder of my cousin."
May Parker’s face instantly turned ashen. She was already a wanted criminal—now, being sent to the authorities as a murderer, she feared her life was truly at risk!
"No, please don’t send me to the authorities! I don’t want to die, I’m begging you, Sister Lily!" May Parker pleaded desperately.
"May Parker, you should have thought about the consequences when you tried to harm others. The heavens have long arms—justice always catches up. You tried to take a life, and the law will punish you. I’m just helping the authorities catch the person who tried to hurt me. People will probably praise me for putting justice above family ties!" Lily Evans grinned darkly, patting May Parker’s face, which was filled with despair. "Take her away. And send someone to the Leo Family to tell Leo Hui that May Parker has been caught."
"No, no!" May Parker’s face twisted in terror and despair. The Leo Family was powerful in Clearwater Town and hated her to the bone—this time, she was truly finished.
May Parker was dragged away, while Helen Parker was chased out of Lily Evans’s house by servants wielding sticks. By afternoon, the servants returned with news: May Parker had been thrown into jail to await trial. The Leo Family’s patriarch and the County Magistrate were close friends—both personally visited the magistrate’s office to discuss the case, insisting on harsh punishment for May Parker.
Bai Lu listened and said with satisfaction, "Finally, the heavens have opened their eyes and dealt with that vicious woman!"
With May Parker imprisoned awaiting trial, Helen Parker was both shocked and anxious, and after soaking in the water vat for a while, she fell ill. Grandma Evans scolded Lily Evans at home, but after witnessing May Parker’s fate, she didn’t dare provoke Lily anymore, fearing she’d end up just like May Parker.
"Daqi, what should we do? My May Parker can't be in danger!" Helen Parker sobbed until her eyes were swollen, clutching Su Daqi's sleeve as she cried uncontrollably.
Su Daqi's face was dark with anger. He slapped Helen Parker and shouted, "It's all your fault for raising May Parker to be so spoiled! If not for that, she wouldn't have brought such disaster upon herself!"
Helen Parker held her face, glaring as she lunged at Su Daqi, clawing at him. "Why didn't you ever say anything before? Now that something's happened, all you do is blame me! You're a man, but you can't even save your own daughter! What kind of man are you? I don't care, you must save May Parker for me!"
Su Daqi was just a farmer—he had no connections. But this was his own daughter, and her life was at stake. Gritting his teeth, he said, "I'll go beg the County Magistrate!"
"The County Magistrate? Will that work? Our son Shimao broke off the engagement and offended them. Will they even help us?" Helen Parker asked doubtfully.
"Whether it works or not, I have to try! Even if I have to kowtow myself to death at his doorstep, I must beg him to save May Parker!" Su Daqi grabbed his coat and rushed out to try and save his daughter.
But when Su Daqi arrived at the County Magistrate's house, no matter how much he pleaded, the doors remained shut—he was turned away. Still, for his daughter's sake, he swallowed his pride and, from that day on, waited outside the Qingmiao County government office every day, hoping to catch the Magistrate. Eventually, he managed to see him a few times, but the Magistrate only told him that May Parker had already been convicted and was likely to be executed. He advised Su Daqi to go home and prepare for the worst.