Surviving In Another World With My Three Cups!-Chapter 124: YOU DARE TOUCH MY WOMAN?

The whole Mo family stood frozen at the courtyard entrance.

Grandmother Mo was the first to speak, her eyes wide in disbelief. "Mo Ying... what is this?" she asked slowly, staring at the long table filled with food and at Mo Ying himself, who was still wearing an apron.

Lin Xu and Yan Mei both stood at once, startled. Fuhan awkwardly stood too, bowing lightly toward the elders. The children, who were moments ago laughing, went silent, glancing nervously between the adults.

Uncle Mo’s face turned red with anger. "Mo Ying! You are a general, not a kitchen servant! How can you disgrace yourself and our family like this?"

Mo Zen frowned, whispering to Mo Ting beside him, "I thought the maid was joking."

Mo Ting shook his head. "It looks like she wasn’t. He really cooked."

Madame Mo stayed quiet, not saying a word, only glancing at Lin Xu once before pretending to look bored, as if the whole thing didn’t concern her.

Lin Xu looked toward Mo Ying, unsure what to say. Yan Mei tried to help, stepping forward slightly. "Grandmother Mo, please don’t misunderstand. The General—"

"Silence," Grandmother Mo cut her off sharply. Her eyes didn’t leave Mo Ying. "I asked him, not you."

Mo Ying, however, didn’t look nervous or even embarrassed. He calmly removed his apron, folded it neatly, and placed it on the table before walking toward his grandmother. His steps were steady, his expression unreadable.

"Grandmother," he said softly, "it’s not as serious as it looks. I just wanted to cook for my family. It’s been a while since we all had a meal together."

"Family?" Uncle Mo snapped. "You call this a family matter? You’re the commander of the northern army! What will people say if they hear you’ve taken off your armor to make soup like a servant?"

Mo Ying sighed. "When did a title ever stop a man from being a husband and a father?"

The whole courtyard went silent again. Even the sound of the wind stopped for a moment.

Grandmother Mo’s expression hardened at his words. He had been married to San Na, yet he had never cooked for her, even as she was his main wife, but here he was cooking and doting on this concubine.

Before anyone could say another word, a new voice cut through the air.

"What a touching scene, but General, do I have to remind you that she is your concubine, not your wife," Chu Ming said as she walked in.

Everyone turned, shocked. She was dressed beautifully, her expression calm at first, but her eyes were filled with fury.

She walked straight up to Lin Xu without warning.

Smack!

The sound echoed across the courtyard. Lin Xu’s head turned sharply to the side, her cheek burning red.

Everyone gasped. Even the children froze in shock.

Mo Lan covered her mouth, but she couldn’t stop the small smile curling on her lips.

Chu Ming raised her hand again. "How dare you sit here and let my husband cook for you like this!" she shouted. "Do you have no shame—"

Before her hand could land another strike, Mo Ying moved.

In an instant, he grabbed Chu Ming by the neck, his hand tightening.

Everyone went still in surprise.

Mo Ying’s expression was dark, colder than anyone had ever seen. His eyes burned with anger. The quiet, teasing man from moments ago was gone, replaced by something terrifying.

Chu Ming gasped, her hands clawing at his arm, trying to breathe. "M-Mo Ying... what are you doing...!"

Lin Xu’s eyes widened. "Mo Ying!"

But he didn’t answer her. His voice came out low and sharp. "How dare you lay your hands on my woman?"

No one moved. Even Uncle Mo, who had been shouting before, couldn’t say a word now.

Mo Bao, Mo Yiling, and Mo Yuen ran in front of their mother, spreading their small arms to protect her.

"Don’t touch our mother!" Mo Bao shouted.

"Yeah!" Mo Yiling cried.

Mo Yuen also shouted aloud, his face dark with anger, something the father and son had in common. "Don’t hurt Mama."

Chu Ming’s face turned red from his grip, but she still spat out between gasps, "You—dare touch me... because of this... this worthless concubine?"

Her words only made Mo Ying’s eyes darker. His fingers tightened just slightly.

"Mo Ying!" Lin Xu shouted again, rushing forward. She grabbed his arm, her hand resting over his. "That’s enough."

For a moment, he didn’t move. His jaw was tight, his breathing heavy.

"Please," Lin Xu whispered, looking up at him. "Let go."

Something in her voice broke through his anger. His hand loosened, and he finally released Chu Ming.

Chu Ming stumbled back, coughing hard, her maid quickly running to support her.

But before she could recover, Lin Xu stepped forward. Without a word, she raised her hand and slapped her across the face, hard.

The sound cracked through the courtyard.

Everyone gasped again, even louder than before.

Chu Ming’s head snapped to the side, her hair falling over her face. Lin Xu’s eyes were cold now, her voice steady. "That’s for touching me."

The air in the courtyard was so tense that it felt heavy.

Chu Ming’s cheek was still red from the first slap when Lin Xu’s hand came down again.

Pa!

"That’s for scaring my children," Lin Xu said coldly. Her voice didn’t tremble once.

Chu Ming stumbled back, shock filling her eyes. She had never been hit before in her life, not even by the old madam.

Before she could say anything, another sharp Pa! followed, and then another.

Lin Xu’s palm landed squarely across her face, four times in total. The sound of each slap echoed clearly in the courtyard.

By the last one, Chu Ming’s face had turned red and swollen like a ripe tomato. Her hair was messy, and she fell weakly into the arms of her maid, who barely managed to hold her up.

Yan Mei stood behind Lin Xu, her lips curling into a satisfied grin. She folded her arms, whispering under her breath, "Serves her right."

Mo Ying stepped forward quietly, his expression softening as he reached for Lin Xu’s hand—the same hand that had just struck Chu Ming.

He held it gently, rubbing her fingers as if afraid she might be hurt. "Did you hurt yourself?" he asked, his voice low and calm, though his eyes were still dark.

Lin Xu looked down at their joined hands, a little stunned by his sudden gentleness. "A little," she said quietly.

Her small answer made Mo Ying’s jaw tighten again. His anger flared right back to life. He turned to the servants. "Take her back to her quarters," he ordered coldly. "She will be grounded for three days. Only one meal a day."

Everyone went silent. The servants exchanged uncertain glances.

Chu Ming’s eyes widened. "What?" she shouted hoarsely. "Mo Ying! You can’t treat me like this! I am your wife! Do you not fear what the Emperor will say when he hears?"

Her words made Mo Ying laugh, an empty, cold laugh that made even Uncle Mo tense.

"The Emperor?" he repeated slowly, looking at her. "If the Emperor hears about this, he’ll ask why his general’s wife raised her hand against his concubine and frightened three children."

Chu Ming’s mouth opened, but no words came out.

Mo Ying turned to Aunt Mo instead. "Aunt," he said, his tone respectful but firm. "What does the family law say about wives who raise their hands in jealousy?"

Aunt Mo looked startled but quickly composed herself. "According to the Mo family’s rule, a wife who publicly strikes another woman without cause shall face confinement for three days and lose all household privileges during that period."

Chu Ming’s face turned pale. "You—you can’t be serious!" she shouted, shaking her head in disbelief.

But the maids had already moved toward her, bowing slightly before taking hold of her arms.

"Let me go! Mo Ying, you can’t do this to me!" she screamed, struggling as they began to pull her away.

Mo Ying’s eyes narrowed, his voice cutting through her cries like a blade. "If you ever touch Lin Xu again," he said quietly, "you’ll regret it far more than three days of confinement."

The courtyard fell silent again. The maids dragged Chu Ming out, her angry screams echoing faintly before fading down the walkway.

Only then did Mo Ying turn back to Lin Xu. Her palm was still slightly red, and he gently lifted her hand again, blowing lightly over it as if it would ease the sting.

Lin Xu stared at him, her heart pounding, unsure what to feel.

The other family members just stared, all still in shock at the drama that had just played out. Now they could see how seriously Mo Ying takes Lin Xu.

San Na just stood there, her face blank. Only God knew what exactly was running through her mind since all this started.

Grandma Mo just shook her head and turned to leave, still not believing that one day would come when Mo Ying would fall in love with a woman to such a point.