“Qing? Qing Jie? You?”
The key words spoken by the Su Family ancestors left everyone present stunned and speechless.
Clearly, Qing Bao was already the fifth-generation granddaughter of the Su Family.
By all reasoning, it would be perfectly natural for Qing Bao to kowtow and address them as ancestors.
So why were the ancestors calling her “Jie”?
The Clan Leader manually repositioned his jaw, which had nearly dropped to the floor.
“Ancestors, ancestors, are you sure you’re not mistaken? Qing Bao is just a wretched girl raised in the countryside for two years. She and her mother have had such a hard life, nothing like Mengmeng’s fortunate destiny. How could you still… Ah!”
No sooner had the Clan Leader finished speaking than Su Zhongzu slapped him flying across the room!
“You know Qing Bao has suffered? What kind of Clan Leader are you? If you dare let her endure even a little more hardship, I’ll drag you down to the boiling oil cauldron myself!”
Just after dealing with one, Su Mengmeng burst into loud sobs upon seeing her grandfather being struck.
The scene grew increasingly chaotic and noisy.
“Keep crying, and I’ll eat you!” Su Xiaozu threatened Su Mengmeng.
Su Mengmeng immediately stopped crying, hiding behind Su Xiao while biting her lip tightly, appearing delicate and vulnerable.
“Three ancestors, why are you so furious? Have I brought shame to the Su Family by returning triumphant from battle?”
Su Xiao’s eyes were full of grievance and disappointment. Before the ancestors, he resembled a child who had done wrong.
“Does my bringing glory to the nation and our clan count for less than a single kneel from Qing Bao? She merely kneels, and you become so enraged—why is that?”
He couldn’t understand. Why could he, Qing Bao’s own father, kneel, but Qing Bao couldn’t?
Qing Bao might have some luck, but hadn’t he proven himself the family’s chosen son through his military achievements?
He felt both wronged and resentful that the ancestors would climb up from the underworld just to punish him over Qing Bao!
This was utterly unreasonable!
“I’m your ancestor—since when do I need to explain myself to you? Have you ever considered whose accumulated merits in the netherworld granted you those military honors?”
Su Zhongzu showed no leniency, delivering a sharp kick.
Their Su Family ancestors had performed good deeds for three generations. The previous Judge had been unjust and nearly embezzled their netherworld merits.
Fortunately, Qing Bao arrived, overturned the unjust case, and restored their merits.
No wonder Yama adored her—all the ghosts in the Netherworld loved her.
How could they tolerate such an extraordinary treasure being bullied by their descendants in the mortal realm?
“Su Xiao, think carefully: before you and your wife had Qing Bao, which of your battle victories was truly earned by your own merit?”
“You became a General firstly because of our ancestral protection, and secondly because your father arranged a good marriage for you to wed a daughter of the Si Family, who bore you an exceptional daughter.”
“Now, not only are you ungrateful, but you force your own daughter to kneel. Are you fit to be a father?”
The ancestors’ relentless scolding made Su Xiao feel as if needles were pricking his back, chilling him to the bone.
All the clansmen present held their breath, not even daring to cast sympathetic glances at Su Xiao for fear of drawing the ancestors’ attention.
The Clan Leader tried his best to minimize his presence, shrinking backward and leaving Su Xiao alone as the conspicuous target.
“Mark my words: if Qing Bao suffers even the slightest grievance from now on, I will immediately climb up here and take you down. How dare you boast that even Yama would kneel before you? Who do you think you are?”
Su Zhongzu, still unsatisfied, kicked Su Xiao again, sending him tumbling over.
Su Xiao, who had been suppressing his anger, finally erupted, “Enough! I’m someone who brings honor to our ancestors… Ah!”
“Honor my foot! Once you’re down there, you won’t even be worth a fart. You hear me?” Su Zhongzu wasn’t about to indulge him.
How dare a junior throw a tantrum? Who gave him the right to lose his temper?
In the end, Su Xiao, bruised and battered, nodded tearfully and admitted his mistake, “I understand, I understand.”
The scene was utterly dramatic.
“And you! If you can’t handle being Clan Leader properly, let Qing Bao take over. Try showing favoritism again, and I’ll kick you straight into the eighteenth level of hell, even if I have to grow legs to do it!”
Su Laozu shot a sharp glare at the Clan Leader.
The Clan Leader trembled all over, quickly dropping to his knees and kowtowing, “Ancestors, I understand, I understand! Wuwu…”
Wuwu, so terrifying!
So terrifying!!!
“Don’t call me ancestor. You’re the one acting like an ancestor!” Su Laozu scolded the Clan Leader.
Then, turning around, the previously fierce Su Laozu instantly switched to a gentle, fawning expression.
“Qing Bao Bao, my good baby, are you still angry? Don’t be angry, okay? I’m begging you.”
Everyone stared in horror!
What did the ancestor just say?
The ancestor was begging a three-year-old Qing Bao?
Begging? Her???
Qing Bao was that important?
“Okay, ancestor.” Qing Bao tilted her little head to the side, looking proud and haughty.
Su Laozu floated to the side of her face, “Don’t call me ancestor. You’re my ancestor.”
Qing Bao: “Don’t you call me ancestor. I don’t have an ancestor like you!”
Clan members: …
Alright, alright, you’re all ancestors, fine.
Just then.
The time limit was up. The three of them took turns coaxing Qing Bao before whoosh—they were sucked back into the ancestral tablets.
Before disappearing, Su Zhongzu enthusiastically said to Qing Bao:
“Qing Bao, Qing Bao, remember to come down and play when you have time. Don’t keep us waiting too long.”
In his rough voice, he even called out, “Chiu Chiu~ Love you!”
Qing Bao looked utterly speechless.
What kind of mess was this?
She still wanted to live a long life.
“Get lost back where you came from. You’re so noisy I could die.”
The three chatterboxes were chirping away, and Qing Bao’s head was about to explode.
The Ancestral Hall instantly fell silent. The Clan Leader cautiously lifted his head and timidly asked Qing Bao, “Have the three ancestors… gone back?”
“Mmhmm.” Qing Bao nodded, the little Chiu Chiu on her head bouncing along.
“Will they come back up again?” The Clan Leader swallowed hard, his face full of fear.
Qing Bao shook her head, “Probably don’t have that much authority to come up often, but Ox-Head and Horse-Face, along with Hei Bai Wuchang, can come up frequently.”
“Clan Leader Grandpa, do you want to see them?”
Qing Bao replied with a serious expression, her eyes full of innocence.
She didn’t seem to be joking.
Upon hearing this, the Clan Leader stiffened, rolled his eyes, and fainted from fright.
Qing Bao stuck her thumb in her mouth, tilting her head as she said, “Being old is nice. You can fall asleep as soon as you hit the ground.”
“How about you? Do you want to see Ox-Head and Horse-Face?” Qing Bao innocently asked the clan members.
In an instant, countless heads shook like rattle-drums.
Si He finally managed to break free and stepped forward to hug Qing Bao.
Qing Bao looked up with wide, earnest eyes and asked, “Mother, do you want to see Ox-Head and Horse-Face?”
Si He: …
“Your mother still wants to live a few more decades.”
Qing Bao lowered her head, disappointed, “What a pity. Ox-Head and Horse-Face are so cute, and now no one will get to see them.”
Qing Bao swore to herself: One day, she would make everyone see Ox-Head and Horse-Face!
Just then.
Su Xiao took a deep breath, his words carrying a trace of ferocity as he demanded:
“This farce has gone on long enough, hasn’t it?”