Lord Si stood frozen in place, instantly turning into a charred figure.
His hair stood on end, his entire body blackened, and when he opened his mouth, a puff of white smoke escaped.
Everyone present was stunned.
They quickly snapped back to reality.
“My lord, my lord, are you alright?”
Lady Si was terrified, rushing forward to check on him. The moment she touched him, she felt a numbing sensation, as if she had been electrocuted.
She jerked her hand back sharply, her expression twisting slightly in pain, her eyes filled with boundless fear and dread.
“What is happening?”
They had thought the Star of Calamity was secretly harming the family, but never expected it would dare to blatantly summon heavenly lightning to strike the head of their Si Family!
“What else could it be? Yama heard Grandfather’s oath and transferred ten years of his lifespan to Great-Grandmother,” Qing Bao explained earnestly, tilting her head.
They had just been mocking the old Yama moments ago.
Little did they know Qing Bao had opened a channel, allowing Yama to see everything from below.
“How could Yama possibly hear? With this shoddy drawing of yours?” Si Ye pointed at the hastily sketched turtle drawing, disbelief evident in his voice.
Qing Bao nodded, “Mmhmm, with this shoddy drawing.”
Si Ye felt as if he had been struck by lightning, his body going numb and trembling uncontrollably.
It’s over.
Earlier, he had been the one laughing the loudest at Yama.
It’s over.
What should he do? What should he do?
Just as everyone was shocked and at a loss, Lady Si screamed while tidying Lord Si’s hair, “My lord, your white hair has doubled in an instant!””
Lord Si immediately called for a bronze mirror. The wrinkles on his face had multiplied many times over, and his back had begun to hunch.
“How is this possible? I’m only forty-five years old, how could I look so old?”
Even veteran officials who had served two dynasties didn’t look as old as him.
As soon as he finished speaking, Si Ye’s legs gave way, and he knelt before Qing Bao. “Qing Bao, dear Qing Bao, please take out the drawing and let your second uncle apologize to Yama. I beg you.”
Qing Bao turned her face away with a huff, “Didn’t you say you’re not my uncle? Why are you claiming to be now?”
“Your uncle was just angry earlier and shouldn’t have said those things to you. Dear Qing Bao, if you’re willing to help me connect with Yama and get him to forgive me, I’ll do anything you ask! I beg you.”
Si Ye wore a bitter expression, kneeling and bowing repeatedly to Qing Bao.
Though kneeling, he was still about the same height as Qing Bao.
But this was Yama they were talking about! He was still so young – he hadn’t even married yet, hadn’t bought his champion cricket yet – he didn’t want to die, wuwuwu.
Just as Qing Bao was about to speak, Lady Si pushed her aside abruptly.
Lady Si gnashed her teeth, “Why are you begging her? It’s just some petty trick that comes with being a Star of Calamity! She’s not the only one who can communicate with spirits!”
Si Ye became even more distraught, biting his lip as he said, “Mother, are you trying to get me killed? Look at Father!”
Beside them, Lord Si had already gone mad.
“My ten years of lifespan!”
“My ten years of lifespan!”
This meant he didn’t have many years left to live.
In the best case scenario, he might outlive his old mother by a few years.
In the worst case, he might pass away before his mother.
Of course, there was also the possibility they might depart together.
When that time came, if no one inherited his mother’s dowry, wouldn’t it all go to his wife and son?
Lord Si couldn’t bear such a heavy blow. His eyes rolled back, and he fainted dead away.
“My lord!”
“Father!”
The room filled with mournful wails of grief.
Lady Si harbored a deep-seated hatred for Qing Bao. Seizing the opportunity while Lord Si had fainted and Si He had no say, she loudly summoned the stewards and servants!
“You there, drag this wretched child away at once and beat her to death with clubs!”
She didn’t even want Si He anymore.
This girl wasn’t close to her, not even as much as Yao’er, who wasn’t related by blood.
“Who dares!” Si He shielded her daughter, her face fearless.
“Qing Bao is General Su’s daughter! If any of you lay a hand on her, the Su Family will not spare you!”
She had nothing left now; the only cards she could play were her identities as the General’s Wife and her daughter’s status.
At this moment, Si He felt profoundly powerless.
Because everyone knew she was not favored in the Su Family.
“Hmph! General Su only has Yao’er as his wife and Mengmeng as his daughter. Even if you die here, I have plenty of ways to explain it to them. Restrain Si He and drag this little wretch away to be beaten to death!”
Lady Si’s face was contorted, her hair bun trembling with rage. She seemed utterly furious.
Originally, she was about to get her hands on the Old Madam’s dowry.
But it was ruined by this little Star of Calamity.
Qing Bao showed no trace of panic. Her small face remained cold as she stood quietly in place, counting the time.
Just as the servants surged forward—
A violent cough and a frail voice suddenly came from the bed. “Let’s see who dares!”
At these words, everyone froze.
Lady Si widened her eyes, staring in terror at the Old Madam.
“Mother-in-law, weren’t you…?”
“Hmph! Causing trouble at my bedside—do you even see me as your mother-in-law?” Old Madam Si pushed aside the bed curtains.
Her previously frail body now appeared remarkably robust.
Gui Momo reached out to support her but found the Old Madam no longer needed assistance—she could walk on her own.
Could it truly be? Had she gained ten more years of life and been saved?
With a joyful gaze fixed on Qing Bao, Gui Momo’s eyes reddened with emotion.
“Mother-in-law, it was Qing Bao who caused the trouble! You were supposed to pass away peacefully, but she used some dark art to make Lord Si lend you ten years of his life! I was terrified!”
If Lady Si didn’t deal with this Star of Calamity now, after what happened to Lord Si, she might be next.
This Star of Calamity harmed people so blatantly—she didn’t even bother pretending!
“Nonsense! It was Lord Si himself who made the vow!” Si He retorted.
The Old Madam waved her hand, calm and composed. “He’er, come here.”
She beckoned, calling both Si He and her daughter over.
The old woman’s frail frame shielded the mother and daughter behind her.
Then, she stepped up to Lady Si and raised her hand.
Slap!
A crisp slap landed.
“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re scheming! I still have breath in me—I’m not truly dead yet!”
While lying there, she had heard every word.
That unfilial son Si Qianzhi wouldn’t even let her die in peace and even tried to use Si Yao to trick her into passing away so he could inherit her dowry.
How could Si Yao compare to He’er?
If not for this brush with the Gates of Hell, Old Madam Si would never have realized how vile her son and daughter-in-law truly were.
Then again, if they were truly fit parents, how could they neglect their own flesh and blood while doting on an adopted daughter?
“Mother-in-law, they were the ones who did wrong! Why are you hitting me?”
Lady Si’s face was full of grievance, tears welling in her eyes, her heart steeped in bitterness.
Ever since she married into the Si Family, her mother-in-law had never mistreated her, nor had she ever laid a hand on her personally.
Now, she struck her in front of everyone.
How could she ever maintain her dignity in front of the servants from now on?