Hearing this,
Old Madam Si widened her eyes, a flicker of fear passing through them. “I don’t know, I don’t know.”
Qing Bao frowned and asked in her clear, crisp voice, “Did they run off with the Si Family’s money because they were greedy?”
Old Madam Si quickly covered the little girl’s mouth, leaving only her grape-like eyes darting around.
“Grandmother, your reaction tells me you must know where my adoptive parents are, right?”
Si He had never imagined that her grandmother was also involved in this matter.
Her heart grew heavy with conflicting emotions, and for a moment, she couldn’t see her grandmother clearly anymore.
Si He knelt before her.
Startled, Old Madam Si rose to her feet and hurriedly reached out to support her. “He’er, Grandmother did it all for you. Your ties with those adoptive parents of yours have already been severed.”
Freed to speak again, Qing Bao chimed in ominously from the side, “So, they really did run off with the money?”
“Qing Bao, you mustn’t say such things, you mustn’t,” Old Madam Si reacted with visible tension.
Si He grew even more suspicious. She remained kneeling on the floor, her eyes red-rimmed. “They were my parents. Though poor, they never treated me unfairly. If you know something and refuse to tell me, I will kneel here by your bedside until you do.”
Over the past three years, she had endured countless hardships searching for their whereabouts.
Even if they were dead, she should at least be able to see their spirits.
Yet, despite consulting countless masters to perform rituals, she couldn’t even glimpse their souls.
Si He had not yet fulfilled her filial duties or repaid their kindness in raising her, and now they were separated by heaven and earth, never to meet again.
No one could understand her sorrow.
Old Madam Si seemed to soften, letting out a faint sigh. “If you truly wish to know, return to the Su Family and retrieve what rightfully belongs to you. Perhaps then, there might still be a chance.”
If Si He did not return to fight for it, she might never encounter that opportunity.
“What is it?” Si He’s eyes welled up with tears. “Please, Grandmother, tell me clearly.”
“The Su Family will not last long. The heartless must pay the price, and you must seize your rights. That is all, I suppose.”
Old Madam Si furrowed her brows, gazing vaguely at the canopy above the bed as she murmured softly.
That incident from back then had left a deep scar on her heart.
If she were to pass away today, she feared this secret would be buried with her forever.
That was why she had clung so stubbornly to life.
Her He’er, her own granddaughter, had suffered mistreatment from both families, yet she could not find that kind-hearted couple. How could she rest in peace?
“He’er, when you have enough power to bring the wicked to justice, your adoptive parents will naturally…”
At this point, Old Madam Si closed her eyes, a single tear falling. “Naturally have a chance to see you again.”
These words lingered in Si He’s mind all day, leaving her distracted and unsettled.
“Si He, we’ve arrived at the Su Family! Do you expect your Second Brother to personally invite you out?” The speaker was none other than Si Ye.
At that moment, Si Ye, under their grandmother’s orders, was escorting Si He back to the Su Family.
He sat in the driver’s seat, his expression full of impatience.
“How dare you speak to my mother like that?” Qing Bao frowned, poking her little head out and smacking her second uncle on the head.
Si Ye didn’t dare retaliate. Covering his head, he whined pitifully, “Second Uncle always talks like this, to everyone. Qing Bao, don’t hit me.”
He was still counting on Qing Bao to connect him to the Netherworld so he could apologize to Yama.
Night was about to fall.
“Mother, don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. Qing Bao will protect you.” Qing Bao used her small, soft hand to hold her mother’s as they descended from the carriage together.
The gentle, pudgy little hand melted into her palm, soothing Si He’s heart for a long while.
“Thank you for your trouble, Second Brother. If you’re busy, you may return first.”
“Not busy at all! I must escort you inside and show everyone your importance.”
Si Ye scrambled down from the carriage, tied up the horse, and followed them straight in.
The General’s Residence was quiet and deserted at this time, as all the masters had entered the palace for the Bestowal ceremony.
Only the steward left by Old Madam Su remained to guard the estate with his staff.
“Madam has returned! Madam has returned!” a servant urgently announced.
Upon receiving the news, Steward Su immediately rushed out from the main hall to greet them.
His initially cheerful smile instantly fell when he saw Si He.
“Why is it you?”
“What are you doing back? Isn’t today the day the General and Madam return in triumph?” A flicker of disdain crossed the steward’s eyes.
“I am the General’s lawful wife, the mistress of the General’s Residence. How dare a mere steward speak to me in such a manner?”
A cold severity sharpened Si He’s brow.
She remembered every word her grandmother had told her.
From this day forward, she would show no one a pleasant face.
“Pfft, what kind of madam are you? You moved back to the village—we thought you’d separated from the General. Now that the General’s Residence is in glory, you return to enjoy the benefits, eh—Ah! Who dares kick me?!”
Mid-sentence, the steward was kicked flying into a wall, stuck there struggling to free himself.
He grimaced in pain, unable to straighten his back.
The wall behind him showed faint cracks.
Si Ye retracted his ‘qilin foot’, looking shocked. “Damn, since when am I so strong?”
Qing Bao quietly tucked away the tip of her brush, pretending not to see.
“But… Second Young Master Si, why did you kick me?” The steward felt his back was nearly broken, his face contorted with pain.
Yet when he saw it was Si Ye who had kicked him, his expression instantly softened.
Si Ye strode over and delivered another kick. “How dare you speak to my sister like that! Who gave you permission to address my sister that way? Apologize!”
Steward Su was utterly bewildered.
He pointed at himself. “Me? You want me to apologize to some village girl?”
What was going on?
Weren’t the young masters of the Si Family always doting on Madam Yao?
Had Si Ye eaten something wrong today? Standing up for a village girl?
“You still dare to disrespect her!”
Smack!
Si Ye slapped Steward Su squarely across the mouth.
Bruised and swollen, Steward Su covered his face, weeping. “I know I was wrong, I know I was wrong.”
“Remember this: offending Si He from now on is the same as offending me. No matter how far, I will come and beat you up. Understood?!”
Si Ye spoke fiercely and menacingly to the steward.
The steward nodded frantically. “Understood, understood! Wuwuwu…”
The beating was truly vicious.
He nearly had to pay for the damage to the General’s Residence wall.
The next moment, the bruised Steward Su’s eyes widened even further in shock.
He watched as Si Ye executed a dramatic turn, then dropped to his knees with a thud before a tiny child barely three heads tall.
The previously arrogant Second Young Master Si now clung to Qing Bao’s leg like an underling, fawning shamelessly:
“Hehe, little Qing Bao, was my performance impressive enough? Look at me, please~”
He even started acting coquettishly toward his own niece.