013. Sacrifice
"Dad, my mother and sister..."
As soon as Qing Wenxu opened his mouth, he was scolded by Qing Congnan in a tone that was neither light nor heavy.
"Wenxu!" Qing Congnan gave him a deep look. "Your brother has been wronged. As an elder brother, you should be more generous. Besides, I am the head of the Qing family now."
Qing Wenxu was unwilling but didn't dare to say anything else, and replied reluctantly: "Son, I understand."
"That's good." Qing Congnan smiled and looked at Qing Wenlin beside him, "It's the same for Wenlin, right?"
Qing Wenlin pursed his lips, and naturally could not say anything else, so he just nodded and said, "Father is right, my third brother has been away for many years, and I think he has suffered a lot, so he should be compensated."
This illegitimate second son always speaks nicely and appropriately.
Qing Congnan nodded in satisfaction, and then said, "Okay, come in."
Qingling glanced at Shang Changheng who was following him in a swagger. His face was full of eagerness to try, and it seemed that he was really interested in the things buried under the ancestral hall.
Although he didn't know what the Qing family was planning, Qing Ling felt that as long as Shang Changheng was around, their efforts would be in vain.
Shang Changheng was not in a hurry and just casually followed Qingling into the main house.
Row after row of memorial tablets were placed in the hall. Qing Congnan personally stepped forward to light the oil lamp on the table, and then boxes of offerings were carried into the hall. There were seven boxes in total, each of which was roughly the size of a sheep, and the edges were sealed with wax so that it was impossible to tell what was in them.
The boxes were not opened and were placed in front of the kneeling cushion, and then the servants left one by one.
Everyone in the Qing family was not surprised. They knelt down and burned incense in turn, first the elders, then the younger ones, and finally it was Qingling's turn. After Qingling knelt down and burned incense, Qing Congnan said loudly: "Qingling, the son of the Qing family, has returned to this house. His name has been included in the family tree. I burn incense and report this, and pray that our ancestors will protect our descendants. Please ask for the family tree--"
Qing Wenxu handed over the tray with the family tree and writing materials with an expressionless face.
Qingling saw that his name was placed below Qing Shen's. Only the mistress of the house was qualified to be included in the family tree, and she only had her husband's surname but no given name. Qingling saw that Qing Wenlin's name was only placed below Qing Congnan, with no mention of his biological mother at all.
After putting away the family tree, Qing Congnan began to recite the sacrificial text again.
"It is the year of Xinyou, the middle of summer in Ruibin. Inheriting the kindness of our ancestors——"
It was nothing more than some words of praise and remembrance, Qing Ling did not listen seriously, his eyes vaguely swept over the stacked wooden boxes. Although it was the first time to worship the ancestors, the Qing family did not even open the boxes of offerings, but just piled them in front of the table, which somewhat lacked sincerity.
By the time Qing Congnan finished his long and eloquent speech, Shang Changheng was already leaning against Qing Ling, fiddling with the ends of his hair that hung on his chest out of boredom.
Qing Congnan ordered: "Today we will stay in the ancestral hall temporarily and fast for a day. We will set off for the house tomorrow. Go and get ready."
"I hope I can return home safely tomorrow." Qing Conglan said lightly. Unlike Qing Congnan's wealthy appearance, he was a well-mannered middle-aged man. However, what he said at this moment was obviously not so pleasant to the ears.
His wife Zhao Yun, who was standing beside him, was as frail as a willow. She lowered her brows and said softly, "Master, let's go."
Qing Conglan glanced at Qing Ling and frowned, as if with disgust and fear. He snorted coldly and took Zhao Yunrou to the backyard.
"You guys go too." Qing Congnan said, then turned to look at Qing Ling, "You stay, your father has something to tell you."
After everyone else left, Qing Congnan suddenly looked tired and sighed deeply.
“Qingling…” He paused for a moment, then sighed and said, “In previous years, we worshiped our ancestors and then returned. This year, it’s because there is unrest in the mansion. You know, your sister…she was also killed by evil spirits. Last night, your mother and her maidservant who came with her as a dowry were also murdered!”
Qing Ling thought that he not only knew, but also saw with his own eyes how Shen Qiuxin was secretly killed.
"Will it be okay if I stay here?" Qing Ling asked.
Seeing that he was unmoved, Qing Congnan choked for a moment before nodding, "Yes, our Qing family's ancestors once had alchemists who knew magic, but unfortunately, no one among the younger generation has the talent to practice magic now. This ancestral hall is protected by the formation left by our ancestors, so I think... it should be able to resist a few."
At this point, he changed the subject and said with a wry smile: "But this is not a long-term solution. I'm afraid only the person next to you can solve this dilemma."
Qing Ling glanced at Shang Changheng who was standing in front of the "sacrifice" and said thoughtfully: "I can try, but I want to know what is going on with my fate and body? He told me that I don't have any Yang Fire in my body."
After bringing up this evil spirit, Qing Ling found that Qing Congnan was obviously hesitant, but he finally nodded and said, "When your mother was in labor, she died before she gave birth to you. We all thought that there would be two lives, but... but no one expected that she would give birth to a child after her death. Your grandfather said at the time that a child born from a corpse should be dead, and there is no Yang fire in the body, so this marriage was arranged for you."
Qing Ling was silent for a long time after hearing this, his expression did not change, he just said softly: "I understand."
Shang Changheng looked back upon hearing the voice, and saw the cold dark color surging across the young man's calm eyebrows and eyes, like a raging flame burning under the ice, hidden but scorching.
He was not very sober when he came back to the world, and he forced his young wife to have sex with him. In Shang Changheng's opinion, it was nothing, she was his wife, so he did it. But now, he finds Qingling more and more interesting.
Although he is a little timid, he is indeed cruel and smart.
When Qingling walked to the backyard, he looked back at the main house where the spirit tablets were placed. His eyes were heavy, like dark clouds covering the sun.
"Qingling." Shang Changheng leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Did you forget something?"
Qing Ling retracted his gaze, "What?"
The handsome young man has delicate features, and even though he looks cold, he is like snow covering the pines.
Shang Changheng really liked this face. It looked very cute. No matter how cold it was, it still looked like a furry little ball. It was so weak that even when it was angry, it only made people feel cute.
"In the carriage." Shang Changheng reminded slowly, "I said, please ask your husband, I will help you teach him a lesson. It's done, but you haven't asked me yet."
Qing Ling stared at him quietly with his inky black eyes, and uttered a sentence: "Even if I don't beg, you won't let Qing go."
The implication is that even if I beg you, you won't let me go.
Qing Ling has some backbone, but not much. He has really begged Shang Changheng more than once, but Shang Changheng has never let him go.
After saying that, Qingling ignored him and walked away.
Shang Changheng stayed where he was, stroking his chin with his fingers and chuckling silently.
This little thing is too smart, which is not good.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
