Brother Rong of Red Mansion

Chapter 121 Master, when will you ascend?

The 30th day of the twelfth lunar month, New Year’s Eve.

In the early morning of this day, the "Mrs. Gaoming" from the Ning and Rong mansions first dressed up and put on their imperial robes. Under the leadership of the super-grade Duke's wife Jia, eight people carried a sedan into the palace to congratulate her.

Jia She and Jia Rong, two men with titles, also wore court uniforms, joined the Wu Xun collective to stand in line, and entered the Huangji Hall to congratulate the emperor.

This is the first time Jia Rong has participated in the court meeting.

The emperor wore a dragon robe and sat on the throne. Jia Rong stood among the crowd of martial artists, raised his eyebrows slightly, and looked at Emperor Long'an curiously.

But I saw that he was in his forties or fifties, a slim middle-aged man with slightly fair skin and wrinkles on his eyebrows, but his face was solemn and unsmiling, and his eyes were sharp and deep, like a bottomless abyss.

He sat in the Dragon Court, looking down at the civil and military officials with indifference, and accepted their kneels and congratulations.

Jia Rong was very careful. He only raised his eyes and glanced at them inadvertently. Then he immediately lowered his head, followed the actions of the hereditary nobles around him, and knelt down respectfully to kowtow.

******

The atmosphere in the palace was very solemn, and every move felt like being watched.

Jia Rong felt very uncomfortable.

Following Jia She, he greeted the hereditary nobles, had a brief conversation, and then left the palace in a sedan chair to return home.

After a while, the masters from the Ning and Rong mansions entered the palace to pay their respects. After returning from the banquet, they came to the Ningguo mansion to warm your sedan chair.

In the Nuan Pavilion, Jia Jing, Jia Lian, Jia Baoyu, Jia Cong, Jia Huan and others were already waiting.

They had no titles, no official positions, and no qualifications to enter the palace, so they could only wait in the Nuan Pavilion. In another Nuan Pavilion, Wang Xifeng and Li Wan were also waiting.

The rest, the male and female members of the Jia clan, waited in line outside the gate of Ningguo Mansion according to their seniority, and then were introduced to the ancestral hall.

It is worth noting that.

There are many unfamiliar faces in the lineup this year. The side tribe members brought back by Jia Rong from Jinling were also standing on the outermost floor, preparing to enter the ancestral hall to offer sacrifices.

After a while, the masters of Ningrong Jia's house entered the Jia family's ancestral hall according to their seniority.

But I saw an independent courtyard with five gates inside the black oil fence. There was a plaque hanging on it, which read the four words "Jia's Ancestral Hall" and "Yansheng Gong Kong Jizong Shu" beside it. There is a long couplet on both sides, which reads:

The liver and brain are ruined, and the surname depends on the kindness of the nurse;

Famous and famous, Baidai Yang steamed and tasted the prosperous.

Entering the courtyard, there is a white stone corridor with green pines and cypresses on both sides. There are green bronze tripods and other sacrificial offerings on the platform. There is a Kowloon gold plaque hanging in front of Baoxia Hall, which reads "Xinghui Fubi", written by Emperor Taizu himself.

There is a couplet on both sides, which reads: "The merits are shining brightly in the sun and the moon, and the fame is uninterrupted and reaches the children and grandchildren."

It is also the imperial pen of Taizu.

In front of the five-room main hall hangs an azure plaque with four sides engraved with dancing dragon patterns. It is the so-called "dragon-filled green plaque", which reads: "Pursue the long distance with caution in the end." ——From "The Analects of Confucius·Xueer", it means to work cautiously, consider the deceased, remember the ancestors, and maintain the meaning of ancestors.

On both sides of the plaque, there is also a couplet, which reads: "My descendants have inherited the good fortune, and today I still miss Rong Ning."

Entering the temple, there are bright incense candles and brocade embroidered curtains. Although the gods are listed, they can't be seen clearly.

I saw that the men of the Jia family were divided into Zhaomu and arranged to stand in order: Jia Jing officiated, Jia She accompanied the sacrifice, Jia Rong presented the title, Jia Lian and Jia Cong presented the silk, Jia Baoyu held the incense, Jia Chang and Jia Ling displayed the worship blanket and guarded the burning pond.

Tsing Yi music is played, three knights are presented, and worship is completed.

After burning silk and offering libations, the ceremony was over and the music stopped. Only then did the sacrificial part end, and everyone turned around and exited.

"This year I will be offering sacrifices. When Jia Jing burns Dan Feixian, it will be my turn to perform the sacrifice." When exiting the main hall, Jia Rong thought to himself.

Presenting a title to his ancestors means that Jia Rong has replaced Jia Zhen's position and officially became the second-ranking figure in the lineage and the third-ranking figure in the Jia clan. But Jia Jing didn't care about anything, so Jia Rong inherited the position of patriarch.

Once Jia Jing dies, he can directly step over Jia She and be promoted to the main priest. The officiant is the one who truly represents the ceremonial power of the "patriarch". Have greater say within the clan! Even if they want to interfere in the affairs of Rongguo Mansion, Jia Mu, Jia She, and Jia Zheng can't stop them.

"I sent Jia Jing so many alchemy materials, why hasn't there been any response?"

Jia Rong was secretly worried.

At this moment, there are still two and a half years until the military and political examinations. He still has free time to go to Jiangnan to deliver Jia Jing's body and bury him. Once this period of time has passed and Jia Jing dies, it will affect his ability to do serious things.

Where can I spend so much time with him? Can it be done faster? ——My great-grandfather, if you don’t work hard to become an immortal, when will you be able to ascend to the immortal world?

"Alas." Jia Rong sighed angrily.

******

After coming out of the main hall, everyone turned to the main hall. Jia Jing, Jia She, Jia Zheng and others all stood outside the threshold, while inside the threshold were Jia Mu and other female relatives.

In front of the movie, the brocade curtain is hung high, the color screen is opened, and the incense and candles are brilliant. In the middle hangs the portraits of Duke Ningrong and Ning Rong, both of whom are wearing python waist jade. On both sides are several silhouettes of the ancestors, including Jia Daihua, Jia Daishan and others.

At this moment, there was a feast to honor the ancestors, which was passed in from outside the ceremony gate and passed all the way into the main hall.

As the eldest grandson of the eldest son, Jia Rong was treated with great honor at this moment. He stepped over Jia Jing and Jia She and stood on the threshold. Whenever Jia Jing's dish arrives, he passes it to his wife Qin Keqing, who then passes it to Wang Xifeng, Li Wan, Youshi, and finally to Mrs. Wang.

At this time, we have arrived at the altar table.

Mrs. Wang handed the dishes to Jia Mu, who put them on the altar table. Mrs. Xing stood on the west side of the altar table, facing east, and placed them with Jia Mu.

After the soup and tea banquet was passed around, Jia Rong crossed the threshold, exited the lower level, and ranked first among Jia Qin's "Five Generations of Cao Zi Generations".

At this time, it is no longer according to etiquette, but according to clan seniority.

For those who follow the name of Wenbang, Jia Jing is the leader; for those who are from Yu, Jia Lian is the leader; for those who are from Caotou, Jia Rong is the leader; and for those who are from Tu, Jia Ke is the leader.

Zhao on the left and Mu on the right, men in the east and women in the west.

In the main hall, everyone knelt down as Jia Mu held incense and bowed.

There are five halls, three pavilions, inner and outer corridor eaves, and two eaves above and below the steps. They are filled with flowers and flowers, so that there is no space left.

The atmosphere was solemn and the birds were silent.

Only the tinkling of clanging bells, the slight swaying of golden bells and jade pendants, and the rustling of kneeling boots and shoes were heard.

As soon as the ceremony was over, Jia Jing, Jia She, Jia Zheng, Jia Lian, Jia Rong and other men withdrew one after another, waiting for Jia Mu and other female relatives to return to Rongguo Mansion before going to pay their respects.

However, when the female relatives came out of the main hall of the ancestral hall, they did not get on the sedan chair, but went to the main room of Ning'an Hall. Youshi and Qin Keqing had already prepared refreshments and were waiting respectfully for Jia Mu and other female family members of the Rongguo Mansion to rest and chat.

But I saw that in the hall, the floor had been laid with red felt. There was a large gilt and enamel fire basin with a three-legged loach with an elephant trunk. The front kang was covered with new scarlet felt, and there were backrest pillows with bright red embroidered clouds and dragons holding longevity. There was also a black fox fur bag placed on it and a large white fox fur mattress for sitting on. Jia Mu was invited to sit on it.

Leather mattresses were spread on both sides, and several sisters-in-law from Jia Mu's generation were invited to sit on them.

A leather mattress was also spread on the small kang with rows of rows at this end. Mrs. Xing and Mrs. Wang were invited to sit down.

Below, there are twelve carved lacquer chairs facing each other, all covered with gray squirrel chairs and small mattresses. Under each chair is a large copper-legged stove.

Invite Li Wan, Wang Xifeng, Jia Yingchun, Jia Tanchun and other daughters-in-law to sit down.

Youshi brought tea to Jia Mu, and Qin Keqing brought tea to all the old grandmothers. Jia Mu and the other grandmothers accepted it with a smile and praised You and Qin Keqing. Youshi brought tea to Mrs. Xing and Mrs. Wang again, while Qin Keqing gave it to the sisters. Everyone also smiled and praised.

Jia's mother had tea and chatted with her old grandmother for a few words. Youshi took the opportunity to interject and said: "Old ancestor, my mother is waiting outside the door with her second and third sisters. She also wants to see you, old lady, to feel happy. "

Hearing this, Jia Mu quickly said: "Please come in quickly——"

(End of this chapter)