The Emperor is Above

Chapter 21: Hidden dangers in winter sacrifice
Four seasons of sacrifice: Spring sacrifice, Summer sacrifice, Autumn sacrifice and Winter feast.

No matter whether it was the emperor, princes, nobles, officials, or scholars or commoners, they all attached great importance to sacrifices.

It was to strengthen the unity of the feudal system and to pay homage to the country and ancestors. Only nobles and family servants had the qualifications and honor to offer sacrifices.

If any nobleman neglected to perform sacrifices, he might even be held accountable, or in serious cases, his title and fiefdom would be stripped. Therefore, Aunt Bo had already made all the preparations for the winter sacrifices.

On the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, the Little New Year, Tun Shigu completed the preliminary tanning process of the wild wolf skin and reluctantly said goodbye to Qing Yi, as he also wanted to return home to preside over the sacrifice.

"Brother, after these wolf skins are half dried in the shade, I will tan them for the second time after the New Year. I guarantee that you will be wearing new armor by the end of February next year."

After sending away the nagging Tushigu, Qingyi will also hold a grand winter sacrifice for his cheap father whom he has never met.

"Sacrifices should not be performed too frequently. Frequent sacrifices are annoying, and annoying sacrifices are disrespectful.

Sacrifices should not be neglected, as neglect will lead to laziness, and laziness will lead to forgetfulness.

Therefore, a gentleman follows the Way of Heaven and performs sacrifices in spring and tastes in autumn.

When frost and dew fall, a gentleman who walks on them will feel sad, not because of the cold...”

The old lady was dressed in black, standing solemnly, reciting a sacrificial text made of animal skin. I don't know how many years of history it has, but it is very catchy.

Qing Yi was wearing the black robes of a lower-class official and a black cap on his head, looking very solemn.

Da Niu and Er Hei, as servants, stood side by side behind Qing Yi. Da Niu's eyes were full of seriousness, while Er Hei seemed a little nervous as it was his first time to participate in a sacrifice.

The sacrificial rituals were extremely complicated and detailed, which was simply overwhelming. Even though Qing Yi had great patience, he almost couldn't hold on.

The princes and their ministers have three sacrifices: the left is for the gods, the right is for the temple, and the back is for Taoyao.

When Qing Yi thought about the five sacrifices for officials and the seven sacrifices for princes, his mood immediately improved a lot. He heard that the emperor had to offer sacrifices nine times and he didn't know how they would get through it.

As a lower-ranking commoner, Qing Yi performed sacrifices according to the rites for scholars, and the offerings he used were very simple.

The emperor used Tailao for sacrifice, the princes used Shaolao, the officials used sheep, and the nobles used only five kinds of offerings: millet, leek, fish, pig and chicken.

Millet is sorghum and millet. Its origin is no longer traceable. It is the grain crop with the longest planting history and the largest planting area among the crops in the northern countries.

It has always been regarded as a symbol of a good grain harvest, and only high-quality corn newly harvested that year must be used, which also shows respect and filial piety to ancestors.

Chives are leeks, which represent a good harvest of vegetables in the home and also mean the longevity of the family.

This seems simple. Just cut two taels of fresh leeks from the vegetable garden, wash them and dry them. However, it is the cold winter now, so there are leeks grown in greenhouses as an alternative.

Fish is a river delicacy, representing a bumper harvest of aquatic products this year.

You must use red-tailed carp that weighs more than five kilograms and has no defects.

In addition, carp also represents two meanings: carp means courtesy, respect and filial piety; fish means surplus!
Pig is also called swine, which represents the prosperity of domestic animals and is also a symbol of home.

Generally, young boars weighing less than 30 kilograms and not castrated are used.

Of course, if the doctor uses sheep for sacrifice, it must be a young ram over half a year old but less than one year old, and the cattle must be an adult bull with horns. There are differences depending on the status of the noble being sacrificed.

The chicken represents poultry and also has the connotation of "auspiciousness", which carries a very beautiful meaning.

Whether it was the emperor, princes, ministers, or ordinary people, chickens were used as sacrifices in most sacrifices.

Hens must not be used as sacrifices. It is best to use a large red-feathered golden-clawed rooster that weighs more than seven pounds and has been raised for more than a year. Thinking of this, Qing Yi glanced at the large rooster crowing outside. Originally, Bo Wu wanted to use a large red rooster for sacrifice, but she couldn't catch one at all, so she had to catch another rooster instead.

The five types of sacrifices represent almost all categories of agricultural production in the current Xing State and even the Dashen Dynasty.

There were also some wealthy commoners who did not understand etiquette and manners.

Often, some fruits, dried fruits, and vegetables that are not included in the ritual offerings are placed on a few plates, with the idea that the more offerings, the better.

All the nobles who follow etiquette will laugh at this country bumpkin who doesn't understand etiquette and acts recklessly.

Although Qing Yi's family is only a lower commoner, and even though it has only been twenty years since Mu Qing was granted the title of upper commoner, Aunt Bo is quite proficient in these etiquettes and does everything in accordance with the etiquette.

Even the nobles who have extremely high demands on etiquette would be amazed when seeing these, for there is no better home of etiquette than this.

Unfortunately, this is a great honor for others, but for Qing Yi, who traveled through modern society, it seems like a bit of mental torture.

However, considering the importance that Grandma Bo attached to sacrifice, Qing Yi did not want to disappoint her, so even though he felt uncomfortable, he still cooperated very well.

"White reeds and bundles of white grass. My dear son, you are far away, leaving me alone. The bright white clouds reveal the reeds and grass. The journey is difficult, but my dear son, do not hesitate... I hope you will enjoy the feast! I hope you will enjoy the feast!"

When the winter festival ended with a sad elegy, Old Lady Bo looked at the tablet of the ancestor with tears in her eyes and said solemnly, "Master, don't worry. The young master will surely make great achievements and make our family hereditary."

Not being a native of this world, Qing Yi could not understand Auntie Bo's obsession with the Guangyao family. However, it was also his own goal to improve his title as soon as possible, and he would not let Auntie Bo down in the end.

After walking out of the main room, the sky was unexpectedly gloomy, with tiny ice crystals falling gracefully. Qing Yi sighed, "It's only been sunny for a few days, and it's snowing again."

"Uuuuuu——"

The north wind gradually grew louder, blowing away the smoke from the locust tree hill.

Qing Yi could smell the aroma of various snacks including steamed rice cakes, date cakes, sticky cakes, fermented glutinous rice, and pastries. From time to time, neighbors would send homemade pastries to her, and Bo Wu would receive them with a smile and return the gifts.

"Just because of these lovely neighbors around me, I want to make their lives better!"

Qing Yi's expression gradually became firm, "No matter who Kou Rui, ghosts, Black Wind Tribe, or Blood Wolf Tribe are, don't try to stop me."

The snow kept getting heavier and heavier, and it lasted for four or five days before it stopped. After that, Qing Yi was busy patrolling around in the locust hill.

Many of the houses in Huaiqiu are too dilapidated and the snow needs to be cleared away in time to prevent the thatched roofs of the houses from being crushed by the heavy snow.

"Village head, Maosheng, the head of Maoqiu Pavilion, just sent someone to deliver a message!"

Qing Yi was a little surprised by Chai Yong's voice. After taking the bamboo slips and reading them, his expression became even gloomier. He didn't expect that so many unexpected things would happen during these few days of heavy snow.

The State of Xing was located in the northern wilderness, where there were many settlements of wild people. They would often attack villages and even fiefdoms during famines, but the area within a radius of 500 miles around the capital was still relatively safe.

Not to mention that the wild folk settlements are not wandering around at all, even if a ninth-grade alien beast appears to injure people, the city guards will be dispatched immediately to destroy it.

However, the nobles and common people in the capital, who were accustomed to the peace and tranquility of previous years, never expected that they would be frequently attacked by wild folk settlements in the days around the New Year.

In the first few days, it was just a small group of wild people in Jiming Lake. They took advantage of the heavy snow to sneak into the capital area to attack villages and obtain food, women, tools, etc. However, in the past two days, even strange beasts and ghosts have appeared.

"What a troubled winter!" Before Qing Yi finished speaking, he heard Tu Shigu's voice, "Brother, brother, something big has happened!"

(End of this chapter)