Chapter 376: New Year's Eve Ancestral Worship and Red Envelopes

Just as they were speaking, Dantai Mingyue slipped in quietly, folded his sleeves and performed a bow, then whispered in a very low voice: "Young Master, Madam, the auspicious time has arrived; we should go to the Ancestral Hall to worship the ancestors!"

Mm.

Chen Yan nodded and said, "It's time to kowtow to Old Master....."

Pei Suiwan first patted Xiao Zhiqing's hand, then stood up and instructed, "Zhiqing, you rest well!"

Xiao Zhiqing gave a soft reply, watched the others leave, and unconsciously brushed her fingertips against her abdomen, a warmth lingering in her heart.

Ancestral Hall.

Blue bricks covered the floor, the beams and columns were painted a solemn dark hue, and the palace lanterns hanging under the eaves were draped with plain silk, casting a solemn light and shadow throughout the hall.

The offering table had already been replaced with new tributes, neatly arranged in three rows.

The front row held three three‑legged bronze cauldrons, each containing a whole Tai Lao—

Glossy whole pig, whole sheep, and whole cattle, their skins still bearing fresh scorch marks, steam and faint spice aromas rose and spread through the cold hall.

The middle row displayed fresh fruits, placed on gilded white porcelain plates, making them even more vivid.

In a bronze bowl beside them were freshly steamed millet, sorghum, rice, wheat, and beans, each grain distinct, emitting the characteristic fresh scent of grain.

The last row held delicate pastries and wine, layers of crisp pastry and lotus cake arranged neatly, and a jade jar beside them contained freshly brewed Tu Su wine, its clear liquid shimmering amber under the candlelight.

At the far end of the offering table, the incense burner held newly replaced sandalwood incense, its smoke spiraling up along the carved beams, further aging the portrait of Chen Laoyezi hanging behind the table.

When crossing the threshold, Chen Yan paused to straighten his collar, then walked side by side with Pei Suiwan to the offering table.

With a "thud", the two knelt together, their knees striking the cushion with a muffled thump.

Chen Yan lowered his eyes to the blue bricks before the table, clasped his hands on the ground, and slowly pressed his forehead against the cold stone, saying, "Grandfather, your grandson, accompanied by his wife Suiwan, has come to kowtow to you!"

Don't be fooled by the hall's size; it actually only enshrines Chen Laoyezi Hu.

Chen Tongyuan, Chen Kaiyuan and others had long been erased from the family genealogy by Chen Yan, let alone being allowed to enter the hall for ancestral offerings.

Pei Suiwan followed suit, bowing her head; the step‑pendant at her temple swayed gently with the motion, making no sound. Her voice was soft yet firm: "Grandfather, rest assured, the granddaughter‑in‑law will take good care of her husband!"

"Take good care of this household!"

"Please, Grandfather, may your spirit in heaven protect the Chen clan's prosperity!"

Having said that, she also pressed her head against the blue bricks.

After Chen Yan finished offering incense, Pei Suiwan followed, taking three incense sticks from the servant standing nearby, pinching the base between her fingertips and lighting them over the candle.

The flame licked the tip, sparking a hint of crimson; she gave a slight shake, and when the smoke turned a deep blue, she carried the incense to the offering table.

Chen Yan glanced at the woman's silhouette, then at Chen Laoyezi's tablet, feeling rather emotional, and thought to himself, "Old Master, I have packaged the three siblings of Chen Tongyuan and sent them down......"

"I wonder, when you saw them, did you whip them hard?"

Thinking of that, Chen Yan already imagined a spectacular scene......

In the netherworld, Chen Laoyezi wielded a steel whip, beating the three to death while cursing them, saying they had brought the ruin of their own kin upon themselves.

Meanwhile, Chen Tongyuan, Chen Kaiyuan, and Chen Zhiyun flopped on the ground like three dead dogs, rolling and begging for mercy.....

Chen Yan suppressed the upward curl of his mouth, restrained his smile, and showed a serious expression, his eyes deep as he said, "Grandfather, Zhiqing is pregnant; I suppose your spirit in heaven has already seen it, right?"

"Rest assured, I will give you a family with abundant descendants......"

"And I will forge the Chen clan into a lineage that endures for millennia, thriving eternally!"

For a family to stay evergreen and gradually become an unbroken lineage, the most important thing is flourishing offspring.

Xiao Zhiqing's child is a starting point.....

Now that the two Grand Pillars of State are dead, the greatest threat removed, Chen Yan can shift more of his energy toward farming and sowing.

He can increase the quantity single‑handedly.

Pei Suiwan knelt before the offering table, bent slightly, and inserted the incense into the center of the incense burner, the three sticks evenly spaced and their tips pointing upward, thinking, "Grandfather, please ensure my husband's safety and smoothness!"

Beside the heavy wooden door of the hall, Zhu Yi leaned against the frame, his dark armor making his shoulders stand even more erect.

A cold wind swept snowflakes over the eaves, but he seemed oblivious, only lowering his head to rub the jade pendant in his palm.

His fingertip traced the jade pendant's pattern repeatedly, the icy feel soothing the warmth of his palm.

Zhu Yi stared at the flickering candles in the hall, listening to the murmurs inside; his throat moved involuntarily, and his voice was pressed extremely low, nearly swallowed by the wind:

"Madam, the Young Master has now inherited the Duke of Wei title, leads the Mingjing Department, is titled Grand General of the Cavalry, and enjoys great fame in Chang'an, beloved by its people....."

"Given time, he will surely stand atop the highest peak, looking down on the world, ruling over all living beings!"

Having said that, he slipped the jade pendant back into his bosom, pressed against his chest where he could feel his heart's steady beat.

If the Madam could see with her own eyes, how great the Young Master would be now, how proud he would be.....

The New Year's Eve family banquet was set in the main hall.

Twelve carved windows were covered with translucent mica paper; outside, snow fell steadily, while inside warmth spread. A rosewood long table was draped with dark‑gold dragon‑patterned brocade, set with nine trays of twelve beans, the rising steam forming a faint white mist under the candlelight.

The most eye‑catching was the "Dragon and Phoenix Presenting Auspiciousness" centerpiece: a whole roasted chicken, glossy and oily, lying on a jade plate, its skin shimmering amber, with red dates and lotus seeds tucked inside its cavity slightly visible.

Next to it a braised carp spread its tail fin, its eyes set with two round pearls, its belly filled with chopped winter bamboo shoots and shiitake, the broth thick enough to pull fine strands.

"How fragrant the dishes are!"

Yun Xi's nose twitched slightly, gazing at the table's delicacies for a moment, then suddenly inhaled and said with admiration.

Speaking, she turned to look at Chen Yan at the head seat, her small hand already resting on the silver chopsticks at the table edge, eyes sparkling like fallen stars: "Brother A Yan, when will we start the meal?"

"When everyone's here, we'll start the meal...."

Chen Yan gave a calm smile and replied.

Just then, he saw two people entering, waved and said, "Liu Mu Zhi, Wen Run, take your seats quickly!"

"My lord, this is your family banquet; it would be inappropriate for a subordinate to sit at the table....." Liu Mu Zhi hesitated slightly, bowed and said.

"Indeed!"

Wen Run nodded, echoing, "The subordinate and Mr. Liu can just stand aside......"

It was unheard of for the master's banquet to allow officials from the household staff to attend.

I dare not overstep in any way.

"Since you two are my vassals, then we are family!"

"Where are all those tedious formalities?"

Chen Yan heard this, his mouth slightly upturned, looked at the hesitant two and smiled, saying.

He paused, pointed to the empty seat at the table, and urged, "Sit quickly!"

"Lord, this…"

Liu Mu Zhi and Wen Run exchanged a glance, still hesitant.

"Could it be that I still have to invite you?"

Chen Yan, seeing this, pretended to be displeased, raising his tone a few notches, asked.

"I dare not!"

Liu Mu Zhi and Wen Run bowed, clasped their fists, and said, "Thank you, Lord!"

Immediately, they took the empty seat.

Their eyes were full of emotion.

Lord, this act truly treats them as family!

Far surpasses the usual courtesy to subordinates…

Such a Duke, how could one dare not devote oneself wholeheartedly to his command?

"That's right!"

Chen Yan nodded with satisfaction, surveyed the whole table, then raised his wine cup and proclaimed, "Since everyone is present, I'll propose a toast first…"

He paused, then earnestly said, "Thank you all for your hard work over the past year; I have seen your efforts!"

"Cheers to all!"

Having said so, he drained the wine in his cup.

"Cheers to the Husband!"

"Cheers to the Young Master!"

"Cheers to Brother A Yan!"

"Cheers to the Lord!"

Everyone at the table also lifted their cups and drank the wine to the bottom.

Chen Yan set down his cup, the bottom clinking against the table with a crisp sound, his mouth slightly upturned, and continued, "Of course, words alone are hard to convey gratitude, and sincerity can't be seen!"

"So I have prepared a small token of appreciation…"

"Ten thousand taels each!"

Saying so, he lifted his hand, untied the jade sash at his waist, and retrieved a stack of red envelopes from the Brothel's inner pocket.

The envelope's cover was painted with the characters "Auspicious" in gold dust, its edges adorned with fine silver threads, shimmering warmly in the candlelight.

"???!"

"Only the Lord could be so generous!"

Even Liu Mu Zhi, with his steadfast composure, was startled and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

That is indeed ten thousand taels!

Considering that even incorrupt senior officials earn only a few hundred taels a year…

It's beyond what "magnanimous" can describe!

Yun Xi blinked, her long lashes fluttering like tiny fans, her gaze flicked over the red envelope, then she looked eagerly at Chen Yan, her voice carrying uncertain excitement: "Brother A Yan, do I get one too?"

"Of course!"

Chen Yan was amused by Yun Xi's pleading look and thrust a red envelope into her hand, "Here, take it!"

"Thank you, Brother A Yan!"

Yun Xi's eyes lit up as she clutched the red envelope, full of excitement.

Chen Yan, seeing this, smiled and began handing out red envelopes one by one at the table.

After three rounds of wine, the chatter around the table gradually took on a warm, slightly tipsy feeling.

Pei Suiwan, who had stepped out with Chen Yan for fresh air, was pulled into a warm pavilion in the residence, pressed against the wall, her hands clasped to her chest, and softly asked, "Husband, why have you brought me here?"

He paused, his nose lightly inhaling Chen Yan's scent, then looked at the rosy flush on her cheek and asked concernedly, "Would you like some sobering soup?"

Chen Yan lifted his hand, his fingertip gently lifting the woman's chin, and bluntly asked, "Suiwan, Zhiqing is pregnant with her first child…"

"Will you be unhappy?"

"How could that be?" Pei Suiwan heard this, lightly pressed her red lips, smiled faintly, and replied, "Zhiqing is not someone who becomes arrogant from favor, and you, Husband, would never favor a concubine over a wife…"

Her words were full of confidence.

But Pei Suiwan's confidence did not stem from what she said…

It came from the fact that Xiao Zhiqing has no status, not even a secondary wife, posing no threat at all!

Even if she bore a son, she could simply keep him in the room and raise him herself, so why would she be unhappy?

"Miss Yun's prescription, the recuperation is almost complete, right?"

Chen Yan leaned forward slightly, his body tinged with crisp, slightly tipsy wine scent as he approached Pei Suiwan, his breath brushing her ear, teasingly saying, "We must also strive, to conceive a legitimate son soon!"

"They are still waiting to celebrate the New Year!"

Pei Suiwan was startled, both shy and shocked, clutching her husband's garment with both hands, and whispered.

"Mingyue is clever; seeing we haven't gone yet, she surely knows in her heart and will make arrangements…"

"Let's handle the proper matters first!"

Chen Yan, unconcerned, suddenly leaned down, licked his lips, his arm slipping smoothly through Pei Suiwan's knee bend and back, and with a slight effort lifted her horizontally.

He walked straight toward the deep part of the warm pavilion.

The candle flame flickered.