Chapter 63: Ancestral Worship

Daiyu's tone contained a hint of resentment and melancholy.

Since Xue Baichai came to the mansion, people behind the scenes often compared her with Baichai.

One is sharp and odd, the other generous and polite, one praised and the other trampled; after Daiyu heard it, her heart remained very uncomfortable.

Even Baoyu, who had played with her since childhood, forgot her upon seeing Baichai.

Although there is no romantic feeling between her and Baoyu now, she still harbors some bitterness.

Zi Juan hummed:

"These unruly, long‑tongued old women who gossip behind the master's back will sooner or later get beaten by the Lord!"

"Second Master Baoyu is also heartless; when he sees Tian'er he only knows how to quarrel with the girls, but with Miss Baichai he's very obedient, showing no sign of caring for you sisters like the Lord does."

"The Lord is still the best; if only the Lord could stay in the mansion forever and not have to go off to war!"

Daiyu was silent for a moment, then whispered:

"Both brothers are fine; Baoyu has a temperament like a girl's, Miss Baichai is gentle to others, so it's normal that he wants to be close to her."

"Third Brother is dignified and stern; he is different from us, busy with great affairs outside, so it's already hard for him to occasionally care for us—don't always think of bothering him!"

Seeing Daiyu's somewhat dull complexion in the candlelight, Zi Juan sighed:

"Alas! If only the Lord were the girl's own brother!"

After speaking, the Bird's Nest in the bowl warmed a bit; Zi Juan served some to Daiyu, and after a bit of fuss, they finally fell asleep late at night.

The next day, at the faint break of dawn, Jia Jing got up, went to the front yard and drilled his personal troops for a while.

Then he returned to his chambers to wash and prepare for the ancestral rites.

Today Jia Jing did not wear armor; instead he wore a set of bull‑fighting attire that had been awarded by the palace yesterday.

Ministers of the Da Han Empire each receive specially bestowed honor garments to recognize their merits and rank.

Among the military titles, a typical marquis wears a python robe, a duke a flying‑fish garment, a marquis a bull‑fighting attire, an earl a qilin robe, while viscounts and barons receive no special garment unless they achieve great merit.

Among them, the python robe is naturally the most precious garment beneath the emperor's; its pattern resembles a dragon's, except the dragon has five claws while the python has four.

Next is the flying‑fish garment, featuring a dragon head and fish tail, with two legs and four claws, somewhat similar to the python pattern.

Then the bull‑fighting attire, with a python shape and fish tail, its head bearing twin horns curved downward like bull horns.

Finally the qilin robe, with a dragon head and ox hooves, and a relatively short body.

In short, the higher the rank of the garment, the more its design resembles the dragon pattern.

Jia Jing, accompanied by Zhu Que, headed straight for the Jia clan ancestral hall of Ning Guo Fu, while other Jia clan members had already set out from their rooms.

Today all the main and inner gates of the Jia Mansion were opened to facilitate clan members' passage; this is part of the ancestral‑worship procedure.

The Jia ancestral hall, located on the west side of Ning Guo Fu, is enclosed by a ring of black oil‑fenced railings, and five towering gate towers can be seen at the entrance.

This follows the Han Dynasty's ceremonial system, under which the court imposes strict regulations on ancestral‑hall construction.

The duke's hall consists of five main chambers and must not be exceeded! The black oil fence adds a solemn, dignified air.

A plaque hangs above, inscribed with the four bold characters "Jia Mansion Ancestral Hall".

Next to it is a colophon titled "Yan Sheng Gong Kong Jizong".

Entering the courtyard's white‑stone lane, both sides are lined with towering pines and cypresses, which remain proudly evergreen despite the bitter cold.

On the terrace stand greenish bronze tripods and other vessels, and above the front of the hall hangs a golden plaque bearing nine dragons, which reads:

"Star‑Shine Assists."

In front of the five main chambers hangs a roaring‑dragon green plaque, inscribed with "Be Cautious to the End, Pursue the Beginning"!

Jia Jing and Zhu Que walked up the stone steps inside the mansion and arrived before the ancestral hall; at that moment the courtyard entrance was already filled with Jia clan members.

Jia Mu, Jia Zheng, Lady Wang, Mrs. Xing and others from Rong Guo Mansion had already arrived.

From Ning Guo Fu, Jia Zhen, You Shi, Jia Rong, Jia Qiang and others had already been preparing sacrificial items here.

When everyone saw Jia Jing arrive, their eyes lit up and they hurried forward to greet:

"Lord has arrived!"

"Good morning, Lord!"

……

Immediately, the crowd was again drawn to the dazzling bull‑fighting attire on Jia Jing.

Since the death of the former Marquis of Rong Guo, the Jia clan hasn't seen anyone wear such precious garments for over a decade!

Jia Mu, Mrs. Xing and Lady Wang and the other women were completely captivated by Jia Jing's bull‑fighting attire.

Today Jia Mu also wore the imperial decree attire of a duchess, while Lady Wang donned the fifth‑rank decree garments.

Yet their women's clothing could not compare with these truly court‑bestowed honor garments.

In this world, after all, a wife's honor comes from her husband; all they seek in their lives, besides serving husband and raising children, are decree titles, phoenix crowns and rainbow robes.

At this moment Jia Jing was being greeted one after another by members of the Shenjing Eight Houses, each trying to become familiar with his face.

Jia Jing did not slight them; he gave friendly nods or exchanged a sentence or two.

The Jia clan actually has twenty houses in total, eight in Shenjing and twelve in Jinling.

The twelve houses in Jinling need no explanation; most are related to the first generation Marquis of Rong Ning.

The eight houses in Shenjing are mostly descendants of the first generation Marquis of Rong Ning, who, after being ennobled as a duke and appointed general, moved to Shenjing.

When Leng Zixing lectured about Rong Guo Mansion, he said that among the eight houses, four are sons of the first generation Marquis of Ning Guo, and the remaining four are, unsurprisingly, descendants of the first generation Marquis of Rong Guo.

Among the second‑generation "Dai" generation of the Jia family today, only Jia Dai Ru and Jia Dai Xiu are few, and they are brothers of Jia Dai Shan and Jia Dai Hua.

Further down the literary generation there are many, such as Jia Zheng, Jia Chi, Jia Xiao, Jia Dun and others.

Of course there are also Jia She, who now lies in bed, and Jia Jing, who has become a monk.

Then comes the Yu generation: Jia Zhen, Jia Huan, Jia Baoyu, Jia Lian, Jia Cong and also Jia Jing belong to this generation.

Lastly are the Cao generation, which currently has the largest number, such as Jia Qiang, Jia Rong, Jia Lan, Jia Yun, Jia Qin, Jia Chang and others.

After Jia Jing greeted everyone, he ascended the steps, his expression solemn, and walked slowly into the ancestral hall.

The first thing that caught the eye was the portrait of Second Lord Ning Rong and the spirit tablet in the center of the hall, along with the densely arranged ancestral tablets.

Before reaching the incense table, Jia Jing gathered a few incense sticks, lit them over the nearby candle flame, and offered a pillar incense to Second Lord Ning Rong.

In any case, having traveled through time, he is obliged to inherit a share of incense devotion to Second Lord Ning Rong.

Soon the auspicious hour arrived, and the members of the Jia Clan began to bustle about,

Ancestral worship is an extremely solemn affair; inside the ancestral hall no one dares to speak frivolously or laugh.

The Jia Mansion residents divided the Zhaomu duties and stood in their assigned positions.

Zhaomu is arranged with the founding ancestor at the center, the left side as Zha, the right side as Mu; the second generation occupies Zha, the third generation Mu, and so on.

Today Jia Jing serves as the chief officiant, which was originally a special ancestral ceremony held for his ennoblement, to inform the ancestors that there are successors.

Jia Zheng, being the only literati generation of the direct line present, naturally participates as a companion in the rites,

Jia Zhen, as clan head, presents a ceremonial vessel; Jia Lian and Jia Baoyu, as legitimate sons, present silk; Jia Huan and Jia Cong hold incense; Jia Chang and Jia Ling lay out the worship mat, guarding the burning pool.

Jia Mu and Mrs. Xing and others arrange the dishes, offerings, etc., and conduct the worship outside the rail!

The offerings include sheep, pig, peach wood, Zhaomu tablets, shan, baskets, gui, lian, beans, silk, ceremonial vessels, musical instruments, etc.

As the ceremonial music began, Jia Jing led the procession, and everyone knelt in turn.

The whole scene proceeded orderly, without any extraneous sound.

Then came the three offerings of ceremonial vessels, the burning of silk, and the pouring of wine.