Follow Second Sister
On the morning of New Year's Eve, the streets and alleys of Chang'an City came alive. In the occasional snowfall, vendors called out their wares, selling brightly colored New Year pictures and sesame cakes. Children darted back and forth in the streets, their innocent faces full of excitement and joy for the New Year.
Red lanterns were hung everywhere in the Prime Minister's residence, and people came and went in front of the ancestral hall, carefully arranging offerings, displaying fresh wine, meat and fruits on the offering table, and burning sandalwood on both sides of the memorial tablet.
The air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, and Sui Zhixu held his breath as he followed the others in paying homage to their ancestors.
Cong Xiang had no father or mother and grew up relying on the kindness of others. Later, he married into the Sui family, and the altar is filled with the ancestors of the Sui family.
Xu Yuguang glanced at everyone, and each person had a solemn expression, kneeling on the ground. The surroundings were silent, with only the faint smoke of incense rising, creating a solemn atmosphere.
"Ah Xu, come and pour the wine." After getting up, Sui He picked up the wine cup from the maid's tray, and the couple poured the wine and then called Sui Zhixu over.
"Why?" Sui Shan stopped being silent and stared blankly at Sui He.
"You didn't know that Ash has been declared the young master?"
"On what grounds? She's someone who's only been in the Taoist temple for eighteen years and knows absolutely nothing about the clan's affairs. How can you so readily decide that she's the young master? I disagree."
Sui He's voice was icy as he rebuked him, "Have you been in Chang'an for too long and forgotten the rules of the Sui family? You've repeatedly disobeyed the patriarch's orders; do you want to be expelled from the family?"
Cong Xiang watched coldly, "Why is my second brother confused again? Is it possible that his brain has also been frozen in the unbearable winter?"
Sui Shan stood in front of Sui He, his head slightly lowered. Behind him, his wife and children knelt on the ground, begging for mercy.
Sui Zhixu stood silently to the side. Such a trivial matter didn't require her involvement. Rather than arguing with Sui Shan, she'd rather think about how to use her own abilities to reclaim her luck from the system.
When Sui Shan met Sui He's icy gaze, he was immediately terrified and broke out in a cold sweat.
“You have accomplished nothing in the clan and have only relied on protection. Over the years, you have been constantly making trouble. I have advised you many times because you are my own brother, but you have become more and more arrogant, preventing A-Xu from returning home and disobeying my orders time and time again. I think you don’t want to stay in the Sui family anymore. Therefore, I should write another letter to remove you from the clan.”
“Sister…” Sui Shan also knelt down, stammering and unable to utter a single word.
Seeing the family kneeling neatly in a row, Sui Zhixu lost interest.
Perhaps because Sui Zhixu had been watching for a while, Sui Chengyu, the young lady born to Sui Shan's concubine, looked up and happened to meet Sui Zhixu's gaze.
Sui Zhixu remembered her information: she was her uncle's only daughter, and also the only illegitimate child besides her aunt's second legitimate son.
Sui Zhixu raised her wine glass and spilled it on the ground. Just now she seemed so timid and hesitant, but now that something had happened, she actually seemed to be the calmest one in the family.
As she climbed up the mountain to Sui He, she recounted their past affections one after another, "Sister, do you still remember? I was raised by you. You thought I was stupid and clumsy, that I had accomplished nothing, but how come she has? She's been away from the clan for eighteen years. How can the clan accept her? At least she should have passed the test of the clan elders!"
Sui Shan's wife also opened her mouth to say something, but Sui Zhixu didn't pay attention to listen.
A cold wind blew, scattering the snow on the red plum blossoms, making a rustling sound, and occasionally carrying away a few red plum petals.
The red petals stood out against the white backdrop, and Sui Zhixu's gaze fell on the plum blossom hairpin in Sui Chengyu's hair.
The plum blossom hairpin stopped below Sui He, following its owner's steps. This time, Sui Zhixu heard Sui Chengyu's words clearly.
"Aunt, please forgive Father this time. Chengyu knows that Father is useless. He almost prevented Cousin Xu from returning home. Chengyu knows that too. Chengyu has no face to ask Aunt to forgive Father, but Aunt loves Cousin Xu just as Father loves me. Chengyu cannot sit idly by and watch Father be kicked out of the house."
As Sui Chengyu sobbed, Sui Zhixu inexplicably felt that this scene was somewhat familiar.
Yueling seized the opportunity to interject, "Didn't you pretend to be weak and coerce Suishan step by step at the gate of the Prime Minister's residence?"
Sui Zhixu: "?"
"Do they look alike?"
"Actually, you two look quite alike. Before you came back, she was the only girl in the Sui family of Chang'an who looked somewhat similar to Sui He. She often came to keep Sui He company in your place."
"Is there another reason why Sui Shan doesn't want me to go home, and is it also because of Sui Chengyu?"
Knowing that Xu was lost in thought, and not hearing Yueling's reply, she turned to ask Danhong, "Did she used to be around Mother often?"
Dan Hong hesitated for a while, but finally answered truthfully, "Second Madam is born out of wedlock and was disliked by Madam Cui when she was young. Years ago, when Madam Cui was beating Cheng Yu, the head of the family happened to see it. Since then, the head of the family has often ordered people to bring her to the main courtyard. However, the head of the family is busy with official duties and is mostly served by the servants in the mansion, so he can only visit her when he has free time."
Although Xu couldn't quite describe her feelings, a sense of irritability suddenly filled her heart.
My heart feels heavy, and I feel a little sad.
She felt that last night's dream must have been too chaotic. The helpless escape and struggle in the fragmented dream were too oppressive. Sui Zhixu touched her heart and felt its beating. She must not have recovered from the dream yet.
On the other hand, perhaps Sui Chengyu's sincere feelings moved Sui He, who agreed not to expel Sui Shan from the family, but brought forward his return to Jingzhou.
Originally scheduled for eight or nine days, the time when swallows migrate, it has now been moved to after the Lantern Festival.
Similarly, Xu was temporarily appointed as the young master, and he would need to undergo trials by the clan elders upon returning to Jingzhou.
Sui Shan dared not say anything and repeatedly agreed.
"Aunt, I want to stay and celebrate the New Year with you. It just so happens that Cousin Xu is back, and I want to stay with her too. Chengyu has never had any sisters growing up, and I've always wanted her to be home so we could have some private conversations." Sui Chengyu took Sui He's arm and whispered sweetly.
Sui Chengyu's words struck a chord with Sui He, who then turned to ask Sui Zhixu.
"random."
Sui Zhixu was always aloof. She had only been home for a month when Sui He was unsure of Sui Zhixu's thoughts, so he temporarily left Sui Chengyu behind.
After hugging her mother, Sui Chengyu went to her third aunt and her son to play and laugh.
Sui Zhixu looked at her quietly, without saying a word.
Snowflakes, as white as goose feathers, drifted aimlessly in the wind, landing on incense burners, on offering tables, and on the bodies of everyone worshipping before the altar.
Sui Zhixu in the water mirror was expressionless, looking no different from usual. Yueling scratched her head and said half-jokingly, "Oh dear, she's just a young lady who has just come of age. Don't be upset. Your teacher is still here."
"I'm not unhappy."
Yueling scratched her head. Although she had lived a long time, this was the first time she had taken on a disciple.
So, is he really not unhappy, or is he just being hypocritical and unwilling to admit that he is unhappy?
Sui Zhixu's reflection in the water mirror was veiled in mist, making it difficult for Yueling to see her eyes clearly. She could only see that Sui Zhixu was staring intently at Sui Chengyu. Yueling sighed, sensing that her little apprentice was unhappy.
Suddenly, Xu asked her, "Did I not have any family in my past life? Oh, sorry, I forgot you can't say anything. Never mind, I didn't ask."
She realized she was indeed somewhat unhappy; perhaps because she had never had a mother, let alone family, before. That's why she felt so insecure about Sui He. In just one month, had she already started to treat Sui He as her mother?
Sui Zhixu suppressed her irritation and thought rationally; this was very unreasonable for her.
As Sui Zhixu lowered her head in thought, Sui Chengyu appeared in front of her without her noticing, her voice soft and light as a feather, "Cousin Xu."
Snowflakes fell on the plum blossom hairpin at her temple, the stamens appearing delicate and fragile amidst the snowflakes, lifelike.
Sui Zhixu's gaze shifted from the hairpin to Sui Chengyu's face. Sui Chengyu had almond-shaped eyes, a fair complexion, and a look of helplessness and confusion in her eyes when she looked up. She looked very much like her mother.
But compared to her mother, her features resembled rain-soaked apricot blossoms more than plum blossoms at her temples, making her look pitiful and charming.
Apricot blossoms?
The apricot blossoms had just begun to bloom in February when her memory became jumbled again. She had never seen apricot blossoms before.
"Hmm." Sui Zhixu put down her wine glass, the crisp sound of the porcelain falling. She looked up at Sui Chengyu, "Plum blossoms are beautiful, but they don't suit you. You can look at apricot blossoms in February, which might suit you better."
Sui Chengyu's expression was blank, her almond-shaped eyes wide open.
Sui Zhixu's voice was clear and cold, like the wind and snow today, "It's time to pour the wine, everyone."
Apart from the head of the family and the young master, the rest of the family members poured wine in order of seniority.
Sui Zhixu stood beside Sui He and his wife, silently watching everyone pour wine, looking listless.
The elders' trial doesn't sound very appealing.
"I just said your head was empty, and here comes the test."
Hearing Yueling's mockery, Sui Zhixu secretly rolled her eyes and said sarcastically, "Can you get my memories back?"
"cannot."
Sui Zhixu said, "Please keep quiet."
Before they knew it, dusk had fallen. The family stood at the entrance of the Prime Minister's residence to see Prime Minister Cong off as he went to the palace to participate in the grand exorcism ceremony.
"I'm leaving."
"Okay, let's go... Let go quickly, or it will be too late."
...
Sui Zhixu stood aside watching the couple reluctantly part, but it was mainly his father who was watching.
Sui Zhixu yawned, her mind filled with the New Year's arrangements Sui He had told her that afternoon. She remembered feeling sleepy, like waves crashing over her brain.
The sounds of gongs and drums drifted from afar, accompanied by incantations to exorcise evil spirits, creating a lively yet mysterious atmosphere.
The neighbor, Duke Pei, who was also going to the palace, shouted from his carriage, “Conglan, you clingy brat, stop dawdling and set off immediately!”
Cong Lan was reluctant to leave, and before leaving, she repeatedly gave instructions to Sui Zhixu.
Seeing that Sui Zhixu nodded repeatedly, Cong Lan left with peace of mind.
Little did he know that Xu was simply trapped, and he didn't take a word his father said to heart.
Sui He pulled the drowsy Sui Zhixu close and said, "The exorcism is about to begin. Let's set up offerings at the door. The exorcism team will enter the courtyard to exorcise the evil spirits. After it's over, we'll go out with them to the square to watch their performance."
"Okay." Sui Zhixu yawned again, probably because of what happened last night.
I don't know if it's a memory from a past life or just a random dream; fragments of it are running around in my mind, and I can't connect them.
Especially the word "luck," and the phrase "something from outer space helped me," it must be the system.
Sui Chengyu rushed to help Sui He arrange the sacrificial offerings, and Sui Zhixu was delighted to see this.
The procession quickly arrived at the Prime Minister's residence. Sui Zhixu watched as the leader, Fang Xiangshi, held a peachwood bow and made exaggerated exorcism gestures, and wondered to Yueling, "Can they really exorcise evil spirits?"
The age reading was updated very quickly. "It's just the annual process. If you believe it, you can get it; if you don't, you can't."
"I suddenly realized that the mermaid pearl is the most precious treasure of your Moon Mountain. It has a miraculous effect on the soul, but why is Prince Xuanping so insistent on having the mermaid pearl?"
Fang Xiangshi's black sleeves swept past Sui Zhixu.
Sui Zhixu looked up and his gaze met that of the golden four-eyed mask. The mask's design was exaggerated and ferocious. Sui Zhixu frowned slightly, not because he was frightened, but because it was rather ugly...
"I don't know, but I suspect it was requested by a master around him who used a concealment system."
While Xu and Yueling were talking, the door-to-door exorcism ritual quietly ended.
Suihe presented Nuo gifts to the Nuo troupe that entered the house and placed the peach branches left by the Nuo troupe at the door.
Sui Shan offered incense to her ancestors for blessings of peace and prosperity. Sui Zhixu glimpsed this and wanted to laugh, and indeed she did laugh.
"Heaven? Heaven will notice those with good fortune. If I attract the attention of Heaven, I should be able to reclaim some of my fortune."
Yueling: "His fortune comes from you. You have attracted the attention of Heaven, and some of his fortune will naturally return to you."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
