It's not a New Year's Day, not the first day of the lunar month, and not the fifteenth.
The sudden announcement of ancestral worship startled the entire Jiang family, who thought something terrible was about to happen.
What serious thing might have happened?
Upon closer examination, the only remaining issue is the identities of Jiang Sheng and Jiang Chenghuan.
Before General Jiang was gone, he only recognized Jiang Sheng, but he did not open the ancestral hall to meet the clan, nor did he add new names to the family genealogy, nor did he remove names that did not belong to the Jiang family bloodline.
Having figured all this out, Jiang Chenghuan in the Lotus Courtyard began to tremble, from her hair to her limbs, from her soul to her heart.
Although her grandmother and father both said they wouldn't drive her away, once her name was removed from the family genealogy, she really was a child of the Jiang family. Should she still stay in the Jiang family?
Or perhaps, is she still herself?
The thing he feared most was about to become a reality, and Jiang Chenghuan could barely stand up, collapsing onto the bed several times.
Fortunately, Madam Liao rushed over, embraced her, and comforted her, saying, "This time it's not about opening the ancestral hall or going through the genealogy; it's just about offering incense to the old general."
"Really?" Jiang Chenghuan remembered his grandfather, a tall and robust old man who was somewhat serious and didn't like to joke. He would only show a kind expression when he saw his grandchildren.
He later died in battle on the frontier, and when his body was sent back to the capital, it had already decomposed and was emitting a foul odor.
None of the grandchildren, including Jiang Chenghuan, showed any disdain; they all knelt in the mourning hall, weeping silently.
They knew of their grandfather's greatness and understood that he had died for his country. They respected him from the bottom of their hearts and never forgot to pay tribute to him on Qingming Festival.
It's only natural that my father would go to the temple to offer incense to my grandfather since he rarely comes home.
Jiang Chenghuan's tense mind relaxed, and a smile appeared on her small face, with a few tears welling up in her eyes. "Mother, don't worry, Chenghuan is fine. Let's pack our things first."
The message was delivered that day. The Jiang family lived some distance from Famen Temple, so they had to be there before noon to offer incense.
Everyone in the Jiang family, including the mother and daughter, hurriedly packed up and, once everything was in order, called for a carriage.
In front of the Jiang family's gate.
With Tan Yue's help, Madam Jiang slowly sat into the tall carriage.
The second wife from the west courtyard also climbed onto the carriage shaft with laughter, making the whole family of four together.
Liao Shi, accompanied by Jiang Chenghuan, chose a moderately luxurious carriage. Just as she was about to ask the maid to bow and make a stool, Steward Jiang came over with a troubled expression. "Madam, the general left a message that Miss Chenghuan does not need to go."
His words, once spoken, were like a thunderbolt.
Jiang Chenghuan's heart, which had just been calmed, was once again gripped by pain.
Just then, the curtain of the second son's carriage was lifted, and Jiang Chengyu peeked out with a grin, "Oh dear, you're not from the Jiang family, yet you insist on joining in their fun. If you had known you'd be in such an embarrassing situation, you would have stayed in your own courtyard."
"Xiao Yu," Jiang Chengfeng snapped.
Jiang Chengyu stuck out his tongue and pulled his head back, leaving only a slit to listen to the commotion.
"Father...Father really said he doesn't want me to go?" Jiang Chenghuan fought back tears. "Is it true?"
The butler nodded with difficulty.
Jiang Chenghuan's tears finally burst from her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. The pain of loss gripped her heart tightly, making it hard for her to breathe and causing her to lose her balance.
"Since Father has said so, then Chenghuan will not go." She forced herself to remain dignified, choked with sobs, and curtsied as she withdrew.
Jiang Chengyu, inside the carriage, was surprised that the Jiang family's most prone to crying, fake heiress, hadn't fainted or started crying.
The scene was a bit boring, and she smacked her lips, preparing to pull down the curtain.
After a long silence, Liao suddenly grabbed Jiang Chenghuan's arm. "Why can't I go? Why can't I go?"
Jiang Chengyu became engrossed, leaned on his mother's lap, and continued listening.
“Chenghuan still carries the Jiang family name and even saw the old general off at his deathbed, so why can’t she go?” Madam Liao rebuked sharply. “Who said she can’t go? Jiang Jizu? He should come and tell me personally.”
But the general had already gone to fetch his legitimate daughter, and was nowhere to be seen.
Jiang, the housekeeper, was sweating profusely, feeling caught in a dilemma and facing a difficult life.
"I'm making this clear today: if Chenghuan goes, I'll go; if Chenghuan doesn't go, I won't go either." Liao said angrily, grabbing Jiang Chenghuan and trying to leave.
Madam Jiang, who was in the carriage at the front, finally opened her eyes and gave Tan Yue a look.
Tan Yue understood immediately, and lifted the curtain to instruct, "Let the Third Miss go, as long as Madam doesn't regret it."
Jiang, the steward, felt as if he had been granted a pardon and turned to look at Liao.
"I regret it? Why would I regret it?" Liao sneered. "Chenghuan was pampered in the Jiang family for twelve years. She is a child of the Jiang family."
If offering incense to the old general were to exclude her, she would have no place in either the Jiang family or Fengjing.
“But Mother,” Jiang Chenghuan hesitated, “this goes against Father’s wishes…”
Without saying a word, Liao reached out and pulled her onto the carriage.
The coachman cracked his whip, and the Jiang family's gate slowly closed. The gatekeeper watched the departing figures, feeling a sense of unease.
Like scattered dandelion seeds, no matter how hard they try, they can never gather back to their original form.
Floating, floating.
Jiang Sheng reached out from inside the carriage, caught a drifting willow catkin, and gently rubbed it in her palm, soon forming a small cotton ball.
“Father, look, this cotton is so good. If you knead it a lot, you can wear it as a cotton-padded jacket. But it only starts to bloom after you take it off. It’s really useless.” She shook her head and sighed, her tone as mature as a little adult.
Jiang Jizu chuckled, "How can cotton be warm? Only fresh cotton can keep you warm."
“Who has new cotton?” Jiang Sheng blew away the cotton ball. “It’s good enough if we can use old cotton. Some people even use reeds to stuff the cotton, which looks bulging but feels ice cold to the touch.”
The little girl even managed to rhyme.
Jiang Jizu laughed, but as he laughed, his eyes reddened and his throat tightened.
Jiang Sheng turned around and realized that she had said the wrong thing.
Although her past life was difficult, she had managed to get through it. She was doing very well now, with an older brother, a grandmother, and a father. She was truly content.
She shouldn't bring up the past anymore, and she shouldn't hurt the people who love her anymore.
"Oh, Father!" The little girl rushed into her father's arms as she had done countless times in her dreams. "Isn't today the Jiang family's ancestral worship ceremony? Why did you call my brothers over as well?"
Two horse-drawn carriages were dispatched for the second courtyard; the father and daughter rode in one, and her four older brothers were in the other.
But they are not members of the Jiang family, and they don't even know General Jiang. Could it be that they are thanking their grandfather for giving birth to their father, and their father for giving birth to them, so that their brothers can have such a smart and beautiful sister?
“No, no.” Jiang Jizu shattered her self-righteousness. “Famen Temple is dedicated to commemorating deceased relatives. Perhaps they wanted to offer incense to their deceased parents.”
However, in reality, a burly and imposing general came to their door, informing them that a thrilling scene might unfold that day, and asking if they were willing to follow and protect Jiang Sheng.
Without any hesitation, he heard four "okay"s.
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