Chapter 289 Today is the day to worship our ancestors, and she wants to be the first to offer incense!
(Thanks to So-Called Mortal for casting 2 monthly tickets.)
Li Shiyang was stunned for a moment when he saw Li Shiyue, who was wearing a green official robe, had his hair styled in a man's bun, and looked heroic.
However, after a moment of surprise, he quickly stepped forward to greet Li Shiyue.
Hehe, Li Shiyue is waiting.
She deliberately wore this official robe to the event today because she wanted to be the first to offer incense at the ancestral worship ceremony!
Even if the current clan leader Li Youfu is still alive, and even if the next clan leader Li Shiyang is present, Li Shiyue is still the only official in the Li clan!
Although she had previously stated that her lineage would all trace back to her mother's lineage, she, like Li Wangming, directly separated into a new clan and established a separate family genealogy.
From now on, she will be the great-great-aunt of the Li family!
However, in the end, she still bears the surname Li, and the ancestors enshrined in this ancestral hall are also from the Li family.
So, is it wrong for her, a descendant of an official surnamed Li, to offer the first incense on New Year's Day?
Of course there's no problem!
She said there was no problem, so who would dare to say there was a problem?
Didn't you see that Li Shiyang had already bowed to Li Shiyue?
Isn't it quite clear who is superior and who is inferior?
seniority in the family?
gender?
So what?
Li Shiyue said, "If you don't let me offer incense, then I won't worship my ancestors in your ancestral hall anymore. I'll just build my own."
Therefore, Li Shiyue, with a solemn expression, took the three incense sticks from Li Youfu, walked to the main seat, and kowtowed to the memorial tablets placed at the head of the table.
"In the tenth month, I, the filial grandson, respectfully announce to my ancestors today that I will humbly perform the annual sacrifice."
She got up and inserted the incense into the incense burner. Li Shiyue took the wine cup that Li Shiyang handed her from the side and poured the wine onto the ground of the offering table.
"In the tenth month, the filial grandson respectfully prepares fine wine and delicacies to welcome the arrival of our ancestor. We humbly request that he accept our offerings."
After offering incense and wine, a prayer must be read.
A clear female voice rang out in the ancestral hall. Because Li Shiyue had used her internal energy to amplify it, even the Li clan members standing outside the ancestral hall could hear it clearly.
"On the first day of the first month, the filial grandson of the tenth month dares to announce to the ancestors: As the new year begins and all things are renewed, we admire the virtues of our ancestors and are filled with awe. We respectfully offer clean sacrificial animals, rice offerings, and wine to commemorate the coming year."
May Your Majesty grant your blessings and guidance to future generations.
Enjoy this meal!
After Li Shiyue finished reading the prayer, Li Youfu and Li Shiyang came forward to offer incense and wine.
After the two of them finished, Li Shiyue stepped forward again and kowtowed to the memorial tablets.
Behind her, all the members of the Li family followed suit and kowtowed. Not only the little kids like Dazhuang, Xiaozhuang, Erdan, and Li Yueniang, but also Zhao Min, Zhao Yan, and Sun Xiaodou, who had married into the Li family, were present.
However, married women must kowtow after the Li women.
After Li Shiyue led everyone in bowing, she stood up, picked up the prayer text she had read earlier, lit it over the incense and candles, and placed it in the copper basin.
"With the sacrificial ceremony completed, may the gods bless and protect my family, bringing them happiness, longevity, health, and peace."
Only then is the ancestral worship ceremony considered complete!
The offering table was removed, and the offerings on it were distributed to everyone, symbolizing that this was a blessing from the ancestors.
While the others were busy sharing the sacrificial offerings, Li Shiliang and Zhao Min led Xiao Ya—no, Li Yanqiu, whom Jiang Huai had named Yanqiu—over.
Li Youfu took out the family genealogy, Li Shiyang wrote it down, and Li Shiyue, as a witness, found the page of Li Shiliang's family and added the names of Zhao Min and Li Yanqiu to it.
"Third Brother, is that all?"
"Let's send Yanqiu to school in the spring."
Li Shiyue raised her hand and gently stroked Xiao Yanqiu's hair twice. "Mr. Jiang is indeed a scholar. He has chosen a very nice name."
"Our little Yanqiu must study hard from now on, learn skills from your teacher, and not let down the name your teacher gave you."
Xiao Yanqiu opened her round eyes and nodded solemnly to Li Shiyue like a little adult.
Li Shiyue, however, had to hurry. She rushed home to change her clothes before heading to the prefectural city with Li Qiutian and Li Xiatian.
They glided along on sleds, then left Sanshan County and got on the official road before riding horses. Li Shiyue estimated that they should be able to reach the prefectural city by evening.
The three sisters, Li Shiyue, Li Qiutian, and Li Xiatian, got on the sled, pulled the reins, and the dogs roared and ran off.
At this moment, inside the ancestral hall, the Li clan members were still sharing the sacrificial offerings.
This whole pig's head, a whole chicken, a whole sheep, two large jars of sweet wine, and freshly cooked bean rice are all precious delicacies.
How could we not leave a bite?
Zhao Min sat with Xiao Yanqiu and her third aunt. Li Shiliang brought over a plate of meat and said, "This wine is sweet, so you two can drink it. But our Yanqiu can't drink it."
When Yanqiu grows up, she can drink it then.
Third Aunt took the cup of still-warm sweet wine and said, "In my old age, who would have thought that I, an old woman, would get to drink such a sip!"
Third Aunt raised her glass and drank the entire cup of sweet wine down her throat. "Haha, it's really delicious!"
Zhao Min thought her third aunt liked the wine, so she reached out to give her cup to her third aunt, but her third aunt stopped her.
"Minniang, this cup is yours, you have to drink it."
If you don't drink it, you'll be betraying the rule she set in October.
rule?
Yes, it was only then that Zhao Min realized what her third aunt meant.
Women can enter the ancestral hall, not only women of the clan, but also women who have married out of the clan. Even children born to a woman from her previous marriage who are brought into the ancestral hall can participate in ancestral worship!
This sweet wine is now available to everyone, but it wasn't always like this.
In the past, women were the ones who prepared the offerings, but in the end, it was always men who could actually participate in the ancestral worship.
Today, in the ancestral hall of Liujiatun, the chief officiant for the Li family's ancestral worship is Li Shiyue!
A woman!
She was a woman who became an official!
Third Aunt glanced at little Yanqiu eating rice cake, then looked up at Li Shiliang and said, "Quick, go get some more cake; Yanqiu likes this."
Looking down at Xiao Yanqiu again, Third Aunt smiled and said, "Our Yanqiu has such a good name, she's sure to be successful in the future!"
Who knows, he might become an official just like October!
Haha, it's okay if I can't become an official. Anyway, once I go to school and learn to read, I'm sure I'll have a good life in the future!
When Yanqiu grows up, Grandma will have your father find you a good husband. We'll have him come to live with us, and he can stay with your parents and live a good life!
Xiao Yanqiu had no idea what a son-in-law was at that moment.
She only knew that she could live a good life by staying close to her parents. For example, right now, her father went to get her some delicious rice cakes to eat again.
So she nodded emphatically to her third aunt, agreeing to her words.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
