Chapter 57 Shangyuan Invitation
Before dawn the next day, I was dragged out of bed by my mother.
Ji Song leaned against the pillar with blurred eyes for a while and fell asleep again. When Ji Song's mother came over and found him, she took the wet towel soaked in ice water and wiped it on Ji Song's face randomly a few times, which was considered as washing his face.
Ji Song was startled and finally woke up completely.
Only then did he remember that today was the day to worship ancestors. It was not good to delay it. If he went late, his ancestors would blame him.
This time, there was no need for Mother Ji to urge her, so she put on a dress and hurried to the ancestral hall to help.
When he arrived at the ancestral hall, his third uncle had already begun to organize people to decorate the ancestral hall.
The sacrifices to worship the ancestors have been prepared long ago. It was Uncle Ji Shan who shot the wild boar in the mountains. The shiny pig head was now covered with red cloth.
It seems that the ancestors have to wait for a while. It's not the time to eat yet. I don't know if they will be hungry?
The emperor would only use the bull's head when he offered sacrifices. Ji Song, a small baron, was not qualified to use it yet.
Pig head is already the best choice, and the rest can only be replaced with half-cooked chicken or duck.
It wasn't until the auspicious time began that everyone took their places and prepared to welcome the the clan leader, Ji Song must be at the front and leading everyone.
As the oldest person in the family, the second uncle became the sacrificial elder without hesitation.
The third uncle could only attack from below. According to the second uncle, before he died, he could only watch from this position, which made the third uncle jealous.
"It's auspicious time!"
"All descendants, kneel down and worship!"
"Get up! Kneel down and worship!"
"Get up! Kneel down again, worship again!"
"Get up! The ceremony is completed! Present the sacrifice!"
After a complete set of etiquette, even Ji Song felt tired, but after seeing everyone's fanatical eyes, he could only endure it and try his best to be as perfect as possible.
The originally gloomy ancestral hall now felt like it was shining brightly.
Ji Song seemed to hear countless people shouting in his ears, either exhorting, comforting, or giving instructions!
Ji Song didn't wake up until his second uncle's voice came.
"Don't be afraid of children, your ancestors are protecting you!
You are the Qilin son of our Ji family, and you are destined to bring glory to the entire family. With the blessing of your ancestors in the future, no matter what danger you encounter, you will definitely turn it into good luck. "
"You take this with you."
Ji Song looked at the brown wooden sign handed over by his second uncle in confusion, which was tied with a very strong red wooden plaque is about two inches long and one inch wide, half a thumb thick, with one word engraved on the front and back respectively: '镕' and '松'.
Now he immediately understood the meaning of this wooden sign. The 镕 represents the origin of their clan, and the pine represents his name. This is the identity certificate of their Ji family!But what do the patterns on it mean? As if seeing Ji Song's doubts, the second uncle explained: "This pattern is the pine wave pattern. From now on, it will be the symbol of our branch and a spur to you. It depends on whether you can bear it."
Ji Song understood, really understood.
Today's ancestor worship is not only about worshiping ancestors, the most important thing is hidden in this small wooden sign.
This is how the second uncle and the elders hope to deepen their sense of belonging to the Ji family. This is related to the fact that he usually does not pay attention to this aspect.
Unexpectedly, they discovered it, which made Ji Song feel ashamed.
As a person who came from a free and open era, how could he have such awe for his ancestors? How could that be possible?
"My child, you don't have to be like this. You have never enjoyed the convenience brought by your family. You don't know how lucky you are to have such a group of people with the same clan and ancestors together in this indifferent world.
The Ji family has been in decline for too long. If you didn't take care of the face of us old men, I'm afraid you wouldn't accept these people! "
"Second uncle, me"
"Listen to me, no matter what, these people are some of your closest people. We share common ancestors and blood.
In this clan-dominated Tang Dynasty, the right way to stay together is to stay matter how you say it, as long as one person commits a crime, the entire clan will be humiliated; if one person is prosperous, it will be the glory of the entire clan; but while enjoying the convenience of the family, you must also share the responsibilities of the family, that is, sharing the hardships and wealth. "
"This fast wooden sign is made from the core part of the hard ginkgo tree. It is your birth sign. It is something you should carry with you throughout your life, and it will be buried with you after you die.
Other adults in the tribe will have it, but it is not as exquisite as yours. It is made from other parts of the ginkgo tree and is one size smaller than yours.
I said this, as for what you do, it’s up to you! "
Ji Song looked at his second uncle who was even more bleak, with a struggling look on his face. He suddenly raised the wooden sign in his hand and shouted loudly: "I, Ji Song, the current patriarch of the Ji family, swore an oath in front of my ancestors that I will be Song for the rest of my life. The surname Ji of the Ni family has been carried forward.
May my surname, Ji, have a long history and be faithful to everything! "
The second uncle suddenly turned around, looked at Ji Song's serious and firm eyes, and immediately knew his determination.
"Good, good, good!"
“Once my Ji family’s Qilin is born, she will shine brightly and leave her name for eternity.
My surname, Ji, has a long-lasting origin and will be preserved for eternity. "
Whether it was Third Uncle or other clan members, it was as if a fire suddenly burned in their hearts. This fire was hot, strong, and radiant.
Involuntarily, everyone shouted in unison: "My surname, Ji, has a long history and will be preserved forever!"
"It has a long history and will be preserved forever!"
The ancestor worship was over, but Ji Song had a headache. Why was he so impulsive at that time? The promise was made to the end, but he got into a big trouble. But now the deal was done, so he could only move forward with his head down.
"I'm talking about Dahuang, who are your parents! Why do you want the dog less and less as you grow older?" Ji Song looked at Dahuang lying at his feet and really didn't know what to say.
At this time, all the black hair on Dahuang's body disappeared, leaving only dark golden hair.
Let's say he is a wolfdog. The color of his coat is obviously wrong, and his body shape. Is there a wolfdog weighing more than [-] kilograms?
It's said to be a Labrador, but the ears are straight like two horns, which doesn't make sense!
Anyway, Ji Song has given up on finding out what kind of rhubarb it is.
"Tap! Tap!"
Just when Ji Song was about to see if the gifts prepared for the elders in Chang'an were ready, the sound of riding horses came from far and near.
After a while, Ji Daniu came in with a knight.
Ji Song was stunned when he saw the armor on his body. Why did the Yuan Cong Imperial Army next to Li Yuan come?
"This is an official document from the province below. Please sign for it, Lord Ji!"
The visitor said to Ji Song expressionlessly.
Ji Song didn't care either. If the Imperial Guards around the emperor were all flattering to him, Ji Song would have to consider running away.
"I have received the official document. You go back and report back. Ji Song will attend on time. Daniel will go get some food and drink for this military master.
Don't refuse, you have to go to other places. It's a small thing to be hungry. You can't afford to miss His Majesty's important event! "Ji Song first gave an explanation to Daniel, and then said to the messenger.
"Thank you sir!"
"Take him down and rest for a while, don't be in a hurry."
After Daniel took the messenger down, Ji Song said thoughtfully: "On the Lantern Festival, Your Majesty held a banquet for all ministers in the Taiji Hall. Baron Ji Song of Haojue County will enter the palace for the banquet on the [-]th day of the first lunar month. No delay! Please call me under the sect."
Ji Song smiled bitterly. He had originally thought not to go to Chang'an because of nothing, but he didn't expect that the emperor would invite him.
Although I just had to make up the numbers, I had to go!
Forget it, it's time to play by ear!
(End of this chapter)