The Ninth Lady is a rebellious person.

Chapter 342 In the Name of a Daughter, a Tribute to Her Deceased Father

Like Jianlan and the others, everyone who saw Lang Jiuchuan in this outfit was amazed and in awe. How to put it, although Miss Jiu was a noble lady, she had an indescribable temperament that was different from that of ordinary noble ladies.

Cui stared at Lang Jiuchuan's face for a long time before finally looking away in a disheveled manner, her face somewhat pale.

No matter how unwilling she was to admit it, after seeing Lang Jiuchuan's attire and appearance, she felt that he was about to overlap with the young man in her memory.

As dawn broke, Lang Jiuchuan and the others had already eaten breakfast and arrived at the side hall, where the rest of the Lang family were waiting. They were all taken aback when they saw Lang Jiuchuan enter.

Is this arrogant-looking girl the short-lived village girl they remember?

She looks like she's still thin, but she doesn't look like she's about to die at any moment anymore. She looks more resilient than them, and seems superior.

The most astonished was Lang Cailing, whose eyes were practically bulging out of their sockets as she stared at Lang Jiuchuan; the change was far too drastic.

Lang Caiyao was somewhat envious. If we were to talk about the most noble girl in the mansion, Lang Jiuchuan would be the one. Although Lang Cailing was the daughter of a marquis, she was born out of wedlock, while she herself, although born of the principal wife, had a father who was born out of wedlock.

Only Lang Jiuchuan was born of the legitimate wife, and she was also favored by her grandmother. Even her eldest uncle indulged and doted on her. Now, looking at her noble and aloof appearance, she has grown into a noble lady without being taught by traditional family rules.

Lang Jiuchuan didn't care what the Lang family thought of her. She first bowed to Lang Zhengping and her third uncle Lang Zhengwen, then simply nodded to her brothers and sisters in the mansion before going to communicate with Master Xuanguang, who was presiding over the ceremony, about the ritual procedures.

At Huguo Temple, a Buddhist ceremony was being held, and the chanting and recitation of scriptures were done by monks, not Taoists. Therefore, there were already eight monks setting up the items used in the ceremony.

The altar was located in the small square of the side hall. Today, the weather was perfect, and the altar was ready. Incense smoke filled the air, and three holy statues were enshrined in the altar. Their expressions were compassionate, and their eyes looked down upon all living beings.

Buddhists abstain from meat, so all offerings are made of vegetarian food, though some are made to resemble meat. The Lang family also prepares a separate feast in their ancestral hall to offer sacrifices and tributes.

Before the altar, Lang Zhengfan's memorial tablet had been brought out. Lang Jiuchuan personally used a clean white cotton cloth dipped in water infused with pomelo leaves to wipe the tablet, and then solemnly placed it on the table.

She then took three more sticks of specially made agarwood from the incense box she had brought, lit them, clasped her hands together and raised them above her head, and devoutly bowed three times before the memorial tablet.

Lang Cailing whispered to Lang Caiyao, "It used to be all done by our eldest brother..."

Lang Zhengping looked over, his eyes somewhat cold.

Lang Cailing's face turned pale, and she quickly shut her mouth. The younger ones also saw the patriarch's expression and remained silent as if trembling in fear.

Lang Jiuchuan silently recited Lang Zhengfan's name in his heart, placed the agarwood in the bronze incense burner, and then looked at the offerings on both sides. Fragrant flowers, fruits, and melons were all available, and a white lotus artificially cultivated was placed in a celadon vase.

The fact that white lotuses can still be cultivated in this season is truly worthy of Huguo Temple and the Buddhist ceremony held by a noble family. Ordinary people would never have such solemnity.

Looking at the offerings of fresh fruit, all of which are seasonal, they are piled up in the shape of a pagoda. Under the altar, there is a pile of money for the deceased, gold ingots, paper clothes and shoes, as well as large paper figures of fine horses and carriages, all decorated with gold leaf.

"The time has come." Master Xuanguang, who was in charge of the ceremony, stepped forward, stood solemnly before the Buddha, and struck the handbell.

The Lang family members stayed in one corner, while the eight monks who were waiting lined up in two rows, each holding a ritual instrument such as a handbell and a wooden fish, ready to perform the ceremony.

Unlike the Lang family, Lang Jiuchuan stood beside Master Xuanguang. The Lang family members were all a little surprised, but because Lang Zhengping did not speak, they did not dare to speak either.

As Master Xuanguang formed the Amitabha mudra and activated the altar's protective barrier, Lang Jiuchuan removed the Imperial Bell from her waist. She closed her eyes slightly, contemplating the Buddhist insights she had gained from Master Luo Le, when suddenly she opened them and her mind stirred. The Imperial Bell in her hand rang out, once, twice, three times.

The bells and drums resounded three times, their sound reaching the deepest hell, and the souls of the dead were fully aware of it.

Lang Zhengfan looked up somewhat blankly at the Reincarnation Platform, but soon smiled again.

At the altar of Huguo Temple, Master Xuanguang began chanting sutras to activate the altar. While sprinkling water with a willow branch to purify the altar, he chanted the Great Compassion Mantra to create a protective barrier against evil spirits.

Lang Jiuchuan took a step back and gently shook the Imperial Bell. Unseen by anyone, the sound waves of the bell rippled outwards, forming a golden barrier circle within the altar.

Today, she has come to uphold this Dharma altar, in the name of woman!
Everyone was stunned.

Lang Jiuchuan sat down cross-legged and rang the bell. At that time, the eight monks present had already gently struck the handbell, wooden fish and other ritual instruments, and chanted the Amitabha Sutra in unison. The sound of the sutra accompanied the melodious sound of the bell, which touched people's hearts.

The Lang family members present all looked grief-stricken, their eyes reddening, while Cui was already sobbing uncontrollably.

After reciting the Amitabha Sutra, I then recited the Rebirth Mantra forty-nine times, praying that the soul may rest in peace and ascend to the Pure Land soon.

The banners in front of the altar fluttered in the wind, as if the souls were returning.

After reciting the Rebirth Mantra for the forty-ninth time, Lang Jiuchuan rose, took the Vajra Sand from Master Xuanguang, and sprinkled it on the memorial tablet. Then, she took the eulogy she had already written and solemnly read it aloud: "In the year of Yi Si, the third month of Ding Chou, the filial daughter Lang Jiuchuan respectfully offers this vegetarian feast, incense, flowers, wine, and liquor to the spirit of my late father, Lang Gong..."

Cui's body went limp, and she wept silently, supported tightly by Granny Cheng and the others.

Lang Jiuchuan's eulogy was devoid of ornate language; it merely praised Lang Zhengfan's achievements and implied that his injustice would surely be redressed. The audience did not discern the truth in the eulogy, but they did notice that it was different from the previous ones.

Only Lang Zhengping understood, his hands clenched tightly, tears welling in his eyes.

Second brother, did you hear that?

You will not have died in vain. Your descendants will avenge you. Rest in peace.

After Lang Jiuchuan finished reading the eulogy, he burned it in the incense burner. He watched as it burned without fire, the blue smoke rising straight up, as if transforming into words that reached the underworld and fell into the hands of the departed souls.

After the memorial text was burned, the ritual was nearing its end. The monks then recited the Great Compassionate Bodhisattva's dedication verse: "May this merit adorn the Buddha's Pure Land..."

Lang Jiuchuan took the memorial tablet down and held it in his arms. He then went to the incense burner. Lang Zhengping then had the men of the Lang family take the paper money and ingots and follow them, burning them in the incense burner.

Watching the ashes swirl in the fire, never disappearing, Lang Jiuchuan gently brushed his fingers over the name on the memorial tablet. "Rest in peace and enter the cycle of reincarnation. I am here with you!"
As if they had heard her words, the ashes and cigarette smoke spiraled upwards and surged into the clouds.

Ding ding ding ding.

Beneath the eaves of the Ksitigarbha Hall, as if the deceased were stroking the surface, Buddhist copper bells rang in the wind, echoing the sorrow of the living...

(End of this chapter)