Dream of the Red Chamber: Start by gaining Zhao Yun's martial prowess, and be ennobled in a sin

Lin Daiyu's tone contained a hint of resentment and depression.

Ever since Xue Baochai came to the mansion, people have often compared her to Baochai behind her back.

They described one as eccentric and the other as generous and polite, praising one while belittling the other. When Lin Daiyu heard this, she felt very uncomfortable.

Even Baoyu, who had been playing with Baochai since childhood, forgot about her after seeing her.

Although there is no romantic relationship between her and Baoyu at present, she still feels some bitterness in her heart.

Zijuan snorted:

"These unruly, gossipy old women, talking about their masters behind their backs, will get a beating from the Marquis sooner or later!"

"Master Bao is also heartless. All he does is quarrel with the young ladies all day long, but he is very well-behaved with Miss Bao. He doesn't know how to cherish you sisters like the Marquis does."

"It's so good that you, Lord Marquis! If only you could stay at home all the time and not have to go out to fight!"

Daiyu was silent for a moment, then said softly:

"Both older brothers are good. Baoyu has a girlish personality, and Miss Bao is gentle. It's normal for him to want to be closer to her."

"Third brother is very stern and serious. He's different from us; he's busy with important matters outside. It's already difficult enough for him to care about us occasionally, so don't always think about bothering him!"

Looking at Daiyu's somewhat pale face in the candlelight, Zijuan sighed:

"Ah! If only the Marquis were the young lady's own brother!"

After she finished speaking, the bird's nest in the bowl had cooled down a bit. Zijuan helped Daiyu eat some, and after all that fuss, she finally went to sleep late at night.

…………

The next day, Jia Jing got up at the crack of dawn and first went to the front yard to lead his personal guards in some drills.

Then I went back to my room to wash up and prepare for the ancestral worship ceremony.

Today, Jia Jing did not wear his armor, but instead wore the bullfighting outfit that the palace had bestowed upon him yesterday.

During the Han Dynasty, ministers were bestowed with special honorary garments to recognize their achievements and status.

Among military ranks, kings generally wore python robes, dukes wore flying fish robes, marquises wore bullfighting robes, earls wore qilin robes, while viscounts and barons were not granted robes unless they made great contributions.

Among them, the python robe was naturally the most precious garment under the emperor. The python pattern and the dragon pattern were very similar, except that the dragon pattern had five claws, while the python pattern had four claws.

Secondly, the flying fish robe features a dragon's head, a fish's tail, two feet, and four claws, somewhat resembling the python pattern.

He wore a bullfighting costume again, with a python shape, a fish tail, and two horns on his head that curved downwards like bull horns.

Finally, there is the Qilin robe, with a dragon head, ox hooves, and a relatively short body.

In short, the higher the level of clothing design, the more similar it is to dragon patterns.

Jia Jing led Zhuque directly towards the Jia clan ancestral hall in Ningguo Mansion, while the other members of the Jia clan had already set off from their respective rooms.

Today, the main gate to the inner ceremonial gate of the Jia family mansion are all open to facilitate the passage of clan members, as this is the procedure for ancestor worship.

The Jia Clan Ancestral Hall is located on the west side of Ningguo Prefecture. Inside a black-painted fence, a tall gatehouse with five rooms can be seen at the entrance.

This is the etiquette system of the Han Dynasty, and the imperial court had strict regulations on the construction of ancestral halls.

The Duke's residence consists of five main halls, and this rule cannot be exceeded! The black lacquered railings add to the solemn and dignified atmosphere.

A plaque hangs above, bearing the four large characters "Jia Family Ancestral Hall".

The inscription next to it reads "Duke Yansheng Kong Jizong".

Entering the courtyard, one is greeted by a white stone path lined with evergreen pines and cypresses that remain proudly evergreen even in the harsh winter.

On the platform were ancient bronze tripods and other ritual vessels in a bluish-green hue. Above the front of the porch hung a golden plaque with nine dragons, which read:

"Stars of Brilliance and Auxiliary Stars".

A plaque with a dragon motif hangs in front of the five main halls, inscribed with the words "Be mindful of the end and remember the beginning!"

Jia Jing and Zhu Que walked up the stone steps inside the mansion and arrived at the ancestral hall. By this time, the courtyard gate was already full of Jia clan members.

Grandmother Jia, Jia Zheng, Lady Wang, Lady Xing, and others from the Rongguo Mansion have arrived.

Jia Zhen, You Shi, Jia Rong, Jia Qiang, and others from the Ningguo Mansion had prepared sacrificial items here well in advance.

Everyone's eyes lit up when they saw Jia Jing arrive, and they rushed forward to greet him:

"The Marquis has arrived!"

Good morning, Lord Marquis!

……

Then, everyone was drawn to Jia Jing's dazzling bullfighting outfit.

Since the death of the late Duke Rongguo, the Jia family has not seen anyone wearing such precious clothing for more than ten years!

The women, including Grandmother Jia, Madam Xing, and Madam Wang, were completely captivated by Jia Jing's bullfighting attire.

Today, Grandmother Jia is dressed in the formal attire of a duke's wife and Lady Wang, a fifth-rank noblewoman.

But their women's clothing could never compare to this genuine imperial robes bestowed with special honors.

In the end, the glory of a wife depends on her husband. All they ask for in their lives, besides being good wives and mothers, is an imperial title and a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe.

At this moment, Jia Jing was being greeted and paid respects by the members of the eight branches of the Shenjing clan, who were all trying to become familiar with him.

Jia Jing did not treat them with disrespect, but nodded in greeting or exchanged a few words of acknowledgment.

The Jia clan actually had twenty branches, eight of which were in the capital, Shenjing, and twelve in Jinling.

Needless to say, most of the twelve families in Jinling were related to the two noble families of Rong and Ning.

The eight branches of the Shenjing family were mostly descendants of the two Rong and Ning Dukes, who came to live in Shenjing after the two Dukes were granted titles and honors.

When Leng Zixing was talking about the Rongguo Mansion, he said that four of the eight branches were the sons of the first Duke of Ningguo, and the remaining four branches were probably the descendants of the first Duke of Rongguo.

The Jia family now has only a handful of members in the second generation, with the character "Dai" in their names: Jia Dairu and Jia Daixiu. They are the brothers of Jia Daishan and Jia Daihua.

There are many more names below Jia Zheng, Jia Chi, Jia Xiao, Jia Dun, and others.

Of course, there's also Jia She, who's currently lying in bed, and Jia Jing, who has become a Taoist monk.

Then there's the "Yu" generation, including Jia Zhen, Jia Huan, Jia Baoyu, Jia Lian, Jia Cong, and Jia Jing.

Finally, there is the generation with the character "草" (grass), which currently has the largest number of members, such as Jia Qiang, Jia Rong, Jia Lan, Jia Yun, Jia Qin, Jia Chang, and others.

After greeting everyone, Jia Jing ascended the steps with a solemn expression and slowly entered the ancestral hall.

The first thing that catches the eye is the portraits of the two ancestors, Ning and Rong, and their spirit tablets in the center of the ancestral hall, along with a dense array of ancestral tablets.

Jia Jing walked to the incense table, picked up a few incense sticks, lit them on the candle beside him, and first offered incense to the two Dukes of Ning and Rong.

In any case, since he transmigrated here, he is obliged to fulfill his duty to the two Dukes of Ning and Rong.

Soon the auspicious hour arrived, and the Jia clan members began their preparations.

Ancestor worship is an extremely solemn event, and no one dares to talk or laugh inside the ancestral hall.

The members of the Jia family were divided into generations according to their ancestral order and stood in line.

The Zhaomu system is based on the founding ancestor, with Zhao on the left and Mu on the right. The second generation is Zhao, the third generation is Mu, and so on.

Today, Jia Jing is presiding over the ancestral worship ceremony, which was originally held specifically to celebrate his ennoblement and to inform his ancestors that there are successors.

As the only direct descendant of the Wen generation present, Jia Zheng naturally participated in the sacrificial ceremony.

Jia Zhen, as the clan head, offered a libation, while Jia Lian and Jia Baoyu, as the eldest sons, offered silk. Jia Huan and Jia Cong held incense, and Jia Chang and Jia Ling spread out prayer mats and guarded the incense burner.

Grandmother Jia, Madam Xing, and others set out dishes and offerings and worshipped outside the fence!

Offerings include sheep, pigs, peaches, memorial tablets, sacrificial vessels, baskets, food containers, liu (a type of food container), beans, silk, wine cups, and musical instruments.

As the ceremonial music began, Jia Jing led the way in bowing, and everyone else knelt in obeisance.

The entire event proceeded smoothly and without any disturbance.

Then came the three libations, the burning of silk, and the offering of wine.