Chapter 218: Making the Call

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

There was an instant silence.

Everyone knew that the Old Marquis, Gu Xuan, had died 14 years ago. In the Gu family’s ancestral hall, the Old Marquis’ memorial tablet was worshiped.

How could the dead decide for Gu Yunzhen?!

Gu Jian frowned, feeling that this pair of siblings was simply ridiculous.

Gu Yuan actually didn’t understand what his sister meant, but this didn’t stop him from listening to her.

When facing outsiders, Gu Yuan was a proud wolf with a sharpness that could tear apart one’s heart.

However, when he faced Gu Yanfei, he would retract his sharp claws and become her gentlest and most reliable brother.

He lowered his eyes and smiled gently at Gu Yanfei, his expression doting and tolerant.

His sister never spoke without thinking. She must have her reasons for saying so.

There was silence in the house for another moment. The air was oppressive and heavy, so heavy that it seemed to be dripping.

An old servant swallowed and carefully took a step closer to Madam Gu. She reported, “Madam, Marquis, the auspicious time has arrived.”

The old servant didn’t dare to look at Madam Gu and Gu Jian’s faces.

Madam Gu retracted her gaze from Gu Yuan and Gu Yanfei with a dark expression. Abnormally intense emotions surged in her eyes. There was anger, depression, embarrassment, and turbulence, but in the end, she suppressed them.

She cleared her throat and put on a serious expression. “Let’s go, Marquis,” she said indifferently, as if nothing had happened.

She took the lead and walked unhurriedly in the direction of the sacrificial hall.

At first glance, her expression was dignified and inviolable.

Everyone suppressed their complicated emotions and followed closely.

However, after the episode just now, a few of them were a little frustrated and couldn’t calm down. They glanced at Gu Yuan and Gu Yanfei from time to time.

Soon, everyone surrounded Madam and Gu Jian as they passed through the front hall and entered the sacrificial hall at the back. The procession of worshippers was vast.

As for the aunts, grannies, maidservants, and old women, they weren’t qualified to enter the Gu family’s main hall. They all stood quietly outside and waited obediently.

In the previous dynasty, men were superior to women and had a clear status. Women weren’t allowed to enter the ancestral hall. All the women in the family could only kowtow and bow outside the ancestral hall. Only men could enter the ancestral hall to offer incense.

It wasn’t until the current dynasty that the phenomenon of men being inferior to women improved slightly. Emperor Taizu thought that women might not be inferior to men and insisted on changing the status of women. Not only were women allowed to run a female household and open a female school, but they were also allowed to enter the ancestral hall. The women’s names were also recorded in the family tree.

Everyone quickly stood in the sacrificial hall according to seniority and order. Gu Yanfei stood in the last row and looked up at the many memorial tablets standing high in front of her.

Unlike last night, when there was only one candle lit here, at this moment, all the candles in the two rows of candle racks on both sides of the sacrificial hall had been lit. The starry candlelight illuminated the entire spacious room.

The air was filled with a faint sandalwood fragrance. The atmosphere was solemn, causing their restless hearts to gradually calm down.

At the front, Gu Jian knelt down on the futon with three incense sticks in his left hand and began to pray to the ancestral tablet. He told them about everything that had happened in the residence this year and looked forward to the future. Then, he begged the ancestors to bless his descendants.

On the step-like incense table, memorial tablets cast heavy shadows on each other. The sandalwood fragrance lingered, creating shadows.

After a moment, Gu Jian respectfully inserted the incense into the three-legged incense burner.

This action represented the end of the sacrificial ceremony.

Everyone stood up from the futon and escorted Madam Gu, Gu Jian, and her son out.

The atmosphere relaxed and there was scattered laughter.

The juniors were gathered in twos and threes, whispering, already planning their outing tomorrow.

As Madam Gu walked, she summoned Madam Yan and Gu Yunzhen to her side and said in a casual tone, “Zhen’er, Old Madam Murong’s health isn’t good. The Murong family has asked Shangqing Spiritual Master to calculate it. The wedding date has to be brought forward.”

“When the Murong family has calculated the auspicious time, they’ll come to welcome the bride. Hurry up and prepare.”

Her expression was as calm as water, as if this was just as insignificant as her asking Gu Yunzhen to change into a new set of clothes.

The others at the back also heard it and were shocked.

Third Madam Yan widened her eyes in disbelief. She couldn’t believe her ears and didn’t even notice the handkerchief in her hand fall to the ground.

Madam Yan had been a widow for many years. Her only concern was her daughter..

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