According to the practice of the Xiao family sacrifice in Lanling, the son and daughter-in-law of the sect are the elders of the younger generations, and they must go to the ancestral hall square first, so when Xiao Cong and Shen Qingyi and Xiao Yan climbed the square on the hill, the huge square was quiet, only the cold wind in the early morning was blowing.

Xiao Yan looked at the thirty-six black gates, on which were carved with emerald green lacquer, and clusters of white jade-colored flowers bloomed among the sword-like orchid leaves. The orchid symbolizes the elegance and otherworldliness of the scholars, and the sword is dignity and power, and is brave and fearless. This is Shaw, where elegance and martial arts coexist.

Her hand couldn't help touching the knife on her waist, and the scabbard was also etched with the Xiao family's family emblem, which was the Xiao family's ceremonial knife, and every Xiao family's children, regardless of gender, must wear it on sacrifices and ceremonial occasions.

At both ends of the eaves of the ancestral hall, an eagle with wings spread and soaring was cast with pig iron paint - Xiao Cheng, the ancestor of Xiao's Hexi, said when he set up the ancestral hall: "Lan is rooted in the ground, this is the soul of Xiao, and the eagle soars in the sky, this is the spirit of Xiao." The soul is complete, and the party is the Lanling Xiao family. ”

Xiao Yan touched the etching of the gladiolus with her fingers, looking at the sharp eyes of the flying eagle, the wings stretched vigorously, and the claws like iron hooks, her heart seemed to be rolling up a wave, and a pride of standing on the ground and standing up to the sky swelled.

Perhaps, all the children of the Xiao family, regardless of men and women, will suddenly have such pride when they kneel on this solemn and grand ancestral hall square for the first time.

This is the Lanling Xiao family.

Xiao Yan thought to herself, she liked this family because its "soul" was so suitable for her heart.

After a while, there was the sound of footsteps in the square.

In a few moments, someone knelt down on the brocade mat on the east side, it was Xiao Zhang and his wife Sun Yunxin (xin), and their four children were kneeling behind.

Xiao Zhang's gaze swept over Xiao Cong and Shen Qingyi, who were kneeling in front, and fell on Xiao Yan, his expression suddenly shocked. Change.

Xiao Yan's kneeling position was facing Shen Qingyi's back, that was the position of the third son, the color of the black sacrificial dress on her body and the color of the belt were vermilion, this was the color of the concubine, and the concubine was light scarlet.

Xiao Zhang's eyes were gloomy, and in an instant, he was shocked and angry in his heart, and he took a deep look at the silver mask on Xiao Yan's face, and then sat down facing the ancestral door.

Sun Yunxin was also very surprised in his heart, and with an arrogant look of his eyes, he fell on the vermilion placket of Xiao Yan's Xuanfu, and his thin eyebrows were raised, staring at Xiao Yan's face with scrutiny.

Xiao Yan looked sideways slightly.

Sun Yunxin and Xiao Yan's shining eyes met, their eyes suddenly froze, they turned their heads suddenly, looked at the gate of the ancestral hall, their hearts pounded twice, and the faintly emerging hostility sank suddenly, and for a while I only thought that a pair of eyes were so moving, and I didn't know what the appearance under the mask was.

Xiao Yan thought that this second sister-in-law was okay, but it was far worse than her sister, her eyes fell on Shen Qingyi's slender but straight back, and she retracted it in a blink of an eye, thinking that it would be okay to wait like this, so she silently recited the Taishang Yuqing Sutra, meditated with her eyes half-closed, and the surrounding qiē gradually left her.

In the sound of footsteps, people sat down on the east and west seats one after another.

The people kneeling nearby all looked at Xiao Yan's kneeling position in amazement-when did a concubine emerge from the Yanzhi?

Xiao Yan was wearing a mask on his face, which was even more strange.

But before the ancestral hall, it was solemn, even if everyone was surprised and strange, they only looked at it a few times, and then they all knelt quietly.

Within two moments, the thirty-six columns of people were kneeling down one after another.

The three sisters, Xiao Ke, Xiao Se, and Xiao Long, knelt behind Xiao Yan's side.

Xiao Se had a cold temperament, and only glanced at Xiao Yan, the "brother-in-law" who suddenly appeared, and lowered his eyelids indifferently. Xiao Long was very curious, with beautiful big eyes, staring at Xiao Yan's beautiful posture, his long and curled eyelashes fluttering, looking like that, if it wasn't in front of the ancestral hall, he would have already pounced. Xiao Ke only felt a headache, and warned his sister who was too lively, his eyes swept over Xiao Yan, and he was also shocked in his heart, but there was no color on his beautiful and elegant face.

Xiao Cheng and Xiao Ying came late, and the thirty-six columns were almost full.

When Xiao Cheng saw Xiao Yan, his eyes were about to widen!

How did this bastard appear in front of the ancestral hall?

Or is it a son, a third, a son!?

Xiao Cheng only felt dizzy, and his chest was angry for a while, and he pointed at her and wanted to drink.

Xiao Cong turned his head suddenly, and a cold look shot at him.

Xiao Cheng had never seen his brother-in-law's eyes so cold and so sharp, he was shocked in his heart, the cheer choked in his throat, and the hand pointing at Xiao Yan couldn't help but hang down, and he sat down on the brocade cushion behind his brother under Xiao Cong's cold gaze.

Xiao Cong gave him another warning before turning around.

Xiao Cheng gritted his teeth, turned his head to the left, and glared at Xiao Yan fiercely, if it was a knife, Xiao Yan would have been killed a long time ago.

Xiao Yan half-closed his eyes, as if he didn't see him, which made Xiao Cheng even more hateful. But no matter how arrogant he was, he didn't dare to make trouble in front of his ancestral ancestral hall.

Nineteen Xiao Yu knelt on Xiao Yan's west, staring coldly at Xiao Yan on the right, especially glanced at her mask a few more times, raised her eyebrows, and smiled coldly. Leaned forward again and glanced at Xiao Cheng provocatively, and made a "horse" mouth shape to him, Xiao Cheng's eyes were sharp, and Xiao Cheng frowned and sneered.

At the first moment of the first month, the thirty-six rows of seats were already full, and the people from all branches and rooms had arrived, except for children under the age of five and those who were sick and weak and could not be sacrificed, as well as those who could not rush back because of their posts and travels, all the clansmen in the five suits of the Xiao clan in Lanling gathered in this ancestral hall square.

Xiao Yu and Princess Anping helped Mrs. Tai to the square and knelt down at the front.

At two o'clock, the bell struck.

The celebrant who presides over the priest is usually a clan elder with high morality and prestige and a healthy body, and this year it is still Xiao Yu's third uncle Xiao Liang who presides over it.

Xiao Liang is sixty-three years old, his hair and beard are still black and shiny, and a roar is like a bell: "Open the ancestral hall!" ”

Thirty-six sect disciples stepped forward, opened the thirty-six black lacquer ancestral doors together, and then retreated and knelt back to the seat.

"Worship at the shrine!"

Mrs. Tai is in front, Xiao Yu and Princess Anping are behind, followed by Xiao Cong and Shen Qingyi, entering the ancestral hall from the middle gate, paying homage to the ancestors, and offering sacrifices.

Afterwards, 22 uncles and uncles, including three brothers and 19 cousins of Xiao Yu's father, entered the ancestral hall with their wives through the corresponding doors to pay homage and offer sacrifices.

After that, there are brothers of Xiao Yu's generation.

In addition to the two younger brothers who died young, Xiao Huan's own brothers also have a brother and two younger brothers, and there are 98 cousins and sisters in the four suits, who belong to each branch room, and enter with their wives or husbands from each door to pay homage by name.

After that, the sons and daughters-in-law of the Yanzhi branch entered the shrine to worship.

Finally, the cousins of each branch enter the shrine to worship.

The grandchildren below will not enter the ancestral hall, only worship in the square against the ancestral gate, and the grandchildren of the thirty-six rooms have as many as four or five hundred people.

There are more than 600 people who worship in the ancestral hall, and the descendants of the Xiao family are vigorous, and there are 296 cousins and sisters of Xiao Cong's generation alone, including more than 100 couples who enter the ancestral hall with their wives and langs.

Worshipping the ancestors in the shrine must be called by name, and the singer is the elder with the highest status in the branch.

Because of Xiao Yan's preservation zài, the Yan branch was particularly eye-catching when he visited the worship.

Many people in the ancestral hall are speculating that this sudden appearance of the grandson-in-law is likely to be the outer chamber of the head of the family, because he is loved by the head of the family, so it is recorded in the name of the mother-in-law - it can make Princess Anping nod, that is really a skill! Maybe it's just that I haven't nodded all the time, so I raised it so big.

When Xiao Yu called the name "The third son of the Yan Branch, the seventeenth generation of the jade character, Xiao Yan-", he was interrupted by a voice: "Slow!" ”

It was Xiao Yan who spoke out, Xiao Huan's eldest brother and the owner of the second long house.

Xiao Huan's hand holding the genealogy did not move at all, looked up at Xiao Huan, and said in an unhurried voice: "What's the matter with the second brother?" ”

Xiao Hui is Xiao Huan's eldest brother, but he ranks second among the Japanese characters.

He is only one year older than Xiao Yu, forty-six this year, his figure and appearance are maintained very well, he looks like thirty-seven or eight, a pair of phoenix eyes are shining, and his voice is loud, "How can you cover your face when you visit your ancestors?" Could it be that there is no shame to see the ancestors? ”

Many people in the ancestral hall looked different, Xiao Jun and Xiao Yu, the half-brothers, have always been at odds, everyone knows it, but they didn't expect Xiao Jun to openly attack when worshipping his ancestors in the ancestral hall.

Xiao Yu's expression didn't move, "Second brother is serious." Xiao Yan was afraid of being indecent because he had a sore on his face, and he opposed the disrespect of his ancestors, so he temporarily covered him with a mask. ”

Xiao Jun's eyes flashed, "Even if the face is indecent, he is also a descendant of the Xiao family, how can the ancestors abandon him?" ”

Xiao Yu's voice seemed to be displeased, "Since the second brother said so-" He looked at Xiao Yan, who was sitting upright on the brocade cushion, "Seventeen, take off the mask, bow to the ancestor and put it back on." ”

"Whoa." Xiao Yan raised his hand and took off his mask.

Eyes from the front and to the left and right are looking over.

"Shhh

But seeing that white jade-like face had red sores the size of three fingers, red and shiny, and faintly white pus, people couldn't bear to look at it a second time.

Only Xiao Zhang and Xiao Ying stared a few more times.

Everyone retracted their gaze and said in their hearts: No wonder you want to cover your face. Although the current family is not as extreme in the pursuit of beauty and grooming as in the era of the Two Jin and Southern Dynasties, it is considered "incomplete" to have such a big sore, and it is ashamed to face people, and it is a polite practice to cover the face. Everyone slandered Xiao Jun.

Sun Yunxin hid the regret in his eyes, thinking what a good pair of eyes, but they were destroyed by those three sores!

Xiao Long sat behind and couldn't see, almost wanted to stretch his neck, but was admonished by Xiao Ke's slanted eyebrows, so he had to sit upright and press the cat-scratched curiosity in his heart.

Among the crowd, only Xiao Cheng stared at Xiao Yan with wide eyes: How is it possible?

But he is arrogant but not a stupid person, knowing that this is not the time to ask for a startled attack, he only glared at Xiao Yan a few times, then turned his face away, and pursed his lips tightly.

"Bye-" Xiao Yu finished singing the names of all the children except for the son and daughter-in-law of the clan in order, and said in a long voice.

Xiao Zhang, Sun Yunxin, Xiao Cheng, Xiao Yan, Xiao Ke, Xiao Ying and other sons and daughters-in-law of the branch all kowtowed.

After three knocks, Xiao Yan straightened up, and Xiao Yan put on the mask again, and no one looked at her with curiosity or speculation at this moment—except for Xiao Cheng's slanted eyes and vicious glare.

The corners of Xiao Yan's mouth hidden under the mask curled slightly, and he couldn't help but glance at Shen Qingyi's back, and said in his heart: Sister, this sores are really godly!

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