kingnovel Chapter 169: Exorcism
Chapter 169: Exorcism
Mu Sheng was stunned by his question. Gift? What gift? Have you ever given a gift before? He didn't prepare any!
He wanted to say "no", but looking at his son's expectant expression, he couldn't say these two words no matter what.
Mu Sheng looked at Yun Xi for help, and Mu Jinyan also looked at her.
It was a big festival, so Yun Xi just stopped watching the fun and had no intention of escalating the "conflict". She smiled and said to Mu Jinyan, "The gift that Daddy prepared is here with me, but he forgot about it when he got drunk. I'll go get it."
She went into the house and took out a very finely polished wooden sword, which was very suitable for a child of Mu Jinyan's age to play with.
Mu Jinyan was very happy to receive the gift and did not suspect anything. He had been practicing martial arts for a while and was going to start learning swordsmanship after the New Year. This gift was very timely and appropriate.
Mu Sheng gratefully bowed to Yunxi, thanking her for helping him out.
Next, the three of them went to the upper room together. On New Year's Eve, they had to worship their ancestors and stay up all night. After dinner, they could go for a walk on the street. There was no curfew tonight, so everyone could go out and walk around at will. It was the most lively night in Kyoto.
The old general and the old lady gave New Year's money to the younger generations and told them to put it next to their pillows, so that they could suppress evil spirits, avoid diseases and have good luck in the coming year.
After dinner, Mu Sheng and his family of three and Mu Xuan all put on masks and went out together to watch the "Great Nuo Ceremony" outside, a Nuo-exorcism ceremony, which is an important program on New Year's Eve.
This was Mu Jinyan’s first time out this year. She was extremely curious and twisted around in Mu Sheng’s arms. Everything she saw was new to her.
Yun Xi is the same as him, but Yun Xi can handle it better than him.
The "Great Nuo Ceremony" in the capital is an official act, hosted by the Taichang Temple, which is in charge of the rituals of the ancestral temple. The participants are divided into 6 teams, each team includes 24 zhenzi, 12 stewards, 22 workers, 1 drummer, 1 divination officer, and 2 wizards, a total of more than 360 people. Everyone performs their duties, and the whole process is very spectacular.
There are many such activities in various states, counties and among the people, where people beat drums and blow flutes to drive away plague ghosts and pray for good health and freedom from disaster in the new year.
Yun Xi saw that everyone was concentrating, and at the same time, she was praying sincerely in her heart, praying that her parents, brothers, sisters-in-law, nephews and many relatives and friends in modern times would be safe and sound, and praying that her father, husband and children here would be safe and healthy.
I pray that this world will always be peaceful and happy.
During the whole process, Yun Xi did not say a word. She followed the sound of the exorcism and entered a very pious and selfless state.
Mu Sheng held her hand tightly all the time.
After watching the exorcism ceremony and returning home, the three of them went to the upper room to greet the old general and the old lady, leaving Mu Jinyan in the upper room to accompany the elderly. Yun Xi and Mu Sheng then returned to their own courtyard to stay up until the New Year.
There were few entertainment activities, and it was a bit boring to just stay up all night, so Mu Sheng took Yun Xi to do some meaningful things, and he didn't stop until they were both very excited.
The first day of the first lunar month is the day for visiting relatives and friends. People from the main family and other branches will come to wish the old general and the old lady a happy new year. The Mu Sheng brothers, along with Mu Jinyan, will also go to wish the elders in the family a happy new year.
Yun Xi entertained the guests with the old lady, and also got to know several elders and sisters-in-law from the Mu family branch. They just exchanged a few pleasantries and greeted each other, but there was no in-depth communication.
The second day of the first lunar month is the day to return to your parents’ home.
When Xie Qing was still around, Mu Sheng would go to Dingyuan Hou Mansion to pay New Year's greetings on the second day of the New Year.
After Xie Qing passed away, Mu Sheng changed the time for New Year's greetings to the third day of the first lunar month. This was actually the idea of Dingyuan Marquis Mansion.
Because on the second day of the Chinese New Year, Xie Lang and his wife and children also had to go to his father-in-law's house, leaving only Dingyuan Hou and his wife at home. Even if Mu Sheng went, he would not be able to see Xie Lang. Dingyuan Hou felt that after Xie Qing's death, the Mu and Xie families should try their best to maintain the friendship and brotherhood between Xie Lang and Mu Sheng, so it would be better to let Mu Sheng go when Xie Lang is at home. In this way, the communication between the two can be strengthened, and when Mu Sheng remarries in the future, there will be no time conflict when visiting his father-in-law's house for the New Year.
This can be considered a good thing about selling Dingyuan Marquis Mansion to Mu Sheng.
However, in the first year of Mu Sheng's remarriage, something unexpected happened in Dingyuan Marquis' Mansion.
On the second day of the Chinese New Year, it was time to go to the Yun Mansion to pay New Year's greetings. Mu Sheng and Yun Xi hadn't even left the house yet when someone from Dingyuan Marquis' Mansion came. It was the old maid next to Old Madam Xie, who handed over a visiting card from Dingyuan Marquis' Mansion, asking to see Old Madam Mu.
Even the knowledgeable Madam Mu was stunned.
The second day of the Chinese New Year, do you have anything to do?
The old nanny bowed earnestly, and after being called by Madam Mu, she said, "My old lady missed the young master, and was afraid that the son-in-law would not be free today, so she asked this servant to come and take the young master over."
After saying that, the old lady lowered her head. She knew that what she did today was not right, but there was nothing she could do. She was a servant and she had to do whatever her master told her to do!
She actually tried to persuade him, but it didn't work. The old marquis didn't know about this yet. If he knew, he would probably get angry.
Old Madam Mu was almost laughing out of anger.
The two families were not far from each other, and they were not infrequent visitors. When the Xie family wanted to come and pick up the child, they never refused and would always let them take the child to stay for a few days. The last time Mu Jinyan stayed there was during the winter solstice, which was not long ago. According to the rules of the past two years, Mu Sheng should have brought him to the door tomorrow. Why was there only one day left?
Did he come here to cause trouble on purpose because he knew Mu Sheng was going to accompany Yun Xi back to her parents' home today?
Madam Mu: "Is your old lady ill?"
Old Mammy: “???”
Madam Mu then asked, "Is the illness serious? Has the Marquis called a doctor?"
Old Mammy: “???”
She thought about it and replied, "My old lady is fine and not sick."
Madam Mu smiled and said, "She's not sick. I thought she wouldn't last until tomorrow. We had to take the child away today."
The old woman is getting more and more outrageous. It's really disgusting that she's doing this on New Year's Day!
She had to say these unpleasant words, and Mu Sheng and Yun Xi were reluctant to say anything. No matter how wrong the old woman was, she was still the elder.
The old lady was sweating profusely, and she stammered, "The old lady is in a serious condition. She is in a serious condition. My old lady loves her grandson very much, so please understand."
"I can't understand. What do you mean by loving her grandson? I think she just can't stand seeing others doing well. Want to take her grandson? Let's go. I'll send the child over myself and ask the old marquis if this was Marquis Dingyuan's idea or if your old lady made the decision on her own."
The old maid knelt down and said, "Please calm down, old lady. I was not considerate enough about this matter. I will go back now. Please don't mind it, old lady."
Madam Mu had no intention of making things difficult for a servant, so she said, "Stand up. I know you have no say in this matter. Just go back and tell her what I said. Ah Yan is my grandson, so I will not treat him badly. The Mu and Xie families have always been on good terms, and this is also a good thing for Ah Yan. But don't do anything unnecessary and ruin the relationship between the two families."
"Yes, yes, I will go back right away."
After saying this, the old lady retreated.
As soon as she left, the old lady withdrew her dignity and complained to Madam Qian: "What do you think this old woman is thinking? Huh? Is this something a marquis' wife would do?"
Madam Qian smiled and said, "Madam Xie has always been like this. Why do you have to be angry with her?"
"I'm not angry, I just don't understand. How can people be so confused!"
After a pause, she continued, "Tell me, does that old fellow Dingyuan Hou know about this?"
Madam Qian thought about it, shook her head, and said, "She probably doesn't know! If she knew, she would definitely stop her."
The old lady snorted and laughed: "I don't think he can stop it at all. That old guy is quite smart in other things, but when it comes to this old woman, it's like he has no brains at all. He has never done anything sensible."
Aunt Qian: “…”
Madam Mu: "It was wrong from the beginning. Marrying her was a big mistake! Giving Xie Qing to her to raise was an even bigger mistake! This old woman doesn't even know how to live her life, how can she teach a child well?"
Aunt Qian: “…”
Yes, yes, yes, you are right.
Exorcism