First Prince of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 364 Sacrifice
Zhu Yuanzhang patted his son on the shoulder, and then the father and son silently looked at the ancestral tablet, smelling the sandalwood from the slowly burning incense candles, thinking about Jiangshan Sheji in their hearts.

After more than half an hour, the father and son returned to the camp, and went to bed early after washing. The whole day of the ceremony tomorrow will be very tiring. As for the officials of the Ministry of Rites, they have already been busy for several days.

As early as three days before the main sacrifice, a member of a thousand households from the Taichang Temple Commissioned Animal House led nine flag troops to send incense, blessings, animals, hangings and other things used for the mausoleum sacrifice to Fengyang Mansion. Welcome outside the south gate of the state, perform one worship and three kowtows, and then worship in the hanging pavilion east of the imperial mausoleum.

Two days before the sacrifice, the sacrificial objects such as incense, blessings, animals, and hangings were sent to the imperial mausoleum, and the officials of Fengyang government sent them respectfully outside the west gate of the state, saluting as if they were on time.Then, the sacrificial offerings will be made by the sacrifice cooks in each mausoleum.

The place where the three animals are slaughtered is the slaughtering booth, the place where the sacrifices are processed is the God’s Kitchen, and the place where the sacrifices are temporarily stored is the God’s Treasury. The slaughter of the three animals must be carried out in a certain way.

Taichang officials will open the middle door of the sacrificial place, guide the cattle and sheep out with drums and flags, cover them with dragon burdens, and go to the slaughterhouse, and tie the hooves of the cattle with four ropes. Sacrificial measures, but the bull's head has entered the nursery before it is revealed.

Of course, this is only a small part of it, and Zhu Biao is not very clear about it. After all, professional people are responsible for professional matters. The emperor and the prince only need to remember the etiquette on the day of the sacrifice.

Early the next morning, after Zhu Biao got up, he took a bath and changed his clothes, and then changed into a solemn court dress. The heavy court dress was embroidered with gold dragon patterns on the front, back and shoulders. The clothes were embroidered with dragon, Zhai and twelve chapter patterns in yellow silk , leather boots with a jade belt, and wearing a black gauze wing crown, the whole person is majestic.

Zhu Biao let out a suffocating breath, it was too hot, he went straight out of the Prince's camp and went straight to meet his father, and after the salute, they went to the imperial mausoleum together. Wearing official clothes and holding a jade bi, he knelt down to meet him.

At this time, the sound of rites and music rang out. The emperor and prince entered the mausoleum to pay respects. The inner lining and clothes inside were soaked through. If he hadn't taken the time to drink a few sips of water, he might have passed out from dehydration long ago.

Zhu Biao is like this, and Zhu Yuanzhang is naturally the same. This is why the emperor seldom comes to the ancestral mausoleum to offer sacrifices in person. Usually, relatives of the emperor or honorable ministers are sent to preside over the worship with officials from the Ministry of Rites.

Of course, Zhu Biao is the one who came the most times. He came to worship when he was the son of King Wu, once after the founding of the country, and once again when Fengyang moved to the people, and now he accompanied his father to worship At this time, Zhu Biao suddenly missed the child in Chang Luohua's womb very much, and eagerly hoped that it was a boy...

After finally making it to noon, the father and son took the time to change their clothes, eat two bites of food, and then a new round of worship. The important affairs of the country are the sacrifices and the soldiers. The rules are extremely complicated, and I don’t know who came up with them.

It was not over until the evening, of course, the work of the father and son was basically over, and the Ministry of Rites and the sacrificial officials of the imperial mausoleum had to continue to make arrangements for several days to make sure that the spirits of the ancestors in heaven were satisfied.

The father and son didn't say a word when they had dinner. They wore light clothes and slammed the rice. After taking a shower, they fell asleep. It was much more tiring than reading memorials in Beijing. The main reason was that they were either kneeling all the time or standing back and forth. Standing up and kneeling down, it's tossing people over and over again, not to mention the weather.

On the second day, the father and father finally recovered, but they didn't have time to rest. They still had to go to Liu Jizu's grave to offer incense. Yihui Hou Liuying also led the whole family to accompany him. The Liu family was considered prosperous in Fengyang, and the rest of the side branches also Everyone attended.

Different from the solemnity when offering sacrifices to the imperial mausoleum, there was a lot of crying in front of Liu Jizu's grave, headed by the emperor and the prince, assisted by Yihuihou Liu Ying, everyone was crying sincerely.

"Master Liu, Zhu Chongba came to see you. We have never forgotten your kindness back then. It was you who had a spirit in the sky and blessed your eldest son Liu Ying to defect to our subordinates in troubled times. Now we He also conferred the title of marquis when the founding of the country was awarded, and the Liu family will live with the country in the future, so you can rest assured if you know the secret."

Looking at the sobbing emperor, everyone in the Liu family around was filled with gratitude. Of course, there were also people who gritted their teeth with envy. Those were the sons of Liu De. Zhien, how could the title of Marquis of Yihui fall into the hands of Liu Ying's son-in-law.

It's a pity that there is no medicine for regret in the world. Liu De's sons are usually cautious, just because they are afraid that they will end up in the family. Although the emperor said that they will not be held accountable, if they commit crimes, the officials of Fengyang will never mind their righteousness. Exit for the emperor.

After Zhu Yuanzhang finished speaking, Zhu Biao looked at Liu Ying indifferently while wiping away his tears. Liu Ying immediately knelt down in front of the grave and kowtowed and cried: "Father, our family is unfortunate. Our son is not filial. He didn't educate his younger brother well. How could he be so cruel?" Raising an unfaithful, unrighteous, unkind, and unfilial person, he relied on the mighty grace of heaven, and even committed crimes outside and disregarded human life, how could he be worthy of your underground spirit, father!"

The old Liu family on the side scolded: "If you have anything to say, you should go home and say it. Your father has been dead for so many years, what are you doing to disturb him!"

Some clan elders who saw something said: "Liu Chun corrupted the lintel, what can't be said, that is, the ancestor left early, otherwise he would have to beat this evil person to death with his own hands!"

"Let's see it too. During this period of time, the members of the Liu family have been stabbed in the back by their fathers and villagers. I am already old and have no face to go out to meet people. Do I have to ruin the cleanliness of the Liu family because of a beast?" reputation?"

"Hey, family ugliness should not be publicized. After all, Liu Chun is a member of my Liu family, the son of his ancestor."

At this time, Liu Ying suddenly shouted: "He is not anymore. Liu Chun is not a son of man. He relied on the virtue of his ancestors to commit crimes. As the head of the Liu family, I will expel him from the family and remove his name from the family tree. He dares to be a criminal." Branch, then you should be punished by the court law!"

Everyone in the Liu family looked at Liu Ying like a lunatic. No matter what, Liu Chun was his own brother. Now that Liu Ying is so determined to let Liu Chun die, he really is a cold-hearted person.

Zhu Yuanzhang even scolded immediately: "How can you abandon each other in front of your father's grave? Liu Chun's crime, we will pardon him, and we will discipline him strictly in the future."

Liu Yingzhan kowtowed to Zhu Yuanzhang and cried, "It's not that I'm ruthless, it's that Liu Chun committed a heinous crime. As an official of the imperial court, how can I shield criminals because of personal affections? How can I be worthy of the kindness of the Holy Majesty to the Liu family? Please forgive me for Liu Chun's crime." Even if he is sent back to the Liu family, he will be subject to the family law and die!"

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(End of this chapter)