Chapter 15: The Ancestral Temple

  Zheng Su'e came out of the palace and ordered someone to drive a carriage to Zheng's family temple outside the capital.

  Her sister Zheng Xiangrong died unmarried and could not be buried in the ancestral tomb of the Zheng family. She had to either find a male household to marry her posthumously and then bury her in the man's ancestral tomb, or she should be buried in a solitary girl's tomb like a chaotic burial mound.

  Women of the Great Xia Dynasty who were under 19 years old and unmarried when they died all followed these two rules.

  However, Zheng Da Lao Ye loved Zheng Xiang Rong dearly. She died of illness at the age of sixteen, which made Zheng Da Lao Ye so heartbroken that he almost fell ill as well.

  He would rather die than agree to bury Zheng Xiangrong in the Lonely Maiden's Tomb, and for some reason, no one dared to marry Zheng Xiangrong in a ghost marriage either, so she couldn't be buried in someone else's ancestral tomb.

  Later, Zheng Suhui came forward to persuade the Zheng family members and Old Master Zheng. After cremating Zheng Xiangrong, her ashes were placed in a white porcelain urn and enshrined in the Peixiang Hall of the Zheng family ancestral temple, where she could enjoy the incense and offerings of future generations while being protected by her ancestors.

  Today is also Zheng Xiangrong's memorial day.

  Zheng Suxin ordered her maid to bring paper horses, incense and candles to the Zheng family ancestral temple.

  The Zheng Family Ancestral Temple covers a vast area, with nine courtyards in total from front to back. It is divided into three routes: left, middle and right, with the south-north axis as the center. The first three courtyards are all planted with cypress and pine trees. From the fourth courtyard onwards, it is the formal ancestral hall of Dacheng Hall, the east and west wing halls, and the sleeping palace for worshiping the wives of the Zheng family in history.

  Zheng Xiangrong's memorial tablet is stored in the Xi Mian Pei Xiang Hall.

  There are all the plaques of the literary giants of the Daxia Dynasty who are not surnamed Zheng. All scholars of the Daxia Dynasty regard it as the highest honor to be able to enter the Zheng family ancestral temple after death.

  Although Zheng Xiang Rong was a daughter of the Zheng family, she died unmarried and could not be considered a member of the Zheng family, so she could not enter the Zheng family ancestral tomb. In the end, the three parties compromised and adopted Zheng Su Heng's proposal, allowing Zheng Xiang Rong's spirit tablet to enter the Zheng family ancestral temple's Xi Pu's Pei Xiang Hall, which finally satisfied Old Master Zheng.

  Even if she didn't have the surname Zheng, with her literary name Zeng Xiang Rong, she would still be qualified to enter the Western Wing of the Zheng Family Ancestral Temple.

  From a lonely grave like a chaotic burial mound, to the majestic and beautiful Zheng family ancestral temple, after Zheng Xiangrong's death, she was able to have such a glorious funeral, people all say it is because she had a good sister Zheng Suhui.

  "Old Lady Zheng is coming this way. Be careful, the stone path has moss on it and it's slippery." A nun came out from inside to greet Zheng Suhui and her group as they entered.

  "Big Granny, are you here again today to burn incense for Miss Zheng Er?" asked the nun with a smile.

  "Of course. I come at this time every year." Zheng Suxin said without turning her head.

  "Yes indeed, look at my memory." The nun gently patted her own face twice and then said: "Not only did the big madam come over today, but someone else has already gone inside to burn incense."

  "Oh?" Zheng Suxin's footsteps stopped and asked: "Are you also here to pay respects to my sister?"

  "It's exactly. Otherwise, why would I be so garrulous?" The nun smiled and led Zheng Suhui up the steps to the Xihe Temple.

  Zheng Suxin had wanted to ask who it was, but seeing the gate of Xiping Temple right in front of her, what was the point of asking? She pursed her lips and walked up slowly.

  In front of the supply table in the northwest corner of Pei Xiang Hall, a monk wearing a yellow cassock stood with his hands clasped together, silently praying in front of Zheng Zongyao's memorial tablet.

  As soon as she saw his tall back, Zheng Suhui's heart skipped a beat.

  She composed herself, gestured for her attendants to withdraw from the steps, took a deep breath, and walked slowly into the Xiping Temple.

  The monk heard footsteps behind him and slowly turned his head, looking at Zheng Suxin for a moment.

  It's him after all!

  High nose and square jaw, long eyebrows like a sword, a pair of eyes deep and quiet as the calm sea under the moonlight. When looking at people, he is calm and composed, but only those who are familiar with him know that beneath his calmness, there have also been great waves.

  At present, it is like a pool of stagnant water, with no hope in sight.

  "...... You, how did you come back? Do they know?" Zheng Suheng showed a surprised expression and asked softly.

  The monk's face lit up with a smile, and suddenly he was like a cloud breaking open to reveal the moon, his whole person coming alive.

  "No, they don't know. I sneaked back." The monk nodded and continued his prayers.

  Zheng Suxin stood quietly behind him and said, "You still can't forget her?"

  "In this world, no one can forget her." The monk sighed as he gazed at the memorial tablet in front of him, stretching out his finger to deeply carve the four characters "Zheng Shi Xiang Rong" over and over again.

  "...One day, I will have her spirit tablet placed alongside mine, standing proudly together." The monk let out a cold laugh and turned to leave, his large sleeves fluttering as he disappeared through the gate of the ancestral hall.

  The maidservants standing outside the door didn't even dare to breathe, deeply lowering their heads, feeling that the monk walked so quickly, as if bringing up a whistling wind sound, sweeping past them.

  Zheng Suxin gazed at the monk's receding back, and swallowed a low sigh.

  She turned around and said lightly, "Bring the incense paper horse offerings here." As she spoke, she casually threw the fresh fruit and mountain tea flowers that the monk had just offered into an iron bucket on one side.

  After a stick of incense had passed, Zheng Suhui had returned to normal. She silently turned around and left the Zheng family ancestral temple, taking a carriage back to the capital city.

  When passing by Zheng's mansion, Zheng Suhui thought for a moment and ordered the driver to stop the car, then returned home.

  The Zheng family has always been sparse in population, often with only one son for several generations.

  Zheng Da Lao Ye's first wife, Ye Shi, was his cousin. After marrying him, she gave birth to their eldest daughter, Zheng Su Xiang, and the next year, she gave birth to their eldest son, Zheng Xing Hong. Unfortunately, she died in childbirth when giving birth to her son.

  Zheng Da married his second wife, Kang Shi, in the following year.

  This concubine was particularly fertile. In one breath, she gave birth to three sons for Zheng Da Lao Ye, and later also gave birth to a younger daughter named Zheng Xiang Rong.

  The eldest son of his first wife, Zheng Xinghong, was weak and sickly since childhood, and grew up in a medicine jar.

  While Kang's three sons were all healthy and intelligent, far surpassing their elder half-brother.

  Of course, all these children put together are no match for their youngest daughter Zheng Xiang Rong.

  She is not only stunningly beautiful but also exceptionally talented in literature, as if the literary star that has been protecting the Zheng family for over a thousand years has reincarnated into her.

  What a pity it's a girl.

  Zheng Suxin has been fond of this little sister since she was a child.

  When Zheng Xiangrong was five years old, she suddenly fell into the pond in the backyard of the Zheng family. Her sister, Zheng Suhui, jumped into the pond and rescued her without hesitation.

  Since Zheng Xiang Rong was saved by Zheng Su Yun, the two sisters have become even closer, like one person.

  Zheng Suxin walked along the corridor, recalling her sister's voice and smile, and couldn't help but shed tears.

  "Where is mother?" Zheng Suheng asked while walking.

  She asked her mother, who was of course her stepmother Kang Shi, also Zheng Xiang Rong's biological mother.

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  New book seeking recommendation votes and collection.

  ……