Chapter 393: Jun Mingzhu: Legacy princess.
All members of the Jun family were gathered in the medium sized ancestral hall. It was in the side building, separated from the main house by a door that led to a flower garden which was a place they used to relax or hide away every once in a while.
The family had a bigger hall at their village home in E city where the family farms where. They preferred the one in the royal courts because it was convenient for everyone. And that was why it had been so easy for them to gather quickly on short notice.
Members of the Jun family--five generations, that gathered in the ancestral hall had somber looks on their faces. It almost looked like they had come together to mourn the death of a loved one.
The air was heavy with incense, and silent with respect. A gentle breeze swept through the cool hall whose walls were lined with rose wood. They whispered tales of filial piety and sacrifice that had raised the family to what it was now.
At the far end, out in front was the ancestral altar and above it, many small wooden tablets with identities of dead relatives.
The elders walked into the hall, led by the patriarch himself. A small procession followed him, carrying offerings like wine and paper money. Everyone got to their feet and so did Mingzhu.
She was very confused about what was going on and she watched it all with wide eyes. She wondered where her daddy was. Her small feet tried to carry her outside in search of him but her mother firmly turned her forward.
Mingzhu watched as her grandfather lit the incense and slowly bowed. Others followed, one by one, repeating the same actions. Even her mother walked forward and lit incense after firmly handing her off to her uncle Mingzhe.
And then, Mingzhu was pushed forward gently. She was nervous and uncertain. Her eyes kept darting back to her mother who nodded, assuring her that all was well. She took the incense, handed her by her grandfather. Then she bowed as she had seen others do.
The scent surrounded her and some smoke tickled her nostrils. She wondered what the others whose lips had moved as they bowed had been saying. Were they words of prayer or introductions? If they were introductions, she wanted to tell the ancestors that she was a princess.