CHAPTER 215: CHAPTER 210 WINTER SOLSTICE

"In the early years, the Zhao Family’s Winter Solstice feast was the banquet held before the selection of officials. The clan leader would return home and incidentally meet the talented youth from various counties, getting a rough idea of the candidates. Even later on, when the clan leader didn’t return home, because he was the Great Central Justice Officer, talented youth from all counties would still come to participate in the Winter Solstice feast."

Zhao Hanzhang was dumbfounded, "So the Winter Solstice feast originates from the official selection process."

No wonder so many people aren’t celebrating the festival at home, but instead are traveling far to Xiping to attend a banquet.

Her heart was stirred, "Then aren’t there also noble families from outside Ru Nan County attending?"

"There are, but there shouldn’t be many this year," Ji Yuan said, "Firstly, because the clan leader has passed away, and secondly, because Yu State has also just gone through turmoil."

But this was sufficient for Zhao Hanzhang.

Ji Yuan said, "So, is the lady really not attending the feast?"

He said, "This opportunity is truly rare."

Zhao Hanzhang thought for a moment and then shook her head, "This matter is not urgent. I’ll still keep mourning for grandfather."

Ji Yuan did not think that people would believe the lady attending the feast would break any taboos, because most scholars are free-spirited, and etiquette and morality have long not been observed. Even if Zhao Hanzhang went, no one would attack her for failing to keep mourning.

In today’s scholarly society, apart from a very few people, who can truly remain clear-minded and abstinent to maintain mourning?

Zhao Hanzhang ambitiously seized Xiping County, so why not appear openly and seize power?

Zhao Hanzhang had her own plans. She did not intend to appear before people too early; currently, Xiping County was still too weak to weather disturbances.

And to experience fewer disturbances, there should be less attention on her, ideally aside from some individuals, others shouldn’t even think of her.

Fu Tinghan also thought so; when strength is insufficient, developing indecisively was always the best strategy.

One wonders if Zhao Ming also thought the same and did not urge Zhao Hanzhang to appear.

She didn’t return to Wu Castle; even when guests expressed the desire to see Zhao Hanzhang, Zhao Ming claimed they should visit the county government themselves and did not proactively introduce her.

Zhao Ming’s attitude gave people the impression that there isn’t such intimacy between the Xiping Zhao Family and Zhao Hanzhang, as if they are not entirely standing together.

Before they could reach a conclusion, Zhao Family’s Winter Solstice ceremony began.

Zhao Hanzhang led Zhao Erlang back to Wu Castle, changed into the ceremonial attire Mrs. Wang made for the siblings, and went orderly to the ancestral hall.

On the open space in front of the Zhao Family ancestral hall stood only the heads of each house and household leaders.

Zhao Hanzhang represented the main house and stood at the very front of the first row, with Zhao Erlang obediently following his sister.

Not far away stood Zhao Hu and his son, and the ceremony was presided over as usual by the Great Uncle and his son.

Zhao Ming has distributed the sacrificial meat for many years; this year, he was still the one doing it.

After praying with the sacrificial text and wishing the ancestors would bless Zhao Family with prosperity and peace in the coming year, Zhao Ming burned the sacrificial text, took up a knife, and began dividing the sacrificial meat.

The size and order of distributing the sacrificial meat were based on their identity and status.

When Zhao Changyu was present, the sacrificial meat naturally was distributed to him first. When he wasn’t, it should go to Zhao Zhongyu and his son first. Unfortunately, they weren’t present either, so it first went to Zhao Song.

The first group to receive the sacrificial meat were the elders and no one had opinions, but by the second group, it was Zhao Ming’s generation’s turn.

However, Zhao Ming cut a piece of meat, neither keeping it for himself nor offering it to his other brothers, but instead handed it directly to Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang reached out to take it.

Everyone was astonished, even Zhao Cheng couldn’t help but look at the two.

Zhao Ming didn’t explain anything and continued to cut another piece to give to Zhao Cheng.

Zhao Cheng, after a slight decline, accepted it...

After the fathers finished their share, only then did it come to Zhao Hanzhang’s generation. All the children brought by each family were in this generation, and they were only allowed to bring the eldest legitimate son. Some didn’t have children, or didn’t have a legitimate eldest son, so the number wasn’t large.

Zhao Ming cut a piece, thought for a bit, then decided to give it to Zhao Kuan first; Zhao Erlang was the fifth to receive it.

Zhao Hanzhang ate the meat while thinking, everyone said Zhao Ming was fair, and the distribution of sacrificial meat was quite balanced. Seeing today, indeed, he was fair.

This person seems to have no self-interest; as long as it is for the good of the clan, he can both retreat or advance.

Zhao Hanzhang lowered her eyes, took a big bite of the sacrificial meat; if Zhao Ming were the clan leader of Zhao Family, he wouldn’t allow her to use the clan’s power for personal development.

So having Zhao Ji as the Clan Leader has its advantages.

She pursed her lips and ate the sacrificial meat clean, taking out a cloth to wipe her hands.

After dividing and eating the sacrificial meat, the Winter Solstice ceremonial activities came to an end, and everyone could move to the garden for the feast.

Zhao Hu knew Zhao Hanzhang wouldn’t attend, so he purposely came to provoke, "Third Lady, aren’t you and Erlang going?"

Zhao Hanzhang flashed a smile, "Seventh Ancestor, Uncle will rest for two days after Winter Solstice, and then he’s going back to the county to continue teaching."

Zhao Hu was suddenly furious but didn’t dare to lose temper towards Zhao Hanzhang.

After Zhao Hanzhang invited Zhao Cheng to the county, he took Zhao Zheng along, and once gone, didn’t return.

Zhao Hu spent lavishly and bought a courtyard from the county government, hoping for the three-person family to live comfortably in the new residence.

Little did he know, Zhao Cheng was unwilling to leave the courtyard Zhao Hanzhang divided for him, and Zhao Hanzhang was adamant didn’t retract the courtyard.

Even though he bought a new residence in the county, he couldn’t see his grandson Zhao Zheng, let alone Zhou Cheng.

Feeling deceived, Zhao Hu furiously sought Zhao Hanzhang to settle accounts, demanding her to return the borrowed books and papers. However, he couldn’t get them back, and she pointed out the account books, saying he owed some taxes from previous years.

Would Zhao Hu repay?

Of course not!

Eventually, she sought Zhao Cheng, the rebellious child.

Zhao Cheng, that wastrel child, immediately led people back to Wu Castle and moved grains. Zhao Hu saw him only this time, and then again couldn’t see him.

Although Zhao Hu wasn’t smart, he had keen intuition. Every time he met Zhao Hanzhang, no good came of it. He internally sensed Zhao Hanzhang was difficult to provoke, yet... just couldn’t resist always provoking her.

It was mostly too infuriating because he kept losing.

After using words to turn Zhao Hu away, Zhao Hanzhang led Zhao Erlang to bid farewell to the elder generations.

As everyone watched her leave, maybe because their fright had settled, and the Xiongnu Army also retreated, someone began to think the power Zhao Hanzhang held wasn’t so intimidating and reliable, and said, "This child is truly disrespectful to her elders."

Zhao Ming said, "Uncle, let’s go now, they’re waiting for people at the feast over there."

The elders immediately followed Zhao Ming, asking, "Are all the clan’s younger members invited?"

"Yes, they should all be waiting in the garden."

The elders said, "This is your youth’s banquet, we’ll just drink in the side courtyard, you can go play."

They said, "This year isn’t the year for selecting officials, is there any query from Central Justice Officer?"

Zhao Ming said, "I didn’t invite the new Central Justice Officer."

Currently, Zhao Hanzhang was too conspicuous, and he didn’t want her to attract too much attention. So not only did he not invite, but he also specifically wrote a letter to He Ci Shi, explaining the turmoil of this year—people everywhere displaced, resulting in rampant theft, for the safety of Central Justice Officer, it was better not to attend Zhao Family’s Winter Solstice feast.

He claimed that this year’s Winter Solstice feast didn’t have many people, and few gentries from Ru Nan County attended, therefore it would be pointless to go.

Whether or not He Ci Shi believed it, the Central Justice Officer didn’t come.