According to the rules, all the members of the royal family had to go around the city to show that they enjoyed themselves with the people before they could enter the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
At this moment, the scene of hundreds of officials following behind them was not something that could be seen under normal circumstances.
Lin Mengya sat in the sedan and had to maintain her elegant demeanor at all times.
In fact, it was quite tiring.
After a short while, Lin Mengya suddenly felt her back aching and legs cramping.
She wanted to stretch, but was afraid of being seen by the people, which would make Long Tianhao lose face.
Before she reached the halfway point, she felt that her neck could not bear the weight of her head.
The eight phoenix hairpins were genuine and were embedded with jewels. It was a pity that her neck had to bear such a heavy weight on such a thin neck.
Now, she only hoped that she could still move her neck when they arrived at the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
All the people around them knelt down to pay their respects. Piety and fear intertwined on the faces of those young and old people.
Lin Mengya suddenly understood why the people looked forward to a wise emperor. It was these people who created this country. But they could only live a peaceful life under the rule of a wise emperor.
Looking at Long Tianhao's back, Lin Mengya thought that the Crown Prince was destined not to be a wise emperor. In that case, would he be the best choice?
The sedan brought the members of the royal family all the way to the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
Inside, the officials from the Ministry of Rites had already prepared everything. Before the Heaven-worshipping Ceremony began, Lin Mengya and Long Tianhao had to wait in the side hall.
Although she had to attend only a few parts of the Heaven-worshipping Ceremony.
But as the daughter-in-law of the royal family, she had to watch the whole process.
The embroidered shoes on her feet looked very beautiful, but if she had to stand for the whole afternoon, she would be crippled.
Sitting in the side hall, Lin Mengya's four maidservants were waiting on her. The four maidservants had been following her for the whole morning. Their backs were aching, but they gritted their teeth and persevered.
"When I go out to participate in the Heaven-worshipping Ceremony, all of you can have a good rest here. After all, I have an aunt from the palace to guide me. There won't be any mistakes. "
The Crown Prince and the Empress had to be the first to offer sacrifices. Of course, they would say some auspicious words such as praying for good weather. Then, the princes and dukes would bring their wives to pay their respects. Finally, the Crown Prince would bring all the civil and military officials to pay their respects.
The whole process was strictly controlled by the etiquette officer. Every move had to be regulated.
However, this was indeed related to the country, so no one dared to make a mistake.
The four maidservants nodded. Finally, Lin Mengya insisted and they nodded reluctantly.
"Princess, the ceremony has begun. Please come out and join us."
Outside, the ceremonial officer said respectfully. Lin Mengya straightened her clothes and walked out of the door solemnly.
Heh, this scene was not small at all.
When she was in modern times, she had also seen modern people imitating ancient sacrificial ceremonies.
However, compared to the current situation, it was only superficial.
Modern people just wanted to have fun. Either that, or it was for local tourists or something. Both the appearance and the posture were there. What was lacking was sincere prayer like in ancient times.
Whether it was the royal family or the common people, they all seemed to hope that God would have mercy on them and bring them a harvest and joy in the new year.
Although Lin Mengya didn't understand it, she was infected by the atmosphere. Perhaps she should really pray sincerely. After all, such a ridiculous thing as a soul crossing over had happened to her, hadn't it?
"The Winter Festival Sacrificial Ceremony begins —"
The etiquette officer, who was wearing a dark red suit, said in a deep and deep voice. Even if he was standing at the back, he could hear it clearly.
The noisy main hall of the Imperial Ancestral Temple suddenly became quiet. Everyone lowered their heads and kept quiet, for fear of alarming the Celestial Being.
In the hands of the etiquette officer, there was a golden Emperor's Will. In front of everyone, he recited the prayers loudly.
Lin Mengya stared at the altar in front of her and thought about what Lord Qin had told her. In a while, she only needed to follow Long Tianhao, bow and kowtow to him, and then obediently become a pillar. That was all.
In the main hall of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, everyone was sincerely kowtowing.
Lin Mengya also knelt in her position. From her angle, she could see everyone's situation.
The Empress was wearing a bright yellow suit and a high phoenix crown, which made her look extremely noble and elegant.
The Crown Prince, who was kneeling beside her, was also wearing a bright yellow suit. In such a large altar, only the mother and son stood out from the others.
Lin Mengya sneered in her heart. Perhaps, in their hearts, the Empress and the Crown Prince were the noblest beings in the world.
However, she insisted on dragging these two people down from their high pedestals.
The revenge for Elder Sister Yue Ting had always been lingering in her heart, like a thorn in her heart, and she couldn't forget it for a long time.
After the Empress and the Crown Prince bowed three times and kowtowed nine times, it was the royal relatives' turn.
Soon, it was Lin Mengya and Long Tianhao's turn. As usual, she and Long Tianhao had to receive the incense from the incense burner by the ceremonial officials before they could go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to pay their respects.
The ceremonial official, who was wearing a dark red suit, walked around Lin Mengya, but when he saw the phoenix embroidered on her dress, his expression changed.
"Princess Yu, is there anything wrong with your attire?"
Under the music, the ceremonial official's question was not very obvious.
But Lin Mengya turned to look at the ceremonial official, and said with a calm smile,
"This was sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. I have also taken a look, and there is nothing wrong with it."
The more the ceremonial official looked at the dress, the more complicated the expression on his face became. Finally, he trotted all the way to find the chief eunuch who was in charge of the Heaven-worshipping Ceremony.
"Eunuch Huang, quickly go and have a look. Something big is going to happen!"
Eunuch Huang, who was serving the Empress, glared at the ceremonial official, pulled him aside, and asked in a low voice, "I think you're too sensitive.
"I think you're too sensitive. How can you talk about this kind of thing so carelessly? If you offend the nobles, be careful of your head! "
The ceremonial official did not dare to say anything else. He leaned over to Eunuch Huang and explained the situation in detail.
"This is a serious matter, so I dare not speak carelessly. Have you really seen it clearly, and there is no falsehood in it? "
The ceremonial official nodded immediately. This was a serious matter, and he could lose his head. If he was wrong, not to mention Eunuch Huang, even the ministers in the imperial court would skin him alive.
"Alright, I understand. You can leave now. I have to report to Her Highness. Ask Princess Yu to wait in the side hall, and then go and invite some of the older relatives to come over. "
The marching procession came to a slight halt because of Lin Mengya's matter.
Long Tianhao frowned as he looked at Lin Mengya, who was calm and unruffled. He had clearly seen the ceremonial official's expression just now.
Could it be that something unexpected had cropped up?
"What's wrong?"
Long Tianhao had a bad feeling. He knew all too well what the Empress and the others were up to.
On this occasion, they would punish Lin Mengya with a just and honorable reason. It could not only stop people from gossiping, but also make General Lin flawless.
However, before they set off, he had carefully checked everything about Lin Mengya. Could it be that there was something wrong?
"It's alright. Go and worship the ancestors with peace of mind. Come and look for me when you're done. Don't let others say that you've delayed worshipping the ancestors because of a woman. "
From the day the gown was sent to her, Lin Mengya knew that the Empress would find fault with her at the memorial service.
However, she could not make a new gown, so she had to wear this over-the-top gown to attend the ceremony.
This ceremonial officer was clearly arranged by them long ago. Otherwise, how could it be so coincidental? He just happened to be able to see through such a small mistake.
This was indeed the Empress's way of doing things. She was meticulous and unavoidable.
"Your Highness, there's something wrong. I hope you can come with me."
Lin Mengya nodded and gave Long Tianhao a reassuring look. Then she strode to the side hall.
Outside, the ceremonial music was playing. All the royal relatives and nobles were worshipping the ancestors one by one. Only she was alone in the side hall, waiting for her unknown fate.
"Your Highness, I'm the chief eunuch of the sacrificial ceremony. Just now, the ceremonial official reported that there is something wrong with your gown, so he invited you to the side hall to check it out. Please don't take it to heart. "
The chief eunuch's words were reasonable, and Lin Mengya could not refuse.
"Well, you're right. We can't be careless about worshipping the ancestors. "
Lin Mengya sat up straight. The Empress had a good plan.
There was something wrong with her gown, so she could not enter the ancestral temple to worship the ancestors. At that time, even if she managed to escape, she would be labeled as someone who disrespected their ancestors.
If she could not escape, it would be even more disgraceful. Anyway, no matter which way she went, she was worried. Her situation was worrisome.
Of course, if it was the previous rule, at least she would say it was the fault of the ceremonial official.
But the Empress had already predicted that she would not be able to escape. This time, she would definitely put her to death.
Unfortunately, even her father was unable to protect her in this matter.
Eunuch Huang smiled apologetically and asked Lin Mengya to wait for a moment. Lin Mengya sneered in her heart. She was afraid that she would die in a moment.
"The Empress has arrived —"
"The Prince of Chongshan has arrived —"
"The Prince of Lishan has arrived —"
When the sacrificial ceremony was halfway through, the Empress led several royal relatives into the side hall.
Lin Mengya recognized all of them. What a good Empress! In order to clear herself of suspicion, she had found the upright and plainspoken representatives of the royal family.
Under the exquisite phoenix coronet, the pair of cold eyes seemed to look at her with some disdain and arrogance.
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