Chapter 766: Chapter 579: The Crime of Presumption
The remaining 10 people inside the hall were dressed differently, clearly representing various identities. Soon the door opened, Steward Wu sized everyone up for a moment, then slightly nodded his head and simultaneously cautioned, "Ladies and gentlemen, I am about to take you to meet our Manor Master. Remember your statuses—it is imperative that you do not ask questions you should not ask, and do not speak of matters you should not speak of. Once this matter is successfully concluded, the benefits promised to you will not be shortchanged."
After speaking, everyone followed Steward Wu and his group as they walked outside. Meanwhile, Yang Xiao noticed that a servant who did not follow the others simply stood outside the attic door holding a red lantern adorned with the character for longevity, until Yang Xiao and his group had left the courtyard and the figure had vanished.
"Ladies and gentlemen, there are some things our Manor Master cannot discuss with you. I will speak frankly now: Fushou Manor is no ordinary household; it has to its credit distinguished services. The rules here are many, and now that you are here, you are expected to adhere to them. Do you understand?" Steward Wu crossed his hands inside his sleeves, stood up straight, and wore an expression of shared honor.
This facade was indeed annoying, but, as they say, ’When you’re under someone’s roof, you have to bow your head.’ So, the crowd had no choice but to vocally comply, ensuring they would act properly and abide by the rules.
The courtyards of the manor were one within another, much larger than Yang Xiao had anticipated, and the decor was also quite splendid. Not just splendid, but powerful, filled with an air of nobility. Yang Xiao judged that this family was not merely wealthy gentries or businessmen; they were of official status, and apparently not of a minor position.
Soon after, they arrived at a grand courtyard, which must have been the core area within Fushou Manor; even the walls of the courtyard were significantly taller than those along the path they had walked.
At that moment, the courtyard was enveloped in an ominous dark red light from the large red lanterns hanging under the eaves and tree branches. Yet, from afar, the lights did not evoke a festive atmosphere, but rather, an inexplicable eeriness.
As they stepped into the courtyard, a group of people came out to greet them, surrounding a sedan chair. Steward Wu explained upon seeing it, "This is our Manor Master. Today, the Master is suddenly feeling cold and cannot meet guests directly; speaking through the sedan curtain will suffice."
Soon, the sedan chair came up to them. Since Yang Xiao and others were filial guests, and a change in clothing meant no rituals of respect except for today’s longevity celebration,
behind a thick curtain, Yang Xiao and the others could only vaguely see through the light cast by the lanterns a figure inside the sedan chair.
"Manor Master, they are here," Steward Wu moved to the window of the sedan chair and respectfully spoke through the curtain.
"Ladies and gentlemen, today... today you are assisting Fushou Manor, this favor... we... we will not forget, "Hai... Hai Hai..."
His speech was intermittent, breaking off with violent coughs. This did not seem like the minor cold that Steward Wu had nonchalantly mentioned, but rather as if the lamp was burning out. Suddenly, a bold speculation sprang up in Yang Xiao’s mind—could it be that today’s longevity celebration was not for some ancestor, but for the Manor Master in this sedan?
Even though formalities were unnecessary, basic respect still needed to be upheld. Yang Xiao and the others bowed their heads, only glancing surreptitiously at the Manor Master within the sedan through the corners of their eyes. Amidst the coughing, the figure inside the sedan shook constantly. At this moment, Yang Xiao noticed that the figure seemed to be a frail old man, but curiously, the man’s head was unusually large in comparison to his body, which made it seem grotesquely as if someone had taken another’s head and placed it atop his own neck.
However, as Yang Xiao observed more closely, he realized this was not the case. The peculiarity lay in the old man’s face... it appeared he was wearing a mask.
"Hai... Hai Hai..." After the severe coughing subsided, the old man steadied his voice, weakly saying, "Let Steward Wu explain the details. I’ll just say this: today is a significant day for our Manor, and in front of the Ancestor, you must all follow the rules."
After pausing for a few seconds, the Manor Master let out a sound like someone on the brink of death, which made Yang Xiao and his group feel anxious for him. They were not so worried about the Manor Master’s health, but rather feared that if he suddenly died at such a crucial moment, they might be blamed for his death. They worried this could escalate to accusations that their presence had hastened his demise.
Fortunately, after a moment’s rest, the Manor Master caught his breath and continued in a halting voice, "Also... also remember, the Ancestor has a rare ’Life Chart,’ and on such... such a day of longevity, it might attract some... some Evil Spirits. The manor has prepared for this... this is something you can be assured of. Once the longevity celebration starts, no matter what happens, you... you must not fear, not panic, panicking... breeding chaos."
"Follow... follow the rules; everything must be done according to the rules to ensure safety. The Ancestor will also... also protect us."
Although he originally intended to say only a few words, the Manor Master ended up saying much more. However, Yang Xiao’s thoughts lingered on one point.
Evil Spirits...
Indeed, there was more to Fushou Manor than met the eye. An old person’s birthday is typically a joyous occasion, and the ancients generally regarded longevity in elders as auspicious. Yet, some Evil Spirits would also target these elders on their birthdays, seeking to use the elder’s longevity aura for their own tribulations.
Generally speaking, reaching the age of 70, known as the ’rare age,’ can be considered a minor fortune, while reaching 80 to 90 years old, known as the ’advanced aged,’ is deemed great fortune.
And beyond the age of 90, reaching the stage of ’Scheduled Meal,’ i.e., 100 years old, such events often see local officials personally attending the celebration or sending gifts. This is done both to congratulate the elder and to partake in the auspicious atmosphere.
