"Did you say that Ziqi and the others lost those two games on purpose?" Hua Rou asked, tossing and turning in bed, asking Yu'er who was sleeping beside her.

  "Do you think so too?"

  "I always feel that something is off, but they lost, so they can't participate in the trial... what good would it do for them to lose to me?"

  "Trials are definitely important, who wouldn't want the chance to obtain a secret recipe? As for what benefits there would be if we lose, it's not like we're them, so it's really hard to guess."

  Hua Ruo sighed: "It's precisely because I couldn't figure it out that I'm confused and can't be certain."

  "Let's just say whether it's intentional or not, we'll see about that! A fox will always show its tail, let's be more careful and on our guard!"

  "It's just like this."

  "Sleep tight, we still have an early celebration tomorrow!"

  The two of them turned over and fell asleep separately.

  The door is celebrating, but it's a big day for the Tang family once a year. This year, there's also a trial, and grandma said something more solemn, so it's particularly particular.

  First, it is the overall layout of Tangmen.

  Apart from the red lanterns and streamers hung everywhere, three arches similar to a paifang were set up on the main road that runs through the square all the way to the high platform, and the huge eye sculpture on the high platform was also painted with gold paint, shining brightly.

  Secondly, the disciples of each house were divided into three waves of people:

  One wave was wearing everyday disciple attire, busily laying down a red brocade carpet on this road.

  A group of people dressed in black and red clothes stood lined up on the square, each person's face solemnly holding a clay-made head portrait.

  There is another wave of disciples who are participating in the grand ceremony of sacrifice, they will complete the agenda of the sacrifice later, wearing feathered robes.

  Down clothing is a garment with down sleeves and hem added to the outside of a large-sleeved shirt, which has different colors due to the needs of grand ceremonies.

  Hua Rou was this time a disciple of the sacrificial ritual, so she wore a white feathered robe, which made her look not only delicate and lovely, but also had a hint of ethereal elegance between her eyebrows.

  Tang Jiuer wore a cyan-gray feathered garment, paired with her usual icy expression, which made her look exceptionally solemn and dignified.

  "Is Ziqi still uncomfortable?" Seeing that Zihua walked out of the east wing with a feather sleeve and skirt in her arms, Tang Jiuer frowned displeasedly.

  "Yes, Master, she has a severe headache and says she's feeling weak all over." Zi Hua looked worried.

  "Then you go on her behalf, is the procedure clear?"

  "Got it," said Zihua with a nod, "I accompanied him to listen to the explanation of the ceremony yesterday."

  "You two, listen carefully. This ancestral worship ceremony cannot afford any mistakes, so be extremely careful. Linlin and I will go ahead first, you wait for the ritual to come and transmit the sound!" Tang Jiuer instructed, then took the lead and left the poisonous room with Linlin, who was holding a lacquer box.

  Huā Róu had already dressed, but Zǐ Huà hadn't yet. For the time being, Huā Róu and Yù ér could only help her tie up her feathered sleeves and skirt. At this moment, Lǐ Yí walked in carrying two qí pieces on poles. "These are your flags, take them quickly to the martial arts arena, the sacrifice is about to..."

  "Ugh!"

  The polite speaker had not finished speaking when suddenly Zi Hua turned around and started vomiting, which made the three of them stunned.

  "What's wrong?" Yu'er stared at Zi Hua with a defensive expression.

  The child vomited loudly and couldn't say a word.

  The foul smell and half-digested food made people feel nauseous, and the ritualists were even more annoyed: "The sacrifice is about to begin, how can you make a mistake at this time? Delaying the grand ceremony of sacrifice, do you want to be punished by the door rules?"

  "Sorry, let me see if there's another way..." Hua Rou said as she hurried forward to attend to Zi Hua's condition, trying to treat her. However, the etiquette officer shook his head: "No good, what can we do with her vomiting on the road like this? Is there anyone else?"

  "There's nobody left." Hua Rou felt helpless, who was still in this courtyard?

  The polite one pointed at Jade: "You come!"

  "Me?" Yu'er was taken aback: "But..."

  "Nothing else! No time! If you don't come to the top, we'll all be punished. Hurry up and change your clothes to go to the martial arts arena! It's about to start!"

  The ritualist finished speaking and hastily placed the flag on a stone table at the side before hurrying away.

  The child pulled down the sleeves of the feather jacket and stuffed them into Yu'er's arms, then pulled off his clothes and stuffed them into Hua Rou's arms: "You go, I want to go...go vomit..."

  The child said and turned his head and ran towards the toilet, while running, he vomited loudly.

  Yu'er and Hua Rou exchanged a glance, and Hua Rou nodded to her: "Change! Now it can only be like this, no matter whether it's true or fake illness, time is pressing, if something goes wrong, it will not be a good thing!"

  Yu'er didn't hesitate, immediately changed her clothes. Hua Rou helped her tie up her sleeves and skirt, then turned around to get the flag, preparing to hand one over to Yu'er. However, when handing it over, she froze in place, lowering her head to look at the flagpole.

  "What's wrong?" Yu'er reached out to take it, but Hua Rou withdrew her hand, which surprised her.

  Hua Rou looked up at Yu'er with a serious expression: "There is poison on this flagpole."

  "Damn it!" Yuer cursed and immediately rushed towards the east wing, kicking open the door: "You cheap...!"

  There was no one in the house at all, and the sick Zi Qi didn't know where he was.

  The child immediately ran towards the toilet again. Hua Rou glanced at the flagpole in her hand and quickly put it down, rushing into the warehouse to start preparing medicine by rummaging through boxes and cabinets.

  "That kid's gone too!" Before long, Yu'er came running back with a furious look on her face: "Those two scoundrels actually calculated us like this..."

  "Never mind them!" Hua Rou pounded the ingredients in the mortar: "Hurry up and help me find two sachets!"

  "What do you want with the sachet?" Yuer asked while searching through the shelves.

  "I've paired you with 'Miguo Xiang', which can counter the 'Baibu Zhen' on the flagpole. You and I will each bring one and complete the sacrificial ritual first, then tell Master when we return."

  "You mean we're going again?" Yu'er looked at Hua Rou with some surprise.

  "Why not go?" Hua Rou's face turned red with anger, her chin raised: "Think you can bully us? Now we're not only going, but also completing the ceremony beautifully!"

  ……

  The sacrificial ritual of the Tangmen must be completed by sunrise, so they are particularly mindful of time.

  The sky was tinged with a pale white, and the disciples had already taken their positions according to their respective stations.

  The martial arts arena has gathered the disciples participating in this ritual ceremony, everyone is divided into two columns on the left and right sides. On the left side, they are carrying pigs, sheep, cow heads, and fruit; on the right side, they are holding incense burners, jade, ivory tablets, and colorful canopies.

  Mu Junwu and Tang Yun represented the government house, carrying flags and standing in position according to the instructions of the ceremonial officers.

  As soon as it stopped, the murmurs of discussion around me turned into waves of applause.

  Tang Yun saw that everyone was looking at him, and he proudly raised his chin and straightened his waist. However, Tang Liu'er suddenly approached him and said to Miao Junwu:

  "We're all wearing the same clothes, so why are they praising you for being handsome? Am I not handsome?"