Huh?
A slight jolt went through Li Wanming's heart.
Madam Kang was standing right there, while she herself was kneeling down below, paying respects. Didn't this amount to bowing to her in a roundabout way?
By rights, Li Wanming was supposed to be paying homage to the ancestors of the Xiao family. No one should have been standing in front of the memorial tablets; otherwise, it would be a sign of disrespect to the ancestors.
However, since the Prince and Princess of Ning were absent, Madam Kang was the eldest elder in the mansion, and no one dared to scold her for her improper behavior.
Moreover, if Li Wanming were to pick a fight with her over this, it would only make her seem petty and narrow - minded, disrespectful to her elders.
Madam Kang's move was equivalent to taking advantage of Li Wanming. She had given her a subtle warning, but left her with no way to complain.
Fine, I'll endure...
Li Wanming took a deep breath in her heart, suppressing her annoyance.
After all, in terms of seniority, Madam He was an elder. During annual festivals and tomb - sweeping days, she would surely have to kneel before her. One more or one less time wouldn't make much of a difference.
Once she thought this through, Li Wanming stopped dwelling on it. She averted her eyes and quietly knelt down to pay homage. Her movements were graceful and dignified, and there was not a single flicker of emotion on her face.
Madam Kang's expression remained unchanged. She still smiled faintly at Li Wanming, looking gentle and kind, as if she had really just stood there by accident and didn't feel that her actions were inappropriate at all.
Li Wanming kept reminding herself to be elegant and not to get angry. She just pretended that there was a toad in front of her...
It was a major event for the new bride to pay her first homage to the ancestors, and she had to perform the grand ceremony of three kneels and nine kowtows.
Li Wanming got up, knelt down, got up again, and knelt down once more. She knelt three times in total before taking the incense stick from a maid's hand.
She clasped her hands together, closed her eyes, and prayed for a moment. Then she got up and inserted the incense into the incense burner in front of the memorial tablets.
However, just as she finished inserting the incense and was about to turn away, there was a sudden strange noise above her head. Before she could look up, a dark - wood memorial tablet came crashing down with great force!
The copper - inlaid corner hit the ground right in front of her and then struck the incense burner. The incense burner was immediately knocked over, and the incense ash exploded like snowflakes. Even the incense stick she had just inserted was broken in half and rolled aside.
"It's the memorial tablet of the Xiao family's ancestors!" Madam Kang's shrill scream rang out instantly, almost piercing the roof beams.
Li Wanming looked back and saw that Madam Kang's face had turned deathly pale at just the right moment. She covered her chest with a trembling voice and said, "The ancestral memorial tablet has fallen... The ancestors of the Xiao family have shown their spirits!"
After saying that, she "plop" knelt down, looking terrified. Only a faint, triumphant sneer was hidden at the corner of her lips.
Seeing this, the servants inside and outside the room also knelt down one after another. In an instant, there was a loud rustling sound as they all knelt. In the entire ancestral hall, only Li Wanming and Qinglan were left standing there stupidly, looking extremely out of place.
Li Wanming was still in a daze, but Qinglan had already knelt down nimbly. And before Madam Kang could say anything else, she quickly spoke up. Her clear voice was like the morning light dispelling the gloom in the room:
"The Princess of the Heir Apparent is paying her first visit to the ancestors of the Li family today, and this has attracted the ancestors to show their spirits. It must be because the ancestors like our Princess of the Heir Apparent! That's why they couldn't wait to fly down from above to take a good look at her!"
Before her voice faded, she lifted her skirt and knelt forward two steps. Then she picked up the fallen memorial tablet from the ground and quickly stuffed it into Li Wanming's hands.
"Princess of the Heir Apparent, the ancestors of the Xiao family like you. Hurry up and say a few words to the ancestors!"
Madam Kang stared with wide eyes at this sudden turn of events. She stammered, "You're talking nonsense. The falling of the memorial tablet is clearly a sign of great..."
"Great joy! It's a sign of great joy!" Qinglan responded extremely quickly, and her voice was even louder than before. "Princess of the Heir Apparent, look, even Second Madam thinks so!"
She tilted her head up. Her usually gentle eyes now flashed with a determined light. For a moment, she was like a mother beast protecting her cubs...
Li Wanming gave her a grateful look. She took the memorial tablet with an obvious crack on its base and gently placed it on the sacrificial table. Then she bowed again and said in an extremely humble tone:
"I'm deeply honored to receive the ancestors' favor on my wedding day. From now on, I will surely be respectful and gentle, and manage the household diligently. I will never let the ancestors down!"
Over there, Qinglan had already stood up. She quickly cleaned up the incense burner and the incense ash. Then she took another incense stick in her hand and stood respectfully aside, waiting for Li Wanming to continue the ceremony.
Li Wanming let out a silent wail in her heart, and then began to perform the grand ceremony of three kneels and nine kowtows with dignity and solemnity once again.
While wailing, she let out a long sigh of relief.
Fortunately, Qinglan had reacted quickly. Otherwise, this might have cost her half her life!
On the day of the homage, for the ancestral memorial tablet to fall right on top of her head, this was definitely not a good omen!
Put lightly, it meant that the ancestors didn't like her, the great - great - great - great - granddaughter - in - law. Put seriously, it meant that she was an ill - fated person with an evil aura, which had angered the ancestors!
Madam Kang's move was really vicious.
If they could prove that she was an ill - fated person disliked by the ancestors, Madam Kang could not only firmly hold the power of managing the mansion in her hands but also shift the blame onto her and label her as a "jinx".
This was not a good reputation!
Once she was identified as a jinx, Li Wanming's days in the Prince of Ning's mansion would surely be extremely difficult. Especially now that the Prince, Princess, and Xiao Jingnan were all absent, and there was no one to stand up for her, she would only be at the mercy of Madam Kang!
Rage welled up in Li Wanming's heart. She恨不得tear Madam Kang apart right away, but her face remained calm, even showing a hint of joy as if she had received the ancestors' favor.
No matter how vicious Madam Kang was, it would be extremely unwise for her to fall out with Li Wanming on her wedding day.
Fine, endure... I'll keep enduring!
While cursing in her heart, Li Wanming knelt down and got up quickly. Before Madam Kang could react, she had completed the grand ceremony of three kneels and nine kowtows once again.
Everything seemed as if nothing had happened.
The only difference was that now Li Wanming had become someone whom the ancestors of the Xiao family had "expressed their liking" for.
After the homage, Li Wanming casually pulled Madam Kang over. Looking at the memorial tablet that had once been at the top but was now placed in the middle, she said with a bright smile:
"Come to think of it, I may have received the ancestors' favor thanks to Second Aunt. If Second Aunt hadn't called me to pay homage at this very moment and placed the cushion in that position, how could such a wonderful fate have occurred? Second Aunt, am I right?"
She smiled brightly and charmingly, with just the right amount of shyness, as if she were truly grateful to Madam Kang.
Madam Kang's face changed several times. Her nails dug deeply into her palms, but she could only maintain a kind smile and say, "Naturally. You're so smart. The ancestors will like you at first sight."