Chapter 1436 - 779: Haunted House (Double-Length)

"A child's name should not be decided too early, when they are just born, their souls are light and easily startled, the three disasters and eight difficulties are not yet passed, deciding on a name hastily is like lighting a lamp in the wind; if lit too early, the flame is small and the wind is strong..."

"The name is originally meant to be used after the hundredth day banquet, we're just deciding in advance, we won't be going back that soon."

"...A hundred days is not enough, it's best to wait three years for safety."

"That's too long to wait..."

"I'm speaking from the bottom of my heart!"

Yin Weiyin became anxious.

Clearly, it's his own child, how can someone else, let alone a woman, preemptively name it!

And it's not just anyone, it's the Princess; Lin Wanxiao is currently residing at her Nanjiang Royal Mansion, practically at her mercy.

Seeing Chen Yi showing obvious impatience, he must not continue to persuade, otherwise he might cause suspicion and distrust.

He needs to write a letter and send it to urge Lin Wanxiao to change it quickly!

The carriage slowly moved forward, and Chen Yi couldn't guess the subtle hints in Yin Weiyin's heart, only thinking that Yin Weiyin actually loved and cared, even though he was jealous because of Lin Wanxiao's pregnancy, but after the jealousy faded, he still had consideration for the child; with this thought, he felt somewhat guilty towards his Great Yin.

He lifted the curtain, letting more of the exterior landscape in, the mountain scenery after the rain imbued with moisture, pleasing the heart and the spirit.

Donggong Ruoshu woke up, taking out a piece of flatbread to eat, squeezing rudely beside Chen Yi, leaning against the window to look out, her chest pressing against the carriage wall, forming a very elastic curve.

Chen Yi felt like using Sword Qi to cut open a corner of the clothes.

Before, he liked to slowly tear and cut, enjoying the sensation of slowly peeling it open, but sometimes he was too obsessed, so much so that Qin Qingluo later would undress herself, knowing that even her casual attire was extremely valuable and shouldn't be wasted in such a way.

If it were Min Ming, Chen Yi might have just done it, but unfortunately, it was a stupid girl, looking at that face, he felt somewhat disinterested, so Chen Yi moved aside a bit, thinking that since Miss Donggong had finally woken up, he should ask about the customs and culture of Western Jin.

Miss Donggong was at least smart back in the day, her childhood carefree, remembering a lot about these things; to avoid interrupting her train of thought and to relieve the boredom on the road, Chen Yi let her recount them one by one, so she began with the Yuwen Family of the current Western Jin Royal Family. The Yuwen Family, originating from the Xianbei, was already a leading noble family on the grassland, having occupied the north during the chaotic times before the establishment of Great Yu, being a major power whose prime territory stretched from the Liao Sea in the east to the Gua State in the west. Yet, after Great Yu was established and launched the northern expedition, coupled with internal strife in the Jin Family, they lost the Liao Sea area and now their territory roughly spans the Momen North Grassland, the Central Pass area west of Tongguan, and Bashu Land, its core region equivalent to half the Liao Kingdom plus the Western Xia territory during the Song and Liao era.

As for Bashu, to the Western Jin established by nomads, it is somewhat an unnecessary but also precious place, thus border controls are lax, the government is not prominent, and the local customs are simple with a distinct Bashu flavor, apart from having more of the Jin style.

The geography nurtures its people, having been to Shantong City once, Chen Yi has seen the great differences between the customs and culture of the Northwest and the Central Plains. Built originally in Jiankang Prefecture as the founding site of the Grand Ancestor Emperor and then establishing order in the south, thus even though the capital was later moved to what was then called Kaifeng Prefecture, the foundations of the Great Yu Dynasty were set, many customs originated from Wu and Chu regions, emphasizing elegance and warmth, complete with rituals, with most food and clothing being of southern flavor, abundant rice, detailed soups, elaborate tea ceremonies, muted clothing colors, even the sequence and arrangement of bowls and cups in banquets are particular in their southern style.

"When I came to your Great Yu, I found it troublesome." Donggong Ruoshu complained, resting her face on the window frame.

Yin Weiyin slightly frowned, having disliked Miss Donggong's behaviors all along the way, he spoke plainly: "The barbarian who has a lord is not as good as the culture that's been lost in our land."

Isn't this just calling them barbarians? Donggong Ruoshu frowned, even being a fool she could hear it.

Wanting to retort, Yin Weiyin seemed to have anticipated it and said, "A servant must not argue with a layman."

The stupid girl was stunned, indeed she was now posing as a maidservant of the female crown, realizing this, she felt it inappropriate to retort now; if she doesn't suppress the urge, what if she lets it slip afterward?

She gave a grunt, turned her head, sticking most of her body out of the carriage window, leaving her back to the inside, and went back to admiring the scenery by herself, muttering some dialect words under her breath, generally not good words.

Chen Yi watched the silent confrontation between these two and found it amusing.

He shook his head, then continued along Donggong Ruoshu's topic and asked, "You said the customs of Western Jin differ greatly from the Central Plains, so regarding ordinary people's marriages, funerals, weddings, and holidays, are there any peculiarities? For example, how do you celebrate the New Year there?"

Donggong Ruoshu furrowed her brows, her attention diverted, shrank back with some thought and replied, "New Year? Ancestor and heaven worship are indispensable. Our Jin Family, though originating from Xianbei, also adhere to some old Han rites after moving to the Central Pass. After the Imperial Great Court Meeting in the palace during the New Year, there are often elaborate 'Five Outskirts Welcoming Spirit' ceremonies, praying for good harvests, it's very grand. The common folk don't have such complexity, mostly worshipping ancestors, mountain gods, and river gods, offering animals' blood and sharing the meat. The big households in Chang'an and Luoyang, however, mimic you in the south by hanging peach charms and drinking pepper and pine wine, but it's never as satisfying as gathering around a yurt on the grassland, roasting whole lambs, and eagerly gulping down fermented milk!"

"Sounds like it has some ancient charm." Chen Yi nodded, considering how Western Jin inherited old grassland customs while incorporating Han family rituals, this mix of nomadic and Han influences, with both civil and military elements, makes for a plausible New Year scene.