My aunt is Queen Ma

Chapter 31: Immortality (Title Party)

The look that Empress Ma gave Ma Yu was no longer just admiration, but also satisfaction.

This nephew was absolutely right.

Thinking of this, she smiled and said, "I should have given you a gift, but I didn't expect that you, Yu'er, would give me such a big surprise first."

"Well, I don't know what you like, so let's put it this way."

"Just tell me what you want. As long as it's not the sun in the sky, I'll give it to you."

Ma Yu muttered in his heart, "I want to be the emperor, can I?" But he said modestly:
"What are you talking about, Aunt? Isn't it only natural for me to help you?"

Empress Ma was even happier and said, "Haha...Okay, okay, it was my aunt who said the wrong thing."

"We are one family, so we should keep our separate words."

"But I can't be stingy. I'll discuss this with His Majesty and decide on a reward for you."

Ma Yu did not refuse this time, but curled his lips and said:
"Who cares about the reward from Emperor Zhu? If it weren't for my aunt, I wouldn't bother saying this."

Empress Ma couldn't help but laugh and said, "How can you be so vindictive, child?"

"But, aunt, this is what I like to hear. Let's see if Zhu Chongba dares to act arrogantly in front of me again in the future."

At this time, Zhu Chong jumped out and said, "Third Brother, how is it? Do you want to continue the competition?"

Zhu Gang glared at him in dissatisfaction, but then bowed to Ma Yu and said:

"Zhu Gang greets my cousin. I apologize for any offense I have just caused. I hope you will forgive me."

Ma Yu quickly dodged and said, "Third Prince, there's no need to do this. If it were me, I would probably do the same as you."

Zhu Biao stood up, took the hands of the two men, one on the left and one on the right, and said:

"You guys are like, 'No fight, no acquaintance.'"

"If it weren't for this competition between my third brother and me, my cousin Yu wouldn't have known about the Yellow River's change of course."

"Maybe we'll miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to turn things around."

"So, this is an opportunity arranged by God. It will surely become a beautiful story in the future."

Upon hearing this, the discomfort on Zhu Gang's face immediately disappeared, and he became a little excited instead.

No matter how smart he is, he is still a teenager, at the age when he is full of fantasies about the future.

He really loves opportunities, good stories and the like.

The slight resentment in my heart also disappeared, leaving only admiration for Ma Yu's talent.

Ma Yu couldn't help but secretly praise Zhu Biao. He was indeed worthy of being called Zhu Biao. He easily resolved the awkward atmosphere.

It also created an opportunity for the two to become friends.

Thinking of this, he also jokingly said: "Alas, it's a pity that this competition could not be completed."

"People who write stories will have less material, and I don't know if they will complain about us."

Zhu Biao smiled and said, "Then let them complain..."

Zhu Chong interjected, "I think they'll make up stories to complete the competition process. Actually, I'm really looking forward to how they'll come up with it."

Zhu Di also squeezed over and said, "How about we spread the news quietly and see what those storytellers will say?"

Everyone laughed when they heard his bad idea.

The children were able to get along harmoniously, especially the second and third children, who had been somewhat at odds with each other, could now joke with each other, which made Empress Ma even happier.

Ma Ye was envious.

Mr. Ma finally decided not to leave for the time being.

This Ma Yu looks very reliable. Maybe he can help me live a good life.

But after all, we are not real blood relatives, so I have to find a way to have a good relationship with him.

He couldn't help but start thinking about how to please Ma Yu.

Afterwards, Empress Ma asked Master Ma Ba and Ma Ye to return home first:
"Go back and clean up the house, and then arrange a place for Yu'er to live. From now on, that will be your residence."

Mr. Ma Ba naturally understood what it meant and quickly took Ma Ye home.

The main room was vacated for Ma Yu to live in, and all the family property was registered, and the keys to various gatehouses were also prepared.

Wait until Ma Yu comes back and hand it all over.

In the palace.

Empress Ma then asked Ma Yu, Zhu Biao and others to go outside to build relationships:

"When His Majesty is done with his work, we will have a family feast together, Yu'er, and then you can return home."

She stayed in the room and wrote down everything Ma Yu had just said.

And they began to think about how to publicize this matter and how to create a public opinion advantage for the royal family.

Ma Yu followed Zhu Biao and the other three to the garden pavilion and sat down.

Zhu Chong was the first to speak, jokingly saying, "Old Ma, aren't you very dissatisfied with my father? You even said you'd rather jump into the Yangtze River than be a loyal subject of the Ming Dynasty."

"Why did you change your mind?"

Looking at his second brother who was acting weird, Zhu Biao showed a helpless expression, but he didn't stop him.

Sometimes, some things are better to be talked out.

He was also really confused as to why Ma Yu would so easily agree to be his mother's nephew.

After all, it means he'll have to give up his last name.

For an ordinary person, being the queen's nephew is an honor.

But based on Ma Yu's performance so far, he felt that something was amiss.

Zhu Gang and Zhu Di were a little surprised. This cousin had always had a prejudice against their father?

Although Ma Yu could not guess their thoughts, he knew that some things had to be explained clearly as soon as possible.

Otherwise it will arouse unnecessary suspicion.

Hearing Zhu Chong's question, he said: "I am only a nephew to my aunt, but I never said I would be the emperor's obedient subject."

"You have to understand these two things clearly, and..."

At this point, he showed a cunning smile: "As my aunt's nephew, if I criticize the emperor again in the future, he can only listen no matter how angry he is, and he can't do anything to me."

“It makes me happy just thinking about it.”

Zhu Biao and his four brothers were all a little confused. What did that mean? Being my mother's nephew is just to openly tease my father, right?

It’s consistent with Ma Yu’s previous performance.

After a long while, Zhu Chong raised his thumb and said:
"Lao Ma, you are this, I am convinced."

Zhu Di was also confused and felt that his cousin was too brave. He even dared to challenge his terrifying father.

Zhu Gang felt that his cousin was a bit too bold, and it seemed that he had to get to know him again.

Zhu Biao showed a helpless expression again. It seemed that there would be some trouble in this family in the future.

Then he casually asked, "What about your original surname? You can't let the incense there be cut off, right?"

Ma Yu did not answer directly, but said:

"Our family's heritage is very unique. We divide death into three types."

Zhu Gang asked curiously, "Three kinds?"

Ma Yu nodded and said, "Yes, the first one is social death."

"To put it bluntly, you've been marginalized by the world. No one is willing to accept you anymore, and no one wants to mention you anymore."

"It's like death in society as a whole."

The four brothers had different expressions.

Zhu Biao, Zhu Chong and Zhu Gang all looked deep in thought. Being marginalized by the entire society, there was indeed no difference between being alive and being dead.

Zhu Di scratched his head. That person was so miserable that he ended up in such a state.

"The second kind of death is physical death."

"This is easy to understand. When a person dies, he is sealed in a coffin and buried."

"The third kind of death is spiritual death." "No one remembers you anymore, and all traces of your existence disappear."

"But on the other hand, as long as someone still remembers you, you are not truly dead."

"The immortality of the spirit is the true immortality."

Zhu Biao couldn't help but nod in agreement, as if these three types of death could be applied to everyone.

As expected, it is a family with a unique heritage, and they can always summarize experience from another perspective.

Ma Yu waited until the three of them (Zhu Di?) had almost digested the information before continuing:

"Our family teaches our children that as long as they are alive, they must find their place in society."

"Even if you have to dig out manure, you can't become a completely useless person."

This time, only Zhu Biao nodded in approval, while Zhu Chong and Zhu Gang were somewhat disapproving.

Digging out manure? You'd be better off dead.

Ma Yu ignored their thoughts and continued, "Let's talk about spiritual death."

"For most people, there's only one way to deal with spiritual death, scion."

"As long as their descendants continue and their incense burns continuously, there will always be people who remember them."

"There are still a small number of people who can pass on their names and ideas through literary works."

"Some of them became emperors, generals and ministers, leaving their names in history books and being known to future generations."

Zhu Biao's mind was moved, and he said, "This coincides with what Zuo Zhuan said about the three immortals."

Establish virtue, make achievements and speak out.

If you can do one of these things, your name will be recorded in history and your spirit will live forever.

In the past, he did not have a deep understanding of the Three Immortals, but after listening to Ma Yu's words, he couldn't help but have many insights.

Ma Yu thought to himself, that’s very well said.

I was afraid you wouldn’t believe me, so now you have found the footnotes yourself, saving me the trouble of explaining them.

So I simply said:

"This is exactly what the elders of the clan concluded based on the Three Immortals and their own thoughts."

The three brothers nodded in understanding without any doubt.

Ma Yu was very happy to see that he had successfully fooled them, and continued:

"But the elders in the clan believe that relying on bloodline inheritance is actually the most unreliable."

"A turmoil could wipe out our descendants."

"Even if some descendants manage to escape with their lives, it's still unclear whether they can remember who their ancestors are."

"In fact, except for a few large families, it is difficult for most people to know who their ancestors were ten generations ago."

"There are many more. We might as well find a famous person in history and force him to be our ancestor."

After these words were spoken, Zhu Biao's expression became extremely unnatural.

Zhu Gang also silently turned his gaze away. This cousin was so bold that he actually dared to tease my father like that.

Zhu Chong looked indifferent. Lao Ma would feel itchy all over if he didn't chirp for a day. He was used to it.

Only Zhu Di looked confused. He never thought that his father had been fooled into recognizing Zhu Xi as his ancestor.

Although Zhu Yuanzhang later came to his senses and gave up his plan to recognize his ancestors, he could not get over this dark history.

Ma Yu smiled secretly in his heart, Cricket succeeded.

He pretended nothing happened and continued:
"So the elders in the clan have always taught their children to pursue the Three Immortals."

"As for offspring, they don't place as much importance on it as other families."

Zhu Biao not only admired it, but also thought it was a grand goal and a family with great aspirations.

Zhu Gang questioned, "If that's the case, why haven't I seen your elders write books or biographies? Or did they use pseudonyms?"

Zhu Biao also realized that it was indeed the case.

They did not doubt Ma Yu's family's knowledge, as Ma Yu had already demonstrated a lot before.

Especially today's reasoning about the Yellow River is extremely exciting.

The key point is that this reasoning is not purely ideological, but can actually change the current social situation.

To put it in a broader sense, it determines the well-being of hundreds of millions of people and can influence the rise and fall of a dynasty.

Conversely, the knowledge possessed by Ma Yu's elders must have been even more profound and extensive.

However, since they want to keep their spirits immortal and have such profound knowledge, why don’t they publish a book?

Is it possible that he really published the book under a pseudonym?

Ma Yu was naturally prepared and said, "Because the Mongols refused to be sinicized."

Zhu Gang was still a little confused. Sinicization?
Zhu Biao and Zhu Chong, who had listened to several lectures before, suddenly realized.

"The Mongols refused to sinicize, so they were barbarians."

"As orthodox Chinese, how can we associate with barbarians? Let alone serve them?"

"So the elders would rather not have their spirits live on than publish books to help the Mongols oppress the Chinese people."

Zhu Biao praised: "Your elder's noble character is admirable."

Zhu Gang finally understood what it meant, but it was still difficult to comprehend.

The Mongols have already conquered the world, and so many people are working for them. Is your family willing to give up the chance to achieve the Three Immortals just for this?
But this did not prevent him from feeling admiration for the family behind Ma Yu.

This is the thinking of the Chinese people. They admire those who serve the country and benefit the world, and they also respect the hermits who pick chrysanthemums under the eastern fence.

At this time, Zhu Biao asked again: "Are there any books written by your elders in your family that are still extant?"

Ma Yu shook his head and sighed, "I don't know. During the chaotic times at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, my family suffered a series of disasters."

"My elders took me to various places, but I still couldn't find a place to settle down."

"Instead, there were fewer and fewer people around me, and eventually I was the only one left."

Zhu Gang wanted to ask something more.

Zhu Chong said first: "Don't ask about these sad things anymore. It will only add salt to his wounds."

Zhu Biao also nodded and said, "Let the past be the past. Now that you have us, you can live your life with peace of mind."

Although Zhu Gang was somewhat unwilling, he had to give up the idea of ​​asking further questions.

It’s not that he doubted Ma Yu’s identity, but he wanted to know the whereabouts of the family behind him and see if he could find those preserved books.

These are all priceless treasures.

Forget it, there is still a lot of time, it’s not too late to ask later.

He probably didn't want to see the family collection of books lost like this.

Zhu Chong patted Ma Yu's shoulder again and said:
"Don't do anything else in the future, just write down all the knowledge you have in your head into a book."

"Lest anything happen to you, and all these things be lost."

Ma Yu rolled his eyes and said, "Thank you so much, you really care about me."

Zhu Chong said with a smug look on his face: "Of course, we are brothers after all, I have to think about you."

Zhu Biao was very satisfied. The second brother was still very reliable and knew what I wanted to say.

This is something only he could say. If someone else said it, it would definitely cause unnecessary misunderstandings.

It can't be said to be a misunderstanding.

I can only say that when someone else says it, it seems too utilitarian.

It will destroy the tacit understanding that has been formed with great difficulty.

At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang's voice came from not far away: "What brother? How come we don't know?"

Everyone turned around and saw that Zhu Yuanzhang's face had become as black as the bottom of a pot.

(End of this chapter)