The Ming Dynasty: My sister, Empress Ma

Zhu Biao nodded as if he understood, and then moved on to the next topic.

There were still some things Ma Wenyuan didn't say about the officials.

Criticizing the imperial examination system these days is simply too taboo.

"Why 'li' (吏) and not 'guan' (官)?"

Zhu Biao asked again, "Officials wield even more power..."

"The people who interact with ordinary citizens are mostly government officials. These officials are high above, how can ordinary people possibly see them?"

Ma Wenyuan felt that Zhu Biao was just making conversation.

He shouldn't be unaware of this principle.

What puzzled Ma Wenyuan was that even though he was speaking of the simplest of principles, Zhu Biao still bowed solemnly.

……

Fortunately, they soon arrived at the palace.

This forced conversation quickly came to an end.

The Ming Palace is actually quite large, and its layout is roughly divided into several sections.

The first layer consists of the Imperial City Gate and the Thousand-Step Corridor.

Ma Wenyuan entered through the Hongwu Gate, where the offices of the Six Ministries were located on both sides. After passing through the Thousand-Step Corridor, also known as the Imperial Street, he arrived at the second level.

The second layer consists of the palace gate and the Five Dragon Bridge.

Walk to the very end of the Imperial Street, and you'll reach the Meridian Gate.

Generally, once you get here, you can no longer ride in a carriage. Even someone as noble as Crown Prince Zhu Biao can only switch to a sedan chair or walk.

As for Old Zhu, he generally wouldn't choose to ride in a horse-drawn carriage.

So the group continued on foot.

Ma Wenyuan didn't mind walking a few steps, as it would give him a clearer view of the Ming Palace.

After entering the Meridian Gate, the Inner Five Dragon Bridge is located in the spacious square, and directly in front is the Fengtian Gate, the main gate of the Outer Court.

This is the third layer, the outer court.

Centered around the Fengtian Hall, Huagai Hall, and Jinshen Hall.

Old Zhu also specially took Ma Wenyuan to visit the Fengtian Hall.

It's like showing your nephews and nieces around your house.

Fengtian Hall is the main hall for holding important ceremonies. It is also the first golden palace in history to be named "Fengtian". The Wenlou (civil pavilion) and Wulou (military pavilion) are located on the left and right sides in front of the hall.

It can be said that Fengtian Hall was the place that Ma Wenyuan felt most like an imperial palace on the way there, with its magnificent gold and green walls.

Next comes the harem.

Ma Wenyuan felt that he was not suitable to go in.

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed with some regret, but did not insist.

Finally, they led Ma Wenyuan to a side hall.

"Dad usually prefers things to be simple at family gatherings," Zhu Biao explained with a smile.

Ma Wenyuan nodded in understanding.

Zhu Yuanzhang can be said to be the emperor who valued family ties the most throughout history.

Ma Wenyuan was stunned as soon as he stepped into the side hall.

What came into view was a scene of chaos and disorder.

Several children were wailing loudly, and some palace maids were trying their best to comfort them.

There were two or three others running around aimlessly, and a group of palace maids were desperately protecting them, afraid they would fall.

Two others were sitting upright in their seats, scoffing at their brother's behavior.

"That's the second son, Zhu Shuang, and the third son, Zhu Gang," Zhu Yuanzhang said with a smile. "Don't they look somewhat similar?"

Ma Wenyuan was startled and pointed to the boy in the corner.

"What is that person doing?"

The boy was playing with something indescribable.

Zhu Yuanzhang's face darkened as he looked at the man with the single horn. He had just been praising his son, but now his face looked like it had been slapped.

"Zhu Di, get over here!"

That being said, Zhu Yuanzhang didn't wait for Zhu Di to leisurely approach; instead, he rushed over to Zhu Di and slapped him across the face.

"Where did you get this?"

"My second brother gave it to me; he said it's something good."

Zhu Biao also felt embarrassed; how could anyone handle these things in public?

In order not to affect Zhu Di's image, Zhu Biao quickly changed the subject and led Ma Wenyuan to look at other places.

"Those crying children are the sixth son, Zhu Zhen; the seventh son, Zhu Fu; and the eleventh son, Zhu Chun."

It was the baby that a palace maid was holding in her arms; it had just been born.

Ma Wenyuan took a deep breath and suddenly felt a sense of explosion.

But then I thought about it again and it didn't seem so bad.

For an emperor, having many concubines and having these children is nothing unusual.

Many people had even more children, like Li Yuan, who, in his later years, had nothing to do but have children to play with, giving Li Shimin a bunch of younger brothers.

Having just reprimanded Zhu Di, Zhu Yuanzhang saw that the room was still in an uproar, and his face immediately fell.

"Shut up, all of you! Can't you see your uncle's here?"

It's like having a relative see something embarrassing about your family and laugh at you.

The room fell silent instantly.

Everyone looked at Ma Wenyuan next to Zhu Biao, their expressions all similar—curious.

Over the years, they've seen quite a few of their father's relatives.

But my mother's relatives... they really haven't seen it.

Now that one has suddenly appeared, they are naturally curious.

"Where is Wenying?" Empress Ma asked, looking around.

Zhu Biao replied,

"They're waiting outside. I think I just saw them."

"What, you don't recognize me anymore just because I changed my surname?" Zhu Yuanzhang said, slightly annoyed.

Soon someone called Mu Ying over.

It was at this time.

Ma Wenyuan then saw the Prince Mu, who was to be the eternal governor of Yunnan.

Of course, the King of Yunnan is still quite young. He can't be described as particularly dashing, but he is handsome and has a sharp edge that most people don't possess.

He was a man who fought on the battlefield, and not everyone is like Li Wenzhong.

Although Mu Ying is only twenty-six years old, he wields considerable power as the Assistant Governor of the Grand Commandery, equivalent to the modern-day Deputy Minister of National Defense.

At his age and in his position, he is quite full of vigor and ambition.

Zhu Yuanzhang patted Mu Ying on the shoulder, finally regaining his earlier pride.

"This is my adopted son, Mu Ying."

Mu Ying suddenly knelt down and kowtowed.

"Mu Ying greets her uncle."

Ma Wenyuan was taken aback and took a step back.

Zhu Biao also knelt down at this moment, blocking his way, and kowtowed as well, "Nephew Zhu Biao greets uncle."

Ma Wenyuan turned around and tried to leave.

Today the crown prince knelt, tomorrow there will be countless memorials impeaching him in court.

But before he could leave, Ma Xiuying stopped him.

"He's your nephew, that's only right."

Zhu Yuanzhang deeply resented his other sons, but he was very satisfied with his eldest son.

It is excellent in every aspect.

Zhu Biao began to kowtow, and the other princes and princesses immediately followed suit, kowtowing repeatedly.

Ma Wenyuan was already numb; since the Crown Prince had already knelt, one more wouldn't make a difference.

However, it wouldn't be appropriate to keep these imperial princes and nobles kneeling indefinitely, so Ma Wenyuan quickly said...

"Get up, get up. I didn't bring anything today. I'll make it up to you with a gift in a few days."

Zhu Yuanzhang said with a smile,

"They lack nothing, so keep any good stuff you have."

Ma Xiuying chimed in.

"Yes, they should be the ones showing you respect."

"A gift is appropriate, and I don't think they should have one."

These words piqued Zhu Biao's curiosity, wondering what things he and the other princes lacked.

Upon hearing this, Ma Xiuying stopped trying to persuade her.

Right now.

A little child suddenly slid down to his knees and began to kowtow, saying, "Grand-nephew greets Grand-uncle."

Behind him followed an old man dressed in coarse cloth.

"Li Jinglong, who taught you to kowtow so many times!"