The Ming Dynasty: My sister, Empress Ma

Morning next day.

The Emperor's brother-in-law of the Ming Dynasty has returned to his position.

Contrary to expectations, the message was not sent nationwide; instead, an imperial edict was issued from the Central Secretariat.

Ma Wenyuan received the imperial edict in his own courtyard, which conferred upon him the title of Zhongxian Colonel and Hundred-Household Commander of Wude Guard, placing him under the command of Tang He.

A minor official of the sixth rank is about the same as the end of one's previous life.

Normally, in a place like the capital, where a single brick thrown from a height could kill two or three sixth-rank officials, it wouldn't attract much attention.

However, the news that the Ming Dynasty had gained a new imperial brother-in-law also spread like wildfire.

From high-ranking officials to commoners, everyone knew that a brother-in-law of the emperor had arrived in the Ming Dynasty.

In response, Ma Wenyuan could only lament the speed at which gossip spreads these days.

First the civil and military officials found out, then their families found out, and within a day most people in Yingtian Prefecture knew.

Even the merchants living in Qingxi Lane knew about it.

This caused some changes in Ma Wenyuan's life.

Life was originally cold, desolate, and miserable.

Now, there are many more people coming to deliver visiting cards.

Those with high official positions went to Hu Weiyong, while those with low official positions went to county clerks.

The reasons for the visits were varied and bizarre. Some said it was related to Huaixi, some said it was because they were from the same hometown (Panyu), and some said they had acquired some rare treasure and wanted to present it as a gift.

Ma Wenyuan initially refused each student himself, but when two more students arrived, Zeng Qing and Zeng Xiu acted as doormen and began to refuse them on his behalf.

Guo Chong and Wu Bozong also came in the evening.

Guo Chong changed the profit-sharing ratio to 1 to 9, with Ma Wenyuan taking 90% of the net profit and Guo Chong taking 10%.

And there's more good news: the first volume of the Analects comic book has officially entered the printing process and will be available for sale next month.

Ma Wenyuan was quite pleased with this.

Another thing worth mentioning is that the results of the imperial examination were released on the same day that Ma Wenyuan's identity was announced.

Wu Bozong was ranked first, Guo Chong was ranked third, and the second-ranked person was someone with an extraordinary appearance.

After Guo Chong changed the profit-sharing ratio, he and Wu Bozong inquired about his future plans.

He implied that he wanted to stay in Kyoto, and it would be even better if he could join the Six Ministries.

They wanted to follow Ma Wenyuan's path.

It's fortunate that Ma Wenyuan only holds a sixth-rank official position, leading most people to believe that the emperor doesn't value his brother-in-law much.

Otherwise, Ma Wenyuan wouldn't know how to politely decline such a friend who had shared hardships with him.

He had no face in front of the emperor.

Zhu Yuanzhang only showed favoritism towards Ma Xiuying because of her.

……

The next day.

Ma Wenyuan moved from a small alley in the south of the city to Dagongfang Street.

They moved to a new residence bestowed by the emperor, from a small courtyard of one-third of an acre to a courtyard covering 15 acres.

It has three courtyards: front, middle, and back, plus east and west side courtyards, gardens, warehouses, and so on.

The main gate of the courtyard has three rooms and five bays, with a stone lion standing on the left and right, one male and one female.

Walking further in, there is a blue stone screen wall; going around it leads to the first courtyard.

According to the steward sent by the emperor.

Five seven-bay side rooms were built on each of the east and west sides.

The east side houses the gatehouse and the steward's room, which served as the office and duty room for the head servants and stewards of the mansion, and also stored official documents, ceremonial items, and visiting cards.

The west side houses the guest waiting room and the outer study, where ordinary guests can wait and handle trivial official business outside the residence, but not for close relatives or distinguished guests.

Passing through the ceremonial gate leads to the second courtyard, which is more spacious than the first and therefore serves a greater purpose.

Things like the main hall, flower hall, VIP lounge, and ancestral temple are all located here.

Beyond that is the backyard.

"It's so big, how many people need to clean it?"

Zeng Qing and Zeng Xiu, the two siblings, also came with Ma Wenyuan.

Zeng Qing clicked his tongue, somewhat puzzled.

"Young master, there is no need to worry. His Majesty and His Highness have already made arrangements."

The steward smiled and said, "From now on, I will be the steward of the Emperor's brother-in-law."

Ma Wenyuan had seen the world in his previous life, but he had never lived in such a big house.

If calculated by square meters, this house occupies more than 10,000 square meters, almost the size of some micro-communities in later generations.

He was somewhat dazed at the moment, and it took him a while to speak.

"What's your name?"

"Forestry, formerly a centurion in the Yiluan Division," the steward replied.

His attitude was very respectful.

"Most of the guards who arrived later were also from the Yiluan Division."

Lin Ye added, "Most of the maids in the manor are palace maids personally selected by Her Majesty the Empress."

Ma Wenyuan glanced back at him, but didn't say anything.

Many people are not familiar with the Yiluan Division.

However, it was later adapted into the Embroidered Uniform Guard, which is now known to most people.

Forestry concluded by saying,

"Next month, I will accompany the Emperor's brother-in-law to Sichuan."

Tang and others haven't set off yet.

This campaign against Shu was divided into two armies, one in the east and one in the north.

The Eastern Route Army was a naval force led by Tang He, which set off from Yingtianfu and sailed upstream towards Chongqing.

The Northern Route Army, an army force led by Fu Youde, made a detour to Xi'an, and from there set off for Chengdu.

Fu Youde had long since left, while Tang He was still reorganizing the troops.

"In that case, I'll trouble Commander Lin," Ma Wenyuan said with a smile.

Lin Ye went to attend to his own business.

Ma Wenyuan then began to stroll around with the two students.

Upon arriving at the ancestral temple, there were already three memorial tablets inside: one for Ma Gong, one for Zheng Shi, and one for Liu Shi.

Zheng was Ma Xiuying's mother, and Liu was Ma Wenyuan's mother.

After leading the two students in a ritual, Ma Wenyuan turned to look at Zeng Qing.

"So, are you coming to Sichuan with us next month?"

"Yes." Zeng Qing agreed without hesitation.

Ma Wenyuan added,

"Aren't you going back to discuss this with your grandmother? This trip is fraught with peril."

This is not a lie; it is indeed the case.

In war, people always die. Ma Wenyuan was only a centurion in Shu, and he could barely protect himself, let alone those around him.

Zeng Qing thought for a while, but couldn't come up with a profound truth. His teacher hadn't taught him; in the end, it was just a vague idea.

"I want to follow the teacher."

"Alright, later you can go and learn some things that can be used on the battlefield from the forestry department."

Ma Wenyuan didn't care what the head of the forestry department was there for.

Now that we're here, we should naturally contribute our own strength.

"Okay."

No sooner had they moved into the Ma residence than all fifteen of the retired palace maids arranged by her elder sister arrived.

The person in charge was named Yang Liu.

The guards arranged by Zhu Yuanzhang were also in place, fifteen of them, arriving one after the other.

They were all taciturn, with unsharp eyes and upright but not stiff shoulders; they were clearly veterans.

These people found their own tasks without being told what to do.

Gatekeeper, accountant, cook, groom—even if there are no horses now.

Zeng Qing went to learn about battlefield matters from the forestry department.

Ma Wenyuan was at a loss for what to do. He was just about to teach Zeng Xiu to read when a guest arrived.

An unexpected guest.

Xu Da, Duke of Wei, Right Chancellor of the Central Secretariat, the first meritorious official of the founding of the Ming Dynasty, and the foremost military general.