The Ming Dynasty: My sister, Empress Ma

It was already afternoon when the palace examination ended.

Ma Wenyuan walked out with the other candidates.

The spring sunshine felt warm and comforting on my face.

He breathed a sigh of relief.

ended.

Five years, from Guangdong to Yingtian, from thirteen to eighteen years old, I have finally completed this journey.

"Brother Wenyuan!"

A voice called out from behind. Ma Wenyuan turned around and saw two young men quickly catching up.

The man in the lead was of medium height and had a handsome face; his name was Wu Bozong.

The one following behind was taller, named Guo Chong.

These two actually had some fun.

According to historical records, Guo Chong should have been the top scholar in this imperial examination.

However, Zhu Yuanzhang thought this guy was rather ugly, so he changed the title to Wu Bozong, making him the third runner-up.

Ma Wenyuan also felt this was true, but he didn't show it on his face. He bowed and said with a normal expression, "Brother Bozong, Brother Zijian."

Wu Bozong smiled and said, "I sat behind you during the palace examination and saw that you wrote very quickly, your pen flying across the paper. You must have been very confident."

"Not at all," Ma Wenyuan replied modestly. "I just write whatever comes to mind. Unlike you two, who are truly talented, I am ashamed."

Guo Chong laughed heartily: "Wen Yuan is too modest."

The three of them walked out while talking. A number of candidates had already gathered outside the Meridian Gate, chatting in twos and threes, all with expressions of relief on their faces.

"This question posed by His Majesty is both difficult and easy," Wu Bozong said as he walked. "The key to education and punishment lies in the word 'implementation'."

"In my policy proposal, I quoted the saying 'using punishment to guide education' from the Rites of Zhou, and added some practical examples from our own dynasty."

Ma Wenyuan nodded: "Brother Bozong, your perspective is good. I tend to focus on the implementation of systems. I always feel that no matter how good the policy is, it's all for nothing if the people below can't do it well."

Guo Chong interjected, "You two are both from the right path. I'll just say it directly: the most urgent task is to select virtuous and capable officials. Without a clean bureaucracy, all talk of education and punishment is just empty words."

The three of them talked and got along very well. Wu Bozong and the other man didn't know why they could talk to Ma Wenyuan so well.

In fact, Ma Wenyuan didn't say much at all; it was mostly the two brothers talking.

But the two brothers felt they had met Ma Wenyuan too late.

Ma Wenyuan guessed that the two were having such a deep conversation that they ended up talking about his home.

Ma Wenyuan lived near the city gate in a small rented courtyard.

They rented it for three months and exhausted their savings.

Ma Wenyuan did not intend to return to Guangdong when he rented the land, and he died in Yingtian Prefecture.

Guangdong these days is no place for humans; the mosquitoes and miasma are terrifying.

There are three small houses in the yard: a woodshed, a bedroom, and a living room. The kitchen and woodshed are combined.

Pushing open the bedroom door, you enter a room with just a bed, a table, and a chair—it couldn't be simpler.

The quilt he brought from Guangdong was still folded on the bed. The two bags of rice were all gone, and only two empty cloth bags remained under the pillow as a keepsake.

"Brother Wenyuan's room is even smaller than mine." Wu Bozong followed him in, looked around, and sighed. "But it doesn't matter. In a few days, we won't be tribute students anymore."

"Yes," Guo Chong leaned against the door frame, "among our 120 or so people, we can all become officials, either sent to outlying areas or staying in the capital."

Ma Wenyuan poured water for the two of them.

It's just plain boiled water; there's nothing I can do. I can't even afford tea.

Wu Bozong picked up the bowl, took a sip, and suddenly lowered his voice:

"You tell me, during His Majesty's inspection today, it felt like I'd been standing behind Wen Yuan for ages?"

Ma Wenyuan was taken aback. "Really? I didn't notice."

"I did stand there for quite a while," Guo Chong nodded. "I glanced at him and saw the Emperor standing right behind you. I watched him for about half a cup of tea's time."

Ma Wenyuan didn't care much, why bother with all that, and answered casually.

"Maybe it's because they see I'm writing slowly. Also, the lighting wasn't very good from my spot."

Wu Bozong smiled and didn't press the matter. The three chatted for a few more minutes about their experiences with the imperial examination, agreed to go see the results together on the day they were announced, and then went their separate ways.

After seeing the two off, Ma Wenyuan breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the two did not intend to stay and chat. He couldn't very well not treat them to a meal later, could he?

I don't even know where to eat.

Lying in bed, Ma Wenyuan's thoughts drifted.

Now that things have finally turned around, I just remember that the treatment of officials during the Hongwu era wasn't great. I wonder if I'll need to pursue a side business in the future.

These days, people still need to choose a courtesy name, and it has to be chosen by the elders. I don't seem to have any elders anymore, so should I choose one myself?

-

Fengtian Temple.

After the palace examination, Zhu Yuanzhang returned to the Qianqing Palace, and his composure could no longer be maintained.

He paced back and forth in the hall, his steps neither fast nor slow, yet revealing a sense of anxiety.

The personal eunuch stood by the door with his hands at his sides, not daring to breathe.

"Let Gao Jianxian in." Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly stopped.

"Your subject is here." Gao Jianxian, who had been standing at the door, stepped forward.

He was an inspector, responsible for overseeing all government offices in the capital, including those dealing with injustices and illegal activities by officials, as well as rumors.

Simply put, he was the head of a secret service. In those days, there was no Jinyiwei (Imperial Bodyguard), so he was the predecessor of the Jinyiwei.

The former, Yang Xian, was the one who was killed last year.

"How's your investigation into Ma Wenyuan, who was in the hall just now?"

"Ma Wenyuan is from Panyu, Guangdong, with ancestral roots in Suzhou. He now lives in the south of the city."

"My ancestral home is Suzhou..." Zhu Yuanzhang repeated, his brow furrowed. "Where in Suzhou?"

Gao Jianxian was taken aback; how could he know this? But he still respectfully replied, "Your subject will investigate immediately."

"Investigate." Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand. "Find out his place of origin, his parents, and his ancestors for three generations."

Gao Jianxian responded and turned to leave.

"Wait," Zhu Yuanzhang called out to him again, "Don't make a fuss, don't let the Empress know."

Gao Jianxian felt a chill run down his spine and made a point of telling the Empress not to tell her.

That's enough to show that this matter concerns the Empress, so it's of great importance.

"Your subject understands."

Gao Jianxian left the Qianqing Palace and walked away quickly.

Zhu Yuanzhang stood alone in the hall, his gaze fixed on a portrait on the table.

That is a portrait of Ma Gong, painted by Empress Ma herself a long time ago.

"She bears some resemblance to her father-in-law; who could she be?"

"Prepare the horses!"

……

Shen Shi (3-5 PM).

After waking up, Ma Wenyuan suddenly felt hungry and walked out onto the street.

I'm planning to look for an opportunity to make some money and earn a living.

"You're Ma Wenyuan?"

Suddenly, a voice rang out, causing Ma Wenyuan to turn his head to look.

An ordinary-looking old man was calling out to himself.

Old Deng was quite dignified. If it weren't for the ordinary material of his clothes, Ma Wenyuan would have thought he was a high-ranking official just by looking at his demeanor.

However, upon further reflection, Ma Wenyuan estimated that the other party was probably not a big shot, and a big shot wouldn't come looking for him.

"What for?"

Ma Wenyuan asked casually, still somewhat puzzled, as he had never met this person before, so how could they recognize him?

"It's nothing. I live nearby and heard that a literary star has appeared here. I thought I'd come so that my descendants can admire some of his literary talent."

Zhu Yuanzhang chuckled and remarked, "I heard you just finished the palace examination, why are you dressed so simply? Are all scholars so poor?"

Ma Wenyuan is not wearing his scholar's robe now; that was his best garment, his only one. He usually wears coarse linen clothes.

"It's just the palace examination. Passing it will only get you a minor official position; you won't become a member of the imperial family. What's wrong with these clothes?"