The Ming Dynasty: My sister, Empress Ma

Xu Da is gone.

The carriage from Ma Wenyuan's residence quickly came to pick them up.

Both of them were just going through the motions at court; they didn't have any business to attend to in the capital.

So naturally he went home after court.

After getting on the carriage.

Lin Ye said to Ma Wenyuan,

"The Duke of Wei has never been so friendly with anyone before."

"I used to serve as a centurion under the Duke of Wei," Lin Ye added.

"When?" Ma Wenyuan asked casually as he entered the carriage.

"It's been many years, back when the current emperor hadn't yet become king."

"A veteran, huh?"

But then Ma Wenyuan became curious, "Then how come you're still only a centurion after all these years?"

The forestry department did not respond.

Ma Wenyuan smiled somewhat awkwardly.

Lin Ye was a member of the Yi Luan Si (仪鸾司), although the Yi Luan Si was nominally the department responsible for ceremonial processions.

But who doesn't know what they actually do?

Which general would be happy to have a spy watching him like this?

Under such circumstances, how could the head of the forestry secret service possibly obtain any high-ranking official position or generous salary?

"Have you never complained all these years?" Ma Wenyuan asked tentatively.

"I am an orphan raised by the current emperor. My life was given to me by the current emperor. Now I have no worries about food and drink, so how could I have any complaints?"

Ma Wenyuan added,

"From now on, you'll only be able to stay by my side. Without your official position, you'll just be a steward. You won't complain?"

The forestry department remained silent.

Clearly, this veteran intelligence chief did not want to be just a housekeeper.

However, Ma Wenyuan would not arrange for Lin Ye to return to the army, since everyone with eyes could see what it meant for Lin Ye to be by Ma Wenyuan's side.

Their conversation ended quickly.

Upon returning to the Marquis's residence, Ma Wenyuan resumed his previous work of teaching.

The main task was to teach Zeng Xiu.

Zeng Qing had to work in the army during the day and would only return at night.

Normally, Ma Wenyuan teaches in separate sessions.

It takes more effort, but the teaching quality is improved.

After all, the two of them were no longer on the same level, and Zeng Xiu could understand the Book of Songs.

Zeng Qing is still in the elementary school stage and is learning the Thousand Character Classic.

If the two of them were to attend the class together, Ma Wenyuan wouldn't know what to teach.

If you were to teach children to read and write, Zeng Xiu would certainly not make any progress.

Even if he were taught the Book of Songs, Zeng Qing certainly wouldn't understand it.

But it was evening.

Zeng Qing is back, and Ma Wenyuan is busy again.

The only option was to have Zeng Xiu take over as the teacher.

Because Ma Wenyuan had to attend a social event.

……

In fact, for someone of Ma Wenyuan's rank, the only social drinking occasions he would attend are state banquets.

For example, banquets in the palace.

When a small country presented gifts to the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Zhu was so pleased that he hosted a banquet in the palace.

That's what you call socializing.

Unfortunately, today is not only the first and fifteenth day of the lunar month, but also the Mid-Autumn Festival.

A grand banquet was held in the palace, and even officials of the lowest rank, down to the seventh grade, were eligible to attend.

Ma Wenyuan, the Right Vice-General, was naturally also present.

I was thinking of coming to the palace twice in one day.

Ma Wenyuan often felt like he was being tossed around.

Fortunately, everyone was coming, which made Ma Wenyuan feel much better.

The ministers in front raised their cups to invite the bright moon, while the women behind whispered about family reunions.

"Uncle, this is Osmanthus Duck, it's delicious, you should try some!"

Zhu Di sat beside Ma Wenyuan, chattering away.

Old Zhu above said something about how things were back in the day.

Then Xiao Zhu said, "Uncle, try this sweet taro."

Above, Zhu Yuanzhang recalled the past at Caishiji and recited the poems he had written at that time.

The bright moon shines as the stars shift, the Milky Way stretches across the land, east and west.

A will as clear as the bright moon, free from all shadows; a heart as still and selfless as the azure sky.

Not far from Zhu Di, Zhu Di was eating watermelons one after another.

He also frequently told Ma Wenyuan not to be polite.

Although Zhu Di's voice wasn't loud, he was now very quiet when he spoke.

Old Zhu was not far from Zhu Di...

Therefore, when Ma Wenyuan looked at Zhu Yuanzhang, who had ascended to the throne, he would occasionally glance in his direction.

Ma Wenyuan then ignored Zhu Di, thinking, "Better to die for my friend than for myself."

During this time, Zhu Yuanzhang started composing couplets again. He said, "No moon seen on Mid-Autumn Festival, but a few lamps are lit to add color to the land."

Liu Bowen quickly replied, "If there is no thunder on the day of Awakening of Insects, strike the drum several times to proclaim the power of Heaven and Earth."

Zhu Di was much quieter now, perhaps because Ma Wenyuan was ignoring him, or perhaps because he was tired from eating.

In short, Zhu Di simply leaned quietly against Ma Wenyuan and began to take a nap.

By the time Zhu Yuanzhang began personally distributing mooncakes, Zhu Di was already fast asleep.

He recalled the unfriendly look Zhu Yuanzhang gave Zhu Di as he passed by.

Ma Wenyuan sensed that some people might be in grave danger, but he did not inform Zhu Di beforehand.

As an uncle, I should give my nephew a perfect childhood.

What's perfect if you don't get beaten up?

……

What Ma Wenyuan didn't know was...

At this moment in the inner palace, besides chatting and laughing with several noblewomen, Empress Ma was also constantly observing the younger generation.

During the Mid-Autumn Festival, many women would come to the palace to attend banquets.

Among these people were sons of noble families, sons of civil officials, relatives of high-ranking officials, and those from the Qingliu faction.

In short, everyone who appears here can be considered well-educated and reasonable.

This made Ma Xiuying's mind start to work.

"Is Your Highness thinking of the Imperial Brother-in-Law?"

Suddenly, Xie leaned close to Ma Xiuying's ear and whispered a question.

This is Xu Da's wife.

"Yes, Wen Yuan is not young anymore. In a few days, his brother-in-law will help him choose a courtesy name, and then he should start thinking about marriage."

Ma Xiuying asked again.

Do you have any better candidates in mind?

Madam Xie shook her head helplessly, "No, the children in our families are all still young, and none of the people we know are of marriageable age."

This is the truth.

The Ming Dynasty is still young.

Most of the founding fathers of the Ming Dynasty were only in their thirties or forties, with the oldest being just over fifty.

The children are naturally much younger as well.

Moreover, Ma Wenyuan is of a much higher generation.

If the emperor's brother-in-law were to marry a nobleman, wouldn't the generational order be messed up?

"My requirements aren't high. Of course, she should be well-educated and reasonable. Wenyuan is a scholar, and if his wife couldn't read a single word, they wouldn't have anything in common to talk about, right?"

Ma Xiuying began to mention her requirements for her brother's wife, saying, "Being virtuous and kind is the bare minimum. I don't want any trouble to happen in Wen Yuan's household."

"Secondly, one's appearance must also be appropriate. Wen Yuan is a handsome man, so his wife's appearance must be worthy of him."

"The most important thing is to be thrifty. I don't want a sister-in-law who is extravagant."

The more Ma Xiuying talked, the more Xie felt overwhelmed.

Is this considered no requirement?

Ma Xiuying almost entirely applied the same requirements she had for choosing a crown princess for the crown prince.

Even the selection of the Crown Princess wasn't this strict.

At the time, Ma Xiuying simply saw that Chang Yuchun's daughter and Zhu Biao had grown up together, were childhood sweethearts, and had decent character, so she made the decision right away.

Now, all they're doing is choosing a wife for the emperor's brother-in-law, and they're bringing up all sorts of criteria like "virtue, speech, appearance, and merit."

"You'll have to keep an eye out for me and see if there are any women like that."

Ma Xiuying said matter-of-factly, "No matter how a house is, it can never compare to mine."