The Ming Dynasty: My sister, Empress Ma

Next up was soup.

The commander-in-chief who led the expedition to Shu is currently recuperating in the capital. Hearing that Ma Wenyuan had gotten engaged, he specially came by sedan chair.

As soon as Tang He entered, he patted Ma Wenyuan on the shoulder, his voice booming.

"Good lad! I thought you'd spend your whole life with those few stoves! Getting married is good! Once you're married, you'll realize that war is nothing compared to having a family!"

Ma Wenyuan's shoulder ached from the pat, but he still had to put on a smile and say, "Brother is right."

Tang He chatted with Ma Wenyuan for a long time.

Tang He talked about his youth, his marriage, and his son.

Ma Wenyuan listened from the side, occasionally responding with a few words, but he didn't seem impatient.

As people get older, they inevitably reminisce about the glorious past.

But it was clear that Tang He was also happy that Ma Wenyuan was able to get married.

As he was leaving, Tang He suddenly lowered his voice again.

"When are you going to make me a pair of those binoculars?"

"I'll send it to you as soon as it's ready."

Upon receiving this answer, Tang He laughed heartily and left.

……

In the afternoon, Li Shanchang sent someone to deliver a fine Duan inkstone.

The accompanying note read: "Congratulations on your wedding, Your Excellency. My wife has a few bolts of Shu brocade; if Your Excellency would be so kind as to spare them, we may make a few dresses for your new bride."

The wording was polite and considerate, neither overly intimate nor distant.

Looking at the post, Ma Wenyuan thought to himself that Li Shanchang was indeed meticulous in his work.

All we can say is that Sima Yi's bullet, fired by the old scoundrel by the Luo River, grazed Li Jing's forehead and struck Li Shanchang.

Liu Ji also sent a gift.

This Earl of Chengyi never liked to join in the fun, so he only sent someone to deliver a piece of calligraphy.

The inscription reads, "With zither and lute in harmony, all is peaceful and serene," and the signature is neat and tidy.

Ma Wenyuan hung the calligraphy in his study, finding it more pleasing to the eye than any gold or silver jewelry.

Liu Ji was a great Confucian scholar who was as famous as Song Lian.

Moreover, Liu Bowen is quite famous, so this calligraphy piece has collectible value.

……

Xu Da was naturally involved in this matter.

Xu Da had just left Yingtian Prefecture a few days earlier.

Having somehow received the news, a letter arrived by express courier, instructing Xu Miaoyun to keep her husband's marriage in mind.

When Xu Miaoyun received the letter, she was left speechless, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Zeng Qing laughed intermittently from the side.

Xu Miaoyun folded the letter carefully. He thought Zeng Qing was laughing at her, so he glared at Zeng Qing.

"My dad means I need to back up the Ma family. What do you know?"

……

What Ma Wenyuan cared about most was the reaction of the four students.

For him, people in the imperial court would only send gifts because of his sister and brother-in-law.

Only four students truly followed him.

……

Zeng Qing, that simpleton, had the biggest reaction at the time.

He kept excitedly shouting things like, "Our teacher is getting married! We have a teacher's wife now!"

Anyone who didn't know better would think he was so happy because he was getting married.

Ma Wenyuan was completely taken aback by what he said.

Unexpectedly, Zeng Qing grinned and said...

"Teacher, you're in a better mood now that you're married; when you're in a better mood, you won't scold me; when you don't scold me, my life will be easier. I understand this."

Ma Wenyuan grabbed a broom, and Zeng Qing ran away again.

As for Zeng Xiu...

Zeng Xiu's reaction was much quieter.

She sat quietly in the corner of the study, wiping the glassware without making a fuss like Zeng Qing.

……

Xu Miaoyun's reaction was the most unusual.

Upon hearing the news, the nine-year-old girl paused for a moment, then tilted her head and thought for a moment before suddenly blurting out,

"Teacher, can your wife cook?"

Ma Wenyuan was taken aback: "Probably."

Xu Miaoyun breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good. You have no idea how awful your cooking is."

The Marquis's residence naturally has its own cooks, some of whom even come from the palace.

However, Ma Wenyuan sometimes gets the urge to cook and does it himself.

Ma Wenyuan: "..."

Zeng Qing was laughing so hard he couldn't stand up straight, while Xu Miaoyun blinked innocently.

"I'm telling the truth. The noodles the teacher cooked last time were so salty that I drank three pots of water."

Ma Wenyuan took a deep breath and told himself that he couldn't argue with a nine-year-old child.

This little girl spends all her time either eating or investigating things to gain knowledge.

……

In the evening, Ma Wenyuan sat alone in his study, sorting through the invitations, gift lists, and letters he had received during the day.

He examined Li Shanchang's Duan inkstone, Liu Ji's calligraphy... one by one.

The civil officials from both the Zhejiang and Huaixi factions basically all gave gifts.

Xun Gui Group sent out visiting cards to almost all of them, intending to pay them a personal visit.

Ma Wenyuan accepted offers from a group of people he had some connections with, but rejected offers from a group he was not familiar with.

There was even a visiting card from Lan Yu.

For some reason, this guy really disliked Ma Wenyuan back then.

Now they've actually taken the initiative to send a visiting card, hoping to ease tensions.

Ma Wenyuan had no objection to this.

The main problem is that it's hard to refuse; if you do, you'll make enemies.

……

Just as Ma Wenyuan took out Lan Yu's visiting card...

A soft knock came from the door.

"Come in."

The door was pushed open a crack.

Xu Miaoyun's little head peeked in.

"Sir, you're still awake?"

"Come in."

Xu Miaoyun skipped in, holding a small brocade box in her hands, and placed it in front of Ma Wenyuan.

The brocade box was opened, revealing a pair of freshly ground convex lenses—precisely focused, with smooth edges, and so clear that there was almost no impurity.

"Teacher, this is something I've been working on all afternoon, so it's..." Xu Miaoyun said softly, a little embarrassed, as she lowered her head.

Consider it a gift. You can use it as a telescope or something else.

Ma Wenyuan picked up the lens and looked at it in the candlelight. The light spot fell on the wall, bright and round.

Ma Wenyuan could tell that this was probably the best lens she had ever ground.

The courtesy is light and affectionate.

Ma Wenyuan smiled happily.

Xu Miaoyun smiled, revealing two small dimples.

Another day.

Zhu Biao had another day off, but he didn't rest. He was going to propose marriage on behalf of Ma Wenyuan.

Ma Xiuying wanted to go, but as the Empress, it wasn't appropriate for her to go.

She could only have Zhu Biao go in her place again.

After the betrothal ceremony, the next step is to present the betrothal gifts.

Previously, with Emperor Zhu's imperial edict, many cumbersome procedures were eliminated.

Therefore, the payment and the request for payment were carried out on almost the same day.

Of course, Ma Wenyuan doesn't need to worry about these things.

……

At noon.

Lan Yu has arrived.

He was accompanied by Lan Shi, Chang Mao, and others.

Chang Mao and the others were already preparing to go to school, and Ma Wenyuan was naturally considered their teacher.

Now, when they see Ma Wenyuan, they all have to bow and pay their respects.

Lan Yu, naturally, was no exception and also had to perform the ceremony.

After all, Ma Wenyuan was his superior.

"This humble official pays his respects to the Right Vice Commander-in-Chief."

Lan Yu bowed respectfully, his manners impeccable.

This made Ma Wenyuan feel that it was somewhat inconsistent with his status.

With this in mind, Ma Wenyuan didn't sit still and quickly returned the greeting.

Then, grabbing Lan Yu's arm, Ma Wenyuan smiled and said...

"I had long heard that Brother Lan was a man of exceptional talent, and now that I have met him, I can confirm it."

Ma Wenyuan spoke as if he had never met Lan Yu before.

Lan Yu was taken aback. He hadn't wanted to come here because he had a minor disagreement with Ma Wenyuan.

He came on his own initiative, so isn't that a sign that he's willingly bowing down?

But now...

Since the emperor's brother-in-law doesn't remember what happened before, he can't be considered to have voluntarily bowed his head. He's just here for a normal visit.

Lan Yu suddenly felt much better.