The Ming Dynasty: My sister, Empress Ma

Old Zhu felt a little uneasy under their gaze.

Ma Wenyuan didn't care about all that.

Xiao Deng just mentioned shame and integrity, but he only quoted it in his essay for the palace examination.

Yesterday was the final examination, and I've already read the papers in less than a day.

With such abilities at his age, Ma Wenyuan couldn't think of anyone else besides Xiao Deng, the most authoritative figure in the Ming Dynasty.

If that's the case, then who else could be the person that Xiao Deng calls "Dad"?

That would naturally be Zhu Yuanzhang.

In this way, everything that happened yesterday can be explained.

Only the emperor's personal guards could do it so stealthily.

Ma Wenyuan felt it was amazing; he had refrained from looking up at the emperor during the palace examination yesterday.

The emperor, on the other hand, took the initiative to come to him.

Ma Wenyuan rose and bowed.

"Your subject Ma Wenyuan pays his respects to Your Majesty."

They were interrupted before they could even begin to bow.

Zhu Yuanzhang was taken aback at first, but after realizing what was happening, he immediately waved his hand to interrupt, feeling like a monkey performing on the street.

Zhu Yuanzhang originally wanted to pretend for a few more days, but if Ma Wenyuan was really a member of the Ma family, then he would make a big move.

I didn't expect to be exposed on our second meeting.

"No need."

Mao Xiang stopped slurping noodles.

Zhu Biao was stunned for a moment before he understood what was going on.

Ma Wenyuan, however, felt quite comfortable; the formalities were a bit troublesome, so he was spared, which suited his wishes perfectly.

Although the Ming Dynasty did not replace the Qing or Yuan Dynasty, it still had to kneel before them.

Officials were required to kneel during court assemblies, and ministers were also required to kneel before the emperor. This was considered a major courtesy in the rites and etiquette system, signifying respect.

Perform the ritual of bowing and prostrating five times.

Of course, this also depends on the emperor's personal character (except for Zhu Yuanzhang).

The main difference between the Qing and Ming dynasties was that the latter required less kneeling; officials did not need to kneel to each other, and usually only bowed.

The former kowtowed repeatedly.

"minister……"

Ma Wenyuan then looked at Zhu Biao.

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand again.

"That's unnecessary."

Ma Wenyuan felt more comfortable now, but he remained standing and did not sit back down.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Ma Wenyuan, recalling how he had been tricked for two miles yesterday, and then thinking about his excited incognito visit today. He felt like a clown.

After taking a deep breath, I felt a little annoyed.

"You should know why I'm looking for you."

He no longer finds this kid very interesting.

Ma Wenyuan pondered for a moment, then tentatively answered.

"Does Your Majesty believe that I have connections with the Ma family?"

Zhu Biao looks like him, both handsome, except one is slightly darker-skinned and the other is fair-skinned, that's an indisputable fact.

They would say that no matter who came.

In addition, his surname is Ma, and his father's early experiences were similar to those of Xu Wang.

If it were only these things, Ma Wenyuan could still consider it a coincidence.

But if the emperor and the crown prince both came knocking, then it couldn't be a coincidence.

Surely the emperor and crown prince can't all be idle, right?

Old Zhu is a well-known penny-pincher.

"You said yesterday that your father is the Prince of Xu, so I brought the Crown Prince with me."

Zhu Yuanzhang disliked overly intelligent people, and his tone became more irritating.

"If you are, then that's fine. I'll acknowledge you as my brother-in-law, and you'll inherit the title of Prince Xu, becoming the Emperor's brother-in-law. But if you're not, then I'll have to punish you for deceiving the Emperor."

Ma Wenyuan remained silent for a long while before speaking.

"I did not say that..."

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled.

"It doesn't matter. The Empress has no living relatives. If you are truly a member of the Ma family, you can relieve the Empress's worries."

This was the first time Ma Wenyuan had experienced the emperor's domineering power.

Whatever the emperor says goes.

One can't help but curse this damned feudal society in one's heart.

Despite the criticism, the outward appearances still need to be maintained.

Left with no other choice, Ma Wenyuan bowed and said,

"Your subject understands."

……

In less than a quarter of an hour.

Old Zhu's impromptu incognito visit ended in disappointment.

Although Lao Zhu thought the scallion oil noodles were quite delicious, he was unhappy because he had lost face.

Xiao Zhu was also unhappy because his father was unhappy.

Mao Xiang was quite happy; he had eaten his fill, but he didn't dare show it, and his face showed displeasure.

He feared that tomorrow, because he entered the palace with his left foot first, he would be demoted to Sichuan.

On the way back to the palace.

Zhu Biao suddenly asked, "Father, why did he expose me?"

Looking at his eldest son, who was still a young man, Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and asked in return,

Why not?

"Are you suggesting he could pretend not to know, and use this opportunity to praise the Ming Dynasty and me?"

Flattery is only effective when done behind someone's back; that way, the leader will think the person is sincere.

"You read his article, and not a single sentence of it praised me?"

"They portrayed almost everything about the Ming Dynasty during those four years as utterly worthless."

Before Zhu Biao could answer, Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said, "He's not a court jester. If he really is a member of the Ma family, he's actually not bad."

Zhu Yuanzhang did not give Zhu Biao a direct answer, but Zhu Biao himself had figured it out.

If they choose not to expose him, the emperor's incognito visit will end in a pleasant atmosphere for both host and guest, and the emperor will be very happy.

But the consequences were equally serious; to put it nicely, it was the subject saving face for the emperor.

To put it bluntly, isn't this a case of having ulterior motives?

Zhu Biao knew better than anyone how suspicious his father was.

If it were a matter of losing face, Zhu Yuanzhang wouldn't do anything, but if it were the latter, then it's hard to say.

"My son thinks he is," Zhu Biao said with a smile, changing the subject.

"If you think it won't work, you need evidence."

Zhu Yuanzhang said, "This man comes from a poor background and has many scars on his body, mostly whip marks, which shows that he was not of high status in the past."

"Such a person, not even eighteen years old, entered my palace in just one year."

"The policy essays are full of mature and wise words about governing the country, without a trace of youthful radicalism, which I think is unreasonable."

It's worth mentioning that Zhu Yuanzhang was not a voyeur; it was Mao Xiang who told him about the scars on Ma Wenyuan's body.

Of course, Mao Xiang wasn't a voyeur; he knew these things because he was in charge of maintaining stability during the palace examination.

All candidates are required to remove their clothes for inspection.

Zhu Biao nodded.

"If this person is indeed not..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang interrupted him, his smile unwavering: "Then kill him."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Biao's expression remained unchanged; there could be no disturbances at the very beginning of the founding of the nation.

The only option is to kill the innocent rather than let the guilty go free.

……

at the same time.

Ma Residence.

Having just finished clearing the dishes, Ma Wenyuan sat on a stool, somewhat lost in thought.

The plan was completely disrupted.

The path that originally lay before Ma Wenyuan was simple: whether he was appointed to a local post or stayed in the capital, he could resume the life he had lived in his previous life.

But now, there are two paths.

Either die. Or rise to prominence, inherit the title of Prince Xu, and become a member of the imperial family.

The probability of each is fifty percent.

Ma Wenyuan dislikes gambling, but he has no choice.

Letting out a heavy breath, Ma Wenyuan shook his head, got up, and took out yesterday's sketches from the room.

It's already come to this, so why worry?

Ma Wenyuan felt he needed money more, so that at least he would have money to run away when he was about to die.

……

Thinking this, half an hour later, Ma Wenyuan walked to Sanshan Street.

This area is considered the CBD of Yingtian Prefecture.

The name Sanshan Street comes from Li Bai's poem, "Three mountains half-hidden beyond the blue sky, two rivers dividing the egret isle."

This place is not only an important hub of the city and serves as the boundary between Shangyuan and Jiangning counties, but it is also the "National Publishing Center".

The saying, "No place in the world has more books than Nanjing; no place in Nanjing has more bookstores than Sanshan Street," refers to this place.

If he were to choose to publish comics, Ma Wenyuan felt this place would be the most suitable.

Ma Wenyuan chose the largest bookstore, entered with high spirits, and was eventually politely ushered in and out.

He had never even seen Ma Wenyuan's paintings.

Bookstores have their own artists, and suddenly changing to a new artist may not meet market demands. It would be time-consuming, laborious, and unprofitable for the bookstore.