The Ming Dynasty: My sister, Empress Ma

We didn't travel very fast along the way. After crossing the Yangtze River and entering Jiangxi Province, the road gradually became more difficult to travel.

Ma Wenyuan traveled light and simply on this trip; there was no carriage, and everyone rode horses.

Ma Wenyuan had previously studied equestrianism, and he's doing alright now.

But Fang Xiaoru suffered.

He is only fourteen years old this year, so his riding skills are naturally not good.

The journey was so bumpy that Fang Xiaoru's buttocks ached, and he had to walk with his legs tucked between his legs every time he dismounted.

But Fang Xiaoru didn't say a word, he just gritted his teeth and endured it without a single complaint.

After traveling for more than half a month, we finally arrived in Xinyu.

Xinyu is a small city in central Jiangxi. It is not big, but it is quiet.

After entering the city, Ma Wenyuan began to inquire about Liang Yin's whereabouts.

Liang Yin was living in seclusion in the mountains, and in this day and age, without a fixed location, it was impossible to find him right away.

Fortunately, Liang Yin was very famous and many people in Xinyu knew him.

After asking only a few people, an old man selling tofu pointed outside the city and said...

"Mr. Liang doesn't live in the city, but on Shimen Mountain. You should follow that road south, go out of the city and walk another twenty li, and when you get to the foot of the mountain, just ask someone for directions."

Following the old man's directions, Ma Wenyuan and Fang Xiaoru left the city and headed south.

The twenty-mile mountain road was more difficult to traverse than expected; in some places, even horses couldn't pass, and we had to lead them.

Fang Xiaoru followed behind, panting, but never called for a stop.

As the sun set, we finally arrived at the foot of Shimen Mountain.

An old farmer chopping wood pointed to a few thatched huts that could be vaguely seen halfway up the mountain and said,

"That is Mr. Liang's study. But you've come at an inopportune time. Mr. Liang is not in good health this year and has not seen outsiders for a long time."

Ma Wenyuan and Fang Xiaoru led their horses up the mountain path.

Most of the maple leaves along the roadside had turned red and fallen to the ground, rustling softly underfoot.

Halfway up the mountain, a few thatched huts came into view, with a clean open space in front of them.

Behind the house is a bamboo grove, where the bamboo leaves rustle in the wind.

An elderly man with white hair and beard sat on a stone stool in front of the door, holding a book in his hands, engrossed in reading it.

He was wearing a blue cloth robe with several patches on it, his face was thin, but he was in good spirits.

Hearing footsteps, Liang Yin raised his head and looked at Ma Wenyuan, but did not get up. He simply nodded slightly.

"From afar?"

It was impossible for Ma Wenyuan to wear red robes and official attire when he went out.

He was only wearing a scholar's robe today, and Liang Yin thought that a scholar who had come to visit had arrived.

Ma Wenyuan bowed in greeting.

"I am Ma Wenyuan, a junior instructor at the Yingtianfu Gewu Academy. I have come to pay my respects to Mr. Liang."

Liang Yin put down his book and looked Ma Wenyuan up and down.

"Ma Wenyuan? Is that Her Majesty the Empress's brother?"

"It is indeed I, the junior."

Liang Yin pondered for a moment, then slowly stood up.

Although he was old, he was tall and thin, and when he stood up straight, he was half a head taller than Ma Wenyuan.

Liang Yin pointed to the bamboo chairs in the room and said, "Come in and sit down."

The hut was small, but it was packed full.

Three walls are lined with bookshelves, piled high with various classics and historical texts. Some of the pages are yellowed and brittle, and have been re-stitched several times.

An unfinished article lay spread out on the table, a pen resting beside it, the ink still wet.

Fang Xiaoru did not follow them into the house, but consciously stayed at the door to watch the horses.

The same was true for the forestry workers; some went to prepare food, while others went to prepare fires and boil water.

Do it strictly according to Ma Wenyuan's requirements.

Although they didn't understand why water had to be boiled before drinking.

inside the house.

Ma Wenyuan sat down on the bamboo chair, and Liang Yin poured him a bowl of water.

The water is mountain spring water, cool and sweet.

It was tap water, but there was no choice.

"Mr. Liang,"

Ma Wenyuan got straight to the point.

"I have come here to invite you, sir, to come out of seclusion and teach at the Yingtianfu Gewu Academy."

Liang Yin did not answer immediately.

He picked up the bowl in front of him, slowly took a sip of water, put it down, and looked through the half-open door at the mountain scenery where dusk was gradually falling.

"I am seventy-two years old this year."

Liang Yin said slowly,

"I can't walk anymore."

"The junior can send a carriage to pick me up."

Liang Yin shook his head, a faint smile appearing on his lips, but he didn't say anything.

Ma Wenyuan fell silent.

He knew Liang Yin was telling the truth.

A 72-year-old man traveling from Jiangxi to Yingtian Prefecture, hundreds of miles away, would be too much of a hassle even with a carriage.

"Furthermore," Liang Yin leaned back in his chair, looking at the bookshelves,

"I've spent my whole life teaching, most of my life, teaching the Four Books and Five Classics, the principles of sages and saints. I've heard people mention the school that the emperor's brother-in-law attended; it didn't teach those things."

"Where did you hear that, sir?"

"I still have some old acquaintances in Yingtian Prefecture."

Liang Yin smiled.

"The school of the emperor's brother-in-law teaches the investigation of things and practical learning."

"These things, I don't understand. What do you want me to teach? The Spring and Autumn Annals? What use would it be to your students if they learned the Spring and Autumn Annals?"

Ma Wenyuan thought for a moment and answered seriously.

"Teacher, our students have a weak foundation; they haven't even finished reciting the Thousand Character Classic. How can we learn about investigating things if we can't read? How can we understand the principles of investigating things if we don't know what 'only by investigating things can we attain knowledge' means?"

"The juniors invited you, sir, not to teach them practical skills, but to teach them the fundamentals. The Four Books and Five Classics are the foundation. If this foundation is not solid, everything they learn will be superficial."

Liang Yin remained silent for a long time.

The setting sun peeked through the crack in the door, casting a soft golden glow on his gray beard.

The books on the bookshelf looked especially heavy in the twilight.

"Your Excellency, let me tell you the truth."

Liang Yin hesitated for a moment, then spoke again, his voice slightly lower than before.

"I cannot go to Yingtian Prefecture, not because I do not want to go, but because even if I go, I am afraid I will not be able to help you much."

Ma Wenyuan was puzzled.

Liang Yin stood up, walked to the bookshelf, took out a book, flipped through a few pages, and put it back.

His movements were slow, as if he were caressing something precious.

"I have been teaching all my life and have taught many students, some of whom have become officials and others have received education. But I know in my heart that what I teach is not the same as what the Emperor's brother-in-law wants to teach."

Liang Yin turned around and looked at Ma Wenyuan.

"What the Emperor's brother-in-law is doing is something no one has done before. My old knowledge can't help you. What you need is a teacher who, like you, wants to pursue new knowledge."

Ma Wenyuan stood up and solemnly bowed to Liang Yin.

"I will keep your words in mind, sir. However, I would still like to ask you to consider..."

Liang Yin waved his hand, interrupting him.

"Your Excellency, there's no need to say any more." His tone was gentle but firm. "I'm too old to walk anymore. This is fate, and we can't force it."

Now that we've come this far...

Ma Wenyuan had no choice but to take his leave.

Ma Wenyuan had anticipated that he would encounter setbacks as soon as he arrived.

To be honest, Liang Yin's words today were already quite generous.

What Ma Wenyuan is doing now is considered unorthodox by many.

It was only because of his own sister, plus Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao, that the impeachment memorials against Ma Wenyuan were suppressed; otherwise, they would have been flying everywhere long ago.