The Ming Dynasty: My sister, Empress Ma

"Isn't my uncle a graduate of this imperial examination, skilled in both literature and martial arts?"

Zhu Biao brought up Ma Wenyuan to deflect Zhu Yuanzhang's words.

"whispering sound."

Unexpectedly, Zhu Yuanzhang scoffed upon hearing this, "Him?"

If others don't understand their own brother-in-law, how could he not understand him?

He does believe that the man is a good writer.

It would be a miracle if he were skilled in martial arts.

However, Zhu Yuanzhang did not say anything more. He saw Ma Xiuying's unfriendly gaze and immediately swallowed his words.

Old Zhu thought for a moment and then said, "Wen Yuan is naturally good. The Ma family has a long tradition of scholarship, and Wen Yuan is well-versed in the classics..."

After saying that, once Ma Xiuying's complexion improved, Zhu Yuanzhang chuckled and changed the subject again, "But, not everyone is your uncle."

"Right, girl?" Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Ma Xiuying. "What do you think?"

"I think we have to run it. What's the point of Wenyuan Academy if we don't?"

Ma Xiuying said earnestly, "Scholars study for nothing more than one thing: to become an official."

"With the imperial examinations abolished, they lost their motivation; how could they possibly study well?"

Ma Xiuying has never liked to get involved in politics, but this time it involved her younger brother's future.

Everyone has some selfish desires, and Ma Xiuying was no exception.

"Yes, Mother is right."

Zhu Biao chimed in, "Father, we're governing the country, not just doing whatever we want."

"You're even lecturing your father now?" Zhu Yuanzhang was immediately displeased upon hearing this.

Then, chaos ensued.

It was mainly Old Zhu chasing, and Little Zhu running.

When Zhu Yuanzhang was too exhausted to run any further, they finally reconciled and the father and son continued to discuss state affairs.

In the end, they couldn't reach a satisfactory conclusion.

Zhu Yuanzhang was not a monarch who was good at accepting advice; he always did what he decided.

It was only because the mother and son persuaded him together that Zhu Yuanzhang would not have considered it.

……

As expected, Li Zhen arrived early the next morning.

He didn't ride in a sedan chair or a horse-drawn carriage.

He was riding an old horse, wearing a worn-out black robe and a plain silver belt around his waist, with no superfluous decorations on his body.

Upon arriving at the school gate, Li Zhen put Li Jinglong down from his arms and tossed the reins to his attendant.

However, he did not go in immediately. Li Zhen just stood at the door, looking up at the plaque of "Gewu Academy", with his hands behind his back, without saying a word.

"Grandpa, are you having a fit?" Li Jinglong tugged at Li Zhen's hand and asked tentatively.

Li Zhen's face darkened, and she kicked Li Jinglong in the buttocks.

"Study hard from now on and teach me what manners are."

"Oh," Li Jinglong replied, rubbing his bottom.

Ma Wenyuan came out to greet them, smiling and bowing.

"Brother-in-law, you really came?"

"You think I'm joking?"

Li Zhen glanced at him.

"lead the way."

Ma Wenyuan immediately accepted the order; there weren't many people who would speak to him like that these days.

Aside from the emperor and empress, this was the one.

Ma Wenyuan led Li Zhen on a tour of the school.

Cafeteria, dormitory, classroom, office, etc.

Li Zhen looked at every place and asked very detailed questions.

What to eat every day, how to keep warm in winter, what to do if you get sick, who will check on you at night, and how to punish someone for fighting.

Ma Wenyuan answered each question carefully, not daring to be careless.

As they walked onto the playground, they ran into Chang Mao leading several of Xun Gui's sons carrying firewood.

When Chang Mao saw Li Zhen, he was taken aback for a moment. He quickly put down the firewood in his hand, stood up properly, and bowed his head to greet him, "Duke Cao."

Li Zhen stopped and looked at Chang Mao.

"If your father were still alive, what would he say if he saw you carrying firewood?"

Chang Mao's expression changed slightly, and he bit his lip without saying a word.

Li Zhen said with some emotion,

"Back in the day, your father was in the army. He ate whatever the soldiers ate and did whatever the soldiers did. He was a great commander."

In the entire Ming Dynasty, only Li Zhen would speak like that.

No one else would treat Chang Yuchun as a junior.

"It's not shameful to carry firewood; what's shameful is carrying firewood with a long face."

After saying that, Li Zhen walked away.

Chang Mao's face flushed red instantly, and he lowered his head, not daring to utter a sound.

Ma Wenyuan followed beside him, secretly admiring him.

That's why he invited Li Zhen.

Some things he said were useless, but Li Zhen's words were enough.

For no other reason than simply because Li Zhen possessed this authority.

Who would dare disrespect him?

Chang Mao?

Even the unruly Lan Yu had to bow down when he arrived.

After walking a lap, Li Zhen stopped on the playground, looked at the red leaves on Jilong Mountain in the distance that were about to fall, and remained silent for a moment.

"Give me a room in the dorm, it doesn't need to be big, just big enough to sleep in."

Ma Wenyuan was secretly delighted.

"Brother-in-law, are you staying already?"

"Otherwise what? I came all this way just to take a look around?"

Li Zhen turned to look at him and asked in return.

Ma Wenyuan smiled and said, "Okay."

……

That evening, Ma Wenyuan went to the palace to see his elder sister.

Ma Wenyuan told him about Li Zhen's promise to come to the school.

Although the palace probably already knew, Ma Wenyuan still had to report it.

Ma Xiuying was embroidering under the lamp when she heard the news. She paused her needlework, looked up at her younger brother, and smiled.

"Your brother-in-law is a capable man."

Ma Wenyuan sat beside her, peeled an orange, and handed half to his sister.

"Sister, do you think His Majesty will be unhappy? I brought my brother-in-law along too; won't people gossip in court?"

Empress Ma took the orange, ate it slowly, and spoke with certainty.

"Your brother-in-law is idle at home, and he has always felt it's a pity."

"Your brother-in-law is loyal, capable, doesn't wield power, and doesn't form cliques. You can trust him the most."

"It's just that my brother-in-law didn't want to work anymore these past few years, fearing that His Majesty would think he and Bao'er were wielding too much power, so he eventually retired. You've found him something to do; your brother-in-law should be overjoyed, how could he not be?"

Ma Wenyuan nodded.

Empress Ma glanced at him again, and suddenly asked a question.

"Your school now has Liang Yin teaching Confucian classics, Li Zhen managing miscellaneous affairs, and you teaching physics yourself. Is that enough teachers?"

"Not enough."

Ma Wenyuan answered honestly.

"Mr. Liang is getting old and can't give too many lectures. I can't teach more than two hundred students by myself. Although there are still three or four scholars, I feel it's still not enough."

Ma Xiuying put down her embroidery and smiled.

"Take your time, don't rush, and never be hasty in doing things."

Ma Wenyuan responded, and then the siblings began to chat idly.

Ma Xiuying enjoys chatting with Ma Wenyuan the most, even about mundane family matters, she finds it comforting.

But as the conversation went on, it inevitably drifted back to politics.

After all, their identities are what they are.

Ma Xiuying said with a smile

"Your brother-in-law recently wanted to abolish the imperial examination system. What do you think?"

"Whatever my brother-in-law says goes, what can I say?"

Upon receiving this answer, Ma Xiuying nodded. "That's the best way to think about it. Your brother-in-law doesn't like anyone going against him."