Ming Dynasty: Empress Ma and I swapped clothes!

Chapter 10 Zhu Yuanzhang Invites You

The festive atmosphere of the beginning of the year has begun to wane.

The eastern entrance of Majia Village is the closest point to Baihusuo in Qingfeng County.

Grandpa Ma packed his bags, prepared his armor, and his bundle also contained travel expenses and dry rations for the journey.

Although the road is not far, the food at home is always slightly better than that at the Hundred Households Office.

"Go back! The old man has been in the garrison for more than a day or two; he's lived like this for most of his life. Nothing bad will happen to him."

Grandpa Ma is still very vigorous despite his advanced age. Although he is the eldest and most senior member of the family, he is exceptionally gifted and physically strong. Even now, in his forties, he remains remarkably healthy.

Furthermore, once he arrived at the garrison, Old Master Ma was no longer an ordinary soldier.

Although he was only a minor officer of the seventh rank, he didn't have to do the farming and other miscellaneous work himself.

It was precisely because he became a clerk that his family had a lot of fertile land, which enabled them to support their two students in their studies.

The family watched the old man walk to the main road until he was out of sight, and then the three members of Ma Xiulin's family reluctantly went back.

Back home, Wang Shiyun did odd jobs, and Ma Wenxiang helped her from time to time, but only in his spare time.

Now he attends the village's private school, and even when he's not at the school, Ma Xiulin still supervises his studies at home most of the time.

"How could your studies have deteriorated to this extent in just a few days?"

"It's true that your grandfather went to the centurion's office, but you can't slack off because of that. Even though the imperial examinations are open today, and they have nothing to do with you as a child, you absolutely cannot give up halfway, do you understand?"

"And this handwriting... it's nowhere near as polished as it was a few days ago. It's just the beginning."

Ma Xiulin frowned, and words of admonition kept coming out.

Ma Wenxiang appeared calm and collected on the surface, but inside he was panicking.

He had practiced calligraphy for a while, but reaching the beginner level was the limit he could achieve as a hobby. This is his true skill level now.

"Your Majesty, you have caused me so much suffering."

Ma Xiuying felt wronged, but she could only reply, "Father, don't worry, I will definitely study hard and strive to get our family exempted from corvée labor as soon as possible."

Fortunately, Ma Xiulin only checked his homework when she had a spare moment, and focused most of her energy on herself, so Ma Xiuying managed to get away with it.

But it is clear to the naked eye that Ma Xiuying's "wonderful life" is gone forever.

Reading, reading, and more reading.

As long as you're not dead, read it as hard as you can.

……

The Imperial Garden in the palace.

Wang, the imperial physician from the Imperial Medical Academy, was taking Ma Xiuying's pulse and then truthfully conveyed the diagnosis he had made through observation, auscultation, inquiry, and palpation.

"Your Majesty's pulse is steady and strong, no longer weak as before; and look at your rosy complexion, full forehead, and square jaw, this aura is even more auspicious and blessed."

"Your Majesty, I offer my congratulations! Your Majesty is blessed with boundless fortune and possesses the wisdom to maintain good health."

"Your humble servant is ashamed of his own inferiority."

With a soft "pfft," little Anqing couldn't help but burst out laughing, babbling, "Is this some kind of fortune telling or pulse diagnosis for Mother?"

Ma Xiuying glared at her youngest daughter, and Xiao Anqing immediately covered her mouth and shut up.

"Anqing is just a child speaking without thinking, so please don't take it to heart, Physician Wang."

Ma Xiuying spoke softly.

"It's alright, Your Highness."

Imperial Physician Wang immediately replied, "The young prince is straightforward, lively, and adorable; it's a good thing that he has won Her Majesty's favor. Your Majesty, I wish Her Majesty all the best..."

"only!"

At this moment, Physician Wang suddenly hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

Upon seeing this, Ma Xiuying raised her eyebrows slightly, smiled gently, and did not blame him: "Imperial Physician Wang, you have been treating the concubines in this palace for many years. Your medical skills are superb, so I naturally trust you."

"Please speak your mind. Do you perhaps think I am a narrow-minded person in Physician Wang's eyes?"

"Your Majesty, I am terrified. Of course not."

Imperial Physician Wang took a deep breath, suppressing his chaotic thoughts, and mustered his courage to speak boldly, "Your Majesty, I simply have some advice to offer..."

"I forgive you for your guilt."

Ma Xiuying smiled again, relieving Doctor Wang of his worries.

"Your Majesty, I thank you."

Physician Wang's face visibly relaxed considerably. After a moment's consideration, he slowly spoke: "Your Majesty, as the mother of the nation and the empress, has been a role model for everyone in the palace since the founding of our Great Ming Dynasty."

"Your Majesty's actions in weaving clothes and saving money are truly admirable, even though I am just a lowly imperial physician."

"I only hope that Your Majesty will take good care of yourself and maintain good health. A country cannot be without a ruler for a day, nor can it be without an heir for a day."

"Your Majesty's recent actions, which are all done in moderation, are actually more effective for our Great Ming, for the nation, and for the people."

"What I have said today comes from the bottom of my heart."

After saying everything, Physician Wang lowered his head deeply.

Only Ma Xiuying, standing before him, was renowned in the palace for her virtue, gentle manners, and benevolent actions.

Only a nobody like him dares to speak out so boldly.

If it were Zhu Yuanzhang, even if someone dared to say it, it might not be out of genuine goodwill.

"Your Majesty, Physician Wang, are very kind. I will remember this."

Ma Xiuying responded calmly.

As Physician Wang left, Xiao Ningguo, who had been standing silently by the side, began to speak.

A year or two older, she suddenly took small steps, grabbed Ma Xiuying's clothes, and said in a clear voice, "Mother, Physician Wang is right."

"Mother, please don't follow Father's example, working day and night until this late at night, only sleeping two or three hours a day."

"The medical books that my fifth brother studied say that, apart from those with extraordinary talent, ordinary people who follow this kind of lifestyle will soon feel mentally exhausted and suffer from mental and physical exhaustion. If they continue like this, it will shorten their lifespan and even lead to death. In time, their bodies will become so weak that they will definitely develop serious illnesses."

"Is Xiao Ningguo also learning to offer advice?"

With a slight smile, Ma Xiuying gently lifted Xiao Ningguo's chin.

"Anqing also did not want his mother to be overworked."

Xiao Anqing echoed this sentiment.

"Okay, okay."

Ma Xiuying smiled warmly, her eyes sparkling with joy. She cradled her two young daughters in her arms, letting them sit on her lap. "Mother will no longer toil so much. How about Mother apologizes to Xiao Ningguo and Xiao Anqing?"

"Mother knows she was wrong."

After going through this, Ma Xiuying has indeed taken the matter of "taking care of her health" to heart.

……

The sun had just passed noon, and the capital city was still shrouded in a chill. The warm sunlight cast golden rays, but it could not stop the gentle breeze from blowing.

"Your Majesty!"

People have been sent over from the Qianqing Palace.

It was Yun Qi, a trusted and reliable eunuch who had always been at Zhu Yuanzhang's side. Dressed in a brocade robe, with his chest hunched and head bowed, he quickly walked up to Ma Xiuying and said in a low, respectful voice.

"His Majesty requests your presence."

Upon hearing this, Ma Xiuying put down what she was holding.

She had just finished her meal.

She instructed the palace maids of Kunning Palace to take good care of the two girls, Xiao Ningguo and Xiao Anqing, before leaving with Yun Qi. They soon arrived at Qianqing Palace.