The First Uncle of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 11 I'm getting married?
I followed Zhu Biao to visit some close relatives, most of whom were founding heroes and future dukes and marquises of the Ming Dynasty.

Although these people are basically fighting outside, it is okay to meet their families. Without seeing a single one in the civil service system, Ma Xun is now the first foreign relative of the Ming Dynasty, a real foreign relative.

After visiting some nobles, Ma Xun returned to the palace and there seemed to be no other changes in his life.

"Little brother, you have to be hard when you chop and fast when you tease!"

Li Zhen stood with his hands behind his back, guiding Ma Xun in practicing martial arts.

Ma Xun put away his stick and said with a smile, "Brother-in-law, I am just a farmer. I am sorry to make a fool of myself."

Li Zhen encouraged, "It's enough for self-defense, but it lacks a bit of momentum. If I were on the battlefield and facing the enemy, I would have to be more ruthless. You still have some mercy in your heart."

Ma Xun said matter-of-factly, "If I were to go to the battlefield, these tricks of mine would be a joke."

Li Zhen continued to comfort him, "You can't say that. When we are really on the battlefield, it's all about fighting. No matter how powerful your kung fu is, it can't stop the rain of arrows and spears. Winning is all that matters."

Personal bravery naturally plays a certain role on the battlefield, but unless you are someone like Xiang Yu or Li Cunxiao, it is difficult to change the situation of the battle by one's own strength.

While Ma Xun was practicing martial arts, Li Jinglong was waving a small wooden sword around, obviously he was also an active child.

Just as Ma Xun was about to start a new round of martial arts training, Zhu Yuanzhang's voice came, "If I don't come to see you, you won't come to see us either?"

Li Zhen quickly said, "Your Majesty is busy, how can we easily disturb you?"

Zhu Yuanzhang said unhappily, "Brother-in-law, little brother, you are all family, why are there so many etiquettes? You are always so polite!"

Ma Xiuying said to Ma Xun unhappily, "It's been half a month since we arrived in Beijing. Have you taken the initiative to look for me and your brother-in-law?"

Ma Xun also spoke up quickly, "My brother-in-law and sister are busy. I am living well now. I don't have to worry about food and drink. My eldest brother-in-law is teaching me martial arts, and I am studying with the prince. I don't need my brother-in-law and sister to worry about me."

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed in silence, and then said, "One is my brother-in-law, and the other is my brother-in-law. You two get along very well and have similar personalities."

Li Zhen agreed with this. She was worried that Ma Xun was young and might be as flamboyant as some young people. But she didn't expect that this boy was mature and steady, and he was very disciplined in his actions. Li Zhen liked such people.

When they got to the house, Zhu Yuanzhang asked, "Little brother, have you seen your nephew's wife? What do you think?"

Ma Xun smiled and said, "How can I talk nonsense about such a big thing?"

Ma Xiuying spoke decisively, "You are my uncle, so you can tell me. Tell me, what do you think of that girl?"

"I think it's good. I won't say anything else. It's fine as long as the prince likes it." Ma Xun said with a smile, "The two children standing together are like a golden boy and a jade girl. Just stand there and you look at me and I look at you."

Zhu Yuanzhang and Ma Xiuying also laughed, "Those two kids can't keep secrets. They won't be able to get married in two years."

Ma Xiuying smiled and said, "My relative is also a powerful person. She followed Chang Yuchun to seek refuge with your brother-in-law in He County. Your brother-in-law didn't like Chang Yuchun at that time and thought he was just trying to make a living."

Ma Xun said jokingly, "I don't know that, but I know that General Chang is very powerful and has no rivals in the world."

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed and said, "You didn't see Lao Chang at that time. He looked like a slacker and was very arrogant. I didn't expect him to be so capable!"

Ma Xiuying also said, "Your brother-in-law crossed the river, and I stayed in Hexian. At that time, the people from Chaohu, the Guo family, and other people who came to seek refuge, all had their families, but their hearts were not together. I played the good cop, and Chang Lan played the bad cop."

Zhu Yuanzhang also smiled and said, "Chang Lan is a fierce woman. How can she not be powerful if she came from a bandit's den? Your sister is too lazy to argue with some fierce women. Even if Chang Lan helps her, those fierce women dare not act fiercely in front of her."

Ma Xun was just laughing, but it was understandable because many of Zhu's team members did not come from high-class backgrounds.

Ma Xiuying smiled and said, "Biao'er and Chang Wan are the same age. They played together when they were young. I thought it was nothing, but later I felt something was wrong."

Ma Xun asked curiously, "How did you know something was wrong?" Zhu Yuanzhang said complacently, "Your other nephews are naughty. Your eldest nephew plays the good cop and Wan'er plays the bad cop. Even the fifth nephew is like this now. When he heard that Wan'er entered the palace, he quickly went to confess his misfortune."

Ma Xun seemed to understand and asked with a smile, "That girl is protecting the second brother and the others? That's good. Biao'er should take care of his younger brothers and sisters."

Ma Xiuying also smiled and said, "That's right. I always thought they were just little brothers and sisters playing together. But I didn't know that Biao'er and Wan'er fell in love with each other. Biao'er got a brocade bag with a mandarin duck embroidered on it."

Ma Xun asked uncertainly, "Didn't you say that needlework is not very good?"

Ma Xiuying smiled and said, "It's not good, but it's not that I can't do it. It's just that the mandarin duck embroidery looks like a fat duck, but Biao'er likes it."

"What are you talking about? What are you talking about?" Zhu Biao walked into the room in a hurry. "I heard you guys laughing from a distance. Are you talking about my uncle's marriage?"

Zhu Yuanzhang joked, "You are more capable than your uncle. You found a wife yourself. Your uncle is already 20 years old and still has no family. What should we do?"

Ma Xun, who was watching the show, immediately felt that something was wrong. He had been urged to get married many times during this period, but he had no idea what was going on.

Zhu Biao said frankly, "Dad, Mom, I think Master Song's family is pretty good."

"I know you are close to Song Lian, but it's inappropriate." Zhu Yuanzhang said immediately, "I don't like that old man Song Lian. Although your uncle is polite, he is not a serious scholar and can't stand the girl from the Song family."

Zhu Biao suggested, "Then choose Duke Xuan. He is the right prime minister and the first to join the army. He has a good family background and great ability. His granddaughter is suitable to be married to your uncle."

Zhu Yuanzhang was about to blew his beard and glared, "Are you deliberately trying to piss me off? How can Li Shanchang marry your uncle?"

Zhu Biao suddenly said, "Then choose Mr. Qingtian's youngest daughter. I think she is suitable."

Zhu Yuanzhang slammed the table and stood up, "Asshole, are you playing tricks with your father?"

Not to mention Zhu Yuanzhang, even Ma Xiuying and Li Zhen knew that the two candidates Zhu Biao had proposed were not suitable and would never pass the test. Now that two candidates had been rejected, the third one was the highlight.

Ma Xun asked, "Who is Mr. Qingtian?"

"He is just a sour and corrupt scholar. When I confer titles on meritorious officials in two years, I will confer him the title of Earl of Chengyi." Zhu Yuanzhang said angrily. "He has ability, but he is not on the same page with me. I want to disgust him and see if he is sincere or not!"

Ma Xun was stunned for a moment, then a little panicked. Marquis Chengyi, Liu Bowen?

Ma Xun quickly looked at Ma Xiuying and said, "Sister, I don't really like people from scholarly families. I heard that many of the ladies from wealthy families who inherited poetry and literature had bound feet, and I don't like people with bound feet."

Ma Xiuying was a little surprised, and then quickly explained, "Don't let your imagination run wild. Although foot binding has existed since the Southern Song Dynasty, it was mostly used to modify the foot shape, and it's not ugly."

"That's not good either." Ma Xun said, "If we really find someone who can't even walk, that won't work."

The custom of foot binding still exists today, but it existed in the Southern Song Dynasty. Just as Ma Xiuying said, it was only to modify the shape of the feet and was not a deformed three-inch golden lotus at all.

And only some powerful and wealthy families did so. Ordinary people would bind their feet for no reason. Women were also laborers and had to work in the fields.

"Wan'er told me that Mr. Qingtian's little daughter is well-educated and beautiful." Zhu Biao continued, "It's true that Mr. Qingtian is from eastern Zhejiang, but it doesn't matter."

Zhu Yuanzhang remained silent with a cold face, but Ma Xiuying was very interested. "Really? Then let Wan'er bring people to the palace tomorrow and let your uncle take a look. If they really like each other, your uncle must get married first."

Zhu Biao glanced at Zhu Yuanzhang and said worriedly, "Mom, I'm about to get engaged, but my uncle hasn't married yet. It will be embarrassing to tell others about this! My uncle's marriage must be settled quickly!"

Zhu Yuanzhang thought about it and it made sense. He became anxious and said, "I will give your uncle an official position tomorrow. I can't let your uncle's marriage delay you."

Ma Xun has no say at all. It’s just a dream to want to have a free love in this era!

Even if Zhu Biao did not make the decision, Zhu Yuanzhang and Ma Xiuying would make arrangements. There is no doubt about it!
(End of this chapter)