The First Uncle of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 61 The Emperor Advised Me to Read Good Books

If the emperor works diligently, it will be difficult for officials to be lazy.

After recuperating for nearly four months, Chang Yuchun hurriedly led his troops north. After the three-day New Year's Day holiday was over, he set out on the fourth day of the first lunar month after receiving the imperial edict.

There are five statutory holidays per month, plus one day for the winter solstice and three days for New Year's Day.

It can also be counted as leave granted for weddings or funerals in the family, or the suspension of court due to the death of a royal family member or important official.

With few holidays and low salaries, it was easy to lose your head if you were an official during the Hongwu period.

Fortunately, all this had little to do with Ma Xun. After he requested to confer titles on the kings, he disappeared from the sight of civil and military officials again.

Patting Wangcai on the head, Ma Xun was relieved. "Look! Sorghum! I know you don't like eating silage, so I give you sorghum. What a treat!"

Wangcai wagged his tail impatiently, seeming a little angry.

Ma Xun, who had nothing to do, decided to go to the study to read a book. He couldn't just eat and wait to die.

"What are you looking at? You're all stunned!"

Ma Xun looked up suddenly and was also startled because the person standing at the door was Zhu Yuanzhang.

Quickly putting down the book, Ma Xun stood up and asked, "Brother-in-law, why are you here at this time?"

Zhu Yuanzhang put his hands behind his back and said jokingly, "I asked you to go to the main hall to study, but you didn't want to. You insisted on reading by yourself. What good things are you reading?"

Ma Xun explained, "Dream Pool Essays is quite interesting to read."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and asked, "Who wrote it? Miscellaneous books?"

"Shen Kuo from the Northern Song Dynasty." Ma Xun explained, "It involves astronomy, geography, water conservancy, architecture, etc. Anyway, I find it very interesting."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the bookcase carefully. "Qimin Yaoshu, I know this! Nongsang Jiyao, I remember it was written by the former Yuan Dynasty's Ministry of Agriculture? Nongshu, who wrote this?"

Ma Xun replied, "Wang Zhen from the previous Yuan Dynasty is a very capable person."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and asked, "Why don't you read Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases and Qianjin Prescriptions?"

Ma Xun smiled and replied, "Also, I read it when I have nothing to do. Who knows, I might find some ideas."

"It's good to read books. People from scholarly families are different. It's just that your handwriting is a little ugly." Zhu Yuanzhang said with satisfaction, "My father-in-law will be happy to see that you are so eager to learn!"

Ma Xun asked tentatively, "Brother-in-law, what's the matter?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was immediately unhappy, "Why are you always afraid of me?"

Ma Xun denied it flatly, "I'm not afraid, don't I think you're busy?"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Ma Xun, then smiled and said, "Reading is a serious matter, it helps you improve. If you can learn how to make wine by reading a book, that's also a skill."

Ma Xun had long guessed that it was no secret that he was "brewing wine" in his house, but he was not nervous, "Brother-in-law, I don't drink much. I brew wine mainly to reduce inflammation, but I haven't figured it out yet."

Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned for a moment, "Medical skills?"

Seeing Ma Xun nod, Zhu Yuanzhang immediately said, "Then you should study hard, there is no need to rush."

"When I understand more, I will definitely ask my brother-in-law to lend me some people." Ma Xun suddenly felt like a bad guy. "I have to keep it secret to avoid damaging my sister's reputation for kindness."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded immediately. All medicines are poisonous. If I try the medicine, I might really kill someone.

Zhu Yuanzhang then said, "You are about to get married, and you should have children after you get married. Your Ma family has one, and your sister will feel at ease only when she holds her nephew."

Seeing Ma Xun nod, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly asked, "Do you know how to give birth to a son?"

Ma Xun was stunned, then nodded gently, "Consummation of marriage?"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked up at the roof, a little embarrassed, "Do you know how to consummate the marriage? Why don't you take a maid into the room to open the face first? Do you want to ask two maids to teach you?"

Ma Xun was shocked. "No need, no need!"

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly threw the two books hidden behind him onto the desk and said, "Take a look. If you don't understand, ask me." Ma Xun took a look immediately. It was something like "Spring Palace Picture" and "Su Nu Jing".

It seemed a bit inappropriate to read these books in front of Zhu Yuanzhang, so Ma Xun quickly said, "Brother-in-law, I'll take a look in private."

Zhu Yuanzhang was relieved immediately, but pretended to scold, "Are you still embarrassed? You are still a virgin at this age, aren't you ashamed? I am your brother-in-law, if I don't teach you, who will?"

Ma Xun quickly interrupted, "I'll take a look in private. I'm shy, but is that okay?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was not angry either. He and Ma Xiuying could both feel some changes in Ma Xun.

Some of our inherent traits cannot be changed, but some changes can be noticed.

When he first met Ma Xun, he was always cautious, as if he was afraid of being disliked, but more of it was fear, because he was facing the emperor.

Now I still maintain a sufficient sense of propriety, but I have gradually relaxed. I have become closer to my family members, and I am not so restrained or afraid anymore. I even dare to make jokes.

Zhu Yuanzhang continued to scold, "Watch carefully, study hard, or you won't be able to see your nephew at the end of the year, you will suffer!"

Zhu Yuanzhang then strode out of the study. If he was teaching war or political tactics, he would have been eloquent and incessant. But the affairs between men and women were not just bragging with his brothers.

This is in front of my brother-in-law, how can I say those things!
Ma Xun, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, looked at the book on the table. He flipped through it. His train of thought had been interrupted. He changed his mind.

The eunuch guarding the door left quietly and ran to the emperor happily, "Your Majesty, the emperor's uncle is watching very intently!"

"This kid has the temperament of a scholar!" Zhu Yuanzhang laughed. "Let him go back to the palace tomorrow. Send some servants from the palace to help with the arrangements. Send someone from the Ministry of Rites to talk to him."

Ma Xiuying was a little worried. "Zhongba, what do you think we should do with my younger brother? You can see that he doesn't understand many etiquettes and doesn't care much about human relationships."

Zhu Yuanzhang advised, "I have been wandering around in my early years, and no one taught me etiquette and human relations. He is also noble and proud like you. You also know what it's like to survive in troubled times. This is the best way for me. It's better for me to be taught by my father-in-law."

Ma Xiuying thought about it and it made sense. Many people who survived in troubled times were ruthless, vicious, cunning, and had no sense of morality. This was common.

I am just not very familiar with some of the red tape, but that’s okay. The chaos has just ended and no one cares about these things!
Ma Xun got up early, washed up and ran to the next yard, "Brother-in-law."

Li Zhen said cheerfully, "I knew you would get up early today. I allowed you to leave the palace. You ran faster than anyone else."

Ma Xun denied this, "I wanted to get married, so I hurried back."

After breakfast, Ma Xun happily led the donkey out of the palace.

As soon as I left the palace, I saw He Da and others. It was obvious that they had received the news in advance and were waiting outside the palace.

"My Lord, you have been away from home for half a month, and everything has been stable at home."

"Every mansion sent New Year gifts, and I accepted the gifts from the close relatives. Ezi followed the Queen's order and gave New Year's money to the younger generations in your name."

"Everything in the mansion has been decorated and dressed up, waiting for the prince's wedding the day after tomorrow!"

Ma Xun lived in the palace for more than half a month. Fortunately, even when he was not at home, all matters, big and small, were arranged in an orderly manner.

This is definitely not Ma Xun's ability, he is not good at managing the household.

Looking at the huge 'Prince Xu's Mansion', Ma Xun was stunned, "Isn't it the Ma Mansion?"

He Da said proudly, "This is the mansion that His Majesty gave to Tai Gong. Now the King's uncle lives there. It was changed yesterday by someone from the Ministry of Rites!"

"uncle!"

"uncle!"

The voices of Chang Mao and others were heard, and it seemed that they also knew that Ma Xun would return home today.

"You go to Wenying's house and bring the younger generation over." Ma Xun knew his identity. "They know I'm leaving the palace and they will definitely come to pay New Year's greetings. Come together. Go buy some things and prepare meals."

He Da and the others immediately went to do their work, while Ma Xun led the donkey into the mansion, "Keep your voice down, everyone in the palace knows that I'm out of the palace!"

(End of this chapter)