The Ming Dynasty: My sister, Empress Ma

Zhu Di was beaten.

Old Zhu's corporal punishment was once again applied to Zhu Di.

According to Zhu Biao, Zhu Di was beaten the most and was the most severely among his brothers.

Li Jinglong clapped and cheered from the sidelines, not worried at all about the revenge from his fourth cousin in the future.

Prince Zhu Gang of Jin sat in his seat, as humble as an ant, not daring to utter a sound.

Zhu Su, however, said nonchalantly, "Fourth Brother, don't panic. I'll treat you after Father is done."

Ma Wenyuan was somewhat curious.

"There's a doctor too?"

Ma Xiuying sighed.

"That kid loves these things the most. He doesn't like to go out to play, and unlike his older brothers, he doesn't like to play with knives and guns. He prefers to stay in the house and study medicine."

"You have no ambition!" Zhu Yuanzhang whipped Zhu Di, sending him running around in all directions. He didn't bother to chase after him, and simply pointed at Zhu Su and said.

"It's fine."

Ma Wenyuan disagreed, saying, "The Crown Prince is in charge of political affairs, and the officials in the court are there to assist in civil administration."

"Why should the other princes worry about this?"

"As for martial arts, I think both Prince Jin and Prince Yan are highly talented."

"King Wu loved medicine and thought that if he could help the people and save their lives, it would be a wonderful story."

"My nephews are both literate and skilled in martial arts, that's wonderful."

Zhu Yuanzhang wholeheartedly agreed, but not wanting his son to become arrogant, he immediately changed the subject.

"Just call them by their names; calling them 'King' or 'King' sounds weird."

Ma Wenyuan chuckled. Was it that he didn't want to call him by name?

Look at the names your Zhu family has chosen, what's the difference between them and the periodic table?

I really can't remember.

Upon hearing Ma Wenyuan's words, Zhu Di forced back the tears that were welling up in his eyes.

He felt that his uncle was a good person, and he started planning to visit Ma Wenyuan again.

No one has ever claimed to be a master of martial arts.

In fact, Ma Wenyuan never said that. What he meant was that Zhu Di was a remarkable military general, both in terms of civil administration and military achievements.

Why later, and not after a meal?

Simple, my butt is so sore I can't walk.

After the meal.

Zhu Su went with the imperial physician to treat Zhu Di, and Zhu Su expressed his intention to be consistent in word and deed.

Mu Ying accompanied Li Zhen and his grandson Li Jinglong home.

The other princes then went to cause trouble again.

Ma Wenyuan went to accompany Ma Xiuying.

……

As soon as she entered the main hall where Ma Xiuying lived, she couldn't hold back her tears any longer.

"Brother, I'm so sorry. I've made you suffer all these years."

This left Ma Wenyuan somewhat at a loss, and he quickly said...

"I haven't been wronged, I'm doing just fine, and I've walked right up to my sister, haven't I?"

This was the first time Ma Xiuying had heard Ma Wenyuan call her "sister," and she immediately breathed a sigh of relief, as she had thought Ma Wenyuan was unwilling to acknowledge her.

She only had this one family member left in this world.

In China, regardless of social status, a woman always values ​​her maternal family the most.

Whether in the present or in the future, otherwise so many "brother-obsessed demons" would not have emerged.

Admittedly, Empress Ma Xiuying was not a sissy who doted on her brother; this empress valued the Ming Dynasty more than her own life.

Ma Wenyuan didn't know how to handle this sibling relationship, and after thinking it over, he finally said...

"Sister, please take good care of yourself. Don't worry about me. You're the only family I have left in this world."

He remembered that Ma Xiuying died young, but he didn't know why, as it wasn't recorded in historical records.

Perhaps it was due to overwork, or perhaps it was due to other illnesses.

He couldn't handle the former, and Ma Wenyuan was ignorant of pathology and medicine, so he couldn't handle the latter either.

That was all the advice he could offer.

But just that one sentence made Ma Xiuying very gratified, but also made her feel even more heartbroken.

The Ma family has gone from being a large and prosperous family to now being reduced to just the two siblings, which can be described as a very small number of people.

"Okay, I'll definitely take care of myself."

Ma Xiuying wiped away her tears, then suddenly seemed to remember something, "Brother, you're eighteen this year? Do you have a courtesy name?"

"No."

Ma Wenyuan shook his head.

"In that case, when you return to your ancestral home in the future, I'll have your brother-in-law help you choose one."

Ma Xiuying held Ma Wenyuan's hand and sat down at the table, starting to nag, "You're not young anymore, it's time to get married."

"Yes."

Ma Wenyuan did not refute it, after all, it was an elder's concern.

Besides, in this day and age, not getting married can be considered unfilial.

Especially families like the Ma family, which have a small number of members.

If you don't get married, you'll be condemned by everyone.

……

On the other side.

"Fifth brother, come with me to visit your uncle later."

Lying on his bed, Zhu Di forced out these words with a hissing and groaning voice.

"Okay, okay, don't move yet, I'll apply the medicine for you."

Zhu Su sat to one side, helping her brother apply medicine like a little adult.

He has been on medication countless times since he was six years old.

Sometimes the person I help is the second child, sometimes the third, but more often it's the fourth.

In recent years, my younger brothers have also been frequently beaten.

This pleased Zhu Su greatly.

Of course, I wasn't happy that my older and younger brothers were beaten, but rather that I was happy that my skills could be put to use.

"Why do you also want to go find your uncle?" Zhu Su blew on the other person's wound.

"Don't blow on my ass."

Zhu Di twisted and turned, asking, "And you also want to go find your uncle?"

"My uncle said I would be able to practice medicine and help people in the future; only my uncle would say that."

Zhu Di also said with a smile,

"My uncle also said that I am highly skilled in martial arts. No one had ever said that about me before."

Zhu Di said seriously,

"I want to teach my uncle martial arts. He looks so thin and weak. What will he do to help me when I go to lead troops into battle?"

"Your uncle is saying that you will definitely become a famous general in the future."

Zhu Su was speechless at his elder brother's words, but he was used to it. He turned to his brother and said, "Uncle is a civil official. Didn't you hear what Father said? If Uncle wasn't related to the emperor, he would definitely have been the top scholar in this year's imperial examination."

Zhu Di countered with a question,

"Isn't it up to the father to decide who becomes the top scholar?"

"That at least shows that my uncle is highly educated; otherwise, how could he convince everyone?"

Zhu Su muttered to himself, "Maybe my uncle also likes studying medicine, and it would be more realistic for him to go to my fiefdom with me in the future."

Zhu Di retorted,

"Nonsense! You have no ambition. Our job is to conquer the enemy's lair! Uncle, you should be with me on the battlefield!"

Zhu Su silently exerted some strength at home and slowly said, "To seal the wolf's lair and win a hasty retreat northward."

Unlike his older brothers, Zhu Su loved literature, so he could write articles and poems with ease.

Are you mocking me?

Zhu Di suddenly realized what was happening.

Zhu Su remained silent and increased the force of his blows.

"Ouch—that hurts! Be gentle!"

"This is the first time you two have met your uncle, and you're already arguing?"

A voice came, followed by unhurried footsteps.

The visitor was none other than Zhu Biao.

Zhu Su immediately stood up and bowed.

"There's only one uncle, but there are so many of us brothers. How can we not fight for him?"

Zhu Yuanzhang had many sons and daughters, but only seven of them were truly Ma Wenyuan's nephews and nieces, who were as close as blood relatives.

Five sons and two daughters.

Zhu Biao suddenly felt like teasing his younger brothers, and said with a smile,

"So, you don't need to think about it anymore, your uncle is going to stay in the capital."