The Ming Dynasty: My sister, Empress Ma

Since the rules were established last time.

Life at the school returned to normal.

Chang Mao was punished by having to clean the latrines for three days. On the first day, his face was as black as the bottom of a pot.

On the day.

Having just finished scheduling the courses and chatting with the instructors, Ma Wenyuan suddenly heard the doorman report...

"Your Majesty, the Imperial Brother-in-Law, Vice Commissioner Lan has arrived."

Ma Wenyuan was slightly surprised.

Lan Yu had visited a few days ago.

I gave them some old books and then left in a hurry.

Why are you here again today?

Of course, since the person had arrived, Ma Wenyuan couldn't very well turn them away.

Thinking this, Ma Wenyuan walked to the front yard, where Lan Yu was standing at the entrance of the main hall, not going in.

Lan Yu stood ramrod straight, wearing a slightly worn black robe with a plain silver belt around his waist.

Upon seeing Ma Wenyuan emerge, Lan Yu immediately bowed and greeted him, "Your Excellency, the Imperial Brother-in-Law."

"Brother Lan, why don't you come in and sit down?"

Lan Yu shook his head: "I'll just say a few words and then I'll leave."

Ma Wenyuan looked at him and waited.

Lan Yu remained silent for a long while, as if something was stuck in her throat, unable to be swallowed or spat out.

"Regarding Mao'er," Lan Yu finally spoke after a long pause, her voice much lower than usual.

"This humble official apologizes to the Emperor's brother-in-law on his behalf."

Ma Wenyuan waved his hand.

He is him, and you are you.

"That's not the reason."

Lan Yu interrupted Ma Wenyuan, her tone somewhat abrupt.

He didn't finish his sentence.

Ma Wenyuan didn't respond; he just waited.

Lan Yu took a deep breath, then suddenly cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Ma Wenyuan and bowed.

"Your Excellency, on behalf of Mao'er and myself, I apologize to you."

Ma Wenyuan reached out and supported his arm.

"Brother Lan, what's wrong with you...?"

"Don't stop me, Your Majesty."

Lan Yu raised her head, her face slightly flushed, but her gaze was frank and open.

"I, Lan, have a bad temper and speak harshly. I have offended the Emperor's brother-in-law many times in the past. The Emperor's brother-in-law is magnanimous for not holding it against me. But I cannot pretend that nothing happened."

As she spoke, Lan Yu took out a cloth bag from her sleeve and placed it in Ma Wenyuan's hand.

"This is just a small token of my appreciation. It's nothing valuable, Your Excellency, please accept it."

Ma Wenyuan opened the cloth bag, inside was a short knife. The scabbard was wrapped in cowhide and polished to a shine, and the handle was engraved with the character "Lan".

"This knife has been with me for over ten years."

Lan Yu's voice lowered.

"I used it on the battlefield during the conquest of Shu. I am a rough man and cannot offer anything elegant. If Your Majesty does not mind, you may keep it as a plaything."

Ma Wenyuan held the short knife and remained silent for a moment.

The sword wasn't heavy, but the sheath was covered in dense wear marks, as if it had been with its master for a long time, fought many battles, and seen much blood. He raised his head and looked at Lan Yu.

"Brother Lan, I cannot accept this knife. It's something you've carried for over a decade; if you give it to me, what will you use it for?"

Lan Yu was taken aback, not expecting Ma Wenyuan to say that.

"However," Ma Wenyuan put the knife back into the cloth bag and handed it back to Lan Yu, "I accept General Lan's kindness."

Lan Yu took the cloth bag, opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say for a moment.

"Regarding Mao'er," Ma Wenyuan said, "General Lan need not mention it again. He is my student, and I reprimanded him for his own good. If General Lan truly feels guilty, he should visit him at the academy more often. He is afraid of you, and your words carry more weight than mine."

Lan Yu suddenly smiled.

He nodded, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Okay."

After saying that, Lan Yu stopped chatting with Ma Wenyuan and strode into the school.

Ma Wenyuan didn't stop him; he saw the rattan cane in Lan Yu's hand...

In the evening, Lan Yu left.

……

The next day, Chang Mao looked much better. He swept the floor with his head down, working diligently and attentively, ignoring everyone else.

They arrived even earlier on the third day.

Since then, Chang Mao has become much more restrained.

They didn't even frown or throw their chopsticks.

He never ordered anyone around.

Once, while getting food in the cafeteria, someone carrying a bowl of soup passed by him and accidentally shook it, splashing soup onto his sleeve.

Everyone thought Chang Mao was about to lose his temper.

But there was no result.

……

Besides that, a few minor incidents occurred.

The school has been in session for ten days.

Liao Quan also came to see Ma Wenyuan.

Ma Wenyuan was about to go out to the Ministry of Works when Liao Quan stood at the door, holding a rough pottery bowl in his hands, his head down and not saying a word.

Ma Wenyuan waited a while, and seeing that the guy was still holding back from giving birth, he couldn't help but ask,

"What's wrong?"

Liao Quan then spoke, handing over the bowl.

"If a student breaks a bowl in the cafeteria, they should pay for it."

Ma Wenyuan took the bowl, looked at it, and smiled.

"Did you make this yourself?"

Liao Quan nodded.

"The craftsmanship is quite good."

Ma Wenyuan returned the bowl to him.

"No need to pay for it. The school bowls belong to the public, and the ones you made are better than the public ones, so keep them for yourself."

Liao Quan took the bowl and stood there without leaving.

"Is there anything else?"

Liao Quan hesitated for a moment before finally speaking: "Sir, I would like to learn how to cast cannons."

Ma Wenyuan was stunned for a moment.

Why do you want to learn cannon casting?

"My father used cannons when he conquered Shu. I heard him mention them. He said that although they were powerful, they were heavy, had a short range, and were prone to exploding. I want to learn how to improve them."

Ma Wenyuan looked at Liao Quan and remained silent for a long while.

Liao Yongzhong's son, Liao Quan.

Unlike other powerful and wealthy people, he genuinely wanted to learn something.

"Okay." Ma Wenyuan nodded. "I'll teach you once you've mastered arithmetic and blueprints."

Liao Quan held the rough pottery bowl, bowed deeply, and turned to leave.

Ma Wenyuan watched his figure disappear at the end of the corridor.

Ma Wenyuan suddenly remembered what Liu Ji had said.

The study of things is just empty talk without practice.

Liao Quan was only fourteen years old, but he had already figured out what he wanted to do. Of the two hundred-plus students in the school, how many could figure it out?

he does not know.

But he felt that one would be good enough, and more would be even better.

That afternoon, Ma Wenyuan was packing his things in the backyard, preparing to go out to find a teacher the next day.

Fang Xiaoru had already prepared the itinerary.

Nowadays, Fang Xiaoru is called a student, but he is more like Ma Wenyuan's assistant.

In this respect, he was different from the more than two hundred students in the school.

The students in the school were all considered disciples of Ma Wenyuan.

Strictly speaking, he can only be considered an inner disciple; Fang Xiaoru is more like a direct disciple.

……

Fang Xiaoru's itinerary was very simple.

First go to Xinyu, Jiangxi to find Liang Yin, then go to Qimen, Huizhou to find Wang Kekuan.

He had also prepared all the travel expenses, gifts, and visiting cards. Lin Ye even went to the storeroom to collect some common items, saying they were gifts for the two gentlemen.

Ma Wenyuan ultimately felt it was too tacky, so he added some more glass items.

……

After handling all the matters.

Ma Wenyuan then left Yingtian Prefecture.

The entourage was simple, consisting only of the staff of the Forestry Bureau and Fang Xiaoru.

Zeng Qing wanted to go along, but he couldn't leave.

He is now a trial commander, and his promotion to commander is a certainty.

How can one abandon their post without authorization?