My aunt is Queen Ma

Chapter 116 Figure it out
Yuan Lang suppressed a laugh and pushed Ma Yu toward the main gate.

Ma Yu saw from afar that a young man holding a folding fan was standing at the door.

A woman disguised as a man?

His eyes lit up, and his heart skipped a beat.

It's highly likely that they came here with some disguise because they were worried about what others would think.

However, this actually suits Ma Yu's preferences even better.

Upon closer inspection, he was indeed a dashing and handsome young man.

Guanyinnu was of mixed race; her father was Mongolian and her mother was Naiman.

The Naiman people have lived in the Western Regions for generations and belong to the Turan people by blood.

The so-called Turan race is a mixed-race population of yellow and white descent.

The people of the Western Regions are mostly of the Turan ethnicity.

Later, the main body of the Naiman people merged into the Kazakh tribes, and a portion of them merged into the Uyghur and other ethnic groups in the Western Regions.

Therefore, Guanyin slave possessed some characteristics of the Turan people, such as fair skin and a high nose bridge.

In short, it's very beautiful.

With his tall, slender figure and slightly plump physique... even Ma Yu felt a little envious.

However, he did not lose his composure because of this. In his previous life, he had advanced medical aesthetics technology and had seen all kinds of beautiful women.

It's not like you'd turn into a lecher just because you see someone good-looking.

"A rare guest indeed! Young Master Wang's presence truly brings honor to our humble abode."

When Guanyin Nu saw him emerge in a wheelchair, her brows furrowed slightly, but she said nothing, returning the greeting with a cupped hand:
"I apologize for disturbing you, Duke Xu, and hope you will not take offense."

Ma Yu laughed and said, "How could that be? I'm glad you came. Let's go inside and talk."

The two exchanged meaningless pleasantries on the way.

Ma Yu could sense that her gaze repeatedly drifted towards the wheelchair, and she hesitated several times as if she wanted to say something.

Who cares if someone is in a wheelchair, unless that person isn't 'someone else'?

He couldn't help but chuckle to himself.

Tsk, you're getting into the zone.

Only after entering the lobby and Yuan Lang stepped back to give the two of them some space did she finally ask:

"Are you alright...?"

Ma Yu feigned disappointment and said, "Sigh, you should know what happened and how it left lasting effects."

Guanyin Nu frowned even more deeply. She didn't want to marry a sickly man, especially one who would spend his whole life in a wheelchair.

Wait, no, I never even considered marrying him, so why should I care about this?

then……

She saw Ma Yu stand up from her wheelchair, stretch, and complain:

"Ugh, it's so uncomfortable to be in a wheelchair every day."

Guanyin Nu said in surprise, "Didn't you say..."

Ma Yu laughed and said, "There are indeed aftereffects, but not to the extent you think."

Even if this reached Zhu Yuanzhang's ears, it wouldn't matter; he was just physically weak, not someone who needed a wheelchair.

Moreover, it's perfectly normal for men to act a little stronger in front of women.

Guanyin's servant, realizing she had been tricked, gritted her teeth in anger:
"You... bastard."

Ma Yu suddenly became serious and asked, "I wonder what brings Miss Wang to see me?"

His sudden change left Guanyin Nu somewhat disoriented.

However, remembering the purpose of her visit, she quickly composed herself, put on a sorrowful expression, and said:

"I haven't been able to contact my brother for a long time and I miss him very much. Could you help me deliver a letter to him?"

"You can check the contents of the letter; I guarantee there's nothing that shouldn't have been written."

Ma Yu clicked his tongue inwardly; her tearful appearance was truly pitiful.

If it were someone with a weaker will, they would most likely have given up on the spot.

Unfortunately, she ran into me today. Even Liu Xiahui would have to call me brother. How could she fall for your trick?

They even said they could check any letter they wanted, guaranteeing there would be no problems.

What a liar.

Acrostic poems and keyword extraction encryption have been overused in movies and TV dramas.

"Hey, Miss Wang, do you know you're playing with fire?"

Guanyin Nu was first surprised, then angrily said, "You suspect that I passed information to my brother?"

Ma Yu did not answer the question directly, but instead said:

"Whether you intended to or not, from the moment you wrote to your brother through unofficial channels, things were no longer in your control."

Guanyin Nu asked in confusion, "What do you mean?"

Ma Yu said, "You sent a letter to your brother through me, so I control this channel."

“We can completely imitate your handwriting and pass a deadly message to your brother.”

"Do you understand now?"

Guanyin Nu was startled and forced a smile, saying, "How...how could this be..."

Ma Yu said seriously, "It's definitely true, you're still too young."

"Those who emerge victorious from the struggle for supremacy and rule the world are all extraordinary individuals."

"I can see through your little schemes at a glance, let alone them."

"Take my advice and do nothing."

"The more you do, the more flaws you'll reveal, and in the end, you'll not only fail to help your brother, but you'll actually harm him."

Guanyin Nuqiang laughed and said, "I don't understand what you're saying. I didn't plan to do anything."

Ma Yu shook her head, knowing that she wouldn't admit it, and there was no point in continuing.

So they didn't dwell on the matter any longer, but instead changed the subject, saying:
“I know you don’t want to marry me, and you’re hoping that one day your brother can rescue you.”

"But with your intelligence, you should know how slim that hope is."

“Your brother can barely take care of himself right now, let alone save you.”

Guanyin Nu naturally understood this principle, but still refused to give up her last glimmer of hope, and forced herself to say:
"I believe in my brother; one day he will rise again."

Ma Yu didn't ask her how long the day was, but instead said:

"You still don't understand the character of His Majesty of the Ming Dynasty."

"Let me tell you this: the more powerful your brother is, the less likely the emperor will let you go."

Guanyin Nu retorted, "What if my brother captured several generals of the Ming Dynasty in exchange?"

Ma Yu said, "In the fourth year of Tianyou, Zhang Shicheng's younger brother Zhang Shide was captured by His Majesty."

"Zhang Shicheng wanted to exchange Zhang Shide for the captured soldiers and countless amounts of money and grain, but His Majesty refused without hesitation."

"Zhang Shide eventually committed suicide in prison."

"At that time, His Majesty was just a regional warlord and was unwilling to bow down and make an exchange."

"Now that he is the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty, it is even less likely that he would do such a thing."

"So no matter how strong or weak your brother is, he will never let you leave."

Guanyin Nu said in disbelief, "Impossible, he... doesn't he care about the soldiers' feelings at all?"

Ma Yu sighed, "Throughout history, which of those who have gained power do you think was a virtuous person?"

"Their thinking is different from that of ordinary people like us."

With all hope shattered, Guanyin Nu's face turned deathly pale, tears welling up in her eyes, yet she stubbornly refused to let them fall.

Ma Yu sighed inwardly, "Don't blame me for being ruthless."

This glimmer of hope is not a good thing for you.

This wasn't him trying to make amends for himself.

If she continues to refuse to accept reality and clings to this last glimmer of hope as a lifeline.

There's a high probability they'll do something driven by greed.

For example, gathering intelligence and passing it on to Wang Baobao.

Doing this will harm both yourself and others.

Only by completely shattering her unrealistic hopes can she accept reality and live the rest of her life in a down-to-earth manner.

However, Zhu Yuanzhang cannot be entirely blamed for Zhang Shide's situation.

After all, the bargaining chips offered by Zhang Shicheng were clearly insufficient.

Zhang Shide was the brains of Zhang Shicheng's group; almost all major policies and strategies originated from him.

It is easy to imagine how important it is to the Zhang Group.

No one would agree to replacing a general's brain.

If Li Shanchang and Xu Da had been captured, Zhu Yuanzhang would most likely have replaced them.

Moreover, Zhu Yuanzhang never actually intended to kill Zhang Shide; he hoped to use this opportunity to force Zhang Shicheng to surrender.

However, he underestimated the insulting nature of the letter (comparing Zhang Shicheng to Wei Xiao) and also underestimated the backbone of the Zhang brothers.

Zhang Shide wrote a suicide note to his elder brother and then took his own life.

Zhu Yuanzhang's series of mistakes ultimately led to a deadly feud between him and Zhang Shicheng's group.

Therefore, if Wang Baobao were to capture an important figure from the Ming Dynasty, there might still be an opportunity for an exchange.

However, all of this is just speculation. The fact is that Zhu Yuanzhang did refuse to exchange prisoners.

Guanyin's servant was not involved, so it was difficult for him to understand the mystery behind it.

Even if she went to inquire, all she could find out was that Zhu Yuanzhang refused to exchange prisoners.

Therefore, the final result is the same.

Her last shred of unrealistic hope will be shattered.

Looking at her pale face, Ma Yu advised:

"I know you can't accept it right now, but this is reality."

"Even if you don't think about yourself, you should at least think about your maternal grandfather and the others, right?"

"I hope you won't do anything foolish again."

Guanyin Nu bit her lip, looking at him with resentment.

Ma Yu sighed, "Forget it, you're being controlled by your emotions right now, so I won't try to persuade you anymore."

"Let's talk about the future after you calm down."

Then he solemnly said, "Please remember one thing: marrying me is the best choice right now."

Guanyin Nu scoffed, "Pah! Who wants to marry you?"

"If it weren't for the emperor's bestowal of this marriage, I probably wouldn't even bother to look at you."

Ma Yu wasn't angry. Don't expect people in extreme emotional states to be reasonable; if you take it too seriously, you'll lose.

"Alright, alright, Miss Wang is a proud daughter of heaven, it's normal that she looks down on a beggar like me."

Then he changed the subject, saying, "By the way, I've prepared a few gifts for you, but I haven't had the chance yet."

"You can take it back with you this time."

Guanyin Nu angrily said, "Don't pretend, who cares about your gift?"

Ma Yu ignored her and had Yuan Lang bring the gift over.

The gifts he prepared were quite unusual for women of that era.

It wasn't gold or silver jewelry, nor was it fancy clothing.

Instead, it was a sword and a bow.

"I don't know what you like, but I heard that you have been skilled in martial arts and archery since childhood, so I prepared these two weapons."

"Both the sword and bow were crafted by the royal artisans and are considered divine artifacts. I hope you like them."

Guanyin slave grabbed the sword, held it to Ma Yu's neck, and said hatefully:

"Believe it or not, I'll kill you with one sword."

Ma Yu laughed and said, "I believe you, I believe you. Miss Wang is a woman of strong emotions, I believe whatever you say."

Then he picked up two more pages and said:

"I heard your maternal grandfather liked to drink alcohol, which is not a good habit."

"Drinking too much alcohol will harm your health and shorten your lifespan. You should try to persuade him to stop."

"This is a prescription I got from the imperial physician. It has instructions on how to take it. Go back and get the medicine for him to take daily."

“I know that your grandfather was upset about being captured and drowned his sorrows in alcohol.”

"But he's not alone; his whole family is counting on him."

“If he loses his title and it is taken back, his whole family will probably have a hard time.”

"Actually, the best way for the elderly to relieve their worries is to find a group of peers and have more contact and chat with them."

"Given enough time, there's no hurdle you can't overcome. You should encourage him to go out more often."

"You should do the same, don't always stay cooped up at home."

"If people hold it in for too long, they'll get sick even if they weren't already."

Arwen actually only had one son and one daughter, both of whom have passed away.

However, as the Prince of Liang of the Great Yuan Dynasty, many people depended on him for their livelihood.

Even after surrendering to the Ming Dynasty, some people were still allowed to stay by his side.

Ma Yu said they were a large family, which included all those who depended on him.

However, it's not entirely wrong; these people are able to live a decent life thanks to Aruwen.

Without him, they've all become unemployed and struggling to make a living.

Seeing him rambling on and on, saying words of concern, Guanyin Nu was at a loss for what to do.

The sword in his hand unconsciously slipped away, but he still spoke defiantly:
"You make it sound nice, but with my brother around, who would dare to associate with us? And who could we even talk to?"

Ma Yu thought about it and realized it was true, so he said:
"How about this, Eighth Master goes out for a walk every day and knows a lot of people."

"Let him take his grandfather out for a walk, go fishing, or play with the birds."

Guanyin Nu's expression grew even more serious. She knew that her grandfather's health was deteriorating day by day, and she often advised him to drink less alcohol.

He agreed verbally, but soon forgot about it.

She was very worried about this, after all, her maternal grandfather was currently her only support. If he were to pass away, what would become of her?
So her thoughts unconsciously began to follow Ma Yu's lead:
“Nagaqioboge won’t come out with him.”

"What's that?" Ma Yu looked completely bewildered.

Guanyinnu explained, "Nagaqioboge is my maternal grandfather."

Ma Yu suddenly realized and said, "Then it's up to you. Cry, make a scene, and threaten to hang yourself. I don't believe he won't come out."

Guanyin Nu glared at him and said with displeasure, "Speak properly."

Ma Yu chuckled inwardly, but on the surface he was seriously pondering:
"How about this, I'll have Eighth Uncle go to Grandpa's house to find him and have a long chat with him."

"Once they're more familiar with each other, you can try to persuade them from the sidelines, how about that?"

Guanyin Nu was somewhat tempted, but too embarrassed to speak up.

Ma Yu decisively said, "It's settled then. I'll have Eighth Master go to see Grandpa tomorrow."

Guanyin Nu was deeply moved, for no one had shown her such care since she had been captured.

It wasn't that Aruwen didn't care about her, but you can't expect a roughneck like him to understand her thoughts.

Therefore, Ma Yu is the only person who has given her this kind of care in the past two or three years.

It's said that women are emotional creatures, so how could she not be moved?

But her inner shyness prevented her from expressing it, and she only said in a whisper:
"Thank you."

Although Ma Yu didn't hear clearly, she could tell that she had agreed, and she was very pleased with herself.

I've dealt with fairies for so long in my past life, I've seen all sorts of tricks.

It's a piece of cake for me to manipulate a traditional girl like you.

Then Ma Yu continued to chatter on and on, saying words of concern.

Guanyin Nu did not find it annoying; on the contrary, she felt very warm.

Until Ma Yu said, "If you get bored, you can come to me anytime, and I'll take you out to play."

"Yes, girls need best friends. I can introduce you to other girls."

Guanyin Nu subconsciously raised an eyebrow and asked:

"You know a lot of girls?"

Ma Yu seemed oblivious to anything amiss and casually explained:
"No, not at all. I've taken on a lot of students."

"It's inevitable that I'll come into contact with their family members, and we'll all get to know each other."

For some reason, Guanyin Nu felt a sense of relief in her heart, but said aloud:
"Oh, are you just acquaintances?"

Ma Yu turned to look at her and said teasingly:

"What, do you want to hear a different answer?"

Guanyin Nu immediately realized her tone was off, her face flushed red, and she quickly turned her head away, saying:
"I don't understand what you're talking about."

Ma Yu chuckled inwardly and changed the subject to casual conversation again.

When Master Ma learned that she had come to visit, he rushed over and gave her a large red envelope.

This made Guanyin's servant blush deeply.

However, Ma Yu also took this opportunity to talk about Aruwen's situation.

"If Eighth Master has nothing to do, he should visit him more often and try to comfort him."

Uncle Ma hesitated and said, "Well... it's not that I don't want to go, it's just that I can't read many words and I don't know what to talk about."

It wasn't that he thought the other person was of a higher status or anything like that.

As the Empress's uncle, he was not afraid of anyone in terms of status.

I'm genuinely afraid of not having anything in common with you.

Ma Yu said, "Just treat him like an ordinary old man, chat about everyday things, talk about whatever you want."

Upon hearing that it was just a casual chat, Master Ma immediately put aside his concerns and said:

"That's something I'm good at, don't worry, leave this matter to me, my father-in-law."

Since it concerned her maternal grandfather, Guanyin Nu had no choice but to suppress her embarrassment and express her gratitude.

Afterwards, Master Ma warmly invited her to stay for lunch.

It wasn't until three or four in the afternoon that she groggily left the Ma residence with her large and small bags.

It wasn't until I had walked quite a distance that I gradually came to my senses and remembered the purpose of my visit.

He immediately said angrily, "That bastard, so glib-tongued, he's definitely no good."

"Just wait and see how I deal with you later."

When she returned home, Aruwen immediately knew what had happened when he saw her awkward manner and the gifts that followed.

I felt a mix of emotions, but overall I was relieved.

He knew very well that neither of them would ever have the chance to leave the Ming Dynasty in their lifetime.

Moreover, he has been feeling chest tightness and shortness of breath lately, so he may not live much longer.

For him, death was a relief.

The only thing he couldn't let go of was Guanyin Nu.

How can a young girl, all alone and helpless, survive in this unfamiliar place?

Now that I've married into a good family, I've finally found my place.

Guanyin Nu was initially a little embarrassed, worried that her maternal grandfather would ask questions and she wouldn't know how to answer.

Seeing that he didn't seem inclined to ask further questions, she felt a little relieved.

Seeing the wine jar on the table, her heart sank again, and she went over to put the wine jar away.

He was advised to stop drinking and was given the two prescriptions that Ma Yu had given him.

Aruwen was even more relieved and said, "Now I can rest assured. Alright, alright, I won't drink this wine anymore."

Guanyin Nu had heard these words countless times, so naturally she didn't believe them and said:
"Eighth Master will come to visit you tomorrow. He's getting old and likes to talk a lot, so please don't be impolite."

Eighth Master? Eighth Master Ma?
Aruwen naturally wanted to know about Ma Yu's family situation and also knew who Master Ma was.

Hearing that he was coming, he couldn't help but frown.

It wasn't that I was unhappy, but I couldn't understand why he came here.

Is there anything the two companies can do to communicate and exchange ideas?
Guanyin Nu didn't say much, because sometimes saying something would have the opposite effect.

There was no turning back on the marriage, and besides, the granddaughter didn't dislike Ma Yu.

Arwen naturally didn't want to be impolite and affect his granddaughter's happiness.

He immediately had someone tidy up the house, and cleaned himself up as well.

As expected, Master Ma visited the next morning.

At first, the two were a little reserved and only talked about polite things.

Once they got to know each other a little better, Uncle Ma completely opened up and started talking about everyday family matters.

In this respect, the two can be said to have something in common.

Arruwin had only one son and one daughter, both of whom died young.

He lost his wife in middle age and his son and daughter in his later years.

She may never see her grandson again in her lifetime; she only has her granddaughter by her side.

Most of Ma Baye's family perished in the chaos of war; only his two sons survived, and their lives were tragically cut short.

Using this topic as a starting point, the two old men soon started chatting together.

They chatted like this for a whole day, and Aruwen didn't mention drinking at all.

Before leaving, Master Ma suggested that we change into coarse cloth clothes tomorrow:
"I've met a lot of old friends here. I'll take you to meet them tomorrow, then you won't be bored."

Aruwen wanted to refuse, but Master Ma didn't give him the chance and simply said that it would be done that way.

"I'm going back now, I'll come find you again tomorrow."

After all, they were in-laws, and he hoped they would treat his granddaughter well, so Aruwen didn't dare to refuse outright.

I could only reluctantly agree.

However, he also realized that the old man had come prepared.

He immediately summoned Guanyin Nu and said:

“Eighth Master is your elder. It’s impolite to trouble him with my matter.”

Guanyin Nu quickly explained, "This wasn't my idea, it was his... well, it was Ma Yu's idea, and I couldn't refuse."

Aruwen paused for a moment, then said with relief, "I see, he meant well."

"In that case, Ma Yu is indeed a trustworthy person."

Guanyin's face flushed again, but she pretended to be nonchalant and continued to persuade him:
"So you must take good care of yourself. I have already prepared some coarse cloth clothes for you."

"Why don't you go out for a stroll with Eighth Master tomorrow?"

Aruwen sighed and said, "Well, it's all for your own good. You've really suffered."

Guanyin Nu said, "Without you, I would truly be suffering alone in the Ming Dynasty."

Nothing happened that night. The next day, Master Ma, dressed in coarse linen clothes, came to the door again.

Then he took Aruwen through the streets and alleys.

With the unification of the country by the Ming Dynasty, life gradually returned to the people.

As a temporary capital, Yingtian quickly became prosperous.

At this time, the streets were teeming with vendors, and the main streets were bustling with people.

Compared to the desolation of two or three years ago, it's like night and day.

After walking for only a short while, Aruwen felt palpitations and shortness of breath, and broke out in a cold sweat.

Master Ma already knew about his situation, so he wasn't alarmed. He helped him sit down at a teahouse on the street and said:
"I'm telling you, brother, your body is too weak, this won't do."

"When the elderly are healthy, that is a blessing for their children."

"You need to practice more. I'll come see you every day from now on. If you run errands with me more often, your health will improve."

Seeing how concerned Master Ma was, Aruwen couldn't help but feel touched.

If he had to patiently deal with Master Ma for the sake of his granddaughter before, then...

At that moment, he was truly moved by this old man who was even older than himself.

Enough, enough. For Guanyin's sake, I'll live a few more days.

"Thanks, brother. I'll leave it to you then."

Master Ma laughed and said, "We're family, don't be so polite with me, have a bowl of water to calm down."

A bowl of coarse tea brewed with old tea leaves and stems was strong and slightly bitter, but Aruwen drank it with relish.

My tongue, which had become somewhat numb from being soaked in alcohol, was able to taste something different, a rare treat.

Just as the two were taking a break, they heard other guests chatting next door.

"Is that Wen Hanbian real or fake?"

"It must be true. The imperial court has already admitted it, so how could it be false?"

"They say you can't talk about ice with a summer insect, but I never thought we were summer insects too."

"What should we do when the cold season really arrives?"

"That's a hundred years from now, why are you worrying about it?"

"Yes, these are things that big shots should worry about. We ordinary people should think about where to earn our next meal."

Aruwen's heart skipped a beat, and he asked in a low voice, "Brother, is the story about Wen Han's transformation true?"

Master Ma said smugly, "How could it be false? Let me tell you, it was Dalang who discovered this first."

"He told His Majesty that His Majesty had sent Lord Liu to investigate."

Did Ma Yu know first? Aruwen couldn't help but recall the rumors about him and asked:

Is Ma Yu really as talented as the rumors suggest?

Master Ma became even more smug and said, "It's the real deal. His Majesty and the Empress often listen to the eldest son's lectures."

“There are now forty or fifty people following him to class, almost all of whom are sons of noble families.”

"And they were all brought by their elders as gifts for the apprenticeship ceremony."

“If he weren’t talented, why would those nobles send their children to him to teach?”

At this point, he couldn't help but imagine: "Your son is talented, and your daughter is well-educated and polite. The two of you are a perfect match."

"Their children will definitely be outstanding in the future."

"Sigh, I really wish they would get married soon. We two old folks could help take care of the kids."

Most elderly people enjoy family time, and Aruwen is no exception.

Hearing what Master Ma said, he couldn't help but nod and say:
"I hope that day will come."
-
Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma are finalizing the list of those to be conferred titles.

Many meritorious officials were appointed, but Zhu Yuanzhang only established three ranks of nobility: duke, marquis, and earl, abolishing the ranks of viscount and baron.

Therefore, after verifying their military merits, only thirty-one people were eligible to be granted titles.

Other meritorious officials also received rewards, and he established three hereditary military positions:

Hereditary Commander, Hereditary Commander Assistant Commander, Hereditary Commander Vice Commander.

Of course, Zhu Yuanzhang also considered the problem of his descendants becoming corrupt.

So he implemented a separation of authority and responsibility.

Titles are titles, and authority is authority.

When descendants inherit their fathers' or grandfathers' military positions, they must undergo an examination.

Only those who pass the assessment can be granted a substantive position.

If you fail the assessment, you'll only have an empty title and a fixed salary.

Therefore, there is no need to worry about the nobles having any objections.

Hereditary commanders and similar titles were granted by the Ministry of Rites based on military merit.

The three ranks of nobility—Duke, Marquis, and Earl—would require Zhu Yuanzhang's personal decision.

In fact, Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma had already planned out who should be granted which title.

Right now, they're discussing Liu Bowen's title.

Empress Ma said, "Although Bowen was only a strategist and had never led troops into battle, the Ming Dynasty was able to gain the world largely due to his strategic planning."

"Especially during the Battle of Poyang Lake, when all the ministers were afraid to fight and wanted to surrender, he was the first to stand up and insist on fighting."

"Moreover, the tactics of this battle were all planned by him."

"This achievement alone is enough to warrant a marquisate; giving him only an earl might offend people's hearts."

(End of this chapter)