My aunt is Queen Ma

Chapter 60 Unexpected Events (Part 2)

Upon receiving the good news, Zhu Yuanzhang immediately issued an imperial edict, ordering Hua Yunlong to take over military affairs in Beiping, and Chang Yuchun and Li Wenzhong to return to the capital to report on their duties.

Half a month later, the two led three thousand cavalry back to Yingtian.

Zhu Yuanzhang ordered Crown Prince Zhu Biao to lead officials to the dock to welcome the hero, and tens of thousands of people from Yingtian Prefecture spontaneously went to welcome the hero's return.

Almost all the members of the small group went.

On the contrary, Ma Yu did not join in the fun.

What no one knew was that when he learned that Chang Yuchun had returned safely, his heart finally settled down.

History has changed.

At Yingtian Wharf, a fully armed cavalry unit, led by Chang Yuchun and Li Wenzhong, paid homage to the Crown Prince.

The crowd at the scene erupted in a thunderous roar of "Victory!"

In contrast, the expressions of the officials were rather complicated.

The relationship between emperors and crown princes has always been a sensitive one throughout history.

You common soldiers dare to openly pay homage to the Crown Prince; you truly have no sense of propriety.

I know that you, Chang Yuchun, are the Crown Prince's prospective father-in-law, but shouldn't you be even more discreet about it?
Aren't you afraid the emperor will misunderstand and think you're colluding and threatening imperial power?

What? You're saying the emperor and the crown prince have always had a good relationship?
Do you even understand what it means to have no family ties in the imperial family? In the face of power, what father and son are there?

The ministers who favored the crown prince all showed expressions of worry.

Many people have decided to privately remind the Crown Prince to be mindful of the impact.

Zhu Biao himself did not feel there was anything wrong with it. After praising the soldiers, he led everyone back to Yingtian City.

Wherever he went, countless people cheered along the way.

The sound was so loud that Ma Yu, who was inside the city, could hear it clearly.

Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma could hear it too, and they were all laughing heartily.

Empress Ma said to Consort Chang behind her, "Now you can rest assured."

Consort Chang nodded repeatedly, then said shyly:
"I'm sorry for making a fool of myself, Your Majesty."

After waiting for a while, Zhu Yuanzhang, reminded by the eunuch, went to the Meridian Gate to receive the homage of the victorious soldiers.

Then officials from the Ministry of Rites read out the emperor's rewards.

Leaving all that aside, after a series of formalities, Zhu Yuanzhang approached Chang Yuchun and Li Wenzhong and said:

"Haha...you two have given us a really big surprise."

Chang Yuchun grinned, about to show off, when Li Wenzhong interrupted:

"It was my fault for sending troops without consulting His Majesty."

"I am already deeply grateful that Your Majesty has not punished me, how dare I claim credit?"

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said, "It's good that you know you've made a mistake; you must not repeat it in the future."

"However, merits are merits and demerits are demerits. You have indeed made great contributions this time. If we do not reward the soldiers, how can they be willing to serve the Ming Dynasty?"

Afterwards, the rewards for the two were announced, which were nothing more than promotions and money.

For the two of them at the moment, it's more symbolic than practical.

But for others, this is the best motivation.

Afterwards, Zhu Yuanzhang announced that he would hold a banquet for all the generals in the Fengtian Hall, and all the officials would attend to offer their congratulations.

Upon reaching the main hall, Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the two men, who were covered in sweat, and said with concern:

"Look how happy we are! Quickly, remove the armor from the two generals."

Several guards immediately stepped forward and helped the two men remove their armor.

It was the sweltering heat of August, and the armor of the two men was burning hot from the sun; one can only imagine how uncomfortable they must have been.

After the armor was removed, the undergarments were already soaked with sweat.

Zhu Yuanzhang led them to the assembled officials and said:
"Look, look, these are the soldiers of my Great Ming Dynasty."

"If it weren't for their bravery in fighting the enemy at the front, where would your wealth and glory come from?"

"If anyone is still not satisfied, don't blame us for being ruthless."

The officials all said they dared not, but what they were really thinking was only known to themselves.

Just then, a gust of wind blew by, and Chang Yuchun couldn't help but shiver, his vision instantly blurring.

Zhu Yuanzhang did not notice anything unusual and said:

"Wet clothes are uncomfortable to wear. Go to the back and change into something dry before you come back."

Chang Yuchun shook his head violently to clear his mind, then patted his chest and said:

"I'm used to it. It dries in no time in this heat, why bother with all that trouble?"

Zhu Yuanzhang did not force them, but led them to sit down at the front.

The officials, following the directions of the Ministry of Rites officials, found their seats and sat down.

The banquet officially started.

Zhu Yuanzhang raised his wine cup first and said, "Boren and Siben, you have worked hard in this battle. Let me toast you."

The two quickly stood up and picked up their wine glasses... well, Chang Yuchun's was a wine bowl.

After expressing his gratitude, he drank it all in one gulp.

Everyone cheered, praising Commander Chang's magnanimity.

But at that moment, everyone was surprised to find that Chang Yuchun was swaying.

The wine bowl in his hand fell to the ground and shattered into pieces with a 'crack'.

Then he fell headfirst to the ground.

Fortunately, Li Wenzhong reacted quickly, reaching out to catch him and then gently placing him on the ground, preventing him from getting hurt.

Zhu Yuanzhang was also greatly alarmed. He rushed over and said urgently:

"Boren, Boren, what's wrong?"

Without him even giving the order, the chief eunuch Sun Fu had already sent someone to find the imperial physician.

Zhu Biao's expression also changed drastically, and he hurried over to check on him.

The courtiers were all taken aback. What had happened?
Li Shanchang, Liu Bowen, and others, being of special status, also gathered around to observe carefully.

However, they found that Chang Yuchun's body was twitching slightly, drool was coming from the corner of his mouth, and he had lost consciousness.

Liu Bowen couldn't help but gasp, and quickly said to Zhu Yuanzhang:

"Your Majesty, please do not move. General Chang has likely suffered a stroke."

What? A stroke?

The main hall suddenly became noisy, and it took several reminders from the Ministry of Rites officials to quiet it down.

Normal fainting is nothing to worry about, but a stroke is a life-threatening disease.

Even if you're lucky enough to survive, you'll suffer serious long-term effects.

This almost certainly meant the end of Chang Yuchun's military career.

He had just achieved the most glorious victory of his life and was in high spirits.

This is the outcome we will face in the next moment.

How can we avoid surprising people?

It's true, the weather is unpredictable, and fortune can change in an instant.

Zhu Yuanzhang's expression also changed drastically. A stroke? How could that be?

Suddenly, Zhu Biao remembered something and shouted loudly:
"Where is the Rejuvenating Pill? Bring the Rejuvenating Pill here."

Lan Yu, who was standing anxiously to the side, had a drastic change in expression, because he had no idea where he had lost the Rejuvenating Pill.

Zhu Yuanzhang, realizing what was happening, couldn't possibly fail to see it, and angrily said:
"Useless trash, what were our orders to you...?"

At that moment, a hand reached out; it was Li Wenzhong, holding a small box, who said:
"Your Majesty, this is my Rejuvenation Pill. Quickly feed it to Commander Chang."

Just as Zhu Biao was about to reach out, Zhu Yuanzhang reached out and snatched it away first.

Take out the pill wrapped in gold foil, break it into pieces, mix it with water, and feed it to Chang Yuchun.

Fortunately, he was still conscious of swallowing and quickly took the medicine.

After the medicine was administered, Zhu Yuanzhang and the others were able to calm down a bit.

With this happening, the banquet naturally couldn't continue.

Afterwards, guided by the officials in charge of rites, the officials left one after another, with only a few important officials remaining.

A little over fifteen minutes later, Zheng Liangqi and two other imperial physicians arrived at full speed, led by a palace attendant.

It's a pity that he's in his fifties or sixties, and he's already covered in sweat and out of breath after running here.

But he dared not rest and immediately began to examine Chang Yuchun.

His heart sank at just one glance; he was all too familiar with this symptom.

I just recently researched stroke.

There are many causes of stroke, but when it occurs in a military general, it is very likely to be a stroke caused by the removal of armor.

However, he still conducted a detailed examination to determine Chang Yuchun's current condition, and his tense expression eased somewhat.

Then he took out a pen and wrote down a prescription, and sent someone to quickly fetch the medicine.

Only then did Zhu Yuanzhang dare to ask:
"how?"

Zheng Liangqi took a deep breath, trying to calm his breathing, and said:
"Your Majesty, General Chang has suffered a stroke."

Zhu Yuanzhang's face turned ashen. Although he had been mentally prepared, he still found it hard to accept when it was confirmed.

But Zheng Liangqi then added, "However, General Chang's condition is currently relatively stable. Has he taken any Rejuvenating Pills?"

Zhu Yuanzhang quickly replied, "Yes, I just used one."

Then he asked hopefully, "Is it possible to cure it?"

Zheng Liangqi did not answer directly, but instead said:
"Through our own experience in using the medicine, we have found that if the Rejuvenating Yang Pill is taken in a timely manner, it can alleviate the sequelae of stroke."

"If the stroke symptoms are not severe, it may even prevent the occurrence of sequelae."

"Given General Chang's current condition, I dare not say whether he can be completely cured."

"But even if there are any aftereffects, they won't be too serious."

Zhu Yuanzhang felt a surge of hope and said:

"Treat him well, we must cure General Chang."

"If he can fully recover, we will reward him handsomely."

Just then, Empress Ma rushed over, followed by Consort Chang, who looked terrified.

"How is Bo Ren?"

Zhu Yuanzhang quickly stepped forward, grabbed her, and explained the situation to her.

Zhu Biao felt a pang of heartache when he saw his fiancée with tears in her eyes.

At this moment, they couldn't care less about etiquette and went forward to comfort her.

Liu Bowen and the others turned their heads away, pretending not to see.

Upon learning that Chang Yuchun's condition was relatively stable, the two calmed down somewhat.

Empress Ma said with lingering fear, "It's good that things are stable, it's good that things are stable. All thanks to Yu'er's Rejuvenating Pill, otherwise..."

Then everyone remembered Ma Yu's matter, and their expressions varied.

Previously, Ma Yu became a laughing stock in everyone's eyes because of the "removing armor" incident.

but now……

He became Chang Yuchun's savior and Consort Chang's savior of her father.

Even the emperor and empress would have to accept this favor.

The military forces represented by Chang Yuchun would likely regard him as a great benefactor.

The mockery of the past has now turned into a thousandfold reward.

Zhu Yuanzhang finally remembered Ma Yu and said:
"Where is Ma Yu? Quickly bring him here."

Empress Ma quickly added, "Yes, yes, go and fetch him."

Maybe he has a good idea.

At this moment, Ma Yu was at home taking care of household chores.

The reason was that he noticed that Master Ma seemed preoccupied today, and at lunchtime, he didn't even touch his favorite egg.

So he called him over and asked, "Eighth Master, is there some difficulty?"

Master Ma quickly replied, "No, no, no, it's just that I don't have a good appetite."

Ma Yu said gently, "We are family. If you encounter any difficulties, just tell me and we will solve them together."

"Even if I can't solve it, I can ask the Empress for help."

Only then did Master Ma tell him what had happened.

After hearing this, Ma Yu felt very helpless, because it all started because of him.

He, an outsider, suddenly became Empress Ma's nephew and enjoyed the glory that should have belonged to the Ma family—at least that's what the Ma family thought.

They were naturally unhappy.

If Ma Yu were to promote some members of the Ma family and give them some benefits, this matter would be over.

The problem is that he doesn't want to have too much to do with the Ma clan.

They pushed Ma Baye out as a shield.

Master Ma was obedient; he turned away all the people from the Ma clan who came to ask for favors.

This angered the Ma clan, but they dared not offend Ma Yu, so they took their anger out on the relatives left at home by Ma Baye.

Although they dared not harm them, various veiled insults and acts of damaging crops in the fields frequently occurred.

Seeing that they could no longer make a living, they had no choice but to write to Master Ma for help.

Master Ma was both saddened and afraid that Ma Yu would misunderstand, so he dared not speak out and thus worried alone.

Upon learning what had happened, Ma Yu said apologetically:
"The responsibility for this matter lies with me. I did not consider things thoroughly, which caused harm to your family."

"In that case, you should write a letter home and ask them to move all their belongings to Yingtian."

Ma Baye said with a mixture of surprise and hesitation, "Ah... is that alright? They don't know anything about farming."

Ma Yu said, "Didn't Her Majesty give us 500 acres of land? If they feel uncomfortable in the city, they can go to the manor to live."

Ma Baye said happily, "Thank you, brother, thank you, brother. I'll write them a letter right away."

Of course, he didn't write it himself; he asked the housekeeper for help.

Halfway there, he turned back and said, "Don't worry, Dalang, I promise I won't let those people bother you."

Ma Yu nodded slightly and said, "Thank you, Eighth Master."

After he left, Ma Yu sighed deeply, realizing that benefits weren't so easy to come by.

However, this only strengthened his resolve to completely sever ties with the Ma family.

Some things must be decided decisively, otherwise they will inevitably lead to chaos.

If they have any complaints, they can go to Empress Ma.

If they were truly talented, given Empress Ma's personality, would she really not have promoted a few people to come over?
To reiterate, even if they lacked talent, couldn't they have sent someone to lend a hand when Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma rebelled?

Doing nothing and expecting benefits now is wishful thinking.

After dealing with the matter, he got up and prepared to go out for a walk.

I wonder how the celebration banquet went. Should I visit the Chang family later?
I just hope Chang Yuchun won't develop a prejudice against me because of the "removing armor" incident.

Just as he was idly lost in thought, he suddenly saw the gatekeeper leading a eunuch, jogging towards him.
"Young Master Ma, Young Master Ma, hurry...hurry...enter the palace, His Majesty summons you."

Ma Yu asked with some confusion, "Please speak slowly, sir. What does His Majesty want with me?"

The eunuch, breathless, replied, "General Chang suffered a stroke at the banquet and is unconscious. His Majesty's summons to the palace may be related to this."

Ma Yu exclaimed in shock, "What? How is that possible?"

Without daring to delay, they quickly followed the eunuch to the palace.

My mind was in turmoil the whole way.

Wasn't it originally written in history that he suffered a stroke on the way to victory? How did it become a banquet?

Could it be that all my efforts over the years have failed to change his fate?
After carefully questioning the eunuchs, it was learned that the imperial physician had examined Chang Yuchun and said that his condition was relatively stable.

He was slightly relieved; after all, his suggestion had worked.

Moreover, the fact that he was able to delay his illness until he arrived in the capital is very likely related to the suggestion he made.

However, it's too early to say anything definitive; we'll have to wait until we understand the details to know for sure.

When he arrived at the palace, Chang Yuchun had already been moved to a side hall of the Qianqing Palace.

This was Zhu Yuanzhang's bedroom, demonstrating his high regard for Chang Yuchun. Following the eunuchs to the Qianqing Palace, they spotted a person kneeling at the entrance of the main hall from afar.

He was preoccupied with Chang Yuchun and didn't take it to heart.

The eunuch whispered, "This is General Chang's brother-in-law, Lan Yu."

Sapphire?

Ma Yu looked over in surprise and found that his body was like a wall, and his arms were thicker than the thighs of an average person.

Kneeling there, he resembled a giant bell.

The key point is that this person was actually quite handsome.

That makes sense, as Consort Chang was born quite beautiful; her family had good genes.

As for why he was kneeling here...

Ma Yu had guessed some of it, and it was highly likely that Chang Yuchun had not been taken good care of.

At this moment, Lan Yu also noticed someone approaching. Seeing his appearance, she seemed to realize something and asked:
"May I ask if you are Young Master Ma Yu?"

Ma Yu stopped and said, "It is indeed I..."

Before he could finish speaking, Lan Yu began kowtowing to him repeatedly.

"Please, Young Master Ma, you must save my brother-in-law. I, Lan Yu, will serve you like a slave to repay your kindness."

Ma Yu quickly reached out to help him.

But to my surprise, I felt like I had grabbed a high-powered machine, and I couldn't hold it up. Instead, I was pulled along and stumbled.

Left with no other choice, he could only say, "General Lan, there's no need for this. Chang Sheng and I are like brothers, and I certainly won't stand idly by."

At this moment, the eunuch urged, "Young master, please go in quickly, don't keep His Majesty waiting."

Ma Yu nodded, said something to Lan Yu, and then turned and went to the side hall.

They met Zhu Yuanzhang and others here.

Even Chang Mao, having been notified, rushed over and was now in a state of great anxiety.

Before Ma Yu could even bow, Zhu Yuanzhang said:

"You've finally arrived. Go and see Bo Ren."

Ma Yu thought to herself, "I'm not a doctor, what kind of patient would I be able to see?"

However, he saw that everyone was looking at him with hopeful eyes, especially Consort Chang, who bowed gracefully to him with red eyes.

Chang Mao, that fool, also bowed down:

"Please, Young Master Ma, save my father's life. I, Changmao, am willing to serve you like an ox or a horse to repay your kindness."

Ma Yu thought to himself, "You're not related to Lan Yu by blood, so why do you keep giving the same excuse?"

Faced with so many requests, what could he say but to go take a look?

It's good to comfort everyone, even if it's just to offer some comfort.

When he reached the bedside, he carefully observed this first fierce general of the founding of the Ming Dynasty and found that he was indeed very burly.

But unlike Lan Yu, who was slightly chubby, he was simply robust.

His muscles were bulging and knotted, as if they were about to explode.

This guy would definitely be a top star in the fitness world back in my day.

But at this moment, this fierce general lay motionless on the bed, his brows slightly furrowed, clearly in pain somewhere.

Apart from that, the overall situation is quite stable.

He didn't draw a conclusion, but instead asked Zheng Liangqi about the test results.

Zheng Liangqi already knew about Ma Yu's situation, so he naturally had no competitive intentions, only respect for Ma Yu as an elder.

The key point is that Ma Yu told him about the Rejuvenation Pill for free.

He was grateful enough for the teaching he received, so he wouldn't have any other thoughts.

Upon hearing Ma Yu inquire about his condition, he did not hide anything and explained in detail what he knew.

Upon learning that everything was stable, Ma Yu breathed a sigh of relief.

Although he didn't understand medicine, he did know some basic first aid.

For stroke patients, normal indicators are the best news.

From now on, you don't need to do anything except take your medication as prescribed.

Wait for the patient to wake up, and then proceed with treatment based on the actual situation.

If this were a hospital from a previous life, it would most likely have been the same.

Therefore, he said to Zhu Yuanzhang and others, "The treatment method of Doctor Zheng is roughly the same as what my elders said back then."

"Moreover, General Chang's condition is stable, which means the medicine has taken effect. All we need to do now is wait for him to wake up."

Zhu Yuanzhang pressed further, "Is a full recovery possible?"

Ma Yu thought for a moment and said, "General Chang's personal guards are here. I have some questions I'd like to ask them so that we can determine the nature of the illness."

Zhu Yuanzhang immediately ordered someone to summon Lan Yu.

As soon as she entered, Lan Yu asked anxiously, "Young Master Ma, how is my brother-in-law's condition?"

Ma Yu comforted him, saying, "There's nothing seriously wrong for now. I have some questions for you, and you should answer them truthfully."

He then inquired about Chang Yuchun's recent situation.

It's fair to say that aside from the honey and salt water instructions, none of the other instructions were followed.

Especially during the past twenty-odd days of sprinting, they frequently had to remove their armor to be exposed to cool winds or poured cold water.

Moreover, even the most basic rest could not be guaranteed; many times, they had to rest while riding on horseback.

Even with the physiques of Chang Yuchun and Lan Yu, they were exhausted by the end and had to rely on sheer willpower to keep going.

At this point, Lan Yu scratched his head and said, "That honey and salt water really works."

“In the past, after a battle, I would feel nauseous and exhausted, and it would take a long time to recover.”

"After drinking the honey and salt water, I quickly stopped feeling nauseous, and my strength seemed to recover faster as well."

"I survived those last few days entirely thanks to this water."

Ma Yu nodded and said vaguely:
"After high-intensity exercise, a person's blood flow will increase."

"Many essential nutrients for the human body are also lost through sweat."

"Drinking honey and salt water can quickly replenish these nutrients and speed up the body's recovery."

Chang Yuchun must have drunk honey and salt water to survive for so many more days; otherwise, he would most likely have ended up like he did in his previous life.

Simple electrolyte water will not have such an effect.

However, people in ancient times were already lacking in nutrition, so there was no way they could expect to have a balanced diet.

Even while serving in the army, Chang Yuchun had difficulty ensuring his nutrition.

The physical exertion from the more than twenty days of trekking was astonishing.

Honey and salt water also provide some nutritional benefits.

Of course, all of this is just speculation, and he doesn't know for sure whether it's true or not.

Although he didn't say anything, others didn't think so.

Lan Yu's personal testimony, suggesting that honey and salt water are very beneficial, must mean it's true.

As expected of a medicine concocted by a master.

Honey and salt, which seem to be just simple ingredients, have such a huge effect.

Li Wenzhong, in particular, kept this firmly in mind.

From now on, I'll only drink honey and salt water. I'll get angry with anyone who tries to stop me.

Zhu Yuanzhang immediately ordered that more honey be collected and that each general be provided with some.

Then Ma Yu asked about some other things.

I learned that Chang Yuchun's left hand has been somewhat numb lately, and it also trembles occasionally.

At the time, everyone assumed it was due to overwork and didn't take it seriously.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang angrily shouted again:

"Useless! You didn't remember anything about the Armor Removal Wind situation that we told you before."

"If anything happens to Bo Ren, we'll skin you alive."

Lan Yu said remorsefully, "If anything happens to my brother-in-law, you don't need to lift a finger; I will commit suicide to atone for my sins."

Ma Yu quickly reassured him, "Don't worry, General Chang's condition might not be so bad. What do you think, Imperial Physician Zheng?"

Zheng Liangqi cautiously said, "According to General Lan, General Chang's condition is not serious."

Ma Yu nodded and said, "I guess the probability of any aftereffects is not high."

"At most, there will be some inconvenience on the left side of the body, but it can be restored to normal after treatment."

Upon hearing this, Empress Ma, Zhu Biao, and others were overjoyed.

Consort Chang, with tears in her eyes, performed another curtsy.
"Thank you, cousin,"

Zhu Yuanzhang was overjoyed and said, "Good, good, that's good."

He disregarded his minor disagreement with Ma Yu and praised her:

"You have made a great contribution this time, and we will definitely reward you handsomely."

Ma Yu subconsciously replied, "No need. Chang Sheng is my brother, and General Chang is my elder. It is only right that I help him."

His words sounded normal, but combined with his tone and eyes, it was clear he was saying, "Who cares about your reward?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was so suffocated he almost fainted, but he couldn't lash out in front of so many people, so he could only pretend he didn't notice.

Empress Ma, Zhu Biao, and others were used to it and found it quite amusing; they thought the boy was too vengeful.

Li Shanchang, Li Wenzhong and others were somewhat surprised. Was this kid really that bold?
Liu Bowen, however, wore a thoughtful expression, and it was unclear what he was thinking.

Next is waiting.

Consort Chang and Lan Yu stayed behind to care for her at the bedside with the imperial physician.

Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma then led the others to the main hall of the Qianqing Palace to discuss important military and national affairs.

The topic naturally revolved around the impact of reclaiming the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, and the ensuing battles.

The fact that Ma Yu was involved in such an important meeting once again made everyone realize his importance in the eyes of the Emperor and Empress.

Li Shanchang sighed inwardly. He used to be able to target Ma Yu.

But with Chang Yuchun's incident, the weakest link was immediately filled, and he was no longer the young man who relied solely on Empress Ma.

Rather, it is a mountain with deep roots.

No matter who it is, anyone who tries to target him will face fierce attacks from Chang Yuchun's faction.

Now, apart from the emperor, probably no one can really touch him.

However... he was the heir chosen by Empress Ma for Ma Taigong, and as long as he didn't rebel, Zhu Yuanzhang wouldn't touch him.

His sarcastic and contradictory remarks towards Zhu Yuanzhang were the best proof of this.

Forget it, this is a sensitive time. I'll find an opportunity to show him some goodwill and hope he won't be ungrateful.

Liu Bowen also made a decision: this time he could no longer wait and see; he had to cultivate a good relationship with Ma Yu no matter what.

That way, if someone tries to harm you in the future, you'll have one more person to speak up for you.

Everyone had their own thoughts, but that didn't stop them from discussing serious matters.

After chatting for a while, everyone could see what the emperor was thinking.

They wanted Li Wenzhong to succeed Chang Yuchun and lead the army in the Northern Expedition.

No one seemed to have any objections to this.

Despite his young age, Li Wenzhong is a highly experienced military leader with outstanding military achievements.

The key point is that he was Zhu Yuanzhang's own nephew, a typical maternal relative.

This time, he is cooperating with Chang Yuchun to go beyond the Great Wall. Chang Yuchun's soldiers are familiar with him, so there is no need to worry about him not being able to lead them.

She can be considered the perfect successor.

As for Chang Yuchun, even if he doesn't suffer any lasting effects, he'll need to rest for a year and a half.

Otherwise, sending him to the battlefield would be tantamount to killing people.

While they were discussing important national affairs, a huge uproar broke out outside.

As the attendees left the palace, news of Chang Yuchun's stroke at the victory celebration banquet quickly spread.

For a time, the government and the public were speechless.

It was so sudden that people couldn't accept it and initially thought it was fake news.

Immediately, there was a sigh of regret. How could such a brave man as General Chang fall down so suddenly?

Zhu Shuang was celebrating with a group of friends at a tea and snack shop.

Chang Sheng was too young to enter the palace, and bored at home, he secretly ran away to the palace.

He immediately became the center of attention, surrounded by a group of people who flattered him.

Chang Sheng's face was flushed with excitement, looking almost drunk without having drunk any alcohol.

Just as everyone was having a great time, someone came to deliver a message that General Chang had suffered a stroke and was critically ill at the banquet.

At first, everyone thought it was a curse and almost beat up the messenger.

Once the news was confirmed to be true, no one could laugh anymore.

Chang Sheng looked somewhat bewildered and lost, then burst into tears.
"Father, I want to go find my father."

After all, he was only ten years old at the time.

Zhu Shuang had never dealt with such a situation before and was at a loss for what to do.

Wu Gao was the first to react, walking over to Chang Sheng and comforting him:
"Don't cry yet. The imperial physicians in the palace are highly skilled and will surely be able to treat Marshal Chang in time."

"Yes, yes, yes..." The others also realized what was happening and offered their comforting words.

Suddenly someone said, "You forgot, Brother Ma mentioned the Armor Removal Wind before, and even came up with a Rejuvenating Pill."

"Commander Chang will definitely be alright."

Everyone then remembered this and were overjoyed, saying:

"Brother Ma was indeed prescient."

“Some people have said things about him before… cough, let’s see if they dare to gossip like that again.”

Some of the more mature individuals have already realized that, after this incident, Ma Yu's position as the eldest brother is probably truly secure.

However, they didn't feel resentful at all; on the contrary, they were even happier.

With such a powerful older brother, the brothers will be able to walk with their heads held high from now on.

Zhu Shuang was a firsthand witness to the "removal of armor" incident, and he was more shocked than anyone else.

Is this kid a jinx or is he blessed by the gods? How come he can say something like this actually comes true?

No, I have to go find him right away.

Thinking of this, he said to everyone:
"Brothers, please wait here for news. Third Brother and I will go find Old Ma..."

At this moment, Wang Yun spoke up, saying, "What we can think of, His Majesty can surely think of as well."

"Brother Ma must have already entered the palace. You can go directly to the palace."

Zhu Shuang thought about it and realized it was true. He couldn't help but glance at Wang Yun again and said:

"You're the clever one, kid. Alright, the third brother and I will go straight to the palace."

With everyone watching, he led Chang Sheng straight to the palace, where he met Lan Yu, Consort Chang, and Chang Mao in a side hall.

Upon seeing his sister, Chang Sheng's tears flowed uncontrollably once again.

Consort Chang quickly comforted him.

After exchanging words, they learned that Chang Yuchun's condition had stabilized and he was just waiting to wake up, and the two breathed a sigh of relief.

Chang Sheng, in particular, was deeply moved when he learned that Ma Yu kept mentioning him as a brother.

In his mind, Ma Yu's image began to rise infinitely.

Dusk fell quickly, but Chang Yuchun showed no signs of waking up.

Seeing that the palace gates were about to be locked, Li Shanchang, Liu Bowen, Li Wenzhong and others took their leave.

Lan Yu, Chang Fei, and the Chang Mao brothers stayed behind to take care of Chang Yuchun.

Even Ma Yu was kept behind, just in case.

Lying in bed, Ma Yu breathed a sigh of relief; after a busy day, she could finally rest.

We'll know Chang Yuchun's condition when he wakes up tomorrow; hopefully, it won't be the worst outcome.

(End of this chapter)