Ming Dynasty: Empress Ma and I swapped clothes!

Chapter 51 Meeting Gift, Visit Fee

"Depend on!"

Seeing this unfair scene before him, Zhu Shuang couldn't help but curse. He then reached into his robes with his right hand and gripped the knife he had brought from the palace tightly.

This was not a standard longsword of a guard, but a decorative item he had been collecting. It was quite heavy, and although it was unopened, it was still powerful enough to kill someone.

"Mistress, do you know that where there is power, there is no justice? If you have power, others will naturally fear you."

Hearing his second brother's words, Zhu Fen, still bewildered, felt a pang of fear and whispered, "Second brother, what are you planning to do?"

"Hey mistress, didn't you just say you were hungry?"

Zhu Shuang suddenly stood up abruptly.

My body, which had been so hungry I could barely walk, suddenly felt a surge of new energy.

He narrowed his cold eyes, gripped the knife in his arms even tighter, and looked down at Zhu Fen, saying in a cold voice, "If you're hungry, then you should eat your fill."

……

"Mao Xiang, what do you think Xiao Er is planning to do?"

Not far from this big tree, Ma Wenxiang, Su Qing'er, and Mao Xiang behind them also stood there.

At this moment, everyone was watching the two figures of Zhu Shuang and Zhu Fen, who had just left and were already far away on the street.

"Your Majesty... Your humble servant is filled with trepidation."

Upon hearing this, Mao Xiang quickly lowered his head and answered in a trembling voice.

He heard everything the two of them said.

Mao Xiang knew the answer, but dared not say it.

Ma Wenxiang didn't seem to really intend to get anything out of him; he was just asking questions out of habit.

……

On the official road back to Majia Village.

Inside the fairly comfortable carriage, Ma Xiuying lifted the curtain and admired the scenery outside.

Although the area between the county and the countryside is all loess mountains with a gentle breeze and no particularly beautiful scenery, he was used to the elaborate and bustling scenes inside the palace. This plain and unremarkable scene actually had a certain charm of simplicity and unpretentiousness.

Suddenly, Ma Xiuying felt a pang in her heart and inexplicably felt unwell.

"Are they Xiao Er and Xiao San?"

Ma Xiuying thought to herself, but she didn't panic completely.

Simply because she believed.

Even if Ma Wenxiang doesn't handle it well, the people in the palace and the Imperial Guard will definitely protect the two of them.

At worst, these two people will become increasingly reckless and lack self-control; things can't get much worse.

Gradually.

The carriage arrived at the village entrance and stopped by a large willow tree on the riverbank not far from the courtyard.

The courtyard was also bustling at this time, though not as lively as the previous celebration at the Ma residence, it had its own unique charm.

When Grandpa Ma returned home, Wang Shiyun, as his daughter-in-law, naturally had to treat him well, especially since he had brought back three famous officials.

Aside from the old man's direct superior, Commander Sun, the other two were a full commander and a deputy commander, both big shots in this small place, people that ordinary people would never have the chance to meet in their entire lives.

"I'm sorry, gentlemen, but we are just a small family and this is all we have to offer."

Wang Shiyun came out of the kitchen, carrying a plate of meat and vegetable dishes, which she placed on the square table in the courtyard.

Seeing this, Grandpa Ma waved to her, signaling her to hurry down.

Although he didn't think these adults would value his daughter-in-law, Wang Shiyun was undeniably one of the most beautiful women in the village.

It's better to be safe than sorry.

This is the wisdom of an experienced elder.

Seeing his little tricks, the commander of the thousand was of course unconcerned, and the deputy commander standing to the side had no right to speak. Commander Sun and Old Master Ma had known each other for many years, and it was even less likely that he would have such a despicable thought.

So for a time, the Ma family courtyard got along quite harmoniously.

"Brother, consider this a small gift for our first meeting."

Lord Qianhu took out a small box.

Many people from the Ma family have sent small boxes like this, but this is truly the first time it has ever been sent to the Ma family's courtyard.

The small box was gently opened, revealing a hundred taels of silver inside. The small silver ingots were neatly arranged, radiating a bright, clear silver light. They looked exquisite and alluring, brimming with charm.

"Commander, this... how can this be done?"

Grandpa Ma quickly declined.

Sending money is a way of asking for favors.

Even if he believed that his grandson had made a name for himself, this hundred taels of silver was not something his small Ma family could afford, let alone that it was a gift from his superior to his subordinate.

The significance is entirely different.

"Hahaha, what's this about superiors or inferiors? We're all brothers. This money isn't given away for nothing; consider it tuition for my son. In a while, he'll be going to the horse farm to prepare for the imperial examinations together."

"What, are you trying to disrespect me, little brother?"

Lord Qianhu's tone suddenly turned serious.

Old Master Ma gave a wry smile, knowing in his heart that he had no choice but to accept the money, but he also wondered to himself, "What exactly is this Ma Garden?"

Having been stationed at the centurion's office, he was naturally unaware of this.

He looked at Commander Sun with pleading eyes, and Commander Sun immediately accepted the box of one hundred taels of silver for him, saying, "Tianlu, Commander Sun won't harm you."

"There are many successful candidates in the imperial examinations and those who passed the county-level examinations in Ma Garden, as well as promising talents from other prominent families. This will greatly benefit the future of the younger generation."

When Sun Baihu said this, although Old Master Ma didn't quite understand, he knew that the Ma family could accept the money and was capable of doing so.

He doesn't need to worry.

They took the money then, and that very night thieves came to steal it; it was gone the next day.

Money is a good thing, but it also depends on whether you are qualified to have it and whether you are alive to enjoy it. These are two completely different things.

Just then, Ma Xiulin and his son returned home.

"Wen boy."

When Grandpa Ma saw this, a look of joy immediately appeared on his face.

Ma Xiuying looked at the situation at home with a puzzled expression. After sitting down, she quickly learned the general situation.

It wasn't surprising at all.

After all, someone had already visited the Ma residence once.

Practice makes perfect, and by this time Ma Xiuying had gotten used to it.

Not to mention her, even Ma Xiulin's action of accepting the hundred taels of silver was so natural.

A mere hundred taels.

Nowadays, the Ma family owns more than one item in the Ma mansion that is worth a thousand taels of silver.

Any one of those top-tier treasures could probably be worth more than the wealth of a hundred or even a thousand households.

These are all family heirlooms, representing a rich cultural heritage.

Its symbolic meaning is far greater than that of yellow or white objects.

Then Qianhu stated his request, and Ma Wenxiang quietly agreed.

Everything was progressing exceptionally smoothly, without any setbacks. The commander was satisfied and was preparing to leave with his deputy commander.

Suddenly, the deputy commander stopped in the courtyard of the Ma family.

Whether it was intentional or unintentional, or perhaps deliberate, is unknown.

He slapped his forehead and said, "Hey! Look at my brain, I forgot about the visitor fee. It's not much, just a hundred taels of silver."