Ming Dynasty: Empress Ma and I swapped clothes!

Chapter 9 Distant Relative Ma Jin: Matters of a Maternal Relative?

"Your Highness is making fun of this servant."

Su Qing'er turned her head away, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

Sun Miaoran also blushed. Recalling her appearance just now, she had lost all the solemnity of a female official and had truly become a little girl in her teens.

"Sister Qing'er and Sister Miaoran are absolutely right."

After inspecting his territory and taking care of his younger siblings, Zhu Biao returned.

In front of Ma Xiuying, the fifteen or sixteen-year-old, who had already grown into a young adult, said earnestly, "As the ancients said, parents should plan far ahead for their children. I didn't know Mother's good intentions before, but today I realize how much thought Mother has put into us, her children."

"It is the children who have troubled Mother."

Zhu Biao bowed deeply.

With his elder brother, the Crown Prince, as a role model, Zhu Di was the first to react. He got off the bed, strode over to Zhu Biao's side, and bowed respectfully.

Following suit, Zhu Shuang, Zhu Gang, and Zhu Su also copied the method.

Finally, even Ningguo and Anqing, the two precocious children, followed suit, bending down and babbling in their clear voices, "Mother, you've worked so hard!"

His words were straightforward, without the elaborate formalities of the palace or the literary jargon and veiled meaning of classical texts; instead, they were simple, pure, and expressed his true feelings directly.

But it is precisely these simplest words that resonate most deeply with people.

"They're all good kids. Biao'er, and Xiao Er, Xiao San, Xiao Si, Xiao Wu, Xiao Ningguo, Xiao Anqing..."

Looking at the scene before her, Ma Xiuying was deeply touched, and her eyes welled up with tears, but they did not fall.

She called their names like a child, while gently pulling them into her arms.

"This time, I do owe that Ma family boy a favor."

At this time, Kunning Palace, though located deep within the palace, does not appear from afar as a cold royal residence, but rather like a warm home for ordinary people.

……

After a short while, in Kunning Palace, the princes and princesses under Ma Xiuying's tutelage were each performing their duties in an orderly manner.

At this moment, Sun Miaoran stepped forward to reply, bowing her head and chest, and said, "Your Majesty, the Ma family members you summoned have arrived."

Upon hearing this, Ma Xiuying pursed her lips slightly and raised her eyebrows gently.

Her parents died early, and her family fell into poverty.

Her father, Ma Gong, was a man of strong character and hated evil. He committed murder in Suzhou to avoid trouble and was never heard from again. Her mother passed away when she was very young.

Although there were still some relatives, they had been separated for many years due to the war. It took many years of searching to finally find a distant relative.

However, due to Ma Xiuying's insistence, this distant relative only lived in the capital for a long time and did not enter the imperial court.

Zhu Yuanzhang then dropped the matter.

After all, they are just distant relatives.

The so-called "Ma family member" is likely that distant relative in the capital.

After a moment's thought, Ma Xiuying guessed that this was probably the work of that young man from the Ma family again.

"Let him in."

Ma Xiuying gave the instructions.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Sun Miaoran nodded and withdrew.

Not long after, Sun Miaoran reappeared, followed by a middle-aged man.

His appearance was peculiar, with a slightly long profile, but his eyes were still quite bright and piercing, showing that he had not been blinded by the prosperity of the capital or had his body decayed.

"This humble subject greets Your Majesty."

When he arrived in front of Ma Xiuying, Ma Jin dared not act arrogantly as an elder, and bowed respectfully with his legs together.

"Uncle is here."

Zhu Biao had just finished practicing the Eight Pieces of Brocade and saw Ma Jin, his face showing a hint of surprise.

Zhu Biao had few elders. Zhu Yuanzhang's family members had all passed away, except for one older sister, the rest had been buried many years ago; and the situation was similar for Ma Xiuying's side.

Therefore, this elder undoubtedly holds a special place in Zhu Biao's heart.

"This humble subject greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Ma Jin bowed again.

Since he did not hold a noble title, Zhu Biao could only address him as "uncle," or he could also be called "Marquis Uncle."

"Biao'er, step back."

Ma Xiuying called out in a lukewarm tone.

Zhu Biao lowered his head, knowing his mother's thoughts, and said somewhat dejectedly, "I understand."

He then turned and walked away, going to the side to continue practicing his skills.

Upon seeing Ma Jin, Ma Xiuying belatedly realized that the Ma family boy's desire to find this person was probably no different from her own thoughts after waking up in this new body.

Send Ma Jin, who is in front of you, to Qingfeng County in Daming Prefecture to secretly protect the Ma family.

"At least this Ma family lad has some conscience."

Ma Xiuying thought to herself, and then slowly revealed her plan.

Before Ma Jin could reply, Ma Xiuying already knew his inner turmoil and took out the phoenix-patterned jade pendant she always carried with her: "With this token, no one will dare to stop you."

"This humble subject will certainly do his utmost, even unto death, to live up to Your Majesty's trust."

Ma Jin respectfully accepted the phoenix-patterned jade pendant and bowed again.

Only after being prompted by Ma Xiuying did they carefully leave.

After leaving Kunning Palace and then the palace, they arrived outside the palace walls, boarded their own carriage, and finally calmed down and breathed a sigh of relief.

He played with the phoenix-patterned jade pendant for a long time, reluctant to let it go, and carefully tucked it into his pocket.

This is an item from the palace; it cannot be damaged in the slightest.

At this moment, however, Ma Jin had a slight doubt in his heart: "If Your Highness, such a noble person, wants to find those military households, she can go straight to the Ministry of War and find the official in the Military Selection and Appointment Department."

"The Ministry of War has the most complete military register in the country. With an urgent dispatch, it should be easy to find in no time. Why go through all this trouble?"

"Or perhaps..."

Suddenly, Ma Jin's pupils contracted, as if he had thought of another possibility: "Surname Ma...could he be a member of my Ma family?"

As Ma Jin pondered further, a chill ran down his spine.

It even made me think of the matter of the maternal relatives.

Then his body trembled, and he stammered, "Your Majesty is so thoughtful. This matter must not be made public."

……

Inside Kunning Palace, Ma Xiuying closed her eyes to rest, still thinking about the Ma family's affairs.

How can one receive a reward without merit?

Moreover, matters of ghosts and spirits are mysterious and enigmatic, and should be considered carefully before acting and thoroughly planned.

The most urgent task is to protect the safety of the Ma family.

Apart from that, whether the Ma family was closer to the capital or farther away in Daming Prefecture, it didn't really make much difference to her, the current empress.

……

Majia Village.

During the day, wisps of smoke rise from the chimneys, and Ma Wenxiang, inside the kitchen, is holding a blower, puffing out his cheeks and straining hard.

When Mingming first came into this world, she was the apple of her family's eye.

But now he's inexplicably started doing odd jobs. Luckily, he's also experienced poverty, so he's quite good at these chores and won't reveal any flaws.

It's easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality. Ma Wenxiang's psychological gap at this moment was indeed quite large.

Fortunately, the body swap didn't last long.

He was able to adapt quickly.

Throughout the morning, aside from working and reading, Ma Wenxiang would occasionally drift into a daze, feeling as if he had experienced a Ming Dynasty version of "Metamorphosis".

His wheat was ripe, so this country bumpkin returned.