Ming Dynasty: Empress Ma and I swapped clothes!

Chapter 26 Empress Ma: Another chapter change?

"Come on, Wen, eat more meat. It's good for your health and will help you grow taller."

Inside the Ma family compound, the sky was filled with twinkling stars, and the bright moonlight poured down, covering the earth in a silvery white blanket.

Grandpa Ma's face, though wrinkled, was beaming with a broad smile.

The old man spent most of his life on the battlefield, but in his old age, his sons were useless, while his grandsons brought fame to the Ma family.

His life has been worthwhile.

Even if I close my eyes tomorrow and go down to the grave, I can still stand tall and proud to meet the ancestors of the Ma family, and I can even pat my chest and shout loudly to other members of the Ma family clan in Ma Village.

"Old Ma was right to send his two sons to school."

He will make those who once looked down on him receive a resounding slap in the face.

"Second son, you eat too."

Grandpa Ma greeted Wang Shiyun, then looked at Sun Wen, "Brother Sun has always been good to us. Now that you're here, just make yourself at home and don't feel awkward."

Sun Wenfei nodded quickly, picked up a piece of meat without any hesitation, and ate it with relish, which made him seem even closer to Sun Wenfei.

Wang Shiyun smiled warmly when she saw this.

She warmly welcomed Sun Wen as a guest, and because he was younger than Ma Wenxiang, she felt extra care for him, leaving Ma Wenxiang in the care of Old Master Ma.

She, as the mother, doesn't need to worry too much.

However, this is the only way.

Ma Xiulin, the middle generation of the Ma family and a de facto head of the family, was completely ignored.

He craned his neck, looking at the few bright green cold dishes in front of him with a wronged expression.

Normally, this dish would be delicious at home.

But today, on the table in the courtyard, there was a bowl of soup made from an old hen, and next to it were several kinds of meat dishes: roast goose from Zuixianlou Restaurant in the county town, cured meat stir-fried with cured vegetables, and a steamed fish.

In addition, there were several small desserts to cut through the greasiness, all of which tempted his appetite.

But the old man was always watching him, and Ma Xiulin felt that even looking at him was a luxury, let alone eating freely.

"Honey, you eat too."

Upon seeing this, Wang Shiyun smiled, took the bowl from Ma Xiulin's hand, and put some meat and vegetables on his plate.

"My wife is still the best to me."

Ma Xiulin ate the white rice in her bowl with relish, enjoying it along with the dishes.

"Eat, eat, eat!!! All you ever do is eat."

When Old Master Ma saw this, he was so angry that he blew his beard and glared at his face. "If you fail the imperial examination today and don't even get the title of Xiucai (a lower-level scholar), don't ever set foot in the Ma family again."

"I know, Dad. I guarantee it will work."

Ma Xiulin was so focused on eating that she couldn't even speak clearly.

Grandpa Ma continued to show affection to his grandchildren, doting on the two good grandsons in the courtyard.

Ma Wenxiang smacked his lips, his tongue curling as the oily sauce, full of seasoning and meaty aroma, spread in his mouth, making him especially craving.

After a satisfying meal, a small bowl of chicken soup to soothe the stomach is simply heavenly.

Back in the side room, Sun Yat-sen slept with him on the earthen bed today.

Seeing that Ma Wenxiang was thinking, Sun Wen did not disturb him and continued to study on his own.

Now that the Ma family is better off, they no longer need to use that dim oil lamp; the house is brightly lit.

"Judging by the time, it's almost time for another ten days."

Ma Wenxiang thought to himself.

As her thoughts churned, and with the faint sound of her father, Ma Xiulin, reading aloud echoing in her ears, she yawned and drifted off into a deep sleep.

……

The night in the capital city gradually deepened.

Ma Xiuying had just returned from the prince's residence to Kunning Palace, but her face showed no signs of fatigue; she was still full of energy.

"Your Majesty, it's time to retire for the night."

Su Qing'er said in a crisp voice.

Ma Xiuying smiled gently, and as the candles in the hall went out, Su Qing'er, Sun Miaoran, and other female officials gradually withdrew.

Ma Xiuying lay alone on the phoenix couch, not on the hard earthen bed of her hometown, but on a soft cushion as soft as silk.

But for some reason, perhaps because of my age, my soft body doesn't feel very comfortable sleeping on a soft mattress, and I even miss the ordinary earthen bed in my hometown village.

Thinking about this, Ma Xiuying, who had been busy all day, gradually fell asleep.

"Brother Wen, it's time to wake up. Grandpa Ma said he'll take us to the private school later to properly thank the teacher."

Sun Wen nudged the person next to him, "They said that Brother Wen owes you a huge favor for having such great fortune. You can't repay it right now, but you must remember it and repay it slowly in the future."

Compared to Ma Wenxiang, Sun Wen in front of him seemed equally precocious. At the age of seven or eight, he could speak so clearly and logically, which was already quite remarkable. He was indeed a promising student.

"This...it's been switched back again?"

Ma Xiuying washed up and dressed, then walked out of the side room and looked at the patches of golden dawn just emerging beside the Daqingshan Mountain near Majia Village.

The white clouds and blue sky looked exactly the same as those inside the palace.

But deep down I always feel more comfortable and at ease here.

……

Inside the Kunning Palace.

Practice makes perfect.

Ma Wenxiang also woke up at the calculated time and quickly adapted to and accepted his surroundings.

He rubbed his sleepy eyes, stretched, and then ordered as if it were the most natural thing in the world: "Qing'er, Miaoran, help me change my clothes."

Su Qing'er arrived upon hearing the sound, taking small, quick steps to pick up the palace dress from the bookshelf and gently and carefully put it on Ma Wenxiang.

Ma Wenxiang yawned, slumped down, and looked around before gradually becoming fully awake.

He moved his body, and the weakness he felt when he changed bodies last time disappeared by more than half. In its place, he seemed to have gained a bit of the youthful vitality that Ma Xiuying should have had, although it was not obvious yet.

"The cause of health preservation is indeed a long and arduous one."

"Serve breakfast."

Ma Wenxiang then gave instructions.

A strange look flashed across Su Qing'er's eyes, but she still obeyed subconsciously.

"Why is Your Highness so different? Just a few days ago you said you wanted to be self-reliant, but why have you changed your mind so much?"

She was muttering to herself.

Sun Miaoran, who happened to arrive, overheard this and covered her mouth with a soft laugh: "Empress Xu Ri has been angered by the princes. Although the princes listen to the Empress's good advice, they can't change their ways overnight. In the end, we still have to take it slowly."

"I heard that the Second Prince was furious yesterday. If Her Majesty hadn't arrived in time, the palace servants would have been whipped."

Su Qing'er hesitated for a moment, then nodded and turned to serve the meal.

Sun Miaoran then walked up to Ma Wenxiang, ready to be at his beck and call.

Not only the two female officials, but all the eunuchs and maids in the Kunning Palace were already standing in their usual positions, ready to obey Ma Wenxiang's orders at any time.

Seeing so many people serving him at all times, Ma Wenxiang felt a surge of power once again: "I, the king, have returned!"

"Ha ha ha ha!!!"

Having just finished breakfast, Ma Wenxiang patted his stomach to help with digestion.

As people age, their digestive capacity visibly declines.

He had only eaten a tiny bit too much, and according to his usual health regimen, he shouldn't feel this bloated.

Your Majesty, why are you being so disobedient?