Ming Dynasty: Empress Ma and I swapped clothes!

Chapter 50 Zhu Fen: Second Brother, I'm hungry~

"Brother Tianlu! Your name is a good name."

"As the saying goes, 'He who eats the king's food must be loyal to the king's worries.' Heaven is the king. No wonder your son has achieved such great merit. He has allowed us military households to shine in front of His Majesty."

"From this day forward, Brother Tianlu, we are brothers despite not having fathers or mothers. I'm a little older than you, so you can call me 'Older Brother,' and I'll call you 'Younger Brother.' How about that? No problem, right?"

With just one word from the commander, Old Master Ma gained an older brother, and Ma Wenxiang gained a godfather.

Throughout the entire process, Mr. Ma could only humbly accept the criticism and could not refute it in the slightest.

Compared to these shrewd and sophisticated big shots, Old Master Ma's level is ultimately too low.

……

Inside the horse park, the celebration ceremony has ended.

Ma Wenxiang's reputation in Qingfeng County, and even in Daming Prefecture, was completely recognized by the authorities.

It was personally endorsed by Li Zizhi, the magistrate of Qingfeng County, and Huo Tianlang, the county magistrate's assistant.

The county examination has concluded several days ago.

On this day, Ma Wenxiang saw that Ma Yuan and many other scholars were still studying as usual, their literary atmosphere was strong, as if the scene of seeking fame and fortune and scheming against people's hearts in the previous days had completely disappeared.

If this is a good thing, then the bad thing is that the father, Ma Xiulin, has developed a somewhat playful attitude.

Although it's not a large amount, it's not a good thing either. It's still under control at the moment, but Ma Xiuying, as the son, still has to give him a heads-up.

"Father, the county examination has been going on for many days. It's time to go home. Mother is still working hard all by herself at home."

Just as Ma Xiulin was about to have some fun with the others in the Ma residence, Ma Xiuying's voice rang out, and at the same time, her figure stood perfectly in front of everyone.

The people having fun together were not from Ma Yuan.

No one would do something so foolish as to upset Ma Xiuying; it was Ma Xiulin's three or five friends in Qingfeng County.

Seeing Ma Xiuying's expressionless face, her three or five friends were all on edge. They quickly waved their hands, pretending to have something to do, and left in a hurry.

Ma Xiulin felt somewhat regretful upon seeing this.

But when he turned to look at Ma Xiuying's expression, his mind returned to calm, and he gradually fell silent.

Then, under Ma Xiuying's watchful eye, Ma Xiulin remained silent, quickly walked away from him, and followed the three or five friends who had been there earlier to a different place to play.

Ma Xiuying frowned, but then Ma Xiulin turned back from the group, a smug look on his face, with some loose silver coins in his palm.

He walked up to Ma Xiuying and said, "We gave them all the money earlier, and now that we're not going, of course we should get it back. Kid, don't think your old man is just out having fun."

"Let's go home."

Ma Xiulin put the silver coins into his pocket, then strode back to the Ma residence to pack his luggage.

Looking at her father like this, Ma Xiuying suddenly smiled.

My mother is good, my father is good, and this family is even better.

……

As he was about to leave, Ma Xiulin, being an elder, bid farewell to everyone in the Ma family with proper etiquette, cupping his hands in a respectful gesture and saying loudly, "Today I'm taking my son home to rest for a few days."

"National affairs are important, and so are family affairs. We will surely meet again in the future."

The people in the Ma residence also bowed and took their leave. However, as the father and son slowly drove away in their carriage, murmurs of discussion arose from within the Ma residence.

"Young Master Ma is a man of exceptional character, temperament, and quality. I never imagined that Master Ma would also be such a delightful and interesting person."

"Absolutely! But it makes sense, since the father and son are from the same family. Like father, like son, which is a blessing for the prosperity of education in the Central Plains."

"Haha, let's have a big drink today!"

……

In a corner of the capital, a gentle breeze stirred, carrying a slight chill as people hurried past on the streets.

Behind Zhu Shuang and Zhu Dang followed a shifty-eyed villain who, seeing that no one was around, was about to step forward.

Suddenly, a burly man with broad shoulders and mantis legs appeared behind the two.

He appeared to be dressed in civilian clothes, but he was burly and broad-shouldered, with a prominent vein on his right arm. With lightning speed, he dragged the villain straight into a nearby alley.

Then his head lolled to the side, and the villain died silently.

Hearing a faint noise behind him, Zhu Shuang frowned and turned around, but found nothing.

When he turned around to look ahead, Zhu Fen's stomach rumbled, and he said weakly, "Second Brother, I'm hungry."

When they left the palace, Zhu Shuang was filled with pride and ambition for his achievements. He didn't take a single penny with him, and apart from his clothes which were worth some money, he had practically nothing.

Only Zhu Fen had some sense and brought some money, but that little bit of money was only enough for them to live on for a day or two, and now it was the third day.

After checking into the inn last night, all the money I had on me was gone this morning.

I didn't eat breakfast, and I didn't eat lunch either.

"A half-grown boy can eat his father to death" is no exaggeration, so Zhu Shuang could still hold on at this moment, but Zhu Teng was so hungry that his stomach was practically sticking to his back, and he couldn't help but say it out loud.

"Young Master, don't embarrass yourself. We are princes, members of the imperial family, and are highly respected. Don't let these commoners look down on us."

Zhu Shuang said in a low voice.

Zhu Fen obediently shut his mouth, but the rumbling in his stomach ignored all advice.

Then, Zhu Shuang's own stomach rumbled loudly, and at that moment, he could no longer continue lecturing.

"Second brother, if this doesn't work, let's go back to the palace first."

Zhu Fen began to have second thoughts.

Life outside the palace was nothing like the carefree days the two had imagined; on the contrary, it was fraught with hardship.

Eating costs money, sleeping costs money, even drinking water costs money. How can people live like this?

But Zhu Shuang had his own ideas.

Even though she was starving, she still stubbornly insisted, "If we go back now, won't Father, Mother, and the others laugh their heads off? I'd rather die than go back."

"So, second brother, what should we do?"

Zhu Fen could only mutter under his breath to express his dissatisfaction.

From childhood to adulthood, he had always followed Zhu Shuang.

Zhu Shuang couldn't think of a solution either, so the two teenagers could only keep quiet and keep their mouths shut the whole way.

Gradually, the wind picked up and the two of them stopped rumbling in their stomachs.

They were too hungry.

But I have to say, it's better now than before.

The two were too tired to walk any further, so they leaned against a big tree and decided to rest for a while.

They saw people passing by: some wearing brocade hats and fur coats, with jade hanging from their waists, rich beyond measure; others with pale faces, hunched backs, looking no different from beggars; and all sorts of other people.

At this moment, the two princes, who were so hungry they could hardly stand it, actually had the mind to look at this scene that they would never normally care about.