Ming Dynasty: Empress Ma and I swapped clothes!

Chapter 16 The Legendary Man! Youthful Spirit

Inside Kunning Palace!

Su Qing'er, who was standing close by, heard Ma Xiuying's praise. After stepping back, she couldn't help but look puzzled and muttered, "Why is Your Highness praising herself? Her brain seems a bit out of sorts."

"By the way, Her Majesty once mentioned 'like cures like,' meaning you should eat what you're lacking."

"I need to speak to the Imperial Kitchen. From now on, my meals should include more pig brains. Otherwise, Her Majesty said that if someone is too stupid, even if they get married, they will be bullied to death by their husband's family. I, Su Qing'er, don't want that..."

"Her Majesty previously mentioned that she would betroth me to a dashing and handsome young man, who is about the same age as me... Who exactly is that person?"

In an instant, the young girl's heart began to stir with first love, a slight ripple of emotion arose within her, and a sense of anticipation inexplicably grew.

"What are you standing there for?"

Su Qing'er was lost in her daydreams about her future husband when Sun Miaoran unknowingly came to her side and gently patted her shoulder, startling her.

"What do you know? She's thinking about her future husband."

Su Qing'er smiled foolishly, not unlike a lovesick girl.

Sun Miaoran was much more rational than her. She had a slightly upturned nose, bright and spirited almond eyes, and her pale yellow dress accentuated her slender and graceful figure, making her extremely eye-catching.

Seeing that Su Qing'er ignored her and walked away on her own, Sun Miaoran pouted, her lips slightly parted, and her tone carried a hint of smugness: "As if Her Majesty only introduced you to someone?"

"I wonder who this young man Your Majesty is talking about is. Your Majesty has praised him to the skies, saying he is almost comparable to His Majesty."

"This man has sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, a handsome appearance, and extraordinary literary talent. His looks are as handsome as General Li Wenzhong, his strategies are as brilliant as Liu Bowen, and his future is as promising as that of Li Shanchang, who is destined for great success."

Even for a rational woman like Sun Miaoran, who was capable and efficient in handling affairs within the palace.

At this moment, I couldn't help but feel a little flutter in my heart for this legendary young man, and my heart began to stir with first love.

……

"Sigh! Life is tough, baby sighs."

Inside Majia Village.

At lunchtime, Ma Wenxiang ate cornbread and drank wild vegetable soup.

This wild vegetable is said to be based on experience passed down from the older generation in the village, and it is basically non-toxic.

He was wearing a coarse white shirt, which fortunately had no patches or tears.

I picked up some pickled vegetables that my mother had just prepared in the kitchen a few days ago with my chopsticks, put them in my mouth with the salt, and chewed them gently. Only then did the cornbread and wild vegetable soup taste good.

With a muffled voice and a hoarse nose, he gulped down the wild vegetable soup in one go, which finally calmed his hunger after a morning of classes.

As the old saying goes, "A fool can eat his father alive."

Ma Wenxiang ate bowl after bowl, until he had almost finished all the cornbread on the table.

At this moment, Ma Wenxiang was quite relieved that his father had gone to the Hundred Households Office.

The father, Ma Xiulin, spent his days reading. Apart from getting up every half hour to stretch his muscles and improve blood circulation, he spent the rest of his time sitting upright and reading, which did not consume too much physical energy.

Otherwise, there probably wouldn't be enough food in the house; you'd barely feel hungry, and it wouldn't have anything to do with feeling full.

"Another day of thanking the old man."

Looking up at the ever-changing white clouds on the azure horizon, Ma Wenxiang felt a strange sense of relief. "Without Grandpa Ma, this family would have fallen apart sooner or later. The old man has truly done a great service."

He smacked his lips, then licked the last bit of soup from the enamel bowl with his tongue, and only then did a slight feeling of fullness begin to arise, even so.

He also showed a satisfied and happy smile.

Seven or eight days have passed.

He had almost completely forgotten the delicacies he had eaten in the palace, leaving only scattered memories in his mind. The exact taste of those dishes was almost completely overshadowed by the cornbread and pickled vegetables he ate at home.

"Mother, you eat too, Father isn't hungry."

Hearing Ma Wenxiang's heartless words, Wang Shiyun paused in her work of clearing the dishes, looked around, and was about to find a broom to teach him a lesson.

Wang Shiyun is not a soft-hearted person, just like Grandpa Ma. She always values ​​family traditions. If someone makes a mistake, the Ma family can still be ruthless and use corporal punishment on Ma Wenxiang, the only grandson in three generations.

But when Wang Shiyun brought the bowls and chopsticks to the kitchen and came out again, Ma Wenxiang had already disappeared like a wisp of smoke, carrying his book bag and the articles that his teacher Wang Yangsheng had assigned him in the past few days.

"That brat."

Wang Shiyun laughed and scolded, then put down her sleeves and went back to continue her work.

……

"Incredible, unimaginable!"

"Brother Xiulin's literary talent has reached such a level."

"With such a strategy, not to mention the previous county examinations, Brother Xiulin will surely pass the prefectural and provincial examinations in one fell swoop and become a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the county-level imperial examinations). If you are lucky, you may also be able to pass the provincial examinations today."

Inside the private school.

Wang Yangsheng was greatly amazed as he held the article submitted by Ma Wenxiang.

While marveling at the work, Wang Yangsheng's tone also carried a hint of regret: "Unfortunately, Brother Xiulin seems to have been in too much of a hurry. His calligraphy is too hasty and chaotic. Compared to his essay, it is a inferior work, almost completely lacking in style."

Hearing Wang Yangsheng's evaluation, Ma Wenxiang suppressed the urge to roll his eyes, his lips twitched slightly, and he could only preemptively say, "Sir, this policy essay was written by me and has nothing to do with my father."

"Hahaha, Wenxiang, don't joke around."

Wang Yangsheng waved his hand, "You are still young, how could you write such a mature article?"

"The teacher admits that Wenxiang, you do have a talent for reading. In just a few days, you were able to read through the Four Books and memorize most of the Five Classics. Even when the teacher tested you before, he was slightly surprised."

"However, while learning to read is quick, writing policy essays is not so simple. Even Brother Xiulin might not be able to write this essay, so how could you possibly do it?"

"Wenxiang, please stop joking with the gentleman."

No one believed the baby, so she continued to sigh.

Ma Wenxiang sighed softly. Fortunately, he had already made sufficient preparations and took out another article from the book bag he carried with him.

Although the font in this piece is not outstanding, it is not as unorthodox as Wang Yangsheng described it; it can only be described as extremely ordinary. This is already the highest praise Ma Wenxiang could give to his own calligraphy.

He has done his best.

"Sir, you might want to take another look at this."

Ma Wenxiang said calmly.

Wang Yangsheng smiled calmly, seeing Ma Wenxiang's insistence, he simply took it as the impetuousness of a young man.

A hint of reminiscence flashed in his eyes as he recalled how he, too, had once had the same thought of proving his extraordinary talent through writing.

But what will the result be?

How tragic and spectacular!