Chapter 58 Standing Out Too Much

Whether the Secretariat was full of backstabbing and political maneuvers, Ma Xun had no idea. All he knew was that the Lesser New Year was approaching, and he had been summoned into the palace.

Ma Xiuying looked at Ma Xun and asked, "You go to see Shuning every single day. Do you really find her that to your liking?"

"I think it's quite nice. My biggest fear beforehand was ending up with someone we couldn't even hold a conversation with." Ma Xun looked around and asked, "Where are the children?"

Ma Xiuying smiled and teased, "Did you think they're all like you? Apart from coming to the palace on the Winter Solstice, what other serious business have you attended to these days?"

Coming to the palace on the Winter Solstice was to pay respects at the Ancestral Shrine of the Prince of Xu—that certainly counted as serious business.

"I haven't been idle either. I've been thinking about how to treat wounded soldiers," Ma Xun said earnestly. "Sister, I'm not going off to war. While overseeing the Imperial Academy, I'm researching medicine and science."

Ma Xiuying looked at him. "As long as you don't put the cart before the horse. I've heard you're brewing wine every day."

"That's not wine-brewing; it's for disinfection and anti-inflammation," Ma Xun protested, getting a bit anxious since the ban on alcohol had not yet been lifted. "In the future, if someone suffers a trauma, they need to have it disinfected so it reduces inflammation and suppuration."

Ma Xiuying said non-committally, "Have it your way. Find craftsmen yourself if you need them, and just let me know if you're really short on money. Your brother-in-law gave you so many fields that you shouldn't need me to subsidize you."

Ma Xun certainly wasn't short on money; practically speaking, he had more than he could ever spend.

Ma Xiuying suddenly asked, "You know that you have to attend the grand court audience on New Year's Day, right?"

New Year's Day, which was the Spring Festival, called for a grand court ceremony.

Ma Xun nodded, then grew somewhat worried. "Sister, the rumors outside are such a mess! Prime Minister Li wants to retire due to old age—what does that have to do with me?"

Ma Xiuying smiled. "You are the Empress's younger brother, and you are also a master physician of renowned skill, so what you say naturally carries weight. There's no need to overthink it; your brother-in-law also intended to let Mr. Li rest for a while anyway."

And not just rest, but also curtail Li Shanchang's growing prestige.

Ever since the founding of the dynasty, Li Shanchang had been involved in every major and minor affair. As the Left Prime Minister, he was truly one man beneath the emperor and above tens of thousands.

The civil officials were completely subdued by him, and among the military commanders, the Huaixi faction maintained a tight-knit and close circle.

A maid walked over holding a garment—a purple robe.

Ma Xiuying smiled amusedly and said, "Look at you, a Commander-in-Chief, yet you don't even have a set of official robes."

Ma Xun took the robe and looked at it with a trace of disappointment. But upon second thought, he understood; it was the early days of the dynasty, and many institutions and systems were not yet fully established.

Currently, the court's dress code required officials from the first to the fifth rank to wear purple, while the sixth and seventh ranks wore crimson.

According to the Five Virtues doctrine, the Xia Dynasty favored black, the Yin favored white, the Zhou favored red, the Qin favored black, the Han favored red, and the Tang favored yellow. The Ming dynasty drew upon the precedents of the Zhou, Han, Tang, and Song dynasties, claiming the virtue of Fire to rule the realm, meaning its symbolic color should be red.

This matter had not yet been finalized, which meant the exact base color for the emperor's dragon robe had not been decided either. With the emperor's crown and ceremonial garments still undecided, the attire of the hundred officials naturally could not be finalized either.

Furthermore, official uniform patches featuring birds and beasts would have to wait. Although the Great Ming had been founded, the grand tasks were not yet completed; who had the time to ponder such regulations?

Nevertheless, the foundation of official dress—consisting of the black gauze cap, the round-collared robe, and the girded belt—had basically been established.

Zhu Biao walked into the hall, saw Ma Xun, and smiled, "Uncle is finally willing to enter the palace. Wan'er said that Chang Mao has been the happiest these past few days because he doesn't have to be cooped up in the estate."

Ma Xun immediately retorted, "That boy can't be relied upon, and I don't go out every day either. He actually dared to trick Eldest Brother Chang; he was just running off to play by himself."

"Your uncle will be attending court for the first time in a few days, so keep an eye on him," Ma Xiuying said with lingering worry. "All year, I've tried to keep him from mingling too much with those people in the court. Your uncle has a simple and pure mind; it's easy for them to hoodwink him."

Zhu Biao said with full confidence, "Mother, Uncle is such a cautious person, who could possibly trick him? Besides, Uncle is now well-versed in both scholarly and martial arts; who in the court doesn't admire him?"

Over the course of nearly a year, Zhu Yuanzhu and Ma Xiuying had enabled Ma Xun, the imperial brother-in-law, to quickly establish a foothold in the capital and even gain a certain presence within the court.

Although his foundation was not deeply rooted, anyone with discerning eyes could see that this was a deliberate promotion by the emperor.

Yet one had to admit that in the current political arena, alongside the military nobility and civil officials, the influence of the imperial relatives had suddenly emerged.

Li Wenzhong naturally counted as an imperial relative, and the Huaixi men all understood that he was the emperor's man planted within the military. Prior to this, the only imperial relative of consequence in the Ming had been Li Wenzhong.

Now, however, a maternal uncle of the emperor had popped up. Although he had gone on military campaigns, it seemed the Emperor preferred to use this imperial brother-in-law to counterbalance the civil officials.

Ma Xun looked at Zhu Biao and said, "Biao'er, the second prince and the others are still imperial princes, but they are old enough now. Why don't you go persuade your father to confer princely titles upon your younger brothers?"

Zhu Biao immediately reproached him with a mock frown, "Uncle, how can you say that? It makes it impossible for me to face my younger brothers!"

"It doesn't get in the way; they are growing older," Ma Xun said patiently. "Biao'er, in ordinary commoner families, brothers can fight over a single bowl and pair of chopsticks when dividing family property. Your second brother and the others understand this in their hearts; it's simply better for you to settle it sooner rather than later."

"Uncle, I have already been installed as the Crown Prince," Zhu Biao explained with helpless resignation. "The moment Father ascended the throne, I became the Crown Prince. My brothers haven't harbored any other thoughts for a long time."

"What? What?" Zhu Yuanzhu strode into the room, asking, "What thoughts are your younger brothers harboring?"

Ma Xiuying smiled and complained, "Little Brother wants Biao'er to persuade you to enfeoff all the princes. His next move will probably be driving your other full-blooded nephews out to their respective fiefs."

Zhu Yuanzhu's eyes instantly lit up, and he happily patted Ma Xun's shoulder. "You've truly made progress. That old scoundrel Liu Bowen actually managed to teach you a thing or two."

"I don't discuss palace matters with him; at most, we talk about things in the Secretariat," Ma Xun hastily explained, lest his father-in-law be misunderstood. "I know my boundaries, and he knows his even better."

Zhu Yuanzhu laughed heartily. "It's good that the two of you—father-in-law and son-in-law—get together to scheme about how to protect yourselves. Since Little Brother is thinking of having me enfeoff the princes, I am naturally delighted!"

Zhu Yuanzhu then looked at Ma Xun and said, "This matter cannot be raised by Biao'er; you must be the one to bring it up."

Ma Xun's head instantly began to throb. "Brother-in-law, it wouldn't look right for me to bring it up, would it? Why not have someone from the Ministry of Rites or the Secretariat do it? Why must it be me?"

"You are the Crown Prince's uncle, and you are also the uncle of the second prince and the others—it has to be you!" Zhu Yuanzhu made an immediate decision. "Wife, during the grand court ceremony on New Year's Day, how about having Little Brother take the lead in submitting this memorial?"

Ma Xiuying smiled and nodded. "That works too. Let Little Brother take the lead."

Zhu Biao wore a mournful expression as he protested, "That's far too rushed! If Uncle takes the lead in requesting the enfeoffment of the princes, won't I have to be busy trying to persuade Father on one side, while rushing to lead my younger brothers in expressing gratitude on the other?"

Such was Zhu Biao; the position of crown prince was firmly his, and no one else dared harbor alternative ambitions.

As for his younger brothers, they were all completely within his grasp. While this was partly due to Zhu Yuanzhu and Ma Xiuying deliberately safeguarding Zhu Biao's status and special position over the years, it was also because he genuinely possessed the ability to keep his younger brothers in line.

Ma Xun felt a headache coming on. "Brother-in-law, Sister, if I take the lead in requesting the enfeoffment of the princes on New Year's Day, and then get married right after the Lantern Festival... and with Prime Minister Li likely retiring to his hometown after the first lunar month... aren't I standing out a bit too much in the spotlight?"

"You'll only be twenty-one after the New Year—that's precisely the age to be high-spirited and full of vigor," Zhu Yuanzhu said with a smile. "As for Prime Minister Li's situation, you've actually done me a favor."

Li Shanchang's competence was beyond doubt, but the current Zhu Yuanzhu also harbored lingering concerns; he needed a gentle way to strip this Prime Minister of his authority.

As for Ma Xun, whether active or passive, his influence over the imperial court was growing steadily.

As for making visits, he still had to go to Li Zhen's estate. Since Li Zhen was advanced in age and disliked moving about in winter, everyone else had to go to him instead.