Chapter 17: A New Home

The marriage between Ma Xun and Liu Shuning has been finalized; it is essentially irreversible. Although the formal betrothal gifts have not yet been exchanged, that is merely a matter of time.

Ma Xun’s position as the Commander of the Imperial Tent is largely a sinecure. The administrative system of the Ming Dynasty is now mostly complete. In terms of military affairs, the Grand Chief Military Commission remains the authority, though Zhu Yuanzhang has already begun the process of restructuring it into the Five Chief Military Commissions. Theoretically, the Commander of the Imperial Tent ranks just below a general; during the Qin and Han dynasties, this was a high-ranking military office. However, in the current Ming Dynasty, the title of "Commander" is reserved for the Emperor’s sons-in-law, a rank above that of a count. Regardless, Ma Xun has no need to attend morning court or manage official duties at an office; he is currently busy moving house.

Li Zhen is in high spirits, directing the youngsters to work. "Chang Mao, Chang Sheng, Chang Sen! You three know many people, so go wait at the gate and announce the guests as they arrive."

"Understood!" The three Chang brothers dashed off. Even though Li Zhen is usually a kindly old man, none of the young nobles dare to cross him.

"Decheng, I’ll have to trouble you," Li Zhen said with a smile to a sturdy young man. "Keep an eye on those brats; don’t let them offend anyone. I’ll treat you to a drink later, brother-in-law."

Guo Decheng immediately grinned. "You are too kind, brother-in-law! I’m on it!"

Guo Decheng’s sister is Consort Guo Ning, and his two brothers are Guo Xing and Guo Ying—both absolute confidants of the Emperor. Guo Decheng himself is capable, has military achievements, and possesses an easygoing and sharp-witted personality that makes him quite likable. He has only one flaw: a fatal obsession with alcohol, which causes him to lose all sense of propriety once he has had a few drinks.

Li Zhen looked around and issued more tasks. "You two, keep a careful record of the gift list; your uncle will need to return these favors later!"

Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang pulled long faces and tried to bargain. "Uncle-in-law, can’t we just greet the guests? We are princes, after all; recording gift lists is beneath our station!"

Li Zhen glared, and the two boys immediately withered, obediently preparing to keep the ledger.

With the uncle moving house, there are many guests. While many founding generals are away on campaigns, their families remain in the capital. Regardless of whether Ma Xun had visited them previously, those who could not attend in person still sent their wives or eldest sons to offer congratulations and gifts.

Ma Xun kicked Li Jinglong in the backside and said, "Brother-in-law, I’ve really put you to a lot of trouble with this move."

"As long as you don't mind my meddling, I enjoy the bustle," Li Zhen replied with a smile. "I like having things to do; I can't stand being idle."

Just then, two middle-aged women walked into the courtyard. "Greetings, Uncle-in-law, Uncle."

Ma Xun was surprised to see these women in their thirties addressing him as a junior. Li Zhen immediately explained, "These are your brother-in-law’s nieces: Princess Fucheng and Princess Qingyang."

Princess Fucheng is the daughter of Zhu Yuanzhang’s eldest brother, Zhu Chongsi, and Princess Qingyang is the daughter of his cousin, Zhu Chongwu. By rights, such imperial nieces would at most be titled as countesses, but Zhu Yuanzhang insisted otherwise. He could not bear to slight them, so he granted them the title of Princess immediately after the founding of the dynasty—a title his own biological daughters have yet to receive.

Ma Xun smiled and said, "We are all family here, so let's skip the formalities. There will be many female guests shortly; it would be best if you two could help host them."

Princess Fucheng replied, "You are too modest, Uncle. We hurried over as soon as we heard about your move."

"Go inside and wait!" Li Zhen said, showing no special treatment to his nieces. "It’s busy today; I have no time for idle chatter. If female guests arrive, host them properly—do not be lacking in decorum!"

The two princesses did not take offense, as they held their uncle-in-law in the highest regard. It was he who had led them to Chuzhou to join his brother-in-law during the chaos of war; without him, they would have perished long ago.

Li Jinglong suddenly hugged Li Zhen’s leg, looking aggrieved. "Grandpa, Great-uncle hit me."

Ma Xun perked up. "Complaining now? You got off easy!" He lifted his foot and hooked the toe of his shoe into Li Jinglong’s backside. "Get lost and go find Wangcai."

Li Jinglong refused to budge, clutching Li Zhen’s leg and howling in protest.

"Little brother, you should have children of your own soon," Li Zhen said, beaming. He knew Ma Xun enjoyed teasing the boy. "But if you tease Jinglong like this now, he might bully your son later."

Ma Xun glanced at Li Jinglong and smirked. "That’s impossible! The generational gap is too wide; how could Jinglong bully his elder?"

Li Zhen laughed. He is older and of a higher generation, but his children and grandchildren are of a younger generation. If Li Wenzhong returns to the capital, he would have to call Ma Xun "Uncle," even though Li Wenzhong is thirty-one years old.

Ma Xun is quite young to have such a high status, but thanks to Empress Ma, this brother-in-law of the Emperor is treated with great importance. The families he visited with Crown Prince Zhu Biao have all sent representatives to congratulate him, and those he hadn't visited, after weighing their own standing, mostly came as well. They were mostly the so-called Huai-Xi nobility, who privately referred to Empress Ma as "Sister-in-law." Previously, they all claimed to be the Empress's maternal family; now that her *actual* maternal family has appeared, they naturally wanted to curry favor.

Madam Chang Lan swept in with great momentum. She was not the least bit timid. She didn’t bother hosting the female guests—that was for the princesses—but instead helped Li Zhen manage the noble representatives. Since most guests were young heirs—a whole pack of unruly children—someone formidable was needed to keep them in line. Li Zhen was too refined for the task, but Madam Chang Lan was different; if a child misbehaved, she would grab them by the collar and give their backside a resounding slap.

"The Tang family," Madam Chang Lan said after dealing with a rowdy child, "Tang He is away at war, and his wife has passed away; the concubines can't manage the household."

Ma Xun nodded and asked, "Why isn't my nephew's wife here?"

"Your Excellency!" Madam Chang Lan beamed, complaining slightly, "With so many people here, what would happen to Wan'er's reputation if she came?"

Li Zhen joked, "Sister, that’s heartless of you. The little brother here thinks your daughter and the Crown Prince are a perfect match; the Empress has given all her rewards to your daughter."

Madam Chang Lan’s smile grew wider. "You are too kind, sir!"

Ma Xun continued the banter. "The Crown Prince is anxious, fearing that I might delay his good fortune, so he is constantly pressuring me about my marriage. I’ll be betrothed by the end of the year and married next year; I certainly won't delay the golden boy and jade girl."

The sharp-tongued Madam Chang Lan tapped Ma Xun’s arm—a gesture of great intimacy. "Wan'er has gone to the Liu residence to drag Shuning over here."

Li Zhen laughed, teasing, "I’m an old stick-in-the-mud; I’ll go hide in the room later."

Ma Xun caught the implication. "The Crown Prince is coming too? Is this all planned?"

Madam Chang Lan quickly added, "The Empress is coming as well, so Shuning must come. You should take a look later. It would be perfectly natural for you to be unable to tear your eyes away from her; that girl is quite a beauty."

Ma Xun touched his face, wondering if he had any shame left—only to realize he had lost it long ago.

"Who’s talking nonsense?" Ma Xun asked, looking around. "Where is Mu Ying? Where did he run off to?"

Li Zhen and Madam Chang Lan laughed heartily. They had heard that Ma Xun had taken a liking to Liu Shuning at first sight and that the Emperor had initially been displeased, yet the brother-in-law remained head over heels for the girl.

"Mother! Aunt is here!" Chang Mao ran over like a gust of wind. "She’s arriving now."

Madam Chang Lan was incensed; Chang Mao’s aunt was, of course, Lan Yu’s wife. "Tell her to get here earlier to help! Only arriving now? The useless thing, now that she’s a general’s wife, who does she think she is?" She began to scold, "Brother-in-law, I am going to discipline my sister-in-law; don't you dare stop me."

Li Zhen smiled and said nothing. All the Huai-Xi nobles knew that Chang Yuchun and Madam Chang Lan treated Lan Yu like their own son; even now, Chang Yuchun took Lan Yu along on every campaign. As for Madam Chang Lan, she managed not only the Chang household but the Lan household's affairs as well.

A young woman hurried into the residence, timidly saying to Madam Chang Lan, "Sister, I was up early, but the Xu family arranged to come over together."

"The Xu family?" Madam Chang Lan’s eyebrows shot up. "If we weren't in front of outsiders, I would slap the sense into you! Do not associate with the Xu family again! Do you hear me?"

Lan Yu’s wife did not dare to contradict her, nodding obediently before being shooed away to the inner court to help. Empress Ma had never held Xu Da’s second wife, Lady Xie, in high regard.

The courtyard was full of guests—mostly half-grown boys or young children, as the Ming Dynasty was new and the main Huai-Xi figures were away at war. Aside from the boys, there were only the female relatives; with the heads of the families away, the housekeepers had to handle the affairs. Since the Empress’s brother was moving, it was a major event; failing to show up would only cause trouble for their own masters.