Ming Dynasty: Empress Ma and I swapped clothes!

Chapter 80 I, Ma Wenxiang, have rendered service to the Zhu family!

The yamen runner in black robes continued to hurl insults.

Passersby in the streets and alleys who saw this all lowered their heads repeatedly, not daring to look at it.

After all, such things can easily backfire, and not everyone can afford to take the blame.

The people suffer not because we are unwilling to help, but because we are powerless to do so.

"Qing'er, Miaoran, do you think I, as a concubine, can still be considered a concubine outside the palace?"

At that moment, Ma Wenxiang suddenly said something in a harmless manner.

In an instant, Su Qing'er and Sun Miaoran realized what Ma Wenxiang was planning to do, so they both smiled and said, "Your Highness is Your Highness. Even in this palace, except in front of His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince, Your Highness is always Your Highness."

Hearing these satisfying words, Ma Wenxiang felt even more at ease.

He snorted coldly, "Since I am still the Empress, I must intervene in this injustice."

Ma Wenxiang shouted, "Stop!"

"Today I really want to see who in the capital of my Great Ming Dynasty can talk about the law all the time. What an arrogant official!"

"Could it be the Prefect of the Capital?"

Ma Wenxiang said with a cold laugh.

The palace eunuchs dared not disobey, and with a flick of their whips, the carriage came to a stop.

As his main vehicle came to a stop, the entire procession passing by Qingping Lane, along with the imperial guards from the palace and the soldiers transferred from the nearby garrisons, came into view.

Almost instantly, they all stopped in their tracks, waiting for the current Empress's orders at any moment.

Stop.

A series of sounds rang out.

At this moment, supported by Sun Miaoran and Su Qing'er, Ma Wenxiang, dressed in the heavy and gorgeous palace attire, slowly and unhurriedly stepped out of the carriage.

He slowly walked from the group to the very front.

"The law of the land? Who just spoke of the law of the Ming Dynasty? Or is it that the law of the Ming Dynasty is someone else's law?"

Ma Wenxiang commands respect without anger.

At this moment, the imperial guards and palace attendants, especially those accompanying them from Kunning Palace, all gathered around.

Upon arriving at Qingping Lane, Ma Wenxiang glanced at the constable in black robes, who had already knelt down with a thud, trembling with fear and trepidation.

"Your Majesty, this humble servant...this humble servant..."

The constable hurriedly explained, "It's this unruly commoner who failed to pay all the taxes issued by the imperial court; it really has nothing to do with me. Please, Your Majesty, be merciful and judge the matter."

"What taxes? We have to pay them for the third time now."

Ma Wenxiang snorted again.

His time in Majia Village wasn't wasted; despite the numerous exorbitant taxes and levies, it was far more than that.

The yamen runner in black robes repeatedly replied, "Your Majesty, I truly do not know, but it was ordered by the officials in the prefectural government, and I am merely following orders."

"Your Majesty, it truly has nothing to do with me. How could I dare to use such a name? Even if you gave me ten lives, I would never dare, Your Majesty."

That's how the other party spoke.

Even with Ma Wenxiang's political acumen, he keenly sensed that something was amiss.

One wrong move and it might involve matters of the court, which is not at all what he just thought, that he could simply speak out for justice and then suppress it with his authority.

There might be another upsetting thing going on here.

Thinking of this, Ma Wenxiang knew that this was something he couldn't handle.

However, since the die is cast and he has already taken charge, he might as well go all the way and see it through to the end.

"How much money does this old man still owe? I will pay it for him today."

"I dare not say..."

"How much more is needed?"

Ma Wenxiang asked again in a deep voice, and only then did the yamen runner tremblingly utter a number.

Ma Wenxiang glanced at Sun Miaoran beside him, nodded to himself, and then forcibly paid the tax for that person.

After finishing, Sun Miaoran did not go to Ma Wenxiang's side, but went to Old Man Su, helped him up, and then said, "Uncle Su, how did things turn out like this? Why didn't you inform the palace?"

"Even with the help from the palace, your lives haven't been easy. You're just trying to make ends meet."

Old Su gave a wry smile, nodded slowly, and then said, "Who would have thought that the taxes would get heavier and heavier each time? There's really nothing we can do about it."

"Ugh."

Old Su sighed heavily.

After some investigation, it turned out that it wasn't the fault of the lowly yamen runner in front of them. The runner might have been a bit rude, but he was indeed acting under orders.

As a result, even Ma Wenxiang found it difficult to punish the other party for the time being.

He returned to the carriage, and the entire procession continued its journey in a grand and imposing manner, only this time the atmosphere within the procession was noticeably heavy.

Even the guards, maids, and eunuchs accompanying the emperor in the Kunning Palace seemed to suddenly realize that something earth-shattering was about to happen in the capital.

This is a business that could cost you your head if you're not careful; it's truly terrifying.

"Was that your father just now?"

After a long while inside the carriage, Ma Wenxiang finally spoke.

Su Qing'er nodded expressionlessly.

She hesitated, but ultimately said nothing.

Ultimately, whether it was Ma Wenxiang or the two of them, facing the potentially powerful figure behind them, they really had no better choice than to accept their fate and resign themselves to their bad luck.

This has always been the fate of almost all ordinary people throughout history, and it has never changed.

"Isn't there still me, Your Majesty? Even if I can't make the decision, if all else fails, I'll ask His Highness the Crown Prince. If His Highness the Crown Prince can't do it either, then I'll ask His Majesty."

"After all, I have done something for the royal family."

Ma Wenxiang was about to pat his chest in affirmation, but suddenly realized something was amiss, so he patted her hand heavily to express his feelings.

"There's no need to go to such lengths."

Su Qing'er continued, "Anyway, nothing bad has happened to my father. I think things will be much better after the taxes are paid this time. Taking some money from the palace's savings will also help the family get through this difficult time."

Su Qing'er continued.

Ma Wenxiang remained silent, but he had already made a decision in his heart.

He's a grown man, after all. He should have the responsibility he's supposed to have. If he can't even do that, how can he enjoy the blessings of having multiple wives in the future? How can he be a landlord who is a remnant of the evils of the feudal era?

A man should naturally take on this responsibility, even though his body has changed, Ma Wenxiang still believes.

He has to do what he's supposed to do.

……

then!