The Ming Dynasty: Starting with the Somersault Cloud, Old Zhu was so envious he cried!

Old Master Li stood up, threw away his cane, and bowed to Zhu Ming, saying, "Sixth Prince, I have a question that I do not understand. I hope Your Highness can enlighten me."

however--

Zhu Ming is struggling with the pig's trotter in his hand.

I didn't hear what Old Master Li was saying at all.

Naturally, they wouldn't bother with him.

Old Master Li remained there, hunched over with his hands raised, left to linger.

He was caught between two uneasy positions, neither standing nor sitting, and his facial expression was completely frozen.

Empress Ma, who was standing to the side, couldn't stand it any longer and secretly poked Zhu Ming with her finger.

The little guy finally realized what was happening, looked up at Old Master Li with his greasy mouth, and mumbled, "Huh? What did you just say?"

Old Master Li took a deep breath and suppressed his anger, saying, "To be honest, Your Highness, the local county magistrate, Qian Youde, is my son-in-law."

"What mistake did he make that made the Sixth Prince disregard the law and order his execution in the street?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Ming

This old man is actually Qian Youde's father-in-law?

That means he must have often colluded with Qian Youde in their wicked ways.

Perhaps, the government grain that was burned to ashes...

It was Qian Youde who secretly switched it and moved it to his father-in-law's house.

Then his father-in-law sold it at a higher price.

Profiting from national disaster.

If I don't bother someone like that, he'll be thanking his lucky stars and staying far away.

How dare you come here and question His Highness?

Who gave him the courage?

Could it be that your father was also named Zhu Yuanzhang?

Zhu Ming, with his fiery temper, immediately slammed his hand on the table and yelled, "Your mother..."

However, he hadn't finished swearing.

"Cough cough."

A cough came from the side.

It was neither too loud nor too soft, but it struck Zhu Ming like a thunderbolt.

The little guy shuddered, and swallowed back the swear words that were about to come out.

I almost forgot, Mother is still here!

He immediately sat up straight, even managing a standard smile, and said to Old Master Li in a gentle tone:

"Actually, this is what happened. Your son-in-law, Qian Youde, embezzled soldiers' pensions, drove ordinary people to their deaths, forcibly abducted women, and committed all sorts of evil deeds."

"That's why I beat him to death in the street as a warning to others."

Old Master Li: "..."

He looked at Zhu Ming, who was sitting properly in the chair, and even his smile was very standard, showing eight white teeth.

This has left him somewhat bewildered.

However, he didn't care about all that.

Old Master Li took a deep breath, suppressing the surging anger in his heart, took half a step forward, and spoke with a hint of suppressed resentment:

"Your Highness, my son-in-law Qian Youde is a county magistrate of the eighth rank appointed by the imperial court. He receives the emperor's salary and holds a public office."

"Even if we take a step back and assume he was truly at fault, the proper procedure should be a joint trial by the three judicial authorities, an investigation in accordance with the law, and a thorough review and conviction."

"His Highness, without asking any questions, killed him in the street without even giving him a chance to argue or confront the perpetrator."

"This kind of behavior is far too domineering; to put it bluntly, it disregards the laws of the imperial court!"

After Old Master Li finished speaking,

Zhu Ming immediately rolled up his sleeves and said angrily, "Hey, am I giving you face...?"

"Ahem!"

Then came the sound of Empress Ma coughing behind them.

The little guy suddenly stiffened, then obediently sat back down, reverting to the polite Sixth Prince he had been just moments before.

However, his tone of voice changed, and there was a hint of gritted teeth in it.

"You want evidence?"

The little guy turned his head and called out, "Wang Defa!"

The county magistrate, Wang, who was sitting below him, immediately stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "Your humble servant is here!"

"Give him the evidence, so he won't keep yelling."

"yes!"

Wang Defa waved his hand.

A servant carrying a stack of files walked up to Old Master Li.

"Old Master Li, please take a look."

Old Master Li lowered his head, glanced at it casually, and waved his hand without even extending his hand.

"Take it."

The servant was taken aback, holding the dossier in both hands, unsure whether to leave or stay.

The reason why Old Master Li didn't read it was...

It's because of what kind of person Qian Youde was.

As the father-in-law, he naturally knew the truth.

What difference does it make whether we look at this evidence or not?

What he wanted was never any evidence, but rather to use the rules of the imperial court to suppress the Sixth Prince.

"Your Highness, what we were discussing just now was..." Old Master Li was still unwilling to give up and wanted to bring up the rules again.

Unexpectedly, Zhu Ming had already guessed what the other party wanted to say and interrupted him first: "Wang Defa, I have an appointment letter here. Can you read it to everyone?"

After speaking, Zhu Ming took out a scroll of bright yellow silk imperial edict from his bosom and handed it to Wang Defa beside him.

Wang Defa immediately became solemn, received the imperial edict with both hands raised high, strode forward, and shouted in a booming voice:

"Imperial edict! All those present, kneel immediately to receive the imperial decree!"

The moment the words left his mouth, the entire banquet hall fell into a deathly silence.

Just moments ago, Old Master Li had been questioning with his head held high and filled with resentment, but suddenly his face changed, his legs went weak, and he hurriedly knelt down on the ground with a thud.

None of the four powerful family heads—the Zhao family head in the west of the city, the Huang family head in the south of the city, and the Hu family head in the north of the city—dared to be presumptuous and all bowed down in worship.

In addition, all the servants and men in the mansion prostrated themselves on the ground and kowtowed, not daring to even breathe loudly.

Everyone in the hall knelt down to receive the imperial decree.

Wang Defa spread the imperial edict out with both hands and read it aloud:

By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:

I have heard that the administration of officials throughout the land is in disarray, corruption is rampant, and powerful and tyrannical officials are oppressing the common people. Therefore, I hereby appoint my sixth son, Zhu Ming, as Imperial Commissioner to inspect all the prefectures and counties of the country, carrying my imperial edict.

Within the territory of the Great Ming Dynasty, from civil and military officials to aristocratic families, gentry, merchants, and powerful figures, anyone suspected of embezzlement, misappropriation of public funds, hoarding and speculation, or harming the people, shall be investigated and interrogated by the Sixth Prince, Zhu Ming.

Prince Zhu Ming acted on imperial orders, wielding absolute power. He could execute first and report later, without the need for review by the three judicial departments or for reporting through various levels of government.

Wherever he went, officials obeyed his commands, and noble families were subject to his control. He could make decisions on everything alone, wielding power as if he were personally present!

Regardless of their official rank or family background, anyone who dares to disrespect the imperial envoy, obstruct official duties, or privately question him will be treated as deceiving the emperor and severely punished!

This proclamation shall be made known to all!

So be it!

After the imperial edict was read, Wang Defa shouted loudly:

"All receive the imperial decree!"

The entire hall bowed in unison, shouting, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

At this moment, Old Master Li was no longer as tough as before. He was so frightened that he trembled and couldn't even stand up.

Just now, he even dared to question Zhu Ming about procedures, rules, and imperial laws.

They said they would conduct a joint trial by the three judicial departments and question the defendants according to the law.

Who would have thought?

He is an imperial envoy appointed by His Majesty.

Holding absolute power, they could execute first and report later, without needing the approval of the three judicial departments. Let alone simply be beating and killing a lowly eighth-rank county magistrate in the street...

Even if someone of the provincial governor's rank were killed, no one could find a single fault in it!

Zhu Ming, sitting in the main seat, leaned back and swept his gaze across the crowd below, exuding an indescribable air of dominance.

"Do you still think I did something wrong?"