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

Old Master Li knelt on the ground, trembling like a leaf.

He was so defiant just now, he's terrified now!

The imperial envoy, acting first and reporting later, wields power as if I were personally present.

These words were like five mountains, pressing down on him and making it hard for him to breathe.

"Your Highness, please forgive me! Your Highness, please forgive me!"

Old Master Li kowtowed repeatedly to Zhu Ming, his forehead hitting the ground with a loud thud.

You can tell it's a good head just by listening to it!

"This humble citizen just spoke recklessly and uttered nonsense; I deserve to die!"

As he spoke, he raised his hand and slapped himself hard across the face with a loud "smack".

The slap was so powerful that half of his face turned red instantly.

"This humble subject is blind and ignorant, failing to recognize the might of Heaven!"

"Snapped!"

Another slap.

"This humble subject should not have questioned Your Highness; this humble subject deserves to die!"

"Snapped!"

The third slap.

Old Master Li didn't hold back these blows; his cheeks swelled up instantly, and even a trace of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

But he dared not stop.

Ever since he learned that this Sixth Prince was an imperial envoy appointed by His Majesty and given immense power, he had been living in a state of great anxiety.

Old Master Li understood that if the Sixth Prince wanted to kill him, it would be no different than crushing an ant.

The entire room fell silent, not daring to even breathe loudly.

The three heads of the Zhao family in the west of the city, the Huang family in the south of the city, and the Hu family in the north of the city knelt on the ground, not daring to lift their eyelids, each with their own plans in mind.

This old man Li, isn't he usually quite arrogant because he's the father-in-law of the county magistrate?

Why are you acting like a dog now?

but……

If it were them, they probably wouldn't be as good as Old Man Li.

Sitting in the main seat, Zhu Ming watched as Old Master Li slapped himself in the face, his face showing no emotion whatsoever.

He picked up the chilled drink on the table and slowly took a sip.

Yes, iced tea is definitely best when it's chilled in an ice cellar.

It's just that this old man is too noisy.

"Alright, alright."

Zhu Ming waved his hand impatiently, as if shooing away flies.

"Stop smoking, who are you putting on this for?"

"If you truly feel guilty, then kill yourself."

"Oh, and remember to leave your estate to me before you die."

Upon hearing this, the entire room fell into a deathly silence.

Grandpa Li's hand froze in mid-air; he was completely dumbfounded.

Suicide?

He'll leave his entire fortune to you before he dies?

Is this...is this something a prince should say?

Behind Zhu Ming, Empress Ma had been standing quietly, secretly trying to figure out what the people opposite her were thinking.

Upon hearing Zhu Ming's words, both she and Xu Miaoyun, who was standing next to her, were momentarily speechless.

"Cough cough—"

Empress Ma covered her mouth, her face turning red from holding it in, and it took her a long time to catch her breath.

With her head down, she used the act of adjusting her cuffs to pinch Zhu Ming's lower back hard with her fingertips.

That brat, he never speaks properly!

Xu Miaoyun also covered her mouth with her hand, her shoulders trembling slightly, clearly trying to suppress her laughter.

Zhu Ming felt a sharp pain in his lower back and jolted awake, realizing that he had let something slip again.

He quickly cleared his throat, sat up straight again, and with lightning speed, forced a perfect eight-tooth smile onto his face as he spoke to Old Master Li in a friendly tone:

"I was just joking with you!"

"I'm asking you, is there anything else?"

"If everything's alright..."

Zhu Ming's expression changed. He picked up the chilled drink on the table, leaned back, and said lazily.

"Then go back to your seat and stop getting in the way."

Upon hearing this, Old Master Li felt a slight sense of relief.

His Highness's willingness to let him return to his seat at least indicates that... he doesn't intend to kill him for the time being.

But he can't leave.

There's one more thing he has to say.

Old Master Li gritted his teeth, raised his head, and forced a smile that looked more like a grimace onto his swollen face.

"Your Highness, this humble subject... there is indeed something else."

Zhu Ming raised an eyebrow. "You actually dared to say that!"

Old Master Li: "Huh?"

Zhu Ming: "Never mind, just tell me."

Empress Ma then withdrew her hand from Zhu Minghou's waist.

Old Master Li took a deep breath and cautiously said, "Your Highness, my son-in-law Qian Youde is corrupt and lawless, and deserves to die. I have absolutely no complaints."

"But... his wife, who is also my daughter, has been timid and fearful since childhood and never gets involved in outside affairs."

"She knew nothing about what her son-in-law did; she is truly innocent."

Speaking of which,

Old Master Li paused, observing Zhu Ming's expression.

Seeing that the other party did not become angry, he continued, "This humble subject is willing to offer 100,000 catties of grain in exchange for my daughter's life. I beg Your Highness to show mercy."

After saying that, Old Master Li kowtowed heavily again.

Everyone in the hall was startled upon hearing this.

100,000 jin of grain!

The Li family is indeed rolling in money!

You have to understand that with disasters happening all over the country and grain prices soaring, 100,000 jin of grain is an enormous fortune.

This old man, Mr. Li, really went to great lengths to save his daughter.

Zhu Ming's eyes lit up slightly when he heard the words "100,000 jin of grain".

However, he did not immediately express his opinion, but instead looked at Old Master Li with a leisurely smile.

"100,000 jin of grain?"

Zhu Ming repeated it slowly, his tone slightly mocking.

"If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have completely forgotten."

"You're the wealthiest household in the area; you probably own more than 100,000 jin of grain, right?"

Old Master Li's heart skipped a beat.

broken.

He originally intended to exchange 100,000 jin of grain for his daughter's life.

But what this Sixth Prince meant...

It seems like they think it's not enough?

Or is it that... he has his eye on all of the Li family's grain?

Cold sweat instantly poured down Old Master Li's forehead.

He opened his mouth, about to speak.

Just then—

"Cough cough."

A light cough came from behind the little guy, emanating from Empress Ma.

Zhu Ming stiffened, the playful smile on his face vanished instantly, and he reverted to being the well-behaved Sixth Prince once again.

He cleared his throat and said seriously:

"Old Master Li, whether your daughter is innocent or not, I will investigate and find out."

"As for food..."

Zhu Ming paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the room. His voice was not loud, but every word was clear.

"I am still investigating the matter of the burning of the official grain."

"We need to figure out exactly where this grain came from and where it's going, item by item."

"You're right, aren't you?"

Zhu Ming said the last three words while looking at Old Master Li.

Old Master Li felt uneasy under his gaze and quickly lowered his head, saying:

"Yes...yes, Your Highness is right."

Zhu Ming nodded in satisfaction, then picked up his teacup and said nothing more.

This is a gesture to serve tea and see the guest off.

Old Master Li dared not linger. He quickly kowtowed again, stood up shakily, and returned to his seat.

But as soon as he sat down, the Zhao family head quietly leaned over and whispered:

"Old Li, are you crazy? You dare to take out 100,000 jin of grain?"

Old Master Li shook his head with a bitter face.

"What can we do if we don't take it? Don't we value our daughter's life?"

The head of the Zhao family pursed his lips, as if he wanted to say something.

Just then, Zhu Ming, who was in the main seat, suddenly spoke up.

"Gentlemen."

Everyone in the room immediately perked up their ears, not daring to even breathe loudly.

Zhu Ming stood up, put his hands behind his back, and slowly scanned the crowd with his gaze.

"As a newcomer to this place, I have thoroughly enjoyed this meal."

"However, I have one flaw."

"What's wrong?"

Zhu Ming paused, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"They can't tolerate even a speck of dust in their eyes."

"You all know about Qian Youde's affair."

"You all know about the burning of the government grain."

"I don't care what your past ties were with Qian Youde, nor do I care if there's anything unclean in your home."

"Now, I'm giving you a chance."

Zhu Ming stretched out a finger and pointed it in the air.

"Anyone who voluntarily surrenders the embezzled grain and silver within a day will be pardoned by His Highness."

"If I find out about this a day later..."

Zhu Ming didn't continue speaking, but everyone clearly understood the threatening meaning behind his words.

The people in the room looked at each other, their expressions a variety of emotions.

Some were terrified, some hesitated, and some gritted their teeth in secret.

Old Master Li's face turned deathly pale instantly.

He finally understood.

This Sixth Prince, does he really want his 100,000 catties of grain?

What he wants is everyone's lifeblood!