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

Zhu Yuanzhang grew increasingly enraged, pointing his finger at Zhu Biao and shouting, "Throughout history, how many people have risked their lives for that dragon throne?"

"How many fathers and sons turned against each other, how many brothers killed each other, all for the sake of getting that position?"

"They beat human brains until they were splattered like dog brains, blood flowed like rivers, and they didn't even blink!"

"But then you come along, and look what you've done! You just give it to him with a single, casual remark, and you've handed over this vast empire!"

He was so angry his mustache stood on end, and he raised his hand to poke Zhu Biao on the forehead: "Foolish! Biao'er, you're so foolish!"

Zhu Biao shrank back after being scolded, but he still didn't back down. Instead, he spread his hands, looking helpless.

"Father, I understand everything you're saying," he said with a pained expression. "But haven't you forgotten something?"

"Can Sixth Brother be treated the same as others?"

"He was taken in as a disciple by Laozi and mastered several supreme immortal techniques. I remember there was a top-level divine power called 'Law of Heaven and Earth.' Mao Xiang said that the 100,000 iron cavalry of the Northern Yuan had no chance to fight back in front of him."

He spread his hands, looking at Zhu Yuanzhang with an innocent expression: "How...how can I compete with him?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's expression froze instantly.

Yes.

He was so preoccupied with weighing the power struggles of mortals that he forgot the most crucial point.

That brat Zhu Ming is no ordinary person.

They cultivate immortality, soaring through the clouds and moving mountains and filling seas; even an army of 100,000 cannot defeat them.

How the hell can we even compete like this?

However, although Zhu Yuanzhang knew that Zhu Biao was right, he was not the kind of person who would admit defeat so easily.

Still stubbornly insisting, he retorted, "But you can't just do nothing!"

"You are the eldest son, the undisputed crown prince by all the officials! When we get old and it's time for us to abdicate, it's only right that you inherit this position!"

Zhu Biao shook his head helplessly:

"Father, times have changed."

"What good is the approval of the officials? A good emperor is one who truly wins the hearts of the people."

He paused, then his tone became serious:

"Besides... Your subject thinks that it might not be so bad for Sixth Brother to be the emperor. He can conjure food out of thin air, so the people of the world will have enough to eat; he can summon wind and rain, so the people won't have to sell their children during droughts or floods."

"Your subject thinks that if he were to actually sit on that dragon throne—perhaps he could truly create a dynasty that enjoys eternal peace for the world."

However, Zhu Yuanzhang disagreed.

No matter what Zhu Biao said, Old Zhu was as stubborn as a turtle eating a weight—determined to pass the throne to his eldest son.

Just as the father and son were arguing,

Suddenly, a palace attendant's voice came from outside the door: "Your Majesty, Mao Xiang requests an audience."

Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao exchanged a glance, and had no choice but to put aside their concerns for the time being. They said in a deep voice, "Summon them."

As soon as the door opened, Mao Xiang strode in, his face unusually joyful. He knelt down, lifted the hem of his robe, and announced loudly, "Your Majesty, the Empress has returned to the palace!"

"What?!"

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly sprang up from his dragon throne, his eyes gleaming. All trace of the gloomy expression he had displayed while arguing with his son vanished. "My sister's back?! Where is she now?!"

He was shouting as he hurriedly walked out the door.

Mao Xiang quickly got up and trotted to catch up with him, whispering in response:

"Your Majesty, the Empress is already in Kunning Palace."

"Then what are we waiting for!"

Without turning his head, Zhu Yuanzhang urged them repeatedly, and the group hurriedly headed towards Kunning Palace.

A few minutes ago, in the backyard of Kunning Palace.

A cloud-shaped carriage slowly descended from mid-air. Zhu Ming stood in front of the carriage, holding Empress Ma's hand, and landed steadily in the courtyard.

The palace servants and guards in the courtyard all craned their necks, completely stunned.

Until the mother and son walked hand in hand down from the cloud carriage,

They suddenly realized what was happening, and everyone present was one of them.

They all knelt down in unison, bowing and saying, "This servant greets Her Majesty the Empress and His Highness the Sixth Prince!"

Empress Ma waved her hand and said gently, "Get up, all of you."

Only then did the crowd dare to get up in twos and threes.

At this moment, a woman dressed in blue under the corridor caught his eye; it was none other than Yu'er, Empress Ma's personal maid.

Upon seeing Empress Ma, she was so excited that her eyes welled up with tears. She ran over, and Fu, disregarding all decorum, exclaimed repeatedly:

"Your Highness, you're finally back! I was so worried about you these past two days!"

Empress Ma was amused by her words, raised her hand and patted the back of her hand, gently comforting her:

"Silly Yu'er, what are you worried about? Ever since you fed me that elixir tomorrow, my body has been completely transformed. Two or three ordinary men can't even get close to me."

"Besides, if we really encounter any danger, don't we still have this somersault cloud that Ming'er gave me? That should be enough to get us out of there."

At this moment, Zhu Ming, who was standing to the side, became unhappy.

He stepped forward, tilted his little head back, and said loudly, "I'm here too! I can protect Mommy!"

Empress Ma chuckled, amused by his antics. She reached out and ruffled his hair, her voice so gentle it could melt your heart: "Yes, yes, our Ming'er is the best, no one can compare."

Zhu Ming put his hands on his hips, raised his chin, and looked smug and self-satisfied.

Empress Ma and Yu'er exchanged a glance and immediately burst into laughter.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the courtyard gate.

Before anyone even showed up, the loudmouth arrived first.

"Hey girl! Where's our girl?!"

Before he finished speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Biao, and Mao Xiang, who was following behind, had already hurriedly turned out from the moon gate.

Empress Ma raised her hand, looked around, and waved with a smile, saying, "Chongba, I'm here!"

Zhu Yuanzhang turned his head and immediately saw the sister he had been longing for, with his sixth son standing next to her.

How could they possibly care about anything else?

Old Zhu took off running towards the two of them, spreading his arms wide as he ran and shouting at the top of his lungs, "Sisters! Ming'er! We've missed you so much!"

Look at how enthusiastic he is!

Empress Ma and Zhu Ming were too embarrassed to dodge, so they opened their arms as well, ready to receive his embrace.

Who would have thought—

Zhu Yuanzhang rushed forward without pausing for a moment, and with a swift movement, he leaped straight over Zhu Ming, who was standing on tiptoe with his arms outstretched.

He pulled the gentle-looking Empress Ma into a tight, passionate embrace.

Zhu Ming stretched out his two little arms and froze on the spot.

Upon receiving this hug, Zhu Yuanzhang held on as if he were holding a priceless treasure, his arms wrapped tightly around Zhu Yuanzhang's, refusing to let go no matter what.

Empress Ma, unable to resist his embrace, could only gently pat his back, and said with a mixture of amusement and exasperation:

"Relax! You're a grown man, why are you still acting like a child?"

Beside him, Zhu Ming had somehow pulled his arms back and crossed them over his chest, his little face so dark it looked like ink could drip from it.

Is this what they mean by "one extroverted person becomes an introvert for life"?

At this moment, Crown Prince Zhu Biao also walked up to him.

He wasn't as cunning as Old Zhu, who simply strode over Zhu Ming as if he were air.

Zhu Biao walked up to Zhu Ming, squatted down without saying a word, and reached out to smooth his younger brother's wind-blown hair, his tone full of heartache:

"Ming'er, you must be tired from this trip, right?"