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

Zhu Yuanzhang listened for a long time before he finally got the gist of it. He was itching to get the gist of it, so he couldn't sit still any longer.

He stepped forward and grabbed Empress Ma's sleeve, insisting that she recount the events in Qingshui County from beginning to end in great detail.

Empress Ma was so flustered by his dazed manner that she had no choice but to start from the beginning.

That day in Qingshui County, Ming'er sent out invitations to the heads of the four major local families to a banquet.

During the meal, he didn't mince words; despite his young age, he spoke in a very domineering manner.

They were given only one day. Whether the four families lived or died depended entirely on their own understanding of the situation.

After the banquet, the head of the Huang family surrendered that very night.

From him, Ming'er thoroughly investigated all the dirty dealings and intricate details of the four major families over the years.

Then the next day, Ming'er did something unexpected again—he threw a grand banquet, inviting not the local gentry, but all the poor people in the city, allowing everyone to come and have a full meal, welcoming all who came!

With just this one meal, Ming'er easily gained a foothold in Qingshui County, and the people also developed full trust in the royal family.

Later, the Li family, one of the four major families, couldn't sit still and took the lead in making trouble, inviting more than a dozen thugs over for a meal.

Before they came to eat, each member of the Li family was given a packet of laxatives. Although they were called laxatives, they were actually a very potent poison.

The purpose was to frame Ming'er and try to smear him.

Who would have thought that our Ming'er was so clever, he wouldn't even acknowledge his suggestion.

Explain? Investigate? He refused to participate in either.

He simply set up the stage, and since a trial was going to be held, it would be a public trial! Today, he wouldn't investigate who poisoned the meal, but only the Li family!

Anyone who has ever been oppressed, robbed, or harmed by the Li family can stand up today to file a complaint, seek redress for their grievances, or seek revenge for their grudges. Zhu Ming is here to uphold justice for everyone.

This trial is significant because the Li family has committed countless despicable acts over the years.

Our righteous young prince, after listening for a while, got a little annoyed and simply waved his hand—

Everyone in the Li family who had ever laid a hand on anyone or harmed anyone was chopped down with a single stroke.

Only the innocent women who were forcibly taken or abducted into the mansion were registered and allowed to return home.

Empress Ma spoke so much in one breath that her mouth became dry, so she picked up the teacup on the table and gulped down a large mouthful.

But her expression showed no sign of fatigue; her eyebrows and eyes were filled with barely suppressed pride and smugness.

Most mothers in the world are the same!

When she talks about her son's success, she is even more proud and happy than when she has achieved great success herself.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat obediently to the side, listening while frequently turning his head to look at Zhu Ming.

The expression on his face went from initial suspicion to growing shock as he listened, until finally he couldn't close his mouth in astonishment.

That look clearly said one thing:

Is this...is this still my son?

Whose child is six years old and can manage such a big situation?

Suppressing bandits, winning over the hearts of the people, investigating cases, and eliminating traitors—each and every step was meticulously planned and executed flawlessly. In the end, they also managed to win the hearts of tens of thousands of people.

He couldn't help but mutter a curse in his mind:

...That's fucking awesome.

Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but recall what he was doing when he was six years old.

Oh right, he was leading a bunch of kids from the village, climbing on roofs, taking birds' nests, and stealing eggs from neighbors, and his dad was chasing him all over the village and beating him.

Take another look at this...

Good heavens, it's true what they say, comparisons are the thief of joy!

Not just him,

Even Zhu Biao, who was standing to the side, was a little discouraged at this moment.

From childhood to adulthood, everyone who met him praised him for his intelligence, benevolence, and respect for scholars, making him the perfect candidate for the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty.

He himself has always been proud of this.

But upon hearing this today, I realized that my sixth brother is only six years old, yet he has accomplished so much and won over so many hearts. If I were to do it myself, I couldn't even come close.

The Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty sat there, unusually silent.

Empress Ma looked at the stunned expressions on the faces of the father and son, unable to suppress her smile, and felt incredibly pleased.

Hmph, so you all always say I'm biased and don't know how to raise children.

Why aren't you saying anything now? Say something!

However, despite her triumph, Empress Ma did not forget her mission.

The smile on her face vanished, and her expression suddenly turned serious as she began to talk about something else.

"Oh, right, there's one more thing."

She paused, then looked at Zhu Yuanzhang and said:

"Yesterday, the Huang family came to surrender and told us something. A year ago, the Li family took in a stranger. That person... like Ming'er, also has the ability to conjure grain out of thin air."

Upon hearing this, both Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao's expressions changed.

Zhu Yuanzhang asked anxiously, "Where is that person?"

"That's precisely what puzzles me," Empress Ma frowned slightly. "The entire Li family was wiped out today, yet I still haven't found that person!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Ming abruptly turned his head, staring at Empress Ma with a look of astonishment:

"Oh? Mother, didn't you know?"

Empress Ma was taken aback by his question and turned her head away: "What... what should I know?"

Zhu Ming blinked and said matter-of-factly:

"Hua An, the one whose head was chopped off on Mother's orders—that's the person you're talking about."

"What?!"

Empress Ma's eyes widened instantly.

Zhu Yuanzhang, standing nearby, reacted even more strongly.

He suddenly sprang up from the stool, his voice so loud it made dust fall from the roof beams.

"Girl! You chopped that guy's head off?!"

Empress Ma's ears rang from his shout. She frowned, turned her head, and said irritably, "Can you speak a little quieter? Your constant startling is hurting my ears!"

In this world, among all the civil and military officials and concubines in the harem, only Empress Ma dared to speak to the Hongwu Emperor in this way.

Zhu Yuanzhang was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

But after being scolded by her, he dared not raise his voice again, quickly lowered his voice, and leaned closer to ask:

"Girl, are you crazy?! That man could conjure food out of thin air, why...why did you kill him?"

"Even if he really did something wrong, we'll just lock him up! Let him produce food for us every day, nonstop—you do the math, how many people could that save?!"

Empress Ma, after being scolded by him, felt wronged and pouted, saying:

"How would I know he was the extraordinary person Huang Zi'an was talking about?"

"It was his foul mouth—he said the name we gave Ming'er was unlucky! I got so angry that I ordered someone to drag him away and chop him up..."

Seeing the Empress's aggrieved expression, Zhu Yuanzhang decided not to scold her any further. Instead, he changed the subject and turned his attention to Zhu Ming:

"Sixth Brother! When did you find out who that person was?"

Zhu Ming was still brooding over what had just happened, so he turned his little head away, not wanting to pay any attention to his father.

But when he glanced out of the corner of his eye and saw that his mother had also turned to look at him, he reluctantly said, "I knew it the moment he opened his mouth."