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

That night, almost no one in the entire Qingshui County could sleep.

You should know that the county magistrate's mansion was in the center of the city, and that's where the giant appeared.

There was light and explosions, and when the giant's fist slammed into the ground, the whole earth trembled.

Its enormous body could be clearly seen even from several streets away.

Those in the east of the city heard it, and those in the west of the city heard it too.

Even in villages hundreds of miles from the county seat, people were all jolted awake in the middle of the night, sitting up in shock as they stared at the bright light shooting into the sky in the city center, trembling and speechless for a long time.

People are prone to overthinking.

People weren't thinking about who the giant had trampled to death, nor what had happened in the city center.

The thought that everyone was wondering was: if this giant suddenly appears tonight, what about tomorrow night?

If he gets upset one day and shows up again, he'll give the whole county town a good beating.

Who can withstand this?

After all, this dilapidated county town is only so big, and every household has mud walls and tiled roofs.

When that giant punched down, it flattened the person and the house together.

By then, who will be able to tell whether it was an accidental injury or someone else's target?

So no one dared to sleep.

The lights dared not be turned off, the door dared not be opened, and when the child cried, the mother quickly covered his mouth and soothed him in a low voice, "Don't make a sound... if the giant hears you, he'll eat you up."

Meanwhile, the men in the house, clutching hoes or kitchen knives, stood behind the window, their eyes fixed on the outside, their palms and the backs of their hands sweaty.

Old Sun, the night watchman, was the most miserable.

He was on duty that night, and when the giant appeared, he was the closest to it. He was striking the night watch on the street above the mansion when he looked up and saw a luminous giant standing right above him.

Old Sun collapsed on the spot.

Later, he even scrambled and crawled all the way home.

Since then,

He never dared to mention the words "night watchman" again, and he covered his head with the quilt, huddled on the bed shivering.

His wife asked several times before he finally managed to squeeze out a few words through gritted teeth: "That thing... is taller than a city wall..."

That night, not even the dogs dared to bark.

There are always two barks at night, during the day and night.

Today, all the dogs in the city have their tails between their legs and are hiding under tables and stoves, not daring to utter a sound.

Some people couldn't stay awake any longer and dozed off for a short while.

In my dream, a luminous giant raised his fist at me and slammed it down, yelling "Muda Muda Muda!" I woke up screaming and touched my back, which was covered in cold sweat.

That night, it could be said that the rats in the whole city slept more soundly than the people.

Finally, as dawn broke, the rooster crowed, and the sun rose, some people mustered their courage and peeked through the crack in the door.

The city center was quiet; the giant was gone.

But no one dared to breathe a sigh of relief.

Nobody knows if he will show up tonight.

When it was completely light.

The rooster crowed three times, and the sun had climbed over the wall, but there wasn't a soul in sight on the street.

Finally, it was Liu Lao Er, the tofu seller, who couldn't hold on any longer. His soybeans had been soaking overnight and would turn sour if they weren't ground soon.

He clutched his heart, opened the door a crack, and poked half his head out.

The streets were deserted, nothing unusual.

Only then did he muster his courage and slowly make his way towards the city center.

The further we walked, the more something felt off.

There are two alleys separating the street from the mansion.

He then noticed that the ground ahead was not right.

It was dusty and pitted, as if it had been run over by something.

When he turned the corner, he froze.

The entire street is gone.

It's not just the houses that are gone, it's the entire street.

The once smooth and even bluestone pavement is now riddled with potholes, one after another, densely packed, stretching from one end of the street to the other.

The pit opening was perfectly round with neat edges, and it was deeper than a person's waist.

This shape was clearly created by punching.

Liu Lao Er gasped, took two more steps forward, stood at the edge of the nearest pit, and peered inside.

He shrank back abruptly.

That pit was deeper than he was.

He stood there, and not even the top of his head was visible.

"My God..." Old Liu's legs went weak, and he had to lean against the wall to keep from sitting down.

He turned and ran, shouting as he ran:

"Something terrible has happened! A huge disaster has occurred! The entire street in the city center has been smashed to pieces by the giants!"

That shout woke up everyone who was huddled at home.

The brave ones went out first, while the timid ones peeked through the crack in the door. Eventually, everyone on the street gathered around.

But no one dared to approach; they stood far away at the street corner, gazing at the street that had been completely altered.

What exactly happened on this street last night?

no one knows.

They heard a loud bang, and when they went outside, they saw the giant of light standing on top of the mansion, smashing things up.

As for why the giant appeared, and who he smashed, no one knows for sure.

Someone mustered up their courage and took two steps into the street, when suddenly they cried out "Ouch!" and stumbled.

He looked down and his face turned pale instantly.

Scattered between the pits were broken arms and legs.

Some still had half a body attached, while others only had a lone leg left.

The clothes were soaked in blood and lay dry and stiff on the ground.

"These...these are all people?"

"It's...it's a person."

The crowd all took a step back.

Just then, someone pointed to the street corner and shouted, "Look everyone, there's someone over there!"

Everyone looked in the direction the man was pointing.

Several people were squatting at the corner of the street, against the wall.

His clothes were tattered, he was covered in blood, and he was curled up in a ball hugging his knees, his eyes staring blankly without blinking.

They act like idiots, and there are several people like that.

The crowd mustered their courage and gathered around, calling out a few times, but no one answered.

A man squatted down and waved his hand in front of one of them.

The man's eyes twitched, then he suddenly began to tremble, muttering incoherently, "God... giant... don't hit me... don't hit me..."

Hey! Wake up!

"Gods... have mercy... I dare not look again..." The man curled up into a ball, trembling like a leaf.

He's so scared he's paralyzed!

Not only him, but none of the other survivors could utter a complete sentence.

The crowd looked at each other, unsure of what to do with these people.

Just then, an old man selling vegetables in the crowd approached, looked him over carefully, and suddenly slapped his thigh: "Isn't that the gatekeeper from the second branch of the Hu family!"

He then looked at the one next to him, and the more he looked, the more familiar it seemed: "This is the one that feeds the horses in the Zhao family's stable!"

"Are they really from the Zhao and Hu families?"

"No mistake! Their mansion is located in the west and north of the city. I pass by their house every day. I recognize these two people!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd fell silent for a moment.

The Zhao family and the Hu family.

Who in the city doesn't know these two families? They've been bullying men and women for years.

Last night, their family members were smashed into this state by that giant on this very street?

Some people swallowed hard, not daring to think any further.

On the street, the few terrified survivors were still trembling, muttering words that no one could understand.

As the sunlight shone down, severed limbs, bloodstains, and pebbles were scattered all over the uneven street.

On this day, the center of Qingshui County became a graveyard that no one dared to approach.

Just then, footsteps came from the other end of the street.

A group of yamen runners, carrying fire and water sticks, lined up in two rows and ran over quickly.

"Make way! Make way! Everyone make way!"

The yamen runners separated the onlookers to both sides of the street, and then sent out dozens of people to bend over and pick up the severed limbs and remains from inside and outside the pit, and carry them onto carts.

Some people felt nauseous watching it, but no one left—it would be a shame to miss this spectacle.

Immediately afterwards, the mansion gate creaked open from the inside.

A middle-aged man dressed in official robes walked out of the door.

Someone in the crowd with sharp eyes exclaimed first, "It's the county magistrate! The county magistrate is out!"

Suddenly, people on both sides of the street knelt down.

"This humble subject greets Your Excellency, the County Magistrate!"

The middle-aged man in official robes was none other than Wang Defa.

Since the arrival of the Sixth Prince, Wang Defa's prestige among the people of the city has been significantly different.

He stood in front of the mansion, looking at the mess on the street, frowned slightly, then cleared his throat and spoke.

"Everyone, please stand up." He raised his hand and pressed down, "Listen to what I have to say."

"I will tell you about what happened last night."

"These dead men lying on the ground are the private soldiers privately raised by the Zhao and Hu families."

A commotion arose in the crowd.

"The Zhao and Hu families have always bullied and oppressed the villagers, committing numerous evils. Everyone knows this." Wang Defa's voice was not loud, but clear. "Last night, they gathered over a thousand people, masked, and sneaked into my residence under cover of darkness."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "As for their purpose, they came to steal the Sixth Prince's magical treasure. If they fail to steal it, they plan to attack the Sixth Prince."

"Fortunately, the Sixth Prince is incredibly powerful. In the moment of crisis, he summoned a true immortal who wiped out these people on the spot."

"Zhao An is dead, Hu Wan is dead, and the private soldiers of these two families have also been wiped out."

"From this day forward, the Zhao and Hu families will no longer be able to run rampant in Qingshui County!"

After he finished speaking, the street fell silent for a moment.

Then, the crowd erupted.

"The Sixth Prince?! They actually dared to attack the Sixth Prince?!"

"Those damned bastards!"

"The Zhao and Hu families are utterly depraved! They even dared to harm the Sixth Prince! They deserve to die!"

"That's right, good riddance! People like him deserve to be torn to pieces!"

The crowd cursed loudly, their faces flushed with anger, wishing they could rush up and kick the wreckage a couple more times.

No wonder they were so excited.

In the entire Qingshui County, who doesn't know the Sixth Prince?

When that corrupt official Qian Youde was exploiting the villagers, it was the Sixth Prince who stood up for them.

When there was a famine and they couldn't even afford to eat, it was the Sixth Prince who hosted a grand banquet and treated them to a meal.

Those who were oppressed and had no way to seek redress were also vindicated by the Sixth Prince.

What is a "righteous and upright official"?

The Sixth Prince is the upright and just official!

This benefactor, how dare the Zhao and Hu families send soldiers to steal his things in the middle of the night and even try to attack him?

"Pah!" someone spat on the ground. "These people deserve to die!"

"That's right! If I had known they were this ruthless, I should have come to protect His Highness last night."

"Count me in!"

The shouts grew louder and louder, and some people in the crowd even chanted "Long live the Sixth Prince!"

Wang Defa stood in front of the mansion, watching this scene without saying a word.

He knew in his heart that after what had happened in the past few days, the Sixth Prince had become irreplaceable in the hearts of the people.

After giving his instructions, he bowed to the people and turned back into the courtyard.

The shouts and curses outside continued intermittently.

He casually closed the door and shook his head.

Our protagonist, Zhu Ming, has just gotten up.

The bedding was still spread out on the bed in the main room.

Zhu Ming sat on the edge of the bed, his eyes narrowed to slits, his head nodding slightly, still not fully awake.

He was only wearing a thin undershirt, revealing his fair, chubby little arms.

"Come on, open your mouth."

Xu Miaoyun stood in front of him, holding a bowl of water in one hand and a willow twig in the other. She dipped her teeth in toothpaste and brought it to his lips.

Zhu Ming opened his mouth, still dazed.

"ah--"

Xu Miaoyun used the willow branch to brush his teeth carefully, from top to bottom.

The little guy was half asleep, half awake, and as he brushed his fingers, his head tilted to one side.

Xu Miaoyun reacted quickly, using one hand to support his chin and straighten his head, saying softly, "Don't move, rinse your mouth."

Zhu Ming took a mouthful of water, gulped it down twice, and then spat it out with a "gulp".

As a result, he vomited on the wrong side of the bed.

Moreover, water was still dripping down his chin, so Xu Miaoyun quickly wiped it off with her sleeve.

Then he ordered his men to throw away all the bedding on the bed and replace it with new ones.

"...Sister Miaoyun, I'm so sleepy," Zhu Ming mumbled sleepily.

"Even if you're sleepy, you have to wash up first," Xu Miaoyun said. "After you've finished washing up, close your eyes and I'll help you wash your face."

She put down the bowl of water, changed to a clean cloth, soaked it in clean water, wrung it out until it was half dry, and then turned Zhu Ming's face over to wipe it carefully.

From forehead to cheeks to chin, not a single spot was missed.

Zhu Ming closed his eyes and remained motionless, letting her do as she pleased, and hummed comfortably twice.

It's fair to say that from the moment he got out of bed until now, this man hasn't moved a single finger on his own.

There are people to help you get dressed, brush your teeth, and wash your face; you are taken care of perfectly.

If the people outside knew that the towering giant of light from last night was sitting on his bed with his eyes half-closed, waiting for someone to wash his face, they would be disappointed.

I'm afraid no matter what you say, they won't believe you!

Xu Miaoyun tossed the cloth into the basin, examined him for a moment, and nodded in satisfaction: "Alright, you're clean now. Are you awake?"

Zhu Ming then managed to open his eyes a crack, glance at her, and then closed them again.

"...He's not awake."

"You have to get up even if you're not awake yet. There's a lot of things waiting for you outside." Xu Miaoyun said, and couldn't help but reach out and pinch the little guy's soft cheeks again.

"Wake up, my dear Sixth Prince."

Just then, footsteps came from the doorway.

Wang Defa entered and bowed respectfully, saying, "Reporting to Your Highness."

"Everything outside has been cleaned up. The constables have removed the bodies, and the survivors are under guard. As for the common people..." He paused, "They heard that the Zhao and Hu families tried to harm His Highness last night, and they're currently outside cursing and swearing!"

Zhu Ming nodded: "Yes, thank you for your hard work."

Wang Defa hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Your Highness, now that the Qian, Li, Zhao, and Hu families have all been eliminated, Qingshui County is finally at peace. Do you think... we should still hold a grand banquet today and continue to invite the people to eat?"

"Why not?" Zhu Ming asked back.

Wang Defa's expression froze for a moment, then he said, "But..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhu Ming interrupted, "The bad guys in the city are gone, but have you thought about it? The common people are still starving."

Wang Defa was stunned.

"For the past six months, the country has suffered a severe drought, and the fields have yielded no harvest. The four families have been exterminated, and the people have avenged their grievances, but the granaries are still empty, and the people still have nothing to eat."

Zhu Mingdao asked, "Are you planning to let the people continue to go hungry?"

Wang Defa blushed and lowered his head, saying, "Your Highness is right; it was my lack of awareness that led me astray."

"Alright, I'm not lecturing you anymore." Zhu Ming waved his hand. "Go and inform Huang Zi'an that today is the same as yesterday. Tell him to gather the men and we'll continue the feast at the city gate at noon."

Wang Defa responded, "Yes, sir. I will make the arrangements immediately."

Xu Miaoyun, who was listening nearby, suddenly asked, "Your Highness, this grand banquet is only a temporary solution. As long as the drought continues, the people will not be able to return to their normal lives."

Zhu Ming smiled slightly: "I was just about to tell you about this."

"I've calculated it. This drought in Qingshui County has lasted for almost half a year. If it continues like this, not to mention next year, many people will starve to death this year."

"So, I plan to—" he paused, "to bring rain to this Qingshui County."

The room fell silent instantly.

"Rain?" Wang Defa's eyes widened. "Your Highness, rain doesn't just fall whenever it wants!"

"If I say it's possible, then it's possible," Zhu Ming said firmly.