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

The imperial physician remained silent.

Although he is fifty-three years old this year, he is not yet at the point of failing eyesight.

You're telling me that the flawless, pure white thing in the Sixth Prince's hand, which even has a faint medicinal fragrance, is a candy?

You're treating me like an idiot!

The imperial physician was furious.

Then there is no more then.

What else do you want from him?

Are you suggesting we force a child to hand over their belongings in front of their mother?

Have you forgotten who his mother is?

The most untouchable person in the entire Ming Dynasty, without a doubt!

There was a saying among the court officials that went something like this: "If you ever offend Zhu Yuanzhang..."

If Zhu orders your whole family to be killed, you can go and beg Empress Ma for help. Maybe she can save your life and change your sentence from beheading to exile in Lingnan.

But if you offend Empress Ma...

Well, I'm sorry, but not only will your whole family's lives be at risk, but even the earthworms in your house will have to be pulled out and cut vertically, and the egg yolks will be shaken to pieces.

However, Empress Ma usually doesn't get angry.

Unless you bully her young son, Zhu Ming, in front of her.

For example, could they force her son to hand over the elixir?

Soon, the wound on Empress Ma's foot was cleaned and bandaged properly.

Just then, a series of majestic yet hurried footsteps came from outside the hall.

Before the person arrived, their voice came first.

"I heard Xiao Liu has been found. How is he? Was he injured?"

"Mother, is Sixth Brother alright?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Zhu Yuanzhang, dressed in a dragon robe, strode in with his crown prince, Zhu Biao.

He was discussing state affairs with Zhu Biao in the Huagai Hall when he suddenly heard that his sixth son had gone missing. The Empress had even fainted once from fright. He immediately dropped everything and rushed over with his eldest son, Zhu Biao.

Zhu Yuanzhang strode closer, his gaze immediately locking onto Zhu Ming. Only after seeing that he was safe and sound did his heart finally settle down.

But before he could even feel happy for a moment, a glance out of the corner of his eye revealed that the girl's feet were wrapped in a thick layer of white cloth.

On the ground nearby, there were some discarded strips of cloth stained with blood.

Zhu Yuanzhang abruptly stopped, his joy at having just found his son vanished instantly, replaced by an overwhelming rage that he could not suppress.

"Hey girl! What happened to your foot?"

"Who did this?"

A deep, angry roar echoed throughout the courtyard.

The palace maids, eunuchs, and guards standing around were all terrified and dared not hesitate for a moment.

One after another, there were "thump" sounds as they all knelt down on the ground, their heads pressed tightly against the ground, their bodies trembling.

Zhu Yuanzhang's furious gaze swept over everyone, but he remained silent, and no one present dared to utter a sound.

The air inside the courtyard was as if frozen, like a frozen ice cellar.

At this moment, Zhu Ming, who was still a child, was startled by Zhu Yuanzhang's sudden outburst of rage. His little body trembled slightly, and he subconsciously shrank into his mother's arms.

Ma Xiuying immediately reached out and hugged Zhu Ming, gently patting his back while softly comforting him.

Then, she looked up at the furious Zhu Yuanzhang, her tone suddenly turning somewhat displeased, and said, "Zhu Chongba, why are you shouting so loudly!"

Zhu Yuanzhang, who was just moments before filled with rage and anger, was instantly silenced by Ma Xiuying's words.

He really wanted to say: Girl, I'm just standing up for you!

But before he could even speak,

Ma Xiuying then explained, "The injury on my foot was caused by rubbing against pebbles when I came in a hurry and forgot to wear shoes. It has nothing to do with them."

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't say anything, but walked up to her and squatted down, wanting to check on his sister's injuries, but afraid of aggravating them.

Seeing the pained expression on his face, Ma Xiuying said in a gentler tone, "Don't be fooled by how badly he's bandaged up; it's just some superficial injuries, nothing serious."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Then he saw Zhu Ming in Ma Xiuying's arms.

He was immediately furious and scolded, "You brat, look what you've done!"

"You ran around on the rooftop causing trouble, and now your mother..."

Zhu Ming already felt deeply guilty about the matter.

Then Zhu Yuanzhang spoke up again,

The pent-up grievances and self-blame surged up instantly, and crystal tears welled up in her eyes, swirling back and forth, about to roll down her cheeks.

But his father was right; it was his fault, so he couldn't cry.

So the little one pursed his lips tightly, his little shoulders tensed slightly, stubbornly holding back his tears. His reddened eyes and stubborn little face were so soft and cute that they melted everyone's heart.

Seeing Zhu Ming's pitiful appearance as he tried to hold back his tears, Ma Xiuying's heart almost melted, and she immediately spoke up to Zhu Yuanzhang in a protective manner.

"Zhu Chongba, if you can't speak properly, then go back."

"What does this have to do with Ming'er? He's only six years old, still a child!"

As the saying goes, one thing subdues another.

Zhu Yuanzhang, the decisive and ruthless founding emperor who held absolute power in the imperial court.

He was scolded like a dog in front of Ma Xiuying.

But he can't afford to lose his temper at all.

Moreover,

Do you think only Ma Xiuying liked Zhu Ming?

He liked it very much too!

After all, what Old Zhu likes most are children who are filial.

And in the whole world, which child can be as filial as his son Zhu Ming?

He was filial to his mother from the moment he was in her womb.

But when he thought about his sister's injured feet and his son's near-death experience, he had to find an outlet to vent his anger.

He stood up, his gaze sweeping over the trembling guards and head eunuchs kneeling on the ground. His face darkened instantly, and he roared, "A bunch of useless idiots! The palace defenses are a mere formality, allowing the Sixth Prince to run amok and encounter danger, even injuring my Empress. What use are you? Guards, drag these derelict officials away and execute them all according to the law!"

The guards and eunuchs were so frightened that they went limp. Having served in the palace for so many years, they naturally knew what kind of person the emperor was.

So they looked to Crown Prince Zhu Biao, hoping that the prince, who was known for his benevolence, could say a few words on their behalf.

Unfortunately, this time, they were disappointed.

Zhu Biao did not think his father's actions were wrong, because one was his biological mother and the other was his beloved younger brother.

These two are the most important people in his life. If they were in danger, he would go crazy!

So this time, even if his father didn't say anything, he was going to order the execution of these people.

Do you really think he's a nice guy?

It looked like someone was about to die.

Zhu Ming quickly broke free from Ma Xiuying's embrace, ran to the group of eunuchs, and bravely stretched out his hands to stop them.

"Father, this isn't their fault. I was just being playful and sneaked off here all by myself. It has nothing to do with them. Please don't kill them!"

However, Zhu Yuanzhang was furious at the time, and even with his son's pleas, he resolutely refused to budge: "The safety of the princes is of paramount importance. Even if you secretly slipped away, it was due to their negligence in guarding you, and they must be severely punished!"

Zhu Ming wasn't afraid of him at all. With one hand on his hip and the other pointing at Zhu Yuanzhang, he said in a childish voice, "Zhu Chongba, I'll ask you one more time, will you release them or not?"

As soon as this word comes out,

The eunuchs kneeling behind Zhu Ming looked at his back as if they were floating in the blue sky!

Is Your Highness always this brave?

Zhu Yuanzhang: "?"

"You brat, don't think I won't hit you. Who do you think you are, calling Zhu Chongba?"

Zhu Ming: "I'll yell, what are you going to do about it? Go ahead and kill me!"