Ming Dynasty: Gain one supernatural power every day

July 14th, the fifth year of the Yongle reign. Dusk.

The medicinal fumes in Kunning Palace were so thick they were almost imperceptible. The palace servants knelt on the blue brick floor outside the hall, their foreheads pressed against the cold stone surface, barely daring to breathe.

Standing before the imperial bed, Zhu Di stood with his hands behind his back, staring intently at the woman on the bed whose face was ashen. This woman was Empress Xu, Zhu Di's beloved.

But at this moment, Empress Xu lay under the brocade quilt, her cheekbones high and prominent, her lips gray and white, and every breath seemed to be taken with all her might.

The head of the Imperial Medical Academy knelt on the ground, his forehead bleeding from kowtowing: "Your Majesty, the Empress has passed away, and we are powerless to save her."

Zhu Di kicked over the medicine table, shattering the porcelain bowls on the floor. He roared, "Useless trash! If anything happens to the Empress, I will exterminate your entire family!" Zhu Di inherited his father Zhu's good character in loving his wife. In his heart, there was only Xu Miaoyun and everyone else. Now that the imperial physician told him that there was no hope of saving her, how could he bear it?

The imperial physicians were terrified and kowtowed repeatedly. Zhu Gaochi lay on the edge of the bed, trembling with sobs, while Zhu Gaoxu clenched his fists, his eyes filled with rage. Zhu Gaosui huddled in a corner, sobbing softly.

No one noticed that Zhu Gaoxi, who was squeezed behind his three older brothers, was biting his lip tightly.

He is seven years old this year, the youngest legitimate son of Zhu Di and Empress Xu. In his previous life, he was a 21st-century office worker who died suddenly in front of his computer, named Lin Mo.

He opened his eyes to find himself the fourth son of the Yongle Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, who had died young. He was only recognized and brought back to the palace six months ago, and was given the title of Prince Rui. In the past six months, Empress Xu had given him all her love and affection.

At this moment, that warm mother is slowly losing her color.

Zhu Gaoxi's fingernails dug into his palms, and his eyes stung with tears. He stared intently at his mother on the bed, with only one thought in his mind—he couldn't let her die.

He had no mother in his past life, and in this life he finally found someone who truly cared for him, and he absolutely could not lose him.

Just then, a cold, mechanical voice exploded in his mind without warning.

[Ding! Host's protective instincts have been activated. Daily Divine Ability Sign-in System is now officially activated!]

[Rules: You can sign in daily at midnight to receive one random extraordinary ability, which you will permanently retain and cannot repeat.]

[Today is the first day of check-in. Would you like to claim your reward?]

Zhu Gaoxi was jolted, then overjoyed. A system! Something he'd read about countless times in novels in his past life had actually come true for him!

"Sign in now!" he shouted in his mind.

[Ding! Sign-in successful! Congratulations, host, you have obtained the first day's divine power—the power of creation!]

A cold, mechanical voice exploded in his mind. The system was activated, informing him that he could sign in with a random supernatural ability every day at midnight, and today was the first day of signing in. Zhu Gaoxi shouted in his heart to claim it, and a surge of immense power flowed into his limbs and bones.

Almost simultaneously, a translucent, pale gold panel appeared out of thin air in the depths of his consciousness, the words on it so clear they seemed etched before his eyes.

Host: Zhu Gaoxi

Age: 7 years old

Obtained supernatural power (1): Power of Creation (First day sign-in)

Effects: (Controls the life force of heaven and earth, can save lives and take away lifespan. A single thought of life can bring flesh back to withered bones; a single thought of death can scatter the soul.)

He broke free from Zhu Gaochi's hand and ran to the dragon bed.

"Father, please dismiss everyone. Your son can save Mother."

Zhu Di was stunned. His three older brothers were also stunned.

Zhu Di stared into his youngest son's eyes for a few moments, then said in a deep voice, "Everyone, get out. Without my decree, anyone who dares to take a step closer will be killed without mercy."

The imperial physicians, palace maids, and eunuchs all withdrew in the blink of an eye. The palace doors closed, leaving only Zhu Di, Empress Xu, the three brothers, and Zhu Zhanji inside.

Zhu Di lowered his voice: "What exactly do you want to do?"

Zhu Gaoxi raised his head: "Father, I dreamt of the Dao Ancestor last night. The Dao Ancestor said that I have a pure and filial heart, and from today onwards, he will teach me a supernatural power every day. Today he taught me the power of creation, which can control life and save people from life and death."

Zhu Di frowned deeply: "Absurd! You're just a seven-year-old child, what right does the Dao Ancestor have to choose you?"

Zhu Gaoxu chimed in, "Fourth brother, have you been listening to too many stories from that old monk?"

"Second brother." Zhu Gaoxi interrupted him, his tone unusually calm for a seven-year-old child, "You don't believe me, right?"

He turned to Zhu Di, slowly raising his small hand with his palm facing upwards.

"Then I can only show it to you."

Before he finished speaking, a layer of shimmering white light appeared in his palm. The light was not dazzling, but very soft, flowing from his palm and spreading slowly like ripples of water, enveloping the entire dragon bed in a hazy glow.

Light seeped into her body. Her pale skin regained its color, her chapped lips became rosy, and her breathing changed from a faint whisper to a steady, long rhythm.

After a dozen or so breaths, Empress Xu slowly opened her eyes.

"Xi'er..."

Zhu Gaoxi threw himself into his mother's arms, tears streaming down his face: "Mother! You scared me to death!"

Empress Xu gently stroked his hair: "Alright, Mother is fine now."

Zhu Di stood frozen in place, staring intently at Empress Xu, who had sat up on the dragon bed. He then looked at his youngest son, who was nestled in her arms. His expression shifted from fury to astonishment, then to disbelief, and finally to an indescribable ecstasy.

Zhu Gaochi's obese body froze on the spot, tears still streaming down his face, his mouth agape as if he wanted to devour someone. Zhu Gaoxu's ferocious expression completely crumbled, his tiger-like eyes widening in shock. Zhu Gaosui huddled in the corner, also frozen in place.

Five or six breaths passed before Zhu Di suddenly came to his senses. He strode to the bedside, grabbed Empress Xu's hand, his eyes red-rimmed, and his voice hoarse: "Miaoyun... are you really healed? Are you really alright?"

"Really." Empress Xu grasped his hand and gently squeezed it. "Your Majesty, look, my hand has regained its strength."

Zhu Gaoxu was the first to jump up, rushing to Zhu Gaoxi and scooping him up from the bed, lifting him high: "Fourth brother! The Dao Ancestor has passed on his teachings! You are the Dao Ancestor's disciple!"

He was strong, and in his excitement, he didn't hold back, squeezing Zhu Gaoxi until his face turned red: "Second brother... be gentle..."

Zhu Gaosui realized that Zhu Gaoxi's role was inappropriate, so he quickly stepped forward and snatched Zhu Gaoxi away, glaring at his second brother: "Second brother, be gentle! Fourth brother is still a child."

Then she turned to look at her fourth brother and whispered, "Fourth brother, are you really a disciple of the Dao Ancestor?"

Zhu Gaochi, wiping away tears, leaned closer and patted Zhu Gaoxi's head: "Fourth brother, the Dao Ancestor has chosen you; this is an immense blessing... You saved Mother... I really don't know what to say..."

Zhu Zhanji peeked half his head out from behind Zhu Gaochi and asked in a childish voice, "Fourth Uncle, what is the Dao Ancestor?"

Zhu Gaoxi smiled and patted his head: "The Dao Ancestor is the most powerful deity in the world."

Zhu Zhanji exclaimed "Wow!" and his eyes lit up.

Empress Xu leaned against the headboard, a gentle and contented smile curving her lips. She didn't believe in Buddhism or Taoism, but she believed in her child. A seven-year-old child couldn't tell such a lie, nor could he use such methods.

Zhu Di remained silent, his gaze fixed intently on Zhu Gaoxi. He was also deeply puzzled. This fourth son had been raised by Yao Guangxiao since childhood; if we were to trace his lineage back to Buddhism, he should have been a disciple of the Daoist patriarch! How did he become a disciple of the Daoist patriarch?

After thinking for a long time without understanding, he slowly asked, "Xi'er, does the Dao Ancestor... have a name? Has he ever revealed himself?"

Zhu Gaoxi shook his head: "The Dao Ancestor has not revealed himself, but only transmitted his voice in my mind. He calls himself 'the origin of all laws and the source of the Great Dao.' He also said that no outsiders should be present when he imparts knowledge."

Zhu Di pondered for a moment, then said, "From today onwards, I will arrange a quiet room for you every morning at Chenshi (7-9 AM). The matter of the Daoist patriarch spreading his teachings is known only to our family. To outsiders, only say that you moved Heaven with your filial piety and received guidance from a master. You are not allowed to mention a single other word."

The three princes bowed in unison: "Your Majesty, we understand."

Zhu Di's lips curled up slightly, revealing a long-lost sense of ease.

"By imperial decree, the Empress's illness is gradually improving. The head of the Imperial Medical Academy and all the imperial physicians have rendered meritorious service in her treatment and are each rewarded with one hundred taels of silver and ten bolts of silk. Prince Rui, Zhu Gaoxi, has served the Empress with utmost devotion, and his filial piety has moved Heaven. He is hereby rewarded with one bushel of pearls from the East Sea, twenty bolts of Shu brocade, and a pair of jade ruyi scepters. The Ministry of Rites is hereby ordered to draft an imperial decree to be proclaimed to the ancestral temple."

Huang Yan responded outside the palace gate and went to receive the decree.