Ming Dynasty: Gain one supernatural power every day

Zhu Gaoxi quickly went to greet her in the courtyard, where Empress Xu had just gotten off "Little Cotton".

Upon hearing the commotion, several officials came out from the side hall and bowed to greet the Empress.

Empress Xu smiled and nodded, telling them not to stand on ceremony.

Zhu Gaoxi guessed that they hadn't finished eating yet, so he told them to continue eating and the others to go about their business. He then led his mother towards the main hall.

Upon entering the main hall, Zhu Gaoxi gestured for his mother to sit down, then lightly stroked the table with his hand and recited: Strawberry milk pudding milk tea, mango sago milk tea, Oreo milk tea, caramel milk tea…

Cups of the milk tea that Empress Xu loved to drink appeared neatly on the table in an instant.

Milk tea needs to be paired with some dessert, so here comes the following: tiramisu, black forest cake, red velvet cake, mango mousse, strawberry mousse, matcha mousse, rich cheesecake, light cheesecake...

A table full of desserts and milk tea appeared out of thin air, a sight that was sure to lift your spirits.

Empress Xu looked down at the table laden with her favorite foods and drinks, feeling deeply moved. She jokingly said, "My son is so good to me. He prepares so much delicious food for his mother as soon as she arrives."

Zhu Gaoxi sat down next to her and pushed a cup of strawberry milk tea towards her: "Mother, you're joking again. Isn't it only natural for me to be good to you?"

Empress Xu picked up the cup of milk tea, looked down at the pink milk pudding inside, remained silent for a moment, and then spoke with a slightly bitter tone: "There's no such thing as 'should' or 'shouldn't.' Leaving you outside since you were little is something your mother has wronged you..." As she spoke, her voice choked up.

Zhu Gaoxi's nose tingled slightly, and his chest felt as if it had been gently bumped by something. He became a little emotional: "Mother, please don't say that. I know it was out of necessity. After returning to the palace, Mother and my brothers have all treated me very well..."

Empress Xu raised her hand to wipe the corner of her eye, then turned to the important matter at hand: "You're leaving for the expedition tomorrow. You've only been back in the palace for a short time, and you're already leaving again. Your mother truly misses you."

Zhu Gaoxi chuckled, "Mother, this expedition is really nothing. You know my abilities now; with these supernatural powers, going out is like child's play. Why don't you come along? I'll talk to Father, and he'll definitely agree."

Empress Xu chuckled at his nonchalant attitude, then shook her head: "What kind of logic is it for the Empress to go on a campaign? It's against ancestral rules and regulations. If word gets out, the old ministers in the court and the scholars of the land will start gossiping again."

"Mother," Zhu Gaoxi raised his eyes, speaking with an unusually earnest, almost obstinate tone, "your son is practically a god now, why should he care about ancestral rules and regulations or the people of the world?"

Empress Xu paused for a moment, then smiled and shook her head, her tone carrying a mixture of pride and helpless compromise: "That's true. My son is a deity, so I don't need to abide by these earthly rules."

But in the end, she shook her head. "Never mind, you can go. Your mother won't trouble you any further."

Zhu Gaoxi was not surprised by this answer, after all, Empress Xu was the most virtuous empress in history, so it was normal for her to make such a choice.

However, having received a modern education, he wanted Empress Xu to know that she was herself and should not live for others.

He raised his head and looked at Empress Xu earnestly: "Mother, if you need anything in the future, just tell me. Don't wrong yourself. There's nothing I can't do for you now."

Looking at her son's earnest expression, Empress Xu felt a mix of joy, emotion, and guilt. Her nose tingled and her eyes reddened.

She held her son's hand, patted Zhu Gaoxi's hand with one hand, and said "good" three times: "Good, good, good. Your mother will remember. Be sure to tell my son if anything happens in the future. My son is capable now."

Zhu Gaoxi's heart softened a little when she grasped his hand.

He leaned back in his chair, his tone becoming relaxed again: "Mother, if you miss me, I'll fly back to see you every day on my somersault cloud. My cloud is much faster than ordinary ones; it won't take long to fly from Annam to Yingtianfu."

Upon hearing this, Empress Xu immediately became serious and shook her head: "Nonsense. Going to war is a major event. What kind of state are you in, running back every day? If word gets to the court..."

She paused, then said, "Your mother knows you are filial, but military affairs are of utmost importance. Your mother will wait for your triumphant return at home."

Zhu Gaoxi knew that his mother was worried about him being gossiped about. Although he was now capable enough to no longer care about impeachments from censors, he could not help but understand his mother's concerns.

He thought for a moment and changed his plan: "Alright, then I'll ask the Dao Ancestor tonight to see if he can teach me the art of transmitting sound across vast distances. That way, I can chat with my mother every day in the military camp without anyone else being able to hear me."

Upon hearing this, Empress Xu's tone carried a hint of admonition: "Xi'er, don't trouble the Dao Ancestor with everything about your mother. Learn from the Dao Ancestor, and never become arrogant because of his favor, understand?"

Zhu Gaoxi nodded obediently: "I understand, I understand, Mother, don't worry."

Empress Xu nodded in satisfaction, took a sip of her milk tea, then suddenly remembered something. She glanced around the hall, put down her cup, and asked, "By the way, I haven't seen Miss Liu at your residence these past few days. Is she staying in the Heavenly Palace?"

Zhu Gaoxi's hand holding the milk tea trembled almost imperceptibly. His mind raced for a moment before he made up an excuse: "There's been a dark upheaval in the Upper Realm recently, and she went back to help suppress it. She probably won't be coming down for a while."

Empress Xu frowned slightly upon hearing this, her tone tinged with worry: "Then we must tell her to be careful. Your Majesty is still waiting to hold her grandson."

She pressed on, "The folk tales say a day in heaven is a year on earth. When will this darkness and turmoil be resolved?"

Zhu Gaoxi never expected that his mother would even complete the "one day in heaven is one year on earth" setting herself.

He then added, "Mother, I'm not entirely sure when it will be resolved. Anyway, once she finishes her business, she'll naturally be able to come down."

Empress Xu sighed, her tone tinged with regret: "Alas, well then. The affairs of you immortals are beyond my control."

She changed the subject, looking at Zhu Gaoxi with a hint of probing in her tone, "These past few days, many female relatives of ministers have come to the palace, openly and subtly inquiring about your marriage. The Empress Dowager thought that since you already have a Daoist partner, she replied to them all without giving her a reply."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Gaoxi understood his mother's meaning. He then added, "Mother, in the Heavenly Realm, many prominent figures have more than one Daoist partner. Your son is one of them."

Empress Xu understood what was going on after hearing this, but at this moment she wanted to tease her son. She picked up her milk tea, took a sip, and asked with a hint of humor, "Xi'er, are you one of the prominent immortals, or one of Miss Liu's Daoist partners?"

Zhu Gaoxi's expression froze for a moment. He hadn't expected Empress Xu to say that. He turned to look at her, his voice tinged with urgency as he tried to explain, "Mother, why do you think of me like that? I am a disciple of the Daoist Ancestor, I must be a person of importance. You can't judge a book by its cover. Although I..."

Seeing his anxious look, Empress Xu couldn't help but laugh. She covered her mouth with her handkerchief and waved her hand, saying, "Xi'er, you're praising yourself. Alright, alright, I was just joking with you."

Seeing his mother's expression, Zhu Gaoxi understood that Empress Xu was joking with him.

Unexpectedly, the younger Empress Dowager also had some of the temperament of her youth, quite different from the dignified and composed demeanor she had when he first transmigrated. This was her true appearance.

He muttered to himself, "I never imagined my mother looked like this when she was young..."

Empress Xu didn't hear what he said clearly, so she continued, "I understand. In that case, I'll talk to your sisters-in-law and ask them to keep an eye out for suitable girls for you."

Zhu Gaoxi smiled and nodded: "Yes, yes, thank you for your trouble, Mother."