Ming Dynasty: Gain one supernatural power every day

Seeking progress while maintaining stability [Prince Zhao, Zhu Gaosui]: Alright, then I'll say it. Just like Father said, first of all, my second brother is a good fighter. Back then, my second brother protected me a lot on the battlefield. With my second brother on my flank, I was never afraid.

Zhu Di: Yes, the second son is indeed a capable fighter. He has helped me several times and can be considered a valiant general.

[Empress Xu Miaoyun]: That's good. You protected your brother on the battlefield. You deserve encouragement.

[Princess Zhang Yan]: It's all up to you on the battlefield, Second Brother. You know your eldest brother's health. I also know you're a formidable fighter on the battlefield; that's what everyone in Yingtian Prefecture says.

[Princess Consort Weng of Zhao]: Thank you, Second Brother, for protecting the Third Brother. Your sister-in-law will remember it.

[Flowers Bloom in Wealth and Prosperity] [Princess Wei of Han]: It's alright, sister-in-law. As the elder brother, it's what the second son should do.

Iron-willed yet tender-hearted [Prince Zhu Gaochi of Han]: I didn't expect you to remember this, Third Brother! But Second Brother isn't bragging, in our Great Ming Dynasty, there aren't many who can fight me! Third Brother, what other good qualities do you have? Go on!

Zhu Gaoxu rode on the back of the Fierce Tiger King, holding the jade pendant. He was quite happy, looking at his phone—no, at the jade pendant—and beaming with joy, just like you in front of the screen, your mouth practically stretched to the back of your head in a wide grin.

Being praised for his fighting skills in public felt better than drinking ten jars of fine wine. He chuckled and rubbed the Tiger King's head.

He thought to himself: The third brother is usually quiet, but he's quite sincere when he praises people. It was worth protecting him on the battlefield back then.

Different jade plaques evoke different thoughts. Some are happy while others are not, and right now, Prince Zhao, Zhu Gaosui, is extremely unhappy.

Sweat streamed from Zhu Gaosui's forehead to his chin. Everyone else was quiet, waiting for him.

He had planned to slip away while everyone continued praising him, but as if they had planned it all, they all fell silent, waiting for him to continue. The four characters "Iron-Blooded Tenderness" on the jade tablet were dazzlingly bright, and Zhu Gaoxu kept urging him on.

You guessed it, it's been waiting for you.

In Kunning Palace, a thousand miles away, Empress Xu and her three daughters-in-law sat around a mahjong table, with desserts and milk tea presented by the fourth son beside them.

The daughters-in-law were all guessing what the third son would praise next, looking like gossipy onlookers. It seems that women have always been fond of gossip.

Empress Xu slowly wiped her hands, picked up the jade pendant and glanced at it, a meaningful smile on her face. She just wanted to see what tricks her third son could come up with.

Iron-willed yet tender-hearted [Emperor Zhu Gaochi of Han]: Third brother? Where did the third brother go? Speak up, third brother!

Iron-willed yet tender-hearted [Emperor Zhu Gaochi of Han]: @Third Brother, where are you? Keep praising me!

Zhu Gaosui made a tough decision, racking his brains but unable to think of anything else, so he could only focus on food and drink.

Seeking progress while maintaining stability [Zhao Wang Zhu Gaosui]: The second brother has a huge appetite; he can eat ten roast chickens in one meal. Among military generals, the second brother's appetite is among the top tier.

Zhu Di: It's normal for a military general to be able to eat a lot, after all, fighting is physically demanding for the second son.

Iron-blooded yet tender-hearted [Prince Zhu Gaochi of Han]: These are all minor matters. Just like Father said, it's normal to be able to eat. Otherwise, how could I fight with others? Third brother, continue.

Seeking progress while maintaining stability [Prince Zhao Zhu Gaosui]: My second brother is also a great drinker. He can drink several jars of wine at a time. He is one of the top generals in our Ming Dynasty. Anyway, I can't outdrink him.

Iron-willed yet tender-hearted [Prince Zhu Gaochi of Han]: Third brother, can you tell me some of my other good points? Why do you only talk about my eating and drinking habits?

Zhu Gaosui's collar was already soaked with sweat. He closed his eyes, ready to take the plunge.

Seeking progress while maintaining stability [Prince Zhao, Zhu Gaosui]: Okay, Second Brother. Second Brother, you can sleep really well. When you're asleep, you can't hear even if someone is banging drums and gongs next to you. In short, Second Brother's sleep quality is exceptionally good.

Zhu Gaoxu looked at the jade pendant, and the more he looked, the more something seemed off; the more he pondered it, the more uneasy he felt.

Apart from the first one who can fight, the rest are all able to eat, drink, and sleep—if they can eat, drink, and sleep, aren't they pigs?

"Exceptionally good sleep quality"? That's just like a dead pig.

He finally realized what was happening, his face turning pale and then red.

Iron-willed yet tender-hearted [Prince Zhu Gaochi of Han]: Third brother, are you praising me or insulting me? Don't I have any other merits? Hurry up and think of some other merits!

In the Kunning Palace on the other side, several people were already laughing hysterically. Empress Xu and her daughters-in-law, mindful of Lady Wei's presence, were all suppressing their laughter, their lips twitching as if in spasms, and they turned their heads away, not daring to look at each other.

Madam Wei glanced around at everyone's flushed faces, and then, unable to hold back any longer, she slammed the jade pendant on the table: "Mother, sister-in-law, sister-in-law, go ahead and laugh if you want to. It's true... I can't hold it in anymore either." With that, she burst out laughing herself.

Empress Xu was drinking milk tea when she heard this and almost choked. She quickly put down the cup, turned her head away, covered her mouth with her sleeve, and her shoulders shrugged.

Zhang and Weng exchanged a glance and then burst out laughing at the same time.

Zhang laughed for a while, then wiped her eyes with a handkerchief: "This third son is too funny. He can eat, drink, and sleep well. Is that considered a good quality? I've certainly learned something new."

After laughing enough, Madam Weng lowered her sleeves, thinking of comforting Madam Wei with a few words: "Third Brother is just talking nonsense, Second Sister-in-law, don't take it too seriously. Second Brother has many good qualities."

Madam Wei turned her face to Madam Weng with a subtle expression: "Is that so, Third Sister-in-law? Then tell me, what are the good qualities of your Second Brother?"

Madam Weng's expression froze for a moment, then she scolded, "Second sister-in-law! How could you do this!"

The few people who had just managed to stop covered their faces with their sleeves again upon hearing this, turning their heads away and shaking their shoulders even more violently.

Zhu Gaochi was annotating a folded paper when he saw the message in the group. He was stunned for a moment, then quickly put his brush on the brush holder because he would lose his grip if he was any later. He was almost dying of laughter. How come he never noticed how funny his second and third sons were before?

He slammed his thick palm on the table, leaned back in his chair, and burst into laughter: "Hahahaha! Second brother, you've finally met your match! Third brother, you're usually so quiet, but when you start insulting someone, you've got a real knack for it, hahaha!"

He laughed until tears streamed down his face, his chubby face jiggling so much that two of the memorials on the table slipped off.

Hearing the commotion, the eunuch outside peeked inside with a worried expression, muttering to himself: What's wrong with His Highness the Crown Prince? Could it be that he's been pushed too far by the Prince of Han and the Prince of Zhao, and is under too much pressure... Poor Crown Prince!

Meanwhile, in the Prince of Zhao's residence, Zhu Gaosui leaned back in his chair and slapped his forehead hard.

He really screwed himself up today. He was just casually offering a compliment, but he ended up getting himself into a difficult situation and offending his second brother. Where can he even complain about this?

He closed his eyes and considered the situation. The army had only left a few days ago, and it was still a long time before they arrived in Annam. It would take several months for his second brother to return.

He knew his second brother's temperament best; his temper flared up quickly but subsided just as fast. As long as you were willing to humble yourself, say a few kind words, and flatter him, even the biggest incident would be forgotten in a couple of days. After he calmed down, you could privately message him praising him with phrases like "Second Brother is mighty" or "Second Brother is truly the fiercest general of the Ming Dynasty," and send him a few jars of fine wine. That should put the matter behind you.

However, there is one ironclad rule that must be followed: absolutely no talking in the group today, not a single word. Play dead, you must play dead.