Ming Dynasty: Gain one supernatural power every day

The family was sitting around the round table in the main hall, preparing for their meal, and the maids had just set out the bowls and chopsticks.

Empress Xu glanced at the sky outside the door and said to Zhu Gaoxi, "Your father is not coming for dinner today. He is busy with state affairs. He just sent word that you and your eldest, second, and third sons should eat well, and he will come to see you again tomorrow."

Zhu Gaoxi nodded: "Your subject understands, Your Majesty, please eat first."

Just as Zhu Gaoxi, amidst the shocked expressions of his sisters-in-law, had summoned the food and his brothers were preparing to feast, the gatekeeper rushed in to report: "Your Highness, quite a few..."

Ministers including Duke Zhang Fu of Yingguo, Duke Zhu Yong of Chengguo, Marquis Zheng Heng of Wu'an, Minister of War Fang Bin, and Minister of Rites Zhao Hong... were all waiting at the gate, saying they had heard that the Prince Rui's Mansion was completed today and had come to offer their congratulations, bringing gifts with them.

Zhu Gaoxu was the first to put down his chopsticks, and said loudly in dissatisfaction, "These ministers, of all times, they have to come during mealtime!"

Empress Xu put down her chopsticks and glanced at Zhu Gaoxi: "Since you're here, I should at least see you. Your residence has just been established, and many court officials have come to offer their congratulations; it would be inappropriate not to see you."

Zhu Gaoxi nodded, stood up, and said, "Mother and brothers, please continue. I'll go out and check on things."

Zhu Gaoxu put down his chopsticks and followed, saying, "Fourth brother, second brother will go with you." Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaosui exchanged a glance and also got up.

At the entrance, Zhang Fu bowed to Zhu Gaochi, Zhu Gaoxu, and Zhu Gaosui, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince, Your Highness the Prince of Han, Your Highness the Prince of Zhao, and Your Highness the Prince of Rui."

Zhu Gaochi nodded slightly, while Zhu Gaoxu said sarcastically, "The Duke of Yingguo has arrived at the right time, just in time for dinner!"

Zhu Gaoxi walked to the door, cupped his hands and said, "Duke of Yingguo, Duke of Chengguo, Marquis of Wu'an, thank you all for your kindness."

Zhang Fu quickly returned the greeting, his voice booming, "Your Highness, what are you saying! With Your Highness establishing your own residence, how could I not come to offer a cup of celebratory wine?"

He waved his hand behind him and said, "Bring it here!" Several attendants carried the box forward.

Fang Bin quickly came over and also invited people to present the congratulatory gifts, his face beaming with smiles: "Your Highness, this is a small token of my appreciation." Boxes of congratulatory gifts were carried into the courtyard, antiques, calligraphy and paintings, weapons and rare objects, piling up half a wall.

Behind Zhang Fu was a little girl of about five or six years old, with her hair in two buns and wearing a pale yellow shirt. She timidly hid behind Zhang Fu's legs, peeking out half her head to look at Zhu Gaoxi.

Zhang Fu stepped aside: "This is my granddaughter, Zhang Rou, who is six years old this year. She heard that Your Highness's residence has just been completed and insisted on coming to see it."

Zhang Rou glanced up at Zhu Gaoxi with her small face, then shrank back behind Zhang Fu's legs.

Zhu Gaoxi looked down at her and asked, "What's your name?"

Zhang Rou peeked out from behind Zhang Fu's legs and whispered, "My name is Zhang Rou."

Zhu Gaoxi smiled and said, "Come in and sit down. It's almost time to eat."

Zhu Zhanji appeared out of nowhere, sidling up to Zhang Rou and looking her up and down curiously: "Are you here to see the dragon too?" Zhang Rou blinked: "What dragon?"

Zhu Zhanji lowered his voice: "Fourth Uncle has a dragon, the one that flew over Yingtian Prefecture today, a real dragon, it can fly!"

Zhang Rou's eyes lit up: "Really?" Zhu Zhanji nodded: "I'd be a dog if I said that!"

Zhang Fu, with his granddaughter in tow, followed Zhu Gaoxi inside. Zhu Yong, Zheng Heng, Fang Bin, Zhao Hong, and others quickly followed. The group entered the main hall and then headed towards the side hall.

Empress Xu sat in the main seat. When she saw a group of ministers enter, she put down her chopsticks and nodded slightly.

Zhang Fu led the group forward to pay their respects: "Your Majesty, we pay our respects to the Empress, and greet the Crown Princess, the Princess of Han, and the Princess of Zhao."

The Crown Princess and the others nodded in acknowledgment. Empress Xu raised her hand and said, "Duke of Yingguo, you may dispense with the formalities. Gentlemen, there's no need for such formalities. Today is a family banquet at the Prince Rui's residence. Since you've come to offer your congratulations, please take your seats."

Zhu Gaoxi had a large table set up in the main hall, two steps away from his family's round table, and ordered more bowls and chopsticks to be added.

After Zhang Fu sat down, he looked around. There was nothing on the table except a few empty bowls and chopsticks. He swallowed hard, recalling what Zhu Gaochi had said in court: that the food at the Prince Rui's residence was divine, and that dishes would appear as soon as the name was mentioned.

He didn't believe it at the time, but now, sitting at the table and looking at the empty surface, his anticipation only grew stronger.

Fang Bin sat down next to him and asked in a low voice, "Duke of England, why is this table empty?"

Zhang Fu glanced at him and lowered his voice: "Just wait." The ministers looked at each other, none of them daring to ask, and could only sit there and wait.

Zhu Gaoxi called out to the large table, and the dishes appeared out of thin air on the table.

The fried chicken was golden and crispy, the mutton was fragrant and smoky, the sweet and sour fish was drizzled with a bright red sauce, the braised pork knuckle was stewed until tender, and several side dishes were arranged around the table. The aroma of wine mingled with the fragrance of the food and dishes.

Zhang Fu was stunned. He had heard Zhu Gaoxu mention it in court, but hearing about it was one thing, seeing it with one's own eyes was another.

"This is truly divine intervention..." He looked down at the empty bowl in front of him, then looked up at the table full of hot dishes, his gaze sweeping back and forth over the steaming plates.

"This is truly divine food, it looks absolutely exquisite..." Fang Bin's eyes widened, and his mouth was watering.

Zheng Heng's mouth opened slightly, then closed again. Several ministers sat in a row, none of them touching their chopsticks, as if they were frozen in place.

"Everyone, stop standing there and start eating," Empress Xu said, noticing the expressions on the ministers' faces.

Zhang Fu was the first to reach for his chopsticks, picking up a piece of fried chicken and stuffing it into his mouth. The outer skin was crispy, and the inside was tender and juicy. He chewed a couple of times, not even bothering to say a word, and reached for a second piece with his chopsticks.

Seeing this, Zhu Yong, standing nearby, also picked up a piece of sweet and sour fish, squinted his eyes, chewed it a couple of times, and then grabbed a second piece before he could even think. Zheng Heng grabbed a piece of braised pork knuckle and started gnawing on it, not even bothering to eat his rice. Chopsticks were scattered all over the table, and the food on the plates was visibly disappearing.

Fang Bin sat opposite him, originally intending to maintain the decorum of a civil official, picking up a small piece of mutton and chewing it slowly.

You could hear Zhang Fu munching on fried chicken, one crunch after another, and see Zhu Yong's chopsticks moving back and forth three times in the sweet and sour fish dish. How could one savor a meal while eating with these barbarians?

He couldn't help but say, "Your Excellency, eat slowly, be careful not to choke."

He offered words of advice, but his gaze involuntarily drifted to the plate of braised pork that was rapidly disappearing, and he swallowed hard.

Zhao Hong nodded in agreement, "Duke of England, the vegetables aren't going anywhere, why the rush?"

The two tried to distract the generals to slow down the food's dissipation, but the generals weren't falling for it at all. They only had eyes for the delicious food and couldn't hear anything else.

He ate and drank as if nothing was around him.

Zhang Fu swallowed the meat in his mouth, gave a muffled reply, but didn't stop using his chopsticks, picking up another piece of fried chicken.

When Fang Bin saw that there were only two pieces of fried chicken left on the plate, he couldn't sit still any longer.

He reached for the last piece of fried chicken with his chopsticks. Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, the juices burst in his mouth. He exclaimed indistinctly, "I've lived for over fifty years... and this is the first time I've ever tasted anything like this! His Highness the Prince of Han was right, this is even better than the imperial cuisine, this is divine food...!"

People in ancient times had better physical constitutions and were free from pollution, so they liked to eat things that were "technological" to relieve their internal heat.

Seeing that he had snatched the fried chicken and that he hadn't even tried it yet, Zhao Hong disregarded his pride and used his chopsticks to pick up a piece of mutton and stuff it into his mouth.

The mutton was crispy and slightly charred, and the aroma of cumin and sesame exploded in his mouth. He didn't say anything more and hurriedly picked up another piece with his chopsticks.

The military officers ate with great gusto, and the civil officials, having been led by Fang Bin and Zhao Hong, also set aside their airs. Several ministers took turns eating, each wanting to grab a piece, and even the stir-fried vegetables were completely devoured.

Fang Bin swallowed the last bite and turned to look at Zhao Hong. The two were facing each other, sauce still on their lips. They looked at each other and, with a rare moment of understanding, neither of them mentioned the words they had just told to slow down, because they were full.