Ming Dynasty: Gain one supernatural power every day

Little Snot carried a basin of hot water, with Autumn Lotus following behind carrying a tea tray. The three of them walked along the corridor towards the main hall. Little Snot reached the hall door and gently knocked twice: "Your Highness, it's already dawn. We servants have come to help you wash up."

There was no response from inside the hall. He knocked twice more: "Your Highness?"

Still, no one answered. Little Snot was puzzled. He hesitated for a moment, about to knock again, when a deep, resonant voice came from inside the hall: "Come in."

The little boy's hand stopped moving; this wasn't Prince Rui's voice. The difference between a seven-year-old's voice and a grown man's voice was too great. Could there be someone else in Prince Rui's palace?

He frowned, then heard the voice from inside the hall say, "What are you standing there for? Come in." Little Snot took a deep breath, pushed open the door, and stepped into the hall.

Sitting on the bed was a young man of about seventeen or eighteen years old, tall and slender with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, but he was dressed in very little clothing, like a beggar, and looked at him with a smile.

The little snotty boy nearly dropped the copper basin, spilling water all over the floor. He froze, staring wide-eyed at the strange young man on the bed, his voice trembling: "You...who are you?!"

He abruptly took a step back and shouted angrily, "Where have you taken Prince Rui? Do you believe I'll call for help?!"

Turning back, she shouted, "Qiutang! Call the guards!" Qiutang had already turned to run away when the tea tray in Yuehe's hand crashed to the ground, and the teapot shattered into pieces.

"Stop! What's the rush?" Zhu Gaoxi looked at Xiao Xizi's panicked expression and couldn't help but laugh. "Didn't I tell you last night that you shouldn't be shocked by what you see today? Take a closer look at who I am."

Little Snot was stunned, scrutinizing the young man before her from head to toe. His features were familiar; wasn't this a grown-up version of Prince Rui? Even a eunuch would be jealous of his bulging breasts. Qiu Tang Yuehe slowly realized what was happening, and then blushed.

Little Snot opened her mouth, her voice weak and trembling: "Your Highness...?"

Zhu Gaoxi nodded: "I told you last night that I'm cultivating a new divine power, and there will be some changes."

Little Snot's eyes widened again: "Your Highness, how...how did you grow so much overnight...?" He gestured with his hand, "This...this is too fast!"

Qiu Tang and Yue He exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes. They couldn't believe that Prince Rui could transform from a child into an adult overnight; the change was astonishing. Qiu Tang tentatively took two steps inside, and after recognizing the face, whispered, "Your Highness...is it really you?"

Yuehe followed behind her, her face still flushed: "Your Highness, how did you...?"

Zhu Gaoxi, seeing the still-shaken expressions on their faces, smiled and waved his hand, "It's just supernatural power, no need to be shocked. However..." He looked down at the tattered rags that made them look like beggars, coughed, and said, "Don't say anything more, prepare a new set of robes for me."

Little Snot immediately responded, "Yes, Your Highness, please wait a moment, this servant will go and fetch it right away. Qiutang and Yuehe, you two tidy up this place for Your Highness!" Then she put down the copper basin and prepared to turn around and leave the palace.

Qiutang and Yuehe prepared to clean up the water stains and broken teaware that had just fallen on the ground.

Zhu Gaoxi waved his hand: "Alright, stop cleaning up." A flash of white light swept across his fingertips, and the broken porcelain shards pieced themselves back together, water flowing back into the teapot from the ground. A tea set was neatly arranged on the ground, the blue brick floor dry and spotless, not even a trace of the tea that had just been spilled remained. Water spilled in the copper basin also flowed back into it automatically, as if everything had been rewound.

The group stared at the scene before them, speechless with astonishment. After all, they had always served ordinary people, but this master was clearly not one of them.

Zhu Gaoxi glanced at the group and said, "What's the big deal? You've been following me for a long time, you'll see plenty more in the future."

Little Snot swallowed hard and quickly bowed, saying, "Your Highness, please wait a moment, this servant will go and fetch the new robes right away!" He dashed out of the palace gate, his figure moving more than twice as fast as usual.

All of them were serving Prince Rui for the first time today. After witnessing what had just happened, they truly understood that they were not serving ordinary people. Little Snot also understood why people in the palace who had previously been at odds with him, or even had grudges against him, all came to curry favor with him after learning that he was serving Prince Rui.

Qiu Tang and Yue He also came to their senses. One went to tidy the bed, and the other went to rearrange the tea set. Neither of them dared to ask any more questions, but their eyes kept drifting involuntarily towards Zhu Gaoxi.

Not long after, Little Snotty came running back with a stack of new robes. Qiu Tang took them, unfolded the robes and helped Zhu Gaoxi change into them, straightening the collar and fastening the belt.

Zhu Gaoxi lowered his head and straightened his cuffs. Yuehe stood to the side, holding a soft measuring tape in her hand. She hesitated for a moment before stepping forward, her ears already red: "Your Highness... this servant will take your measurements. The robe you were wearing earlier was a temporary one, and we'll have to take your measurements again to make a new one."

As she spoke, she stepped forward, wrapped the measuring tape around his shoulder, and then measured his waist. When she reached his chest, her fingertips lightly pressed against his clothes before quickly moving away. She lowered her head and recited a few numbers, her ears still flushed. After measuring, she took a half step back, her voice slightly soft: "I've finished measuring, Your Highness... This size will fit you better when it's made."

Qiu Tang stood to the side, pretending to straighten her clothes, but she glanced at Yue He out of the corner of her eye. She pressed her lips slightly down, and although she didn't say "little hussy" out loud, she couldn't hide the teasing in her eyes.

Zhu Gaoxi looked at his tall and imposing figure in the bronze mirror and straightened his collar. The person in the mirror was dressed neatly, with a slender figure and clear, bright eyes. Even he himself couldn't help but take a second look.

Zhu Gaoxi changed into his robes and had breakfast served by several people. After the meal, he went to sit in the pavilion in the back garden.

Qiu Tang brought over a freshly brewed pot of tea. Zhu Gaoxi picked up the cup, blew on the floating tea leaves, took a sip, put the cup down, and muttered, "Filling up every day, feeling beautiful every day, it's all about stretching your arms and legs." As he spoke, he stretched his shoulders a few times, then dipped his fingertip in the warm tea and dabbed it on his eyelids, finally adding with a drawn-out tone, "Tea is good for the eyes..."

Although the guards around them stood ramrod straight, they all glanced at the pavilion out of the corner of their eyes before quickly looking away, none of them daring to utter a sound. They couldn't understand the reason for this action: bending over, swinging arms, dipping fingertips in tea to wipe their eyes, and muttering incantations, even the drawn-out ending sounds seemed to have some kind of fixed rhythm.

Everyone had the same thought in their minds: Is His Highness Prince Rui practicing a new supernatural power? No one dared to ask any more questions, but silently memorized those actions and words.

No one expected that those few actions and words would later be silently memorized by Qiu Tang Yuehe and many of the guards in the mansion, and then spread out. Passed down by word of mouth, it eventually became a health-preserving mantra of unknown origin, which has been passed down for thousands of years.