Ming Dynasty: Gain one supernatural power every day

After stretching in the pavilion, Zhu Gaoxi took a walk around the back garden. Reaching the veranda, he casually asked, "What time is it?"

The young eunuch on duty in the corridor quickly bowed and replied, "Your Highness, it is three-quarters past Chen Shi (7:45 AM)."

Zhu Gaoxi nodded, silently calculating in his mind that it was around 8:45 AM. The morning court session usually started at 5:00 AM, and it was probably almost over by now. His three older brothers and eldest nephew, especially his second brother Zhu Gaoxu, would almost always rush over to him as soon as the court session ended.

Zhu Gaoxi sat in the side hall, holding a small gold ornament in his hands, slowly rubbing the scales of the dragon's head as if he were handling a fine antique. He heard familiar footsteps and that signature loud voice coming from outside the hall: "Fourth brother! Fourth brother! Second brother's here! Here to freeload again...!"

He put down his teacup, looked down at his new robes, and touched his chin. He was completely different from the seven-year-old child he had been yesterday. He glanced down at Little Gold, who was flicking its tail at his wrist. He chuckled, "Let's go, let's go see how Second Brother and the others react, see if they still recognize their younger brother."

He stood up, and Xiao Jin transformed into a bracelet on his hand, which was covered by his wide robe. He stepped out of the side hall and headed towards the courtyard gate.

Zhu Gaoxu walked at the front and shouted as he stepped into the courtyard, "Fourth brother? Where is he? Hey, eldest brother, third brother, where did you say fourth brother went...?"

He paused halfway through his sentence. A young man walked towards him, tall and slender with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, dressed in a moon-white brocade robe.

Zhu Gaoxu was stunned for a moment, looked him up and down, and the first thought that popped into his mind was: "Who is this Chaowei? How come he's half a head taller than me? And his face is better looking than mine." He usually considered himself a burly martial artist, but seeing this man in front of him, he felt that his steps just now were not quite as impressive.

He cleared his throat and tentatively asked, "Who are you...?"

Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaosui followed behind and also saw the young man, and were equally stunned. Zhu Gaosui scanned him up and down and muttered, "Why does this person look so familiar?" Zhu Gaochi didn't speak, but his gaze lingered on the young man's features for a few moments, as if deep in thought.

The young man walked up to Zhu Gaoxu and called out, "Second Brother, weren't you looking for me?"

Zhu Gaoxu didn't react immediately, still looking around: "Who are you calling?" He wondered if the old man had another illegitimate child right here in Yingtian Prefecture, right under the imperial city. "The old man's really something else..."

Zhu Gaosui was also thinking that he had worked in the Embroidered Uniform Guard for so many years and had never heard of the old man having a son outside! He was full of doubt and confusion, but this person did look like the old man! Zhu Gaochi, on the other hand, looked wise. He knew that his fourth brother was very capable. He had seen it many times and he knew it was probably a new supernatural ability. He knew that his fourth brother was just teasing them.

"Father, who is this? Which uncle is he? I've never seen him before!" Zhu Zhanji asked, his face full of confusion. Zhu Gaochi told him to ignore it and just keep an eye on him.

He looked around, then turned back and called out, "Fourth Brother? Fourth Brother, where are you?"

Zhu Gaoxi took another step forward, facing him directly, with an barely suppressed teasing tone: "Second Brother, weren't you calling me?"

Zhu Gaoxu's gaze slowly swept over the young man's eyebrows and eyes, from the center of his brow to the bridge of his nose, and then he looked him over from head to toe. The face was so familiar that it sent a chill down his spine.

He thought for a moment, then jumped up, his voice changing tone: "Fourth brother? You're the fourth brother..."

Zhu Gaoxi found it strange. The mention of "fourth brother" reminded him of a famous old lady from Northeast China in his previous life who was also a "fourth brother".

Zhu Gaochi looked Zhu Gaoxi up and down several times: "Fourth brother? What new supernatural power do you have now..."

"Second brother, this looks like fourth brother, look at him..." Zhu Gaosui also stared for a long time.

Zhu Gaoxu swallowed hard, his brain racing. He slapped his thigh and grinned broadly. "I knew it was Fourth Brother! I was just joking with him! With Fourth Brother's aura...?" He gestured as he spoke, as if the person who had just stared in disbelief and almost shouted "Grandpa's illegitimate son" was not him at all.

Zhu Gaochi, Zhu Gaosui, and Zhu Zhanji all stared at him, their expressions varied.

Zhu Gaochi's lips twitched slightly. Zhu Gaosui turned his face away, his shoulders trembling slightly.

Zhu Zhanji was full of doubt: "Second Uncle, you were clearly so scared that you jumped up just now..."

Zhu Gaoxu waved his hand: "What do you know, kid? Your second uncle was just... he was cooperating with your fourth uncle! To give him a surprise!"

Zhu Zhanji wanted to say something more, but Zhu Gaochi pressed his head down: "Don't say anything, your second uncle has this problem."

Zhu Gaoxi watched his second brother's earnest attempts to make amends and shook his head with a smile. He reached out and patted Zhu Gaoxu's shoulder: "Second brother, come in first. It's tiring to talk standing up."

Zhu Gaoxu then came to his senses and looked him up and down several times, asking as they walked, "Fourth brother, what kind of supernatural power do you have? You were just a seven-year-old child yesterday, and today you've grown so big? This... this is even taller than second brother!"

He gestured to show the height difference between the two: "How am I supposed to be your second brother in the future? If you stand next to me, people will think you're my older brother."

Zhu Gaochi coughed beside him and said, "Second brother, don't talk nonsense."

The group chatted and laughed as they walked toward the side hall. Zhu Zhanji ran in the lead, glancing up at Zhu Gaoxi as he passed by, then running a few more steps before looking back again, as if he were getting to know his fourth uncle anew.

Bowls and chopsticks were already set on the round table in the side hall. Zhu Gaoxi read a few words on the table, and steaming dishes appeared out of thin air—Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, steamed perch, osmanthus cake, and several side dishes and various drinks.

Zhu Gaoxu sat down at the table, picked up his wine cup and took a sip, then picked up a piece of meat and stuffed it into his mouth. After chewing it a couple of times, he narrowed his eyes.

He swallowed, but kept holding the chopsticks between his fingers. He couldn't help but ask, "Fourth brother, I wasn't finished yet. What kind of magic do you have? You were just a little kid yesterday, and today you're taller than your second brother. I'm so curious."

Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaosui also put down their chopsticks and looked at Zhu Gaoxi, while Zhu Zhanji leaned over the edge of the table, staring at him intently.

Zhu Gaoxi picked up a cup of milk tea, took a sip, and slowly said, "This supernatural power is called the Light of Time, which can accelerate or reverse time."

He paused, then said, "Simply put, it can make things age, and it can make things young." He looked up at his three older brothers, "You can think of it as... something like the Book of Life and Death of the King of Hell."