Ming Dynasty: Gain one supernatural power every day

Empress Xu understood what was being said. Although she could not bring the dead back to life, she could make people younger. So she raised her hand to touch her temples and suddenly sighed softly.

"Xi'er, you don't know, your mother has really grown older these past few years. My temples have turned white, and the wrinkles at the corners of my eyes can't be covered up no matter how much powder I put on."

She touched the corner of her eye again: "Over the years, your father has had one new concubine after another by his side. Those young and beautiful concubines are so tender they seem to drip with moisture. Your mother is old and her beauty has faded; she can't compare to her anymore. If it weren't for that, your father wouldn't have had to take so many concubines into the palace."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Di nearly spat out the tea he was drinking. He understood that Empress Xu was also saying this because she wanted to look younger, and at the same time, she was also referring to him, as he had indeed taken quite a few concubines over the years.

"What are you saying, Mother!" Zhu Gaoxi grasped Empress Xu's hand firmly and said earnestly, "In my eyes, Mother has always been young and beautiful. I haven't seen a single wrinkle or blemish. Mother looks like a young woman of sixteen or seventeen, how could she be old?"

Empress Xu was taken aback by his words and then laughed out loud: "My son is so sweet-talking. Your mother has not spoiled you for nothing. But your mother already has several grandsons. She is no longer a young girl of sixteen or seventeen."

"Every word I have said is the truth."

Zhu Di, standing to the side, raised his eyelids slightly, thinking to himself: This youngest son is indeed sweet-talking; no wonder his mother dotes on him so much. All his brothers combined probably don't have his eloquence.

Empress Xu was delighted by her son's coaxing and patted Zhu Gaoxi's hand, saying, "Alright, alright, I can't argue with you."

Zhu Gaoxi stood up, took two steps back, and rolled up his sleeves: "Mother, I keep my word. Please wait a moment."

Zhu Gaoxi raised his right hand slightly, and a white light suddenly appeared in his palm. The light was warm and gentle. He waved his fingers lightly, and a soft beam of light spread out from his palm, slowly enveloping Empress Xu.

Empress Xu felt a warmth spread through her body, as if she were enveloped in the spring sunshine. Her skin became firm and smooth again, the spots on her hands faded, and the few strands of gray hair at her temples quietly turned back to black.

In the blink of an eye, the white light slowly dissipated. Empress Xu hadn't yet recovered her senses. She raised her hand and looked at it; it was a young girl's hand, with fair and delicate skin, showing no signs of age. She subconsciously touched her face; the skin was smooth to the touch.

Zhu Gaoxi ordered the palace servants to bring over the bronze mirror. Empress Xu stood up and walked a few steps to the bronze mirror next to the main hall. The mirror reflected a face of someone in their early twenties. She tried to smile, and the person in the mirror smiled back, her eyebrows and eyes curving, her spirited demeanor tinged with a touch of coquettishness.

This is what she looked like at twenty, the most beautiful age of her life. At that time, she had just married Zhu Di and followed him to his fiefdom in Beiping.

Empress Xu looked at herself in the mirror, overjoyed and excited. She turned around to speak, but found Zhu Di's gaze fixed intently on her. Zhu Di had put down his teacup at some point. He seemed frozen in place, his eyes fixed on Empress Xu's face.

He saw that face again in Beiping City decades ago. Back then, he was still the Prince of Yan. On that day, she walked into the Prince of Yan's mansion in a bright red wedding dress. When he lifted the veil, this was the face he saw. The woman who had captivated him at first sight was now sitting alive and well opposite him.

Zhu Di's throat moved slightly, his gaze never leaving Empress Xu's face. He was usually very composed, but at this moment he even forgot to hide his emotions.

Seeing his expression, Empress Xu walked up to him and deliberately asked, "Your Majesty, say something. Do I look pretty enough?"

Zhu Di snapped out of his reverie, coughed, and picked up the teacup to his lips, only to find it was empty. He placed the teacup back on the table, slightly embarrassed and at a loss for words: "It's beautiful, exactly the same as it was back then."

After a pause, he said again, "Xi'er, your mother looks younger. Doesn't your father look like this...?"

"Father, I understand." Zhu Gaoxi did not say much. He raised his right hand again, and the white light in his palm shone again. With a gentle wave of his right hand, the white light enveloped Zhu Di.

The white light slowly dissipated. Zhu Di opened his eyes. He turned to look at the bronze mirror beside him. The mirror reflected a young man in his early twenties. His face was angular and sharp, his brows exuding a commanding presence, and his eyes gleamed with a restrained brilliance. That was how he looked shortly after he became the Prince of Yan.

Zhu Di stared at his youthful self in the mirror, remaining silent for a long while. He had been young, and he had grown old. He thought he no longer cared about his appearance, as Xi'er had already used the power of creation to nourish their bodies. But looking at the spirited young man in the mirror, he suddenly felt that the feeling of being young was indeed much better than being old.

He turned around, looked at Zhu Gaoxi, and nodded: "Indeed, this supernatural power is truly amazing."

After returning to the palace, Zhu Di remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he kept pondering the matter.

The second son, having received a benefit, flaunted it all over the city, running around the Duke of Ying's mansion and making a scene, so that all the officials knew that the fourth son was capable. He had scolded the second son for being too impatient, but now that it was his turn, he was itching to try it himself.

On second thought: The second prince is so impatient. He goes around showing off as soon as he gets a benefit. I can't be like him. How about I call some ministers in to discuss matters? But that would be too troublesome. I've got it! Let's have the evening court session.

After Zhu Di ascended the throne, he held an evening court session, summoning important officials to discuss matters in the late afternoon. Those who could attend were all key figures in the court. Having made up his mind, he ordered someone to convey that the evening court session would proceed as usual that night, but he deliberately did not summon the ministers who had met with the Prince of Han.

As evening fell, the Fengtian Hall was brightly lit. Officials arrived one after another and lined up. Everyone thought it would be another ordinary meeting, but when they looked up and saw the emperor walking out from behind the hall, the murmurs in the hall stopped abruptly.

Zhu Di, dressed in a bright yellow casual robe, strode to the throne and sat down. The lamplight illuminated his face, revealing his angular features; he was clearly a young man in his twenties. Yet, the way he walked and the posture he adopted when he sat down clearly indicated that he was still the decisive and ruthless Yongle Emperor.

The hall remained silent for a full three breaths, then a suppressed commotion erupted. Several senior officials exchanged bewildered glances; some rubbed their eyes, others opened their mouths but then closed them again. Xia Yuanji, the Minister of Revenue, stood in the middle of the ranks, staring at the emperor on the throne, then turned to Yang Rong and asked, "Minister Yang, what is His Majesty doing...?"

Yang Rong shook his head, also looking shocked.

Zhu Di sat on his throne, taking in the reactions of his ministers. He was quite pleased with himself; no wonder his second son wanted to show off what he had gained. However, his second son was indeed of very low character. On the surface, however, he remained calm and said in a clear, loud voice, "What do you gentlemen have to say?"

Xia Yuanji couldn't hold back any longer and stepped forward, bowing respectfully. "Your Majesty, if I may be so bold as to ask, Your Majesty looks radiant today, appearing at least twenty years younger. We are both shocked and delighted. May I ask, Your Majesty, is it... but what about Prince Rui...?"

He didn't finish his sentence, but everyone in the hall understood. The matter of the Prince Rui's residence wasn't unknown in the court. The news had already spread when the second prince, Zhu Gaochi, was showing off throughout the city; they had only heard of it, never actually seen it.

Zhu Di had been waiting for this question. He sighed slightly, his tone carrying a hint of helpless affection: "Minister Xia, it's better not to mention it. I have no choice but to bring it up. That fourth prince is so filial. He insists on extending my lifespan. I'm already so old, what would I do if I became younger? But that child knelt down and refused to get up, saying that if I didn't agree, he would stay kneeling there forever. I really couldn't persuade him otherwise."

These words sounded as if he had been forced to take advantage of his son. Upon hearing this, the courtiers all wore expressions of "Your Majesty's benevolence and filial piety move Heaven." Those present were mostly Zhu Di's confidants, and they all understood Zhu Di's character: "Even if Prince Rui doesn't extend your lifespan, you'd probably kneel down and beg him. You've eaten pig swill before, haven't you?"

Yang Rong stepped forward first, cupped his hands, and proclaimed loudly, "Your Majesty's virtuous rule moves Heaven, and Prince Rui's filial piety is unwavering. This is a blessing for the Ming Dynasty and a fortune for the nation! Your Majesty, may you live ten thousand years!"

The assembled officials joined in offering their congratulations.

Zhu Di waved his hand, signaling the officials to rise. His gaze swept over the elderly officials with gray hair below the throne: "My ministers, do not be discouraged. You have followed me all these years, devoting yourselves to the Ming Dynasty. If you achieve outstanding merits and make great contributions to the Ming Dynasty in the future, I will have the Fourth Prince grant you a few more years of lifespan."

These words caused another moment of silence in the hall. Then, the shock in the eyes of the assembled officials turned into ecstatic joy. Xia Yuanji was the first to kneel, his voice trembling slightly: "Your Majesty...we are unworthy to receive such great favor from you!"

A whole group of old ministers knelt down behind him. Which of these veteran officials didn't want to live a few more years? Which of them didn't want to regain their youth like the emperor?

"Alright, rise. If there's anything important tonight, speak up immediately. Otherwise, court is adjourned."

The officials rose one after another, each one full of energy, their voices louder than usual as they presented their reports. The atmosphere at the evening court was exceptionally lively; the older officials stood straighter than usual, after all, His Majesty had said that good performance would extend their lives. How could they not work with all their might?

Zhu Di sat on his throne, listening to the reports from his ministers, and couldn't suppress the smile on his lips. He recalled the incident earlier that day when his second son had come to the capital and made a scene; at that time, he had said that his second son was impatient.

His own words at the evening court session had a far greater effect than those of his second son. That fool only knew how to run to the Duke of Ying's mansion and make a scene, and after all that, only a few dukes and marquises knew about it. But with his own actions, all the high-ranking officials in the court were envious and grateful, and they worked even harder from then on.

Showing off is a matter of perspective.