Ming Dynasty: Gain one supernatural power every day

The morning court session ended half an hour later than usual.

It wasn't that there were any pressing military or national affairs, but rather that there were an unusually large number of memorials to the emperor today. Before dawn, a group of ministers with dark circles under their eyes were already waiting outside the Meridian Gate, each holding up their memorials higher than the last. The Ministry of Works wanted to repair the river, the Ministry of War wanted to reorganize the army, the Ministry of Revenue wanted to audit the accounts, and the memorials of impeachment from the Censorate could be piled up to the roof beams.

Zhu Di sat on his throne, looking at the court officials below who were as energetic as if they had been injected with chicken blood: It has to be me. I can easily control all the officials. It's just that my back is a little sore. After all, I've become younger and more energetic. I did quite a bit of work last night.

After the court session ended, Zhu Di changed into his everyday clothes and headed to the Kunning Palace. As he passed through the Imperial Garden, Ji Gang, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, quietly followed him.

"Your Majesty, there was some commotion at the temple outside the city this morning," Ji Gang said in a low voice. "Master Daoyan has emerged from seclusion."

Zhu Di continued walking: "Oh? That old monk actually knows how to come out?"

"He rode swiftly to the palace as soon as he left the temple." Ji Gang paused, a rare twitch at the corner of his mouth. "However, I learned something: the master's disciple, Liaoran, forgot to tell him that His Highness Prince Rui is no longer residing in the palace. The master went straight to the palace gates."

Zhu Di stopped and turned to look at Ji Gang, his expression momentarily stunned.

"That old man," Zhu Di chuckled, "He's schemed his whole life, but even he makes mistakes. I think he's really panicked this time."

Ji Gang bowed but did not reply. Zhu Di waved his hand, dismissing him, and then strode towards Kunning Palace, his steps much lighter.

In Kunning Palace, Empress Xu was reclining on a couch, looking at an account book. She had now returned to her appearance of being in her early twenties, her black hair casually tied in a bun, leaning against the pillows as she flipped through the account book.

When Zhu Di entered, Empress Xu looked up at him, and the couple exchanged a glance, both feeling as if they were in another world.

"His Majesty adjourned court later than usual today." Empress Xu put down the account books and stepped aside. "Is it about Annam again?"

"There's no rush regarding Annam." Zhu Di sat down by the couch and took the teacup handed to him by a palace maid: "Today, all the civil and military officials are acting like they've taken some kind of magic pill, submitting memorials one after another... The Censorate is even more outrageous, impeaching seventeen people this morning alone."

He put down his teacup: "These people, when I urge them to work, they all make excuses. But now, before I even say anything, they've already started scrambling for it."

Empress Xu smiled upon hearing this. Zhu Di had told her about these officials yesterday: "That's good. From now on, His Majesty won't need to urge them anymore. Their wives are urging them more than His Majesty does."

"That's not all." Zhu Di leaned back on the couch, his tone tinged with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

"In court today, several senior officials vied to recommend someone to Prince Rui's residence. Jian Yi said that there was a highly capable clerk in the Ministry of Personnel who would be perfect for serving as a clerk in Prince Rui's residence. Xia Yuanji said that there was a secretary in the Ministry of Revenue who was proficient in mathematics and would be the perfect person to manage the accounts for the fourth prince... They argued back and forth and almost got into a fight in the court."

Empress Xu took a while to stop laughing, then sighed and said, "That child Xi'er is indeed incredibly capable. I still feel like I'm dreaming."

Zhu Di nodded, but did not continue the conversation, and instead brought up another matter.

"Things aren't going well in Annam." He put the teacup back on the table, his expression becoming more serious.

"Although Hu Ji Mao and his son have been captured, rebellions continue in Jiaozhi. Jian Ding, a former official of the Chen dynasty, is again inciting public sentiment, saying that he wants to welcome back the descendants of the Chen family." He paused for a moment, "I plan to send Zhang Fu on another trip."

Empress Xu nodded. Zhang Fu was the son of Zhang Yu, a famous general during the Jingnan Rebellion, and a skilled warrior. Annam was a complex region with heavy miasma; it was uncertain whether anyone else could have controlled it.

Zhu Di didn't finish speaking. He tapped his fingers lightly on his knee twice and suddenly blurted out, "I want to go too."

Empress Xu was taken aback.

"I'm forty-seven this year." Zhu Di turned to look at her.

"I was thirty-nine years old during the Jingnan Rebellion. In the five years since I ascended the throne, I've been sitting on the throne every day reviewing memorials, and my bones are almost giving way. Now, the Fourth Prince has turned me back to my youthful self..."

He clenched his fist: "That fighting spirit is back. I want to personally lead troops to Annam."

Empress Xu looked at his young face, feeling both heartache and helplessness.

Zhu Di was, at heart, a warrior-turned-emperor. Back when he led troops against the Mongols in Beiping, he always personally charged into battle. During the Jingnan Campaign, he fought from beginning to end. The five years since his ascension to the throne had been incredibly stifling for him; now, with the fourth prince's intervention, he was back in his twenties—how could he possibly remain idle?

"If Your Majesty wishes to go, I will not stop you," Empress Xu said softly. "However, Annam is far away, and the miasma is severe. Your Majesty's health is of utmost importance..."

"What's the big deal about being worth tens of thousands of gold pieces?" Zhu Di waved his hand, then his tone became somewhat excited. "I also want to borrow something from the Fourth Prince."

"Borrow what?"

"His dragon," Zhu Di said, his eyes lighting up. "I was thinking, if we rode that dragon to Annam, those rebels would be terrified."

Empress Xu was both amused and exasperated. She knew that Zhu Di had come to see her today to borrow the dragon to attack Annam and show off his power.

"That depends on whether Xi'er is willing to lend it to you." Empress Xu glared at him. "Your Majesty, please don't bully him."

"When have I ever bullied him?" Zhu Di's eyes were full of smiles. "He is a disciple of the Daoist Ancestor, and I have to curry favor with him."

"Your Majesty, please don't speak carelessly. The fourth prince is very filial..." Empress Xu glanced at him.

"Alright, let's go to the Fourth Prince's residence together later..." Zhu Di stood up and was about to leave when he suddenly remembered something and turned back: "Oh right, there's something else. Daoyan has come out of seclusion."

Empress Xu raised an eyebrow: "The master has emerged from seclusion? The Yongle Encyclopedia is finished?"

"It's not finished yet." Zhu Di's lips curled up. "He was scared out of his wits by the fourth prince. After leaving the pass, he heard a bunch of stories about the fourth prince's miraculous deeds from his disciple, and the old monk rode out on horseback. Just now, the Embroidered Uniform Guard reported that he has already left the temple and is heading towards the palace."

Empress Xu couldn't help but laugh: "The master is always so composed, I never expected that he would be so restless."

"He can't just sit still." Zhu Di rarely showed a gloating expression. "His apprentice forgot to tell him that the fourth prince hasn't lived in the palace for a long time. He's rushing to the palace gates now, only to find it empty."

Just as Empress Xu was about to say something, Huang Yan suddenly strode in, a subtle smile on his face.

Huang Yan strode in and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Yao Guangxiao is requesting an audience at the palace gate."

"Let him in." Zhu Di shifted to a more comfortable sitting position on the couch.

Before long, Yao Guangxiao strode in. Dressed in a greyish-white monk's robe, he was covered in dust, clearly having ridden a long way.

He entered the hall, his gaze first falling on Zhu Di's face—a face with sharp features and imposing presence, clearly the appearance of someone in their late twenties. He then glanced at Empress Xu beside him, her hair as black as clouds, her skin as white as snow, a radiant woman in her early twenties.

Yao Guangxiao slowed his pace for a moment.

Although he had already heard a lot from Ran, seeing Zhu Di and Empress Xu in this state still gave him a jolt. However, having served Zhu Di for most of his life, he had seen all sorts of situations, and he quickly regained his composure, putting his hands together in a respectful bow: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty."

Zhu Di felt a surge of satisfaction seeing him like this, thinking, "Even this wicked monk has moments like this," and then slowly asked, "Daoyan, is the Yongle Encyclopedia finished?"

Yao Guangxiao choked for a moment. He remembered that he had just come out of the meditation room and rushed to the palace without even dismounting his horse; the drafts of the Yongle Encyclopedia were still piled up in the temple. He coughed lightly: "Just a little bit more."

Zhu Di raised an eyebrow slightly: "Oh. So what brings you to the palace today?"

Yao Guangxiao didn't beat around the bush and put his palms together, saying, "Your Majesty, this humble monk has come today to see His Highness Prince Rui."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhu Di and Empress Xu exchanged another glance. Empress Xu pursed her lips and turned her head to the side. Zhu Di leaned back on the couch, a slow, mischievous smile spreading across his face—the kind of smile that comes from someone who has been waiting for this moment for a long time.

"To see the Fourth Prince?" Zhu Di drawled out, "The Fourth Prince is not in the palace."

Yao Guangxiao was taken aback.

"The fourth prince went out and used his supernatural powers to build his own palace long ago. He didn't need any materials and it was completed in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. That palace is even better than my imperial palace..." Zhu Di picked up his teacup and took another sip, speaking casually.

Zhu Di's eyes were fixed on Yao Guangxiao's expression. "The Prince Rui's residence has been completed for quite some time now. What, you didn't know?"

Yao Guangxiao was stunned for a moment. How could he know when he went into seclusion? His disciple, Liaoran, chattered on and on, but he missed this one thing.

Zhu Di, having enjoyed the old monk's expression for a while, put the teacup back on the table, stood up, and said, "Perfect timing. I also need to go see the Fourth Prince. The Empress will go too. If you want to see the Fourth Prince, come with me."

Yao Guangxiao clasped his hands together and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

As Zhu Di walked past him, he paused, turned his head, and whispered, "Old monk, even you have moments like this."