Ming Dynasty: Gain one supernatural power every day

Meanwhile, outside the Fengtian Hall.

After the court session ended, the three brothers Zhu Gaochi, Zhu Gaoxu, and Zhu Gaosui walked out side by side.

This was unusual. Normally, Zhu Gaoxu would stride out after court, his voice loud enough to be heard three halls away. But today, he walked slowly, his steps unsteady, and he would secretly support his back every few steps. Zhu Gaosui wasn't in much better shape; his eyes were dark and swollen.

Zhu Gaochi walked on the very edge, panting the most. He was already quite plump, and yesterday Zhu Gaoxi had adjusted his body, making his belly smaller. But after standing all morning at court and walking this distance afterward, a thin layer of sweat had seeped from his forehead, and he kept wiping it away as he walked.

Zhu Gaoxu was rubbing his lower back when he glanced at his elder brother's appearance and grinned: "Brother, can you be a little more restrained? Your fourth brother just made you look younger yesterday, and you're out of breath after just a few steps. Don't go back to how you were before in a while."

Zhu Gaochi wiped his sweat and glared at him irritably. He glanced at Zhu Zhanji beside him and said, "Zhanji, I need to talk to your two uncles. You can go now."

"Father, what's wrong..." Zhu Zhanji asked his father with a mischievous grin.

"It's an adult matter, kids shouldn't pry. You'll understand when you find a wife... Wait, your second uncle didn't beat you yesterday, and you're still talking so much today." Zhu Gaoxu waved his hand, wanting to tell Zhu Zhanji to leave quickly, but then he remembered how he had shrunk and been mocked by this kid yesterday.

"Second Uncle, you two chat, I have to go first." Zhu Zhanji saw his second uncle's expression as if he wanted to beat him up, remembered what happened yesterday, and quickly ran away.

Upon hearing his second brother speak, Zhu Gaosui remembered that he had offended him yesterday and quickly followed up, saying, "Big brother, second brother is right."

Zhu Gaochi stuffed the handkerchief into his sleeve and sighed, "Stop your back-and-forth. Didn't I look younger yesterday? When I got home, your sister-in-law saw me and, oh dear, she blamed me for not taking her with me. I suffered terribly last night..."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu stopped rubbing his back and immediately perked up: "Same here! Yesterday, my wife also complained that I came home late, saying that I was showing off all over town without telling her beforehand. She saw that I looked younger and immediately gave me the cold shoulder."

He straightened up, his voice returning to its usual level, and slapped his thigh. "But can I tolerate her? Who am I? The Prince of Han of the Ming Dynasty! You all know my status at home. She dared to give me attitude, so I gave her a good beating right then and there! Now she's completely obedient, even serving me tea and water in the morning."

Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaosui, the two brothers, both froze upon seeing this expression. Zhu Gaochi glanced at Zhu Gaosui and waved his hand, indicating that he had no other options.

Zhu Gaosui glanced at his second brother, knowing perfectly well what his status was at home. It's not like I haven't been to the Prince of Han's mansion before. When you were with the Prince of Han's faction, you had to act like a grandson in front of him. Now that I'm with the Prince of Rui's faction, do you think I'm afraid of you?

He cleared his throat and said, "Second Brother, you can—" He thought to himself: Second Brother, don't brag.

But before he could finish speaking, Zhu Gaoxu's gaze swept over. Zhu Gaosui was all too familiar with that look. In an instant, the fear that had been controlled by his second brother for so many years surged up again. The fourth brother's supporters retreated again in the face of this muscle memory, after all, his second brother's beatings really hurt.

In the end, the "you're bragging" that was stuck in his throat didn't come out; it instead turned into, "Second brother, you're really amazing!"

Zhu Gaoxu nodded in satisfaction, snorted, and withdrew his fist.

Zhu Gaochi, watching his third son's immediate cowardice, said, "The third son is lucky; his wife, Madam Weng, is gentle and doesn't cause trouble."

Zhu Gaosui gave a wry smile: "Brother, you spoke too soon. She doesn't make a fuss, but she also doesn't say anything. Sometimes she just sits there crying, giving me the silent treatment. I spent ages trying to comfort her, and she only calmed down after I told her I'd take her to Fourth Brother's place today."

Zhu Gaoxu clicked his tongue twice from the side: "That's a pretty ruthless move."

"That's right." Zhu Gaosui shrugged. "She was rummaging through her clothes this morning, saying she wanted to go to Fourth Brother's place together today. Aren't Eldest Sister-in-law and Second Sister-in-law doing the same?"

Zhu Gaochi nodded, took a breath, and said, "Sigh, it's all the same."

Zhu Gaochi walked at the very edge, wiping his sweat, while Zhu Gaoxu walked beside him, supporting his waist. Zhu Gaosui brought up the rear. The three brothers strolled slowly along the base of the palace wall, none of them urging the others.

Zhu Gaochi glanced at Zhu Gaoxu and felt that he didn't feel as tired when talking to the second son today. He couldn't quite put his finger on what was different; perhaps it was his imagination, or perhaps the second son's younger face didn't look as fierce as before.

"Ha..." Zhu Gaochi walked along, then suddenly remembered how his second son had turned back into a child yesterday, and laughed again.

"Boss, what are you laughing at? Are you crazy?" Zhu Gaoxu looked at Zhu Gaochi strangely when he heard the sudden laughter.

Zhu Gaochi held the handkerchief in his hand and said slowly, "It's been a long time since the three of us brothers have walked together like this."

Zhu Gaoxu paused for a moment. Zhu Gaosui also raised his head, looked at his eldest brother, and then at his second brother.

These words, though spoken softly, took a heavy toll on the three men. As children in the Prince of Yan's mansion in Beiping, they walked together every day and raided bird nests together. Later, especially after the Jingnan Rebellion, whenever they met, they were at each other's throats.

"That's true." Zhu Gaoxu was unusually quiet and his voice was a bit softer than usual. "In the past, if my older brother had to rest after walking a few steps, I would have already walked far away. But today, the three of us are rubbing against the wall together."

He paused for a moment after speaking, then suddenly spoke again.

"Big brother, actually I thought about a lot of things last night."

Zhu Gaochi turned to look at him. Zhu Gaosui also took a step forward.

"Yesterday, when that light shone on Fourth Brother, all I could think about when I was little was going to sleep..." Zhu Gaoxu said with a hint of self-deprecation, "I remembered you taking me to raid bird nests in Beiping, and you guarding Beiping during the Jingnan Rebellion..."

"Brother, I will no longer compete with you for the throne."

Zhu Gaochi stopped in his tracks.

"After all this fighting and arguing for so many years, looking back, it's all for nothing." Zhu Gaoxu waved his hand, his tone becoming more relaxed.

"From now on, I'll be a carefree prince, running around to the fourth prince's place whenever I have free time, hanging out with him for a couple of days. If he wants to cultivate immortality, I'll be his follower; if he wants to refine pills, I'll chop wood for him. You've seen the fourth prince's supernatural abilities now, and since we're on good terms, I'll definitely get my share of the benefits in the future."

He suddenly grinned, a hint of smugness in his smile: "Eldest brother, you really owe a lot to your fourth brother. If it weren't for him, I would have fought you for the throne to the bitter end."

Zhu Gaochi broke out in a sweat again, but he was shocked by his second son's words. Then he reached out and patted Zhu Gaoxu hard on the shoulder.

"Good, second brother, it's good that you've come to terms with it. From now on, we brothers will get along well." His voice was sore, and his eyes were a little moist.

"Big Brother"

"Second Brother"

"Big brother..."

The two men rekindled their brotherhood at this moment.

"This is a good thing." Zhu Gaosui had a monkey-like appearance, and although his words were true, they sounded somewhat inappropriate for some reason.

Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaoxu turned their heads at the same time and suddenly said in unison, "Get out."

As soon as he finished speaking, all three of them were stunned, and then they all burst out laughing at the same time.

"Alright, alright, let's hurry back to the manor." Zhu Gaochi wiped his eyes, whether from laughter or something else, it was hard to tell. "Take your wife with you, we still need to go to the fourth prince's place later. I can rest a bit on the way."