Ming Dynasty: Gain one supernatural power every day

Zhu Di was in a great mood and waved his hand, "Serve the meal. Set up a table in Kunning Palace and have the whole family eat together."

Huang Yan received the order and went to make arrangements. Before long, the eunuchs carried in food boxes in single file and set up a large round table in the side hall.

There weren't many dishes, only twelve, but each one was exquisite. There was osmanthus lotus root starch cake, which Empress Xu loved; roasted mutton, which Zhu Di loved; and several dishes of honey-glazed yam, which were specially made for the children.

Zhu Di sat down in the main seat and patted the chair next to him: "Miaoyun, sit here."

Empress Xu smiled and sat down. Zhu Gaochi, Zhu Gaoxu, and Zhu Gaosui took their seats in turn, with the three princesses leading their children to sit side by side. Zhu Gaoxi was arranged to sit to Zhu Di's right, right next to his father.

Zhu Zhanji sat next to Zhu Gaochi and whispered to Zhanxin, "Fourth Uncle was really amazing today, even more amazing than the imperial physician." Zhanxin nodded vigorously, "Fourth Uncle can cure any illness! I'm going to come and play with Fourth Uncle every day from now on!"

Zhu Di picked up his wine cup and glanced at everyone at the table. His complexion was much better than yesterday, and the long-standing fierceness in his eyes had dissipated considerably.

"Let me say a few words first about today's meal."

The table fell silent; even the younger children shut their mouths.

Zhu Di put down his wine cup, his voice low but clear, enunciating each word: "What I want to say is the first thing. The three of you."

He looked at Zhu Gaochi, "Your leg was healed by Xi'er." Then he looked at Zhu Gaoxu, "Your shoulder was healed by Xi'er." Finally, he looked at Zhu Gaosui, "Your lung disease was also healed by Xi'er."

He paused for a moment: "My old wounds were also healed by Xi'er. Which of you daughters-in-law, grandchildren, or granddaughters hasn't received Xi'er's kindness? People should know how to be grateful. Your own brothers should remember this even more."

In short, the debt of gratitude owed to the fourth brother can never be repaid.

Zhu Gaochi stood up, raised his wine cup, and bowed to Zhu Gaoxi: "Fourth brother, I toast you. My leg has been lame for over ten years, and I thought it would never get better. Today, you've helped me stand up again."

Zhu Gaoxi quickly stood up: "Brother, please don't do this, we're family..."

Zhu Gaoxu also stood up, clinking his wine glass against Zhu Gaoxi's in a nonchalant manner: "Fourth brother, your second brother isn't good with sweet words. From now on, your affairs are your second brother's affairs. If anyone dares to bully you, your second brother will be the first to beat them up."

Zhu Gaosui was the last to stand up, his voice soft but earnest: "Fourth brother, third brother has remembered this."

Surrounded by his three older brothers, Zhu Gaoxi felt a little embarrassed, holding his cup and unsure what to say. Zhu Di watched from the side, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Alright, everyone sit down."

Zhu Di raised his chin. "We're family, so let's not be formal. The second thing I want to say is—from now on, the three of you should take better care of your fourth brother. He's young, so keep an eye on things inside and outside the palace for him."

He then looked at the three princesses: "You too. Sisters-in-law, please take good care of him."

Zhang Yan smiled and replied, "Your Majesty, rest assured, Fourth Brother's affairs are the affairs of our Crown Prince's residence." Madam Wei and Madam Weng also nodded in agreement.

Zhu Di finally looked at his grandchildren and said, "You little ones, remember this too. Your fourth uncle cured your illnesses, so from now on you must respect him and listen to him."

Zhu Zhanji stood up first, and bowed to Zhu Gaoxi like a little adult: "Zhanji will remember. Thank you, Fourth Uncle."

The younger children followed suit, cupping their hands and saying in their childish voices, "Thank you, Fourth Uncle."

The youngest princess, Zhen Ding, didn't understand what was going on. Seeing her older siblings cupping their hands in greeting, she followed suit and said in her childish voice, "Thank you, Fourth Uncle!"

Everyone at the table laughed. Zhu Di picked up his wine cup, drank it all in one gulp, and the wrinkles on his face smoothed out.

One dish after another was served, steaming hot and rising in white vapor.

Zhu Gaoxu ate with the most gusto, picking up a piece of roasted mutton and stuffing it into his mouth, chewing until his mouth was dripping with oil. Zhu Gaochi ate slowly, sipping his soup in small bites, sweat beading on his forehead.

The children were even more restless. Zhanxin grabbed a piece of honey-glazed yam and ate it until his face was covered in it, Princess Zhending had rice grains stuck to the corner of her mouth, and even Zhu Zhanji's sleeve had an oil stain on it.

Zhu Gaoxi sat quietly to his father's right. After finishing his bowl of rice, he put down his chopsticks and wiped his mouth with a handkerchief.

Zhang Yan sat opposite, and glanced at Zhu Gaoxi inadvertently, her chopsticks, which were picking up food, paused.

"Fourth brother, why isn't there any oil on your face?"

Mrs. Wei also looked over, scrutinizing him from head to toe several times, her eyes widening with each passing moment:

"It really is true. I didn't even notice until you pointed it out, sister-in-law. Fourth brother, how come you eat like you haven't eaten at all? There's not a speck of food on your clothes?"

Zhu Gaoxi looked down at his moon-white brocade robe, which was spotless, without a single wrinkle. He smiled and said, "The body of an immortal is neither defiled nor pure, untouched by dust. Even eating and drinking leave no trace."

As he spoke, he flicked his sleeves lightly. The moon-white sleeves swept through the air, making the already spotless fabric appear even more pristine. There wasn't a single speck of oil or water stain on the cuffs.

Sitting to the side, Madam Weng couldn't help but lean closer for a look, then pinched her sleeve and sighed.

"Fourth brother's skills are amazing. Look at me, I just changed into this before I left, and after just one meal, my cuffs are covered in oil. But fourth brother looks like he just came out of a box."

Lady Wei even stood up and circled Zhu Gaoxi, clicking her tongue in amazement:

"His skin is so good, so fair and flawless. I put pearl powder on my face every day, but it's not as good as my fourth brother's skin when he doesn't put anything on."

She turned to Zhang Yan and smiled, "Sister-in-law, look at Fourth Brother! What will he be like when he grows up?"

Zhang Yan covered her mouth and laughed, but her eyes remained fixed on Zhu Gaoxi's face, her tone filled with genuine envy:

"That's right. This immortal body is untouched by dust or dirt, and doesn't even need to wash its face. We women go through so much trouble applying makeup, but Fourth Brother is so carefree."

Empress Xu, who had been leaning back on the soft couch without saying a word, couldn't help but sit up straight and carefully examine her youngest son's face. She reached out and touched Zhu Gaoxi's hair; it was jet black and shiny, perfectly straight, without a speck of oil.

Zhu Gaochi was uninterested in these things, and mumbled through his mouthful of mutton:

"You women only know how to worry about these things. What's the point of not getting your hands dirty?"

He put down his chopsticks, his eyes shining as he looked at Zhu Gaoxi. "Fourth brother, the immortal body you mentioned earlier, does it also mean invulnerability to swords and spears?"

All eyes at the table shifted from Zhu Gaoxi's face to him.

Zhu Gaoxu slapped his thigh, his face full of regret: "I knew it! What's the point of being spotless? Invulnerability is the real skill!"

He patted his right shoulder. "Back when I was besieging the city, arrows rained down like rain. There was no way to dodge them. This arrow hurt for over a decade. If I had your skills back then, being invulnerable to swords and spears, I would have been the first to climb to the top of the city wall. Who could stop me?"

Zhu Gaosui chimed in with a smile, "Second brother is right. Invulnerable to swords and spears, conquering cities and seizing territories is as easy as walking on flat ground. Fourth brother's ability is truly remarkable."

Zhu Gaoxu glanced at Zhu Gaosui, then at Zhu Gaoxi's fair and clean face, and grinned, "Third brother is right. Invulnerability to swords and spears is the real deal; being a pretty boy is just a bonus."

Zhu Gaoxi smiled helplessly at what he was being told.

Zhu Gaochi laughed as well, and unusually chimed in, "With Fourth Brother's looks, the girls in the capital will probably be fighting over him in the future."

Empress Xu sat to the side, beaming from ear to ear. Zhu Di, unusually, also didn't have a stern face; the corners of his mouth turned up slightly as he picked up his wine cup and took another sip.

Princess Zhending couldn't understand what the adults were saying, but seeing her fourth uncle surrounded by everyone laughing, she clapped along, saying, "Fourth Uncle is handsome! Fourth Uncle is the most handsome!"

The table erupted in laughter again. Zhu Gaoxi shook his head helplessly, picked up his teacup, and took a small sip.