Ming Dynasty: Gain one supernatural power every day

When Empress Xu and Zhu Gaoxi saw Zhu Di arrive, they quickly stood up and bowed.

Watching the two move, Liu Shen tried to imitate them. She stood up and bowed slightly. Although her movements were a little awkward, she managed to imitate their posture quite well.

Zhu Di waved his hand: "No need for formalities, please sit down."

He first went to Empress Xu's side, carefully examined her complexion, and only felt relieved to see that her eyes were no longer red and she was in good spirits. After all, among the three thousand beauties in the harem, Empress Xu was his true love.

Then he turned to Zhu Gaoxi, his tone slightly reproachful: "Fourth Prince, you're finally back. Your mother was worried sick this morning, saying you went somewhere without saying a word. You've only just returned to the palace; if anything happened to you..."

Empress Xu added softly from the side, "Your father may not say it, but he's been very unsettled since hearing the news this morning. I doubt he'll even be able to approve any memorials."

Zhu Di, his secret exposed, coughed awkwardly and said, "I know the Fourth Prince is incredibly powerful, he'll definitely be fine."

Zhu Gaoxi bowed and said, "Father, Mother, it was my negligence. I went to heaven last night to cultivate my supernatural powers and didn't have time to tell the family. I'm sorry to have worried you. I promise I won't do it again next time."

He spoke sincerely, but he knew in his heart that his feelings for Empress Xu were genuine. Her undisguised worry and concern made him, an orphan from his previous life, experience the taste of being loved by a mother for the first time.

Generally speaking, boys have always had an inseparable bond with their mothers.

As for Zhu Di, his father, the emperor, did treat him very well, bestowing upon him the title of prince, establishing his own residence, and assigning him officials—all of which were impeccable. However, perhaps due to the traditional Chinese father-son relationship, there was always a layer of distance between them, unlike the direct and passionate concern shown by Empress Xu.

However, at least for now, Zhu Di's kindness to him is genuine, and he remembers it in his heart.

Zhu Di nodded, his gaze sweeping around the hall before settling on Liu Shen.

He was stunned for a moment. He had been so busy talking when he came in that he hadn't looked closely, but now he could finally see the woman in the green dress clearly.

His gaze froze upon seeing her. Her face was indeed breathtakingly beautiful. Even after being emperor for so many years and having seen countless beauties, he had to admit that the woman before him was truly a rare beauty.

Empress Xu, observing Zhu Di's expression, coughed softly.

The cough wasn't loud, but it carried a strong warning. His gaze swept over, clearly saying: You lecherous Zhu, where are you looking? This is your daughter-in-law! You want to be Li Longji, don't you? Little do you know, in front of Liu Shen, Zhu Di can at most be a roasted milk Zhu.

Zhu Di immediately snapped out of his daze, his face remaining calm as if his momentary lapse had never occurred. After all, he'd already eaten pig feed; it was normal for him to be a little thick-skinned, since those without thick skin were already buried under three-foot-high weeds.

Empress Xu smiled with satisfaction, stood up, walked to Liu Shen's side, affectionately took her hand, and introduced her to Zhu Di: "Your Majesty, this is Miss Liu. She was Xi'er's Daoist partner when he was cultivating in the celestial realm. The Dao Ancestor, out of compassion for the young couple's separation, specially sent Miss Liu down to the mortal realm to accompany Xi'er."

After hearing this, Zhu Di had only one thought in his mind.

This Dao Ancestor is so considerate! Who says the Great Dao is heartless? This Dao Ancestor is too kind, giving away supernatural powers and a Daoist partner. He's practically the He Jiong of the celestial realm!

If a proper immortal undergoing tribulation knew Zhu Di's thoughts, he would definitely say: "You little Zhu Zhu, do you even know anything about cultivation? If you don't, don't talk nonsense. Becoming an immortal is very difficult, okay? Without some strength, a random lightning tribulation could turn you into a roasted suckling pig."

He remained expressionless and nodded slightly: "So you are a deity from the celestial realm. No wonder your temperament is so extraordinary."

Empress Xu smiled and said, "Indeed. I was just saying that Xi'er and Miss Liu are both so beautiful. I wonder how handsome their children will be."

Zhu Di nodded seriously: "Indeed."

He sat down on the chair next to him, then changed the subject, looking at Zhu Gaoxi: "Fourth brother, you said this morning that you went to heaven to cultivate supernatural powers. You've been cultivating for so long, what kind of supernatural powers have you been cultivating?"

Zhu Gaoxi casually replied, "It's nothing special, just flying through the clouds."

Upon hearing this, the couple both looked at Zhu Gaoxi, their expressions somewhat subtle.

Empress Xu's tone carried a hint of helplessness: "You child, flying through the clouds is a great supernatural power that only immortals can perform, but you talk about it as if it were eating and drinking. Some people cultivate for a lifetime and still can't develop even a trace of supernatural power, but you, on the other hand, speak of it so casually."

Zhu Di, somewhat curious, asked, "Fourth Prince, don't you already have sword flight and that golden dragon? With a sword and a dragon, why are you still cultivating cloud-riding?"

Empress Xu glared at him: "That was passed down from the Dao Ancestor to the fourth prince, it must have had profound meaning, and you're not happy that the fourth prince knows so much?"

"I didn't mean that," Zhu Di coughed lightly. "I was just asking."

Zhu Gaoxi smiled and explained, "Flying on a sword is less tiring than standing, and riding a dragon is uncomfortable. The clouds are soft and fluffy, and it's comfortable to lie down on them."

Zhu Di and Empress Xu both fell silent.

The couple exchanged a glance, both reading the same thing in each other's eyes: "You've really picked someone, haven't you?"

Flying on a sword or riding a golden dragon—which of these isn't a celestial technique that could drive the world mad?

When it came to the fourth brother, one said "standing is tiring" and the other said "it's uncomfortable," but the reason was that lying on the clouds was comfortable.

No, if standing is tiring, can't you put a chair on the sword? Anyway, your sword can grow bigger. But thinking about it again, it is indeed strange to put a chair on a sword.

Zhu Di paused for a moment to process this, then asked tentatively, "Fourth Prince, that dragon of yours... is it really uncomfortable to ride?"

"Really." Zhu Gaoxi nodded seriously. "The dragon scales are a bit hard, almost like sitting on the ground. If you sit for a long time, your legs will go numb."

Zhu Di's expression suddenly became somewhat complicated: I haven't even ridden it yet, and you're already complaining that it's uncomfortable.

He considered his words carefully: "If you don't want to ride it, could you lend it to my father to try?"

Empress Xu also put away her joking expression and looked at Zhu Gaoxi seriously: "Xi'er, your supernatural powers are increasing and your abilities are growing, but you can't just relax and become complacent. You still need to take your cultivation seriously, understand?"

Zhu Gaoxi nodded in agreement, and then said, "Riding the dragon may not be possible for the time being. Little Jin is molting his scales these days, and he's been in a bad mood. Let's wait until the day we set off. But these clouds are indeed comfortable. If Father and Mother don't believe me, they can try them and see."

Hearing this, he was both amused and exasperated. He couldn't very well tell her directly that this Miss Liu, who kept calling him "daughter-in-law," was actually just like Xiao Jin—made of wood. He'd better just let it slide for now.