Ming Dynasty: Gain one supernatural power every day

The Xu family was the maternal family of Empress Xu, descendants of Xu Da, the first meritorious official of the founding of the dynasty. Xu Da had passed away many years ago, and his eldest daughter was Empress Xu.

In addition, Xu Da had three sons.

Xu Huizu was the eldest son of Xu Da and the elder brother of Empress Xu. During the Jingnan Rebellion, he led troops to fight against Zhu Di. After Zhu Di ascended the throne, he spared Xu Huizu's life out of consideration for his sibling relationship and allowed him to live at home in retirement.

Empress Xu and this elder brother grew up together and had a very deep relationship. When Empress Xu got married, Xu Huizu personally escorted her to Beiping. Otherwise, given Zhu Di's personality, he would not have spared him.

After the Jingnan Rebellion, Empress Xu never took the initiative to mention her elder brother to Zhu Di. She could not get close to him, nor dared to. She could only silently maintain a polite facade and suppress this brother-sister relationship in her heart.

The three brothers were all distant from their eldest uncle. Zhu Gaochi visited him only according to custom during festivals, never daring to go any further. Zhu Gaoxu harbored resentment towards him for their past enmity and often forgot to send gifts during festivals. Zhu Gaosui also had virtually no contact with him.

Xu Zengshou, the second son, was the one among the three Xu brothers who had the closest relationship with Zhu Di. During the Jingnan Campaign, he served as a bodyguard for Emperor Jianwen in Nanjing, secretly passing on intelligence to Zhu Di and acting as an inside agent. After the matter was exposed, he was personally beheaded by Emperor Jianwen in the palace.

After Zhu Di ascended the throne, he posthumously conferred upon him the title of Duke of Dingguo, a hereditary title, and allowed his son Xu Jingchang to inherit the title. Xu Jingchang was Zhu Gaoxi's second cousin, and he inherited the title at a young age. He is now the head of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion.

Although Xu Jingchang came from a military family, he was gentle and mild-mannered, never competitive, and always considerate and meticulous in his dealings with others.

He was close in age to Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi, and when Zhu Gaochi was in charge of the country, he often helped manage some affairs involving nobles and officials. The two had many official and private interactions.

Although Prince Zhu Gaoxu of Han was impatient, he respected Xu Zengshou's loyalty and bravery in risking his life for Zhu Di, and he also took good care of Xu Jingchang, often inviting him to go hunting and training.

Prince Zhao, Zhu Gaosui, and Xu Jingchang were most compatible in temperament. Both were quiet and composed people. Although they did not meet often, they admired each other.

The third son, Xu Yingxu, held the military rank of assistant commander and was an honest man who never competed for anything. The others had relatively distant relationships with him.

Besides his three sons, Xu Da also had several daughters. One daughter married Zhu Gui, the Prince of Dai. Another daughter married Zhu Ying, the Prince of An.

Zhu Di's decision to appoint Xu Jingchang to the Prince Rui's residence as a master of ceremonies and a companion to his son was a special favor to Xu Zengshou's lineage and a statement to meritorious officials: I am not a heartless person. As long as you have made contributions, you can bring blessings to your descendants. So work hard for me.

Empress Xu was very close to this nephew and placed high hopes on him. After all, as mentioned earlier, this nephew personally gathered people to search for medicine when she was seriously ill.

Although the fourth prince is incredibly capable, he is also carefree by nature, and the household affairs always need someone meticulous to manage them. Xu Jingchang is steady, thorough in his work, and also a family member. With him at the Prince Rui's residence, he can help the fourth prince take care of the household affairs and also help the cousins ​​get closer.

Another reason is for the sake of the Xu family. Without harming the interests of the royal family, they can appropriately help the Xu family's maternal family so that the relationship between the Xu family and the royal family does not become increasingly distant.

After chatting for a few more minutes, Zhu Gaoxi raised his hand and gently waved it on the stone table. The gourmet dining table was activated, and several dishes appeared out of thin air on the table.

Squirrel-shaped mandarin fish is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside; crab meat lion's head meatballs are fresh, fragrant, and soft; Nanjing salted duck is salty and flavorful; braised dried bean curd strips have a white broth and rich taste; Wuxi braised pork ribs are tender and the meat is soft.

Empress Xu tasted one of each dish and joked, "I can't come to the Fourth Prince's place anymore. I won't be able to eat anything back in the palace after this."

"Hmm, it's really good," Zhu Di said calmly, picking up several pieces of braised pork ribs.

After everyone had finished eating, Zhu Di wiped his mouth with a handkerchief and stood up.

He glanced at the sky above the observation deck and said solemnly, "This morning at the morning court session, I distributed the pages of books that the Fourth Prince gave me. The people from the Six Ministries should be discussing it in the side hall right now. I'll go and see if they've made any progress."

Normally, they should all be having meals or resting in their residences, but this is not normal. What's so special about working overtime at noon? These people are probably even eating their meals in the government office in order to achieve political achievements and get Prince Rui to grant them a long life.

Empress Xu raised her eyelids slightly upon hearing this, a smile playing on her lips. She didn't expose the truth, but simply said slowly, "It's only been half a day. Each department might not even have finished copying all those pages. What progress can they possibly make?"

Her tone held a hint of sarcasm, "Is Your Majesty going to inspect official business, or to show your ministers your newly acquired somersault cloud?"

People become younger, and their mindset becomes younger too. Empress Xu rarely spoke to Zhu Di like this before.

Zhu Di, his thoughts exposed, said with a stern face, "Of course I'm going to inspect official business. Am I the kind of person who would flaunt something good? I'm not the second son."

Empress Xu and Zhu Gaoxi looked at him at the same time, their eyes conveying the same answer: You are.

Zhu Di changed the subject without changing his expression: "Didn't the Empress also say it was time to return to the palace? Perfect, I'll send you back first."

Empress Xu didn't argue with him, but smiled and said to Zhu Gaoxi, "You've had a good time playing and a good meal today, and I'm truly happy. I don't know how much good karma I accumulated in my past life to have such a wonderful son like you."

She stood up, straightened her clothes, and said, "Then Mother will go back too. There are still some account books waiting to be reviewed in the palace. Xi'er, bring Miss Liu to the palace more often when you have time."

Zhu Gaoxi stood up: "Your subject will escort Father Emperor and Empress Dowager to their quarters."

Zhu Di immediately waved his hand, his speed suggesting he had been waiting for these words: "No need to see me off! I know the way. I'll ride back myself on a cloud."

He rolled his eyes and added, with a hint of smugness in his tone, "Your palace title can stay here, no need to move it. Remember to give me that kind of permission too."

Empress Xu glanced at Zhu Di, then turned to Zhu Gaoxi and smiled, "You don't need to send it. Your father finally got his hands on the cloud, let him take it back himself. He just got it today, and hasn't had his fill of it yet. If you don't let him fly it, he'll be holding back until tomorrow morning's court session."

"I heard everything." Zhu Di walked towards the "Yongle" flower that was parked in the small square without turning his head.

Zhu Gaoxi did not insist and stood by the viewing platform watching the two ascend the Somersault Cloud.

The cloud ship slowly rose into the air, passed through the light barrier of the enclosure, and flew towards Kunning Palace.

He leaned against the railing, silently releasing a wisp of his spiritual energy, which trailed far behind the somersault cloud. He had to keep an eye on it to make sure nothing went wrong, otherwise he might accidentally fall and become a dead man.

Zhu Di first sent Empress Xu back to Kunning Palace.

The somersault cloud landed steadily in the courtyard in front of the palace. Huang Yan was guarding the door. When he saw the emperor and empress returning on the cloud, he quickly stepped forward to pay his respects, but his eyes couldn't help but glance at the white cloud several times.