Ming Dynasty: Gain one supernatural power every day

After the meal, Zhu Di put down his chopsticks, wiped his hands, and glanced at his three sons and Zhu Zhanji sitting next to Zhu Gaochi.

"Eldest son, second son, third son, and fourth son, you four stay here. Zhanji also stays. Eldest son's wife, you and the others go and keep your mother company."

The door to the side hall was closed, leaving only Zhu Di, his four sons, and eight-year-old Zhu Zhanji.

Zhu Zhanji stood obediently behind Zhu Gaochi, not daring to move. Although he was young, he was intelligent from a young age and knew that his grandfather keeping him behind was no small matter. He held his breath and stood quietly.

Zhu Di leaned back in his chair, tapped his fingers lightly on the table twice, and remained silent for a long time.

Zhu Gaochi was an impatient man and couldn't hold back any longer. He was the first to speak up: "Father, why did you ask us to stay?"

Zhu Di glanced at him and slowly said, "You all saw it in court today. Fang Bin, Guo Jin, and those people are already making inquiries. The matter at Kunning Palace can't be kept secret for long."

Zhu Gaochi nodded: "Father is right. Although we dismissed everyone last night, the imperial physicians, palace servants, and eunuchs all know that the Empress Dowager has come back from the dead. They may not dare to say it, but they can't help but murmur about it. The news will spread sooner or later."

Zhu Gaoxu slammed his fist on the table: "So what if word gets out? Fourth Brother is a disciple of the Dao Ancestor, it's not like he's something to be ashamed of!"

Zhu Di didn't reply, but looked at Zhu Gaosui: "Third brother, what do you think?"

Zhu Gaosui pondered for a moment, then said softly, "Second brother is right, fourth brother's matter is indeed not something to be ashamed of. But... when to say it, and how to say it, we need to think it over carefully."

Zhu Di nodded: "What I mean is, rather than letting others find out, we should tell them ourselves."

Thinking to himself: Yesterday it was because the fourth brother was not capable enough to protect himself, but after today there is no need to worry about this problem. The fourth brother can even stop eating beef, and there is no need to keep it a secret as mentioned before.

Zhu Gaochi was taken aback: "Father means... to announce it publicly in court?"

"Yes." Zhu Di's gaze was steady. "The Daoist patriarch has passed on his teachings, and he is a celestial being. This is an immense blessing, but hiding it will only arouse suspicion. It's better to openly display it and let those people see it."

Zhu Gaochi was the first to speak up: "Father is right! Let's make it public! Let those old foxes see that our Zhu family has divine backing!"

Zhu Gaochi thought for a moment and then slowly said, "It's fine to make it public, but there needs to be a set procedure for when."

Zhu Di looked at Zhu Gaoxi: "Xi'er, what do you think?"

Zhu Gaoxi listened quietly the whole time. When his father asked him a question, he thought for a moment before speaking: "Father, I think it's not the right time yet."

Zhu Di raised an eyebrow slightly: "How so?"

Zhu Gaoxi said earnestly, "Although I have now obtained the power of creation and the body of an immortal, one of these things can cure diseases and the other can protect the body. In the eyes of the court officials, curing diseases may not be impossible to interpret as 'the art of traditional Chinese medicine'."

"The Empress Dowager has come back from the dead. They can say that the Empress Dowager is blessed by heaven, or they can say that the Imperial Hospital's previous diagnosis was wrong. If we really want to be serious, I can't produce any evidence that will leave them speechless."

Zhu Gaochi nodded thoughtfully. Zhu Zhanji stood behind his father, listening with a mixture of understanding and confusion, but his eyes remained fixed on his fourth uncle.

Zhu Gaoxi continued, "As for the body of an immortal, impervious to swords and spears, pure and spotless, it sounds impressive, but how can I demonstrate it to the court officials? I can't very well let someone draw a sword on me in front of the entire court, can I? Even if they did, they could say I was wearing armor, or that there was some trickery involved. As for not being touched by dust and not needing to wash my face, that's even more insignificant. Who would believe that?"

Zhu Gaoxu scratched his head. Although he wasn't one to think things through, his fourth brother's words made sense. Invulnerability to swords and spears couldn't be verified in public; he couldn't very well have his fourth brother take off his clothes and get stabbed.

"So what I mean is," Zhu Gaoxi concluded:

"Wait a few more days. Wait until the Dao Ancestor imparts more intuitive and inexplicable supernatural powers, such as riding the clouds and mist, flying on a sword, or splitting mountains and rocks, or turning stones into gold."

"At that time, I will show them how it flies or transforms in front of the entire court. Then, without Father Emperor saying a word, they will believe it on their own."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Zhu Gaochi was the first to react, his eyes lit up, and he slammed his hand on the table:

"Flying on a sword? Soaring through the clouds? Fourth brother, are you serious?" He leaned forward, almost leaping into Zhu Gaoxi's arms. "You must tell your second brother first! Take him flying around Yingtian Prefecture!"

Zhu Zhanji, who had been standing obediently behind his father, couldn't help but speak up, saying in a low but urgent voice:

"Fourth Uncle, I want to too! I want to fly too! Take me with you!"

Zhu Gaochi smiled and shook his head:

"Second brother, how old are you? You're still acting like a child." Then he looked at Zhu Zhanji, "Zhanji, your fourth uncle hasn't even learned yet, and you're already starting to snatch things."

Zhu Zhanji blushed, but still stubbornly added:

"Then I'll be second in line. Fourth Uncle, you take Second Uncle first, then me."

Zhu Gaochi laughed heartily and patted Zhu Zhanji on the head:

"Alright! Let's go together, you and your fourth uncle take us for a spin in the sky!"

Zhu Gaochi suddenly leaned closer, his large belly tucked under his arms, rubbing his hands together, a slightly ingratiating smile on his face:

"Fourth brother, well... I'd like to experience it too. I've never been anywhere in my life because of my bad legs. If you could really fly, take me for a spin in the sky so I can see what the capital city looks like."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu chuckled: "Big brother, with your belly, I'm afraid my fourth brother's cloud couldn't carry it, could it?"

Zhu Gaochi blushed and glared at him: "Get lost!"

Zhu Gaosui said with a smile, "Fourth brother, you take the eldest brother, second brother, and Zhanji first, and then take me flying after you've taken them."

Zhu Gaochi pointed at Zhu Gaosui, then turned to Zhu Gaoxu and said, "Look at my third brother, second brother, the eldest brother is your elder brother, you have to let the eldest brother go first."

Zhu Gaochi's eyes darted around, and he suddenly leaned close to Zhu Di, grinning, and said, "Father, please be fair. If Fourth Brother learns to fly, who should be the first one he takes with him?"

Zhu Di put down his teacup, glanced at him, and said slowly, "The first one, of course, should be me."

The room fell silent for a moment.

Zhu Gaochi opened his mouth, but unexpectedly, he had shot himself in the foot. He hesitated for a long time before finally managing to squeeze out, "Then... what about the second one?"

Zhu Di ignored him, stood up, straightened his robes, and said calmly, "Take me with you first. I will patrol the skies over the capital. Then we can talk about your business."

After he finished speaking, he glanced at Zhu Gaoxi, his gaze containing a mixture of seriousness, a hint of jest, and something else that was hard to define.

Zhu Gaoxi quickly cupped his hands in greeting: "Your subject will remember. Once your subject has mastered the art of flying, I will be the first to take Father Emperor with me."

Zhu Di grunted in acknowledgment, then said, "Xi'er, spend more time with your mother. I have other matters to attend to." He then strode out of the side hall.

Zhu Gaoxu stood there, scratched his head, and turned to look at Zhu Gaosui: "Third brother, is Father serious or joking?"

Zhu Gaosui suppressed a laugh: "If Father Emperor says he's serious, then he's serious."

Zhu Gaoxu sighed, patted Zhu Gaoxi on the shoulder, and said helplessly, "Fourth brother, you'd better learn quickly. Father Emperor is first, Zhanji is second, and I'm third? That's alright, at least I'm better than my eldest brother."

Zhu Gaochi glared at him: "Who said you were third? I just said it myself. In terms of seniority, you have no chance of being ahead of me."

"That doesn't count. You only said that because I argued about it."

"Why doesn't it count? I said it, and that's it. My elder brother is the Crown Prince, so riding on your cloud is giving you face."

The two brothers started arguing back and forth, neither willing to give in.

Zhu Zhanji stood to the side, glancing at his second uncle and then at his father, before whispering to Zhu Gaoxi, "Fourth Uncle, when you fly, could you please not take them with you? Just take me. I promise I won't tell them."

Zhu Gaoxi smiled and patted his head: "Okay, your fourth uncle will take you secretly without telling them."

Zhu Zhanji's eyes lit up, he nodded vigorously, and then covered his mouth and chuckled secretly.

Zhu Gaoxu, with his sharp ears, turned his head sharply: "Fourth brother, what did you just say? Who did you secretly bring along?"

Zhu Gaoxi remained expressionless: "I said I'd secretly bring my second brother along."

Zhu Gaoxu looked at him suspiciously, scratched his head, and asked, "Really?"

Zhu Gaoxi nodded sincerely.

Zhu Gaoxu smiled with satisfaction and strode out, turning back to remind him as he went: "Fourth brother, remember this well: secretly take your second brother with you, and don't tell anyone—especially Father."

Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaosui followed him out. Zhu Gaochi stopped at the door, glanced back at Zhu Gaoxi, hesitated, and finally coughed, saying, "Fourth brother, as for eldest brother's share... you decide what to do." Then he slowly walked away.

Zhu Zhanji walked at the back, turned around and winked at Zhu Gaoxi, making a "keep it a secret" gesture.

Zhu Gaoxi smiled and waved at him.

The hall fell silent, leaving only Zhu Gaoxi. He sat in his chair, letting out a long breath, the smile still lingering on his lips.

Father ranked first, Second Brother third, Zhanji claimed second, but was refuted by Second Brother, and then Father beat him to it. Eldest Brother didn't say anything, but he cared too. Third Brother didn't argue, but everyone knew he also wanted to go up and take a turn.

This whole family argued like they were fighting a war over the order of flights.