The Great Ming Demon Pill: Your Majesty, please address me as the Crown Prince!

Chapter 113 The Water of My Roots

The conference concluded quickly.

In less than half a day, the Da Ming Xin Bao newspaper published an additional edition, reporting the entire proceedings of the Daoist conference, which sold out instantly.

For the next two or three days, the entire city of Nanjing was filled with reports of the Prince of Jiyang controlling lightning.

This continued for half a month, and the news gradually spread to surrounding cities, becoming known to more and more people.

However, the wider the spread, the more rumors will arise.

In slightly remote areas, rumors have spread that Zhu Zhanjun was the reincarnation of "Nine Heavens Responding to the Origin of Thunder and Universal Transformation Heavenly Venerable," while others say he was "True Martial Emperor."

The Eastern Palace.

The atmosphere was somewhat cold.

Both the Sun family and Jin Ying have been quite cautious lately.

The Crown Princess and the eldest grandson of the Emperor have both been somewhat irritable in recent days.

"What Zhenwu Emperor?" Zhang slammed her hand on the table and said angrily, "I think this kid is just a mortal. How could he be the reincarnation of Zhenwu Emperor? These ignorant people in the mortal world only know how to talk nonsense."

Zhu Zhanji's face darkened.

motherfucker.

Zhu Zhanjun's popularity among the people is growing.

If things continue like this, what chance does he have of winning?

The more he thought about it, the more confused he became, and he started to get agitated.

When his wife, Sun, offered him tea, Zhu Zhanji pushed her away.

He suddenly remembered something and couldn't help but say it.

"Jin Banban, where is the Young Master?"

Jin Ying said respectfully.

"Ever since that day when Master Yao received several books from Zhu Zhanjun, he has never left Qingshou Temple."

Zhu Zhanji couldn't help but frown.

What is Yao Guangxiao up to?

He tried to help himself a few times, but to no avail.

Why are you hiding in the temple now, with a few books in hand?

..........................

Bowen Pavilion.

Zhu Zhanjun was considering whether to gather a group of workers to study flintlock muskets, since he had the blueprints. However, he was concerned that this was a firearm and would affect many aspects of life, which was why he had delayed it until now.

As he was pondering this, he heard a noise outside.

By the time he realized what was happening, Zhu Di and Zhu Gaoxu had already entered.

Upon seeing Zhu Di and Zhu Gaochi arrive together, Zhu Zhanjun quickly rose to greet them: "Grandfather, Father, what brings you here?"

Zhu Di laughed heartily, strode inside, sat down on the armchair beside him, stroked his beard, and said, "I recently obtained an excellent medicinal diet recipe called 'Eight Treasures Warming Essence Soup'."

"It is said to be a secret recipe from the former Yuan Dynasty court, made with eight main ingredients: ginseng, deer antler, lingzhi, astragalus, angelica, wolfberry, poria, and rehmannia, along with a three-year-old hen, and simmered over a low flame for twelve hours."

"It is most effective in gently replenishing vital energy and strengthening the body's foundation."

"Knowing that you spend all day tinkering with those ingenious gadgets, I specially had someone prepare a portion and brought it here for you to try together."

Zhu Zhanjun's eyes lit up, and he laughed, "Grandpa Emperor, you still think of your grandson when you have good things. I am truly blessed."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's get it stewed right away!"

"I've been waiting for you to say that!" Zhu Di was in a good mood and instructed Meng Ji, who was attending him, "Meng Ji, go and give the prepared medicinal herbs and that old hen to the imperial chef. Stew them for me immediately in the small kitchen of the Bowen Hall."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Meng Ji bowed and accepted the order, then hurried away.

Before long, a pale-faced eunuch from the imperial kitchen ran back and knelt down in front of Zhu Di, trembling as he said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me... The 'Eight Treasures Warming Soup' needs to be made with water from nowhere to retain its refreshing and warming effects, and to neutralize the dryness of the medicinal herbs."

"This servant...this servant deserves to die. In my haste today, I forgot to collect and store the water without roots beforehand..."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Di frowned immediately, his smile vanished, and his expression turned displeased: "You scoundrel!"

"Can't you even handle this simple matter?"

"Without water from a source without roots, the efficacy of this medicinal diet will be greatly reduced!"

Zhu Gaoxu, who was standing to the side, had an even more fiery temper, and his eyes widened immediately upon hearing this.

"Useless trash!"

"You can't even prepare enough rainwater?"

"I think you're asking for a beating!"

Seeing the eunuch trembling with fear and begging for mercy, Zhu Zhanjun quickly stepped forward to stop Zhu Gaoxu and said with a smile, "Father, don't be so quick to get angry."

"Isn't it just water without a source?"

Why make things difficult for servants?

"I have!"

Zhu Di and Zhu Gaoxu were taken aback.

Does this kid have it?

"Oh?" Zhu Di's interest was piqued. "Zhanjun, you have one? You collect these things?"

Zhu Zhanjun said with a smile.

"Of course."

"Grandpa, please have a seat. I'll take him to get it."

.....................

Half an hour later.

Meng Ji quickly returned with a steaming bowl of soup and carefully placed it on the table.

Upon opening the lid, a rich and mellow medicinal aroma, along with the delicious scent of the old hen, wafts out, making one's mouth water.

Zhu Di stroked his beard with satisfaction and picked up a soup ladle first: "Come, come, try it while it's hot."

Zhu Gaoxu couldn't wait any longer. Upon hearing this, he immediately scooped up a large spoonful, blew on it, and put it in his mouth.

However, as soon as the soup entered his throat, he exclaimed "Huh?", frowned slightly, and after savoring it for a moment, his expression became somewhat strange: "The medicinal aroma is strong, but the soup tastes a bit odd."

"Oh?" Upon hearing this, Zhu Di also became curious, put down his beard, scooped up a spoonful and put it in his mouth.

He first closed his eyes to savor the moment, then his brows slowly furrowed as he opened his eyes.

"This taste is definitely not right."

"What happened?"

"Meng Ji, go and ask what's going on?"

Zhu Di put down his spoon, feeling somewhat displeased.

He originally wanted to bring something for Zhanjun to try, but he didn't expect it to turn out so badly. What kind of cooks are these?

Meng Ji responded and quickly withdrew.

Zhu Di smiled apologetically at Zhu Zhanjun.

"Zhanjun, you've been looking forward to nothing."

"But this medicinal cuisine is quite nourishing. Once you get used to the taste, it's actually not bad. Would you like to try some?"

Zhu Zhanjun waved his hand and said with a grin.

"Grandpa, I appreciate your kindness."

"But I just ate quite a lot, my stomach is too full, I'll rest for a while."

"Please drink first, don't be shy!"

After a while.

Meng Ji returned hurriedly, his face showing some trepidation. He bowed and reported, "Your Majesty, this servant has carefully inquired with the imperial chef on duty."

"The steps, timing, heat, and even the amount of herbs and chicken were all strictly followed according to the recipe without any mistakes."

"Several experienced imperial chefs tasted the remaining soup and found it strange. The medicinal properties were sufficient, but the soup lacked the 'clear and sweet aftertaste' of the soup."

"After much thought, the most likely explanation they came up with was the water source."

Zhu Di was taken aback upon hearing this.

water?

He subconsciously looked at Zhu Zhanjun.

"Zhanjun, is your water water without a source?"

Zhu Gaoxu, who was standing to the side, also put down his soup spoon and looked at his son with a look of confusion in his eyes.

He just took a few more sips and felt that it had a fishy smell after drinking too much.

Zhu Zhanjun nodded confidently.

"Of course it's water from my roots, the real deal!"

Zhu Di stroked his beard and frowned.

"Zhanjun, where did you get your rootless water from?"

Zhu Zhanjun blinked.