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

A short while later.

The group walked through the front courtyard of the museum and arrived at an open space in the backyard.

In the center of the field stood a huge spherical object, made of some kind of tough fabric, with a dark yellow color. A rattan basket hung below it, and firewood, kerosene, and other materials were piled up next to the basket. Several craftsmen were busy at work.

When Zhu Di, Zhu Gaochi, and Zhu Zhanji saw this enormous and bizarre device for the first time, they couldn't help but examine it closely.

"This thing... can it really carry people into the air?" Zhu Gaochi looked up at the sphere that was taller than a house and clicked his tongue.

Zhu Zhanjun walked to the basket with a grin and patted the rattan basket.

"Uncle, this thing is called a hot air balloon."

"The principle is very simple. As long as the balloon is filled with hot air, which is lighter than cold air, the buoyancy generated can lift the basket into the air."

"When it's time to descend, simply reduce the heating to allow the air inside the balloon to cool down."

Kuang Zhong added from the side, "Your Highness is absolutely right."

"After repeated testing, we adjusted the thickness and sealing of the balloon fabric and improved the combustion device below. Now, in windless weather, we can carry a person to a height of several tens of feet and maintain it for about fifteen minutes."

Upon hearing this, the three of them gasped in shock.

Zhu Zhanji, in particular, looked at Zhu Zhanjun with an incredulous expression.

This kid is actually pretty good?

Zhu Di walked around the hot air balloon, reaching out to touch the material of the balloon's bladder: "What is this hot air balloon made of? How can it withstand the scorching heat?"

"Your Majesty," a craftsman stepped forward and replied, "The outer layer of the balloon is made of thick cotton cloth soaked in tung oil, and the inner lining is made of thin cowhide. All the seams are sealed with fish glue, making it fire-resistant, heat-resistant, and not easy to leak air."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Di nodded slightly.

Even though I didn't understand, I could still pretend.

Zhu Zhanjun pushed himself up and climbed into the basket.

"Grandpa, why don't you come up and give it a try?"

"Grandson will take you on a journey of showing off and soaring to new heights!"

Zhu Di was somewhat tempted and couldn't help but say so.

"Is this hot air balloon safe?"

"It's perfectly safe!" Zhu Zhanjun patted his chest confidently. "I've already arranged for people to test fly it three times. The highest it flew was a hundred feet off the ground, overlooking Nanjing."

"Grandpa Emperor, you've been through countless battles, so keep your spirits up and don't embarrass yourself!"

Zhu Di was spurred on by him and his heroic spirit was ignited.

"good!"

"If you're not afraid, then Grandpa Emperor will be with you."

"Father!" Zhu Gaochi hurriedly dissuaded him, his fat face trembling. "This hot air balloon is far too novel, and it will be quite high off the ground. Your Majesty is of noble birth; it's best not to take the risk..."

Zhu Zhanji also quickly replied.

"Grandfather, Father is right."

"Your son, of noble birth, will not sit under a dangerous roof."

"This hot air balloon is too dangerous."

Zhu Di waved his hand.

"If Zhan Jun dares to sit, what do I have to fear?"

"You and your son, would you like to come along?"

Zhu Gaochi's face turned pale, and he swallowed hard.

"Father, I think I'd better give up."

He's too timid to do that.

Zhu Di was not surprised by his reaction. He nodded and looked at Zhu Zhanji.

Zhu Zhanji glanced at Zhu Zhanjun and immediately gritted his teeth.

"Alright, Grandpa Emperor, I'll go too!"

Zhu Di nodded in satisfaction.

"This is the true bloodline of the Zhu family!"

"He has guts!"

Zhu Gaochi's face turned pale, and he quickly lowered his head.

Zhu Di ignored him, turned to look at Kuang Zhong beside him, and said indifferently.

"Kuang Zhong, get ready!"

Kuang Zhong accepted the order and immediately directed the craftsmen to ignite the specially made oil stove under the basket.

Flames erupted, and waves of heat surged, continuously pouring into the sac above through the opening.

The bladder gradually inflated, slowly straightened, and caused the rim to sway slightly.

Zhu Zhanjun helped Zhu Di step into the basket, and then followed closely behind.

The basket was small, only big enough for three or four people to stand in. After Zhu Di and Zhu Zhan both stood in place, it became a bit crowded.

Zhu Zhanji climbed over himself, and after settling down, he felt uneasy.

Damn it, I must be crazy to have followed this kid up here.

Who knows if this kid is just talking nonsense?

What if something goes wrong?

Just as he was lost in thought...

As the flame continued to heat the balloon, it became increasingly full.

About half an incense stick later, the basket shook slightly and actually slowly lifted off the ground!

"They're up! They're up!" the crowd on the sidelines exclaimed.

The basket gradually rose three feet, five feet, ten feet, and so on off the ground.

Zhu Di gripped the edge of the basket tightly and looked down. He saw that the figures of Zhu Gaochi and others were getting smaller and smaller. The roof tiles and trees of the Bowen Hall were all at his feet, and the outline of the Nanjing city wall gradually appeared in the distance.

His heart skipped a beat for no reason, and he felt dizzy and lightheaded, a sense of panic filling his chest.

Zhu Di gripped the edge of the wicker basket tightly, his knuckles turning slightly white.

Nima!

Why do my legs feel a little unresponsive?

A short while later.

The distant, continuous city walls of Nanjing gradually shrink, and people appear as small as ants.

The Qinhuai River is like a winding silver ribbon.

The once magnificent palaces now resemble toys.

Zhu Di glanced down instinctively and felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

Holy crap, it's so high off the ground!

He had fought for half his life, braving mountains of corpses and seas of blood, never blinking an eye even when pierced by swords and arrows, but this kind of unsettling, unprovoked sense of panic was something he had never experienced before.

I really can't hold on any longer!

Zhu Di's face turned pale, his legs went weak, and he almost couldn't stand up.

Zhu Zhanji swallowed hard, looking at the figures below growing smaller and smaller with some shock.

Holy crap, it really flew!

Zhu Zhanjun chuckled.

"Hey, how are you feeling, bro?"

Zhu Zhanji felt his legs were going weak.

"Zhanjun, what if you fall?"

Zhu Zhanjun shook his head.

"Hold it in a grand and extravagant manner."

[Ding! You have obtained a golden treasure chest!]

Zhu Zhanji: "..."

He glanced at his grandfather, Zhu Di, who stood tall and imposing in front of him, and said in a low voice.

"Zhanjun, aren't you afraid?"

Zhu Zhanjun made a face.

"Whoever is afraid in front of the Emperor is a coward, isn't he?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhanji's pride surged.

That's right, he's not even as good as a kid?

He's determined to conquer a mere hot air balloon!

He suddenly heard Zhu Zhanjun's voice in his ear.

"Hey bro, do you know any words that, when read forwards, mean 'to fly,' and when read backwards, mean 'to eat'?"

Zhu Zhanji said subconsciously.

"Honey, I guess."

Zhu Zhanjun shook his head.

"wrong!"

The correct answer is a level 8 gale!

Zhu Zhanji: "???"

What kind of answer is this?!

After a while.

Inside the museum.

Zhu Gaochi's face turned pale as he looked at Kuang Zhong.

"This hot air balloon is so high, when are we going to come down?"

Kuang Zhong quickly reassured him, "Your Highness, there is no need to worry too much. The hot air balloon has been airborne for a while now, and as agreed beforehand, it will descend when the fuel is almost used up."

"Your Majesty, the Prince of Jiyang, and the eldest grandson of the Emperor are tied together with ropes. Once the flames subside, the people on the ground will work together to pull them back."

Zhu Gaochi forced himself to calm down and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve: "That's good...that's good..."

Damn, that's so tall!

He was down there, and he was terrified watching it!

Kuang Zhong turned around and gestured to the craftsmen and guards on the sidelines.

The group immediately stepped forward, grasped the thick hemp ropes that were tethering the hot air balloon, and began to slowly tighten them.

With the ropes taut, the hot air balloon gradually descended in altitude as the tension increased, and the basket swayed gently in the breeze.

Inside the basketball hoop in mid-air, Zhu Di felt his heart almost leap out of his throat.

He discovered for the first time that he was actually afraid of heights!

It's not that I'm afraid of heights, it's just that they're damn high!

He didn't dare to speak, for fear of making a fool of himself and losing face.

The rim shook violently as it was pulled.

Zhu Di gripped even tighter, his face grim.

This feeling of being like a leaf falling in the wind, potentially turning into mincemeat at any moment, is absolutely awful!

A short while later.

The hot air balloon had descended to a height of about 30 to 40 meters above the ground.

The rope continued to tighten, and the basket finally touched the ground steadily.

Zhu Di's tense nerves suddenly relaxed, and his vision went black. He staggered and grabbed the basket, almost fainting.

Even so, he was half-paralyzed on the basketball hoop; if he hadn't been holding on tightly, he would have collapsed to the ground.

Zhu Gaochi was startled and rushed forward, exclaiming in surprise.

"Father, are you alright?"

Zhu Di felt the gazes of the crowd and his old face flushed red. He glared at Zhu Gaochi.

You're talking nonsense.

When Zhu Zhanjun saw Zhu Di's appearance, his heart tightened.

What should you do if your boss makes a fool of himself in front of you?

If your boss farts in the elevator, you can just urinate in your pants pocket.

Zhu Zhanjun immediately shouted loudly.

"Ouch."

"Too high!"

"That really scared me to death."

He suddenly trembled like a Parkinson's patient, his face turned red, he was covered in sweat, and he was panting heavily before slowly collapsing to the ground.

Sure enough, when Zhu Di saw him like this, he immediately straightened his back.

He pulled Zhu Zhanjun up, patted off non-existent dust from Zhu Zhanjun's body, and laughed.

"You little brat, how come you're so useless?"

"You're so scared by this little thing."

"Looks like I'll have to give you more responsibilities and train you a bit more!"

"Come, let Grandpa help you up."

Zhu Zhanji looked completely bewildered.

Wasn't this kid quite energetic just now?

Why is he paralyzed now?

He immediately shuddered.

He got it.

Zhu Zhanjun's nonchalant attitude just now was all an act!

Zhu Zhanji was overjoyed.

This kid has made a fool of himself!

Grandpa Emperor hates cowardly people the most.

He was secretly overjoyed, but then calmly said...

"Zhanjun, what's wrong? You're already so scared after flying only this low?"

"Look at me, I've stood perfectly straight the whole time, without moving an inch."

"Look at you, all sweaty and trembling like a leaf. You're usually so bold, but you're showing your cowardice when it really matters."

"Your legs went weak with fear?"

"Tsk tsk tsk, a real man should stand tall and upright."

"If he can't even stand up straight, is he even a man?"