Ming Dynasty: Gain one supernatural power every day

"I'm so glad, brother!" Zhu Gaoxu answered quickly, afraid of being a second too late.

"To my shame, we didn't even have a chance to make a move before my fourth brother took care of those barbarians in no time." As he said this, he put on that "my fourth brother is invincible" expression again.

"Hey, I knew it! As Laozi's disciple, dealing with these barbarians must be as easy as chopping melons and vegetables for you, right?" Pigsy chuckled, casually leaning his rake against the door.

"Marshal, you flatter me." Zhu Gaoxi quickly replied politely, with a smile on his face and a very humble attitude.

"Brother, how's it going over here? I bet with your abilities, dealing with these barbarians will be a piece of cake, right?" Zhu Gaoxu asked hurriedly.

Pigsy waved his hand dismissively, his tone relaxed: "These Annamese barbarians will only lie in ambush in the jungle, and mortal armies might not be able to handle them. But what kind of battles haven't I, Old Pig, seen? I've ventured into demon caves and monstrous lairs a hundred times more dangerous than this. This little scene is no problem for me, Old Pig. I'll just go in and whack them with my rakes, and they'll be done for before they even have a chance to react."

"Marshal, you must be hungry after fighting for so long. The food and wine are ready, let's go inside and talk." Zhu Di took over the conversation and gestured for him to enter.

"Great! I was just getting hungry, thank you Your Majesty!" Pigsy's eyes lit up. He had eaten the delicious food summoned by Zhu Gaoxi earlier, and was already starving.

Pigsy looked around again, his gaze landing on the rows of exquisite wooden buildings and plank roads along the riverbank. He clicked his tongue in admiration: "These must all be Little Brother's masterpieces, right? Little Brother's supernatural powers are truly enviable."

"Brother is right! I really envy my fourth brother's supernatural ability, being able to go to any palace he wants. But this is nothing, brother, you haven't seen my fourth brother's Prince's Mansion in Yingtian Prefecture, that's what you call magnificent!" Zhu Gaoxu immediately chimed in, and when he talked about the Prince Rui's Mansion, a proud look appeared on his face again, as if the mansion belonged to him.

Zhu Gaoxi said something polite again, then pointed to the river-view room next to the main building: "Marshal, that's the room reserved for you. Get some rest tonight."

Upon hearing that he would have a separate river-view room, Pigsy was overjoyed and repeatedly thanked him, saying, "Thank you, sir!"

The group chatted and laughed as they entered the main building.

This river-view room is very spacious. The first floor is a banquet hall facing the Changjiang River with windows on three sides. The river breeze, carrying moisture, flows through the hall, mixing the aroma of food and wine with the freshness of the river water.

Zhu Di sat in the main seat, with Zhu Gaoxi and Zhu Gaoxu on either side. Zhu Bajie sat next to Zhu Gaoxu, followed by core military generals such as Zhang Fu, Zheng Heng, Xue Lu, and Qiu Fu, as well as several civil officials who accompanied the army, including Yang Rong, Jin Youzi, and Hu Guang. The room was packed with people.

After everyone was seated, Zhu Di picked up his wine cup, glanced at the generals present, and said, "The one who has made the greatest contribution to this expedition to Annam is naturally Prince Rui, Zhu Gaoxi. I believe everyone agrees."

As soon as he finished speaking, a chorus of agreement filled the hall.

Zhang Fu was the first to bow and say, "Your Majesty is absolutely right. If it weren't for Prince Rui's teleportation portal and the beast army, we would still be eating dry rations outside the Ailu Pass right now."

Zheng Heng echoed, "The Emperor's divine powers are unparalleled; we are completely convinced."

Not to be outdone, the civil officials, Yang Rong and Jin Youzi, nodded repeatedly and uttered a string of elegant compliments.

Zhu Di continued, "Next is Marshal Tianpeng. The Marshal cleared obstacles all the way, ensuring the smooth passage of our army, and his contribution is indispensable. Then there is Prince Han, Zhu Gaoxu. Although he did not contribute much in today's battle, his courage in charging ahead is commendable. After returning to the capital, I will reward them all according to their merits."

Everyone naturally agreed without objection.

When Zhu Gaoxu heard the assessment that he had "didn't contribute much," his lips twitched, and he wanted to say something but then held back.

"Today we have achieved a great victory. I hereby grant permission for everyone to drink in moderation as a reward for the army. Issue the order that each camp may drink in moderation today, but not excessively," Zhu Di instructed Zhang Fu.

Then he turned to Zhu Gaoxi, smiled, and said, "Since the fourth prince is here, I won't embarrass myself. Bring out the imperial wine, and let the fourth prince arrange the dishes."

What he said was very true. After all, no matter how good the imperial cuisine was, it couldn't compare to the celestial delicacies summoned by the fourth prince's gourmet dining table.

"Your Majesty is too kind to me," Zhu Gaoxi said with a smile.

Then, without further ado, she pointed her finger, and the rap began:

Crystal-cooked pork, scallion-oil crystal shrimp, braised beef tendon, honey-glazed lotus root, conch in broth, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, crispy eight-treasure roast duck, squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, braised crab meat lion's head meatballs, Longjing shrimp, black pepper Wagyu beef, braised three whites in fermented rice wine, braised abalone and sea cucumber with oyster sauce, boiled cabbage in clear broth, braised bok choy with shiitake mushrooms, matsutake mushrooms and fresh asparagus...

Dishes appeared out of thin air on the table, their plating so exquisite it was as if they had been brought directly from the imperial kitchen's painting catalog.

The crystal-clear meat is sliced ​​as thin as cicada wings, its pink flesh paired with the glistening aspic, and sprinkled with finely shredded ginger, resembling an elegant ink painting.

The crystal shrimp in scallion oil are curled up on the plate, their bodies translucent like jade, glistening in the amber-colored scallion oil.

The lotus root with honey osmanthus is sliced ​​evenly, the sugar syrup stretches into glistening strands, and osmanthus petals adorn the slices, giving it a sweet and fragrant aroma.

The soups are especially impressive.

The conch in broth is served in a blue and white porcelain stewing pot. The broth is clear and bright, and the conch slices are as white and tender as jade.

The premium Buddha Jumps Over the Wall dish was served in a small purple clay jar. As soon as the lid was lifted, the rich and fresh aroma of sea cucumber, abalone, fish maw, and dried scallops wafted up to the roof, and even the guards standing at the door couldn't help but swallow.

One main dish after another.

The whole crispy eight-treasure roasted duck lies on a mahogany tray, its skin roasted to a golden-red and glossy color, and its belly bulging with eight-treasure filling. It is served with thin pancakes, shredded scallions, cucumber strips and sweet bean sauce.

The squirrel-shaped mandarin fish was fried until its head and tail curled up, and it was still sizzling after being drizzled with sweet and sour sauce. The fish meat rolled up like squirrel fur, and was bright red and dazzling.

The braised crab meat lion's head meatballs lie in a jade-green cabbage soup, the meat is tender and smooth, and melts in your mouth when you pick it up with chopsticks.

The table was covered in a colorful array of reds and greens, with steaming heat and enticing aromas mingling together. A breeze from the river carried the enticing smells throughout the building.

The flickering candlelight made the dishes look even more glossy and tempting.

"It looks so appetizing, this old minister is in for a treat today." Yang Rong couldn't help but sigh, even the usually composed man couldn't help but take a deep breath.

"With this presentation, it's almost too beautiful to eat," Xue Lu said, rubbing his hands together.

"Your Majesty, let us first toast His Highness Prince Rui. If it weren't for His Highness, how could we be enjoying such heavenly delicacies in this desolate land of Annam?" Qiu Fu stood up, holding his wine cup, his words perfectly eloquent.