Ming Dynasty: Gain one supernatural power every day

Zhu Gaoxu took out the "Veritable Records of the Ming Dynasty" and tossed it to them to look through.

The group huddled together, their eyes widening with each glance, their expressions increasingly fascinating. When they reached the part about the crown prince's ascension to the throne, some couldn't help but smile, while others' expressions subtly changed.

Later, when they saw the scene where Zhu Gaoxu was roasted to death in a bronze vat by Zhu Zhanji, everyone gasped and looked up in unison, casting sympathetic glances at Zhu Gaoxu.

This Han king, who was usually so funny and playful, actually ended up like this; it's really... a bit tragic.

However, to be fair, the tradition of uncles and nephews killing each other in the Zhu family is truly passed down from generation to generation, with each generation becoming more ruthless than the last.

As they flipped through the pages, their lips twitched.

Some emperors didn't attend court for decades, some preferred palace maids more than ten years their senior, some practiced alchemy, and some were carpenters—the later emperors of the Ming Dynasty were truly all quite adventurous.

When someone saw something they didn't understand, they would ask Zhu Gaoxu, who would then answer them one by one.

"Your Highness, are you implying that His Highness Prince Rui can travel between the various dynasties recorded in this book?"

"That's right, that's what I mean."

"Traversing the river of time... Unheard of, unheard of! Your Highness Prince Rui, please accept my bow!" Zhang Fu was the first to kneel down on one knee.

Several people nearby also knelt down, one after another. Their thoughts were similar to Zhu Di's: to kneel first as a sign of respect, and then discuss meeting their relatives.

"Alright, you shrewd people, I know what you're thinking." Zhu Di glanced at them with a half-smile.

"If you perform well and achieve merit, I will consider taking you with me when I travel to other dynasties, so that you can see your families."

"Hehe, Your Majesty truly lives up to your title; your imperial insight is unparalleled!"

"We thank Your Majesty!"

Zhang Fu, Qiu Fu, and the others couldn't stop smiling.

"Alright, all of you may leave. I will inform you if I go to the Imperial Court later." Zhu Di waved his hand.

Zhang Fu and the others bowed and withdrew.

"Fourth brother, when we go to other dynasties, should we wait until we return to the capital and bring your mother and eldest brother with us?" Zhu Di asked.

"Father, have you forgotten? Fourth Brother has that gate to the Immortal Realm. Once the gate opens, we can go straight back," Zhu Gaoxu interjected.

"Oh dear, Father, you've forgotten about Fourth Prince's amazing abilities." Zhu Di slapped his forehead and laughed at himself.

Zhu Gaoxi said, "We really need to discuss this with my elder brother and the others. But we're afraid we won't be able to explain it clearly on the jade tablet, so let's just go back directly. It's not dark yet, so let Zhang Fu and the others handle the aftermath here first. Anyway, the battle is over, and they can take care of the rest."

"Let's go back to the capital and discuss with our eldest and third brothers which dynasty we should visit. We'll set off tonight and return tomorrow morning. After we get back, I'll use the giant somersault cloud I made today to lead the army on a tour of the surrounding kingdoms before we return to the capital."

"Great! Great! This is wonderful!" Zhu Gaoxu slapped his thigh, his face full of longing.

When they heard Zhu Gaoxi's words, they imagined that scene.

The army stood on somersault clouds, passing over the heads of the surrounding countries like heavenly soldiers and generals. Those Champa, Siam, and Cambodia would be terrified and run away in a panic!

This treatment is comparable only to the Zhou Dynasty emperors' imperial tours, right? But the Zhou emperors rode in chariots, while our Zhu family traveled on clouds! And the Zhou emperors only toured a small area; how can it compare to the Ming Dynasty…

"Alright, alright, I know you want to go," Zhu Di interrupted him with a smile.

"Pack up, let's head back to Beijing first. Second brother, tell your mother and eldest and third brothers in the group chat that we'll be back soon, and ask them to get ready."

"Your subject will send it immediately." Zhu Gaoxu immediately took out the jade token and quickly sent the message.

Zhu Gaochi was bent over his desk reviewing memorials. He was somewhat distracted by yesterday's investiture of the gods, and although the memorials were piled high, he had only reviewed half of them.

He had just picked up his vermilion brush, intending to annotate another book, when he heard the jade tablet vibrate several times. He picked it up and took a look.

"Big brother! Second brother said they're coming back! They'll teleport directly over! They say they want to discuss traveling through dynasties with us!" Zhu Gaosui's message arrived shortly after, accompanied by a long string of exclamation marks.

"What? How did you suddenly come back? Did you teleport here directly?" Zhu Gaochi was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly got up, knocking over two folding books on the table.

"Quickly, go to the Wuying Hall! Clear out everyone there! Also, send someone to inform the Empress Dowager!"

As he walked out, he muttered to himself, "That old man, he suddenly wants to come back... and he even teleported directly to the Wuying Hall..."

Empress Xu was both surprised and delighted when she received the news. Although they had been in contact daily via the jade token these past few days, she had not yet seen the person in person.

She loved her youngest son the most. When she heard he was coming back, she quickly tidied up, personally brewed tea, and prepared snacks.

Then he sat down and waited for the golden door to appear.

Before long, a golden light flashed in front of the Wuying Hall, and Zhu Gaoxi, Zhu Di, Zhu Gaoxu, and Zhu Bajie walked out of the teleportation portal.

Empress Xu's eyes reddened as soon as she saw Zhu Gaoxi, and she quickly stepped forward: "Xi'er, you're finally back. Why have you lost weight? Did you not eat properly while you were away?"

Zhu Gaoxi let her pull him along, and laughed, "Mother, I have the body of an immortal, I can't lose weight. But you, have you been resting well these past few days?"

"Yes, yes, Mother is perfectly fine." Empress Xu dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief and then looked at Zhu Di.

"Your Majesty, have you been tired these past few days in Annam?"

"I am perfectly fine." Zhu Di waved his hand and pulled Empress Xu to sit down. "But you, don't stand, sit down and talk."

After exchanging greetings, the family sat down to discuss which dynasty to visit.

Empress Xu wanted to see her father, Xu Da, and naturally hoped to go to the Hongwu era.

Zhu Di was still a little uneasy, and secretly tugged at her sleeve. Empress Xu understood, but didn't expose him, only smiling slightly.

She knew exactly what Zhu Di was thinking, but she wasn't in a hurry. The Hongwu Dynasty was there; it couldn't be moved. Let the father have some time to think.

"In my opinion, we should go to the Zhengtong court first." Zhu Di coughed lightly. "That Zhu Qizhen... I need to go and see just how despicable that grandson of his is. And that eunuch Wang Zhen under his command, deal with him as well."

"Alright, let's see what Zhanji's son is up to," Empress Xu replied with a smile, her tone tinged with a hint of sarcasm.

Zhu Gaoxu kept staring at the palace entrance, looking left and right but not seeing Zhu Zhanji. He couldn't help but ask, "Where's that kid Zhanji? Why isn't he here?"

Zhu Gaochi asked, "Why are you looking for him?"

Zhu Gaoxu chuckled: "Boss, is it wrong for me to miss my nephew?"

Zhu Gaoxu was thinking: "My second uncle's hands are itching. Zhanji is here. I won't hit him, but I can at least pat him a couple of times, right? Even if it hurts, there's nothing I can do. After all, my second uncle is going through a second growth spurt."

"Second brother, don't do anything reckless!" everyone said. After all, they knew about Zhanji roasting their second uncle in the book, but the book was just a book.

Zhu Gaochi's eyes lit up: "Father, Mother, look at what you're thinking! Do you think I, the Prince of Han, am such a narrow-minded person? I'm just thinking about going to the dynasty of that brat Zhanji's son. Shouldn't we take Zhanji with us?"

Empress Xu shook her head: "How old is Zhanji? Why bring him along?"

Zhu Gaochi quickly added, "Zhanji is so small, it would be a hassle to carry him around."

Zhu Gaosui replied, "With my fourth brother here, whether or not we take him depends on what he says."

Zhu Gaoxi thought for a moment, then his eyes lit up: "Second Brother's suggestion is good. Zhanji should indeed go and see his son. It's perfectly legitimate for a father to discipline his son."

Everyone was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter.

Imagine a toddler, only a few years old, teaching a lesson to an emperor in his twenties, and claiming he was his son—the thought alone is hilarious.

That's going to be quite a show; we'd better get some melon seeds ready.