Ming Dynasty: Gain one supernatural power every day

Zhu Di then took out another imperial edict on yellow silk and handed it to Zhang Fu: "This edict is for you too. If that brat does anything outrageous again, listens to slander, and fails to distinguish between loyalty and virtue, you may beat him directly. It is my permission."

These words shocked everyone present.

Cao Nai, Kuang Ye, Wang Zuo, and others all changed their way of looking at Zhang Fu.

Good heavens! Emperor Taizong personally bestowed the "power to beat the emperor," which is even more powerful than the Imperial Sword! The Imperial Sword requires prior approval before execution, but this imperial edict doesn't even need to be presented; it allows for immediate action.

From now on, who in the imperial court would dare to give Zhang Fu a hard time?

Zhang Fu held the imperial edict, his hands trembling.

Even though he was a veteran of four reigns, he had never received such an imperial edict. To beat up the emperor?

He never dared to dream of such a thing in his life, but this was an imperial edict personally issued by Emperor Taizong, stamped with his seal, and could not be faked.

"Your subject... Your subject obeys the decree!" Zhang Fu kowtowed three more times before carefully hiding the imperial edict on his person and placing it together with the jade tablet.

Zhu Di waved his hand: "Alright. Get up. You know about this imperial edict yourself; there's no need to publicize it."

Zhang Fu stood up in response and hid the imperial edict and jade tablet inside the armor.

He knew that after tonight, his status in the army would rise significantly, a favor that no one in the entire court could match.

However, as a veteran in the workplace, he wouldn't get arrogant, since his current goal is to follow Emperor Taizong and ascend to the throne as soon as possible.

Zhu Gaochi stepped forward and had Zhang Fu drip a drop of blood onto the jade tablet in front of everyone.

The drop of blood fell onto the surface of the jade pendant and seeped in on its own. Immediately afterwards, a faint luster appeared on the surface of the jade pendant, which disappeared in an instant.

Zhang Fu felt a warmth in his palm, as if the jade pendant had grown into his hand, exuding an indescribable intimacy.

"Alright, the recognition is successful." Zhu Gaochi nodded, then asked Zhang Fu to register a name and avatar, telling him to set it himself later. He then found his own name and added Zhang Fu as a friend.

"I'll teach you the other functions later. For now, just learn how to use the most basic connections."

Zhang Fu was like a child just entering school, his palms sweating with nervousness, yet his face couldn't hide his excitement.

Several veteran generals nearby stared in disbelief, one of them whispering, "General Zhang has really stolen the show today. First, he reversed his aging process, then he brought the divine artifact and imperial edict. Tonight, he's completely dominated the Tumu Fortress."

"What are you so sour about? If you had the qualifications of General Zhang, Emperor Taizong would have rewarded you too."

"Tsk, comparing yourself to others is just infuriating."

They say that's what they mean, but deep down they know they can't really envy that.

Zhang Fu's seniority was incredibly high; he was a true descendant of meritorious officials.

His father, Zhang Yu, had followed the Prince of Yan since he raised his army and died on the battlefield to save Zhu Di. Zhang Fu, during the Zhengtong era, pacified Jiaozhi and conquered the Northern Yuan, making numerous military achievements.

After Zhu Gaochi finished helping Zhang Fu with the jade tablet, Zhu Di, seeing that it was about time, had his eldest and third sons help the second son up.

"Pull this disgraceful thing up, get ready to leave."

But Zhu Gaochi was already completely drunk and staggering, clinging to Zhu Bajie's arm like a rag doll, still yelling at the top of his lungs, "I'm not leaving, I'm not leaving, bring me wine! I can still drink! Brother, fill it up again!"

Zhu Di's face darkened, and he was about to lash out when Zhu Gaoxi had already walked over.

He gently patted Zhu Gaoxu's shoulder, his tone unhurried: "Second Brother, are you really not leaving?"

Zhu Gaoxu, drunk, turned around, squinted for a long time, and finally recognized who was in front of him: "Going? Where to? Fourth brother, come, come, have a couple more drinks with your second brother. Tonight we're happy, we won't leave until we're drunk..."

Zhu Gaoxi wasn't in a hurry. He slowly added, "If Second Brother doesn't go tomorrow morning, then Father, Mother, and I, along with Eldest Brother and Third Brother, will ride our somersault clouds to tour the various kingdoms. If Second Brother wants to stay and continue drinking, then he may stay."

Upon hearing the words "inspecting the states," Zhu Gaochi felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over his head, sending a shiver down his spine.

His eyes widened suddenly, and he sobered up considerably: "What? A tour of the states? I almost forgot about that!"

By the way, before leaving Annam, the fourth prince said that when he returned to Beijing from Annam tomorrow, he would ride his somersault cloud to inspect the surrounding countries.

He had patted his chest and said he would definitely go, but after drinking tonight, he completely forgot about this important matter. This matter can't be delayed, so he quickly stood up, but drinking leads to mistakes! He couldn't stand up straight.

He sat up abruptly, swaying slightly, and grabbed Zhu Gaoxi's arm: "Fourth brother, don't leave your second brother behind! Your second brother won't drink anymore, he won't drink anymore!"

Zhu Gaosui, watching the scene unfold, almost burst out laughing: "Second Brother, weren't you just saying you were going to drink until dawn?"

Zhu Gaoxu glared at him fiercely: "What do you know! Hurry up and help me up! If you delay tomorrow's parade, I'll hold you responsible!"

Zhu Gaosui pursed his lips: "Alright, alright, I owe you. Eldest brother, come and lend a hand, this second brother is drunk and quite heavy."

Zhu Gaochi was both annoyed and amused, but he still came over and, together with Zhu Gaosui, lifted Zhu Gaoxu up from either side.

Zhu Di and his family walked toward the open space.

Zhu Di, Xu Miaoyun, and Zhu Gaoxi walked in front, while Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaosui carried Zhu Gaoxu behind them, with Zhu Bajie following beside them.

Pigsy carried a rake in one hand and rubbed his slightly swollen belly with the other, humming a little tune he'd heard somewhere.

Seeing this, Zhang Fu and the others knew that Emperor Taizong and his family were really leaving.

He had just wanted to order 500,000 troops to escort Zhu Di, but Zhu Di waved his hand and said, "No need, lest we alarm the army. I can come and go as I please, and I don't care about such formalities."

But that's easy to say; how can the news be kept secret?

"Is Emperor Taizong leaving?"

"What? Emperor Taizong, Emperor Renzong, and Emperor Xuanzong are all leaving?"

"No way! You just arrived, why are you in such a hurry to leave!"

"Quick! Go check! Don't miss seeing him off!"

That shout was like cold water being poured into boiling oil, and the entire camp erupted in chaos.

Soldiers surged in from all directions, some carrying wine bowls, some wearing half-length battle robes, and some barefoot in the mud.

In the flickering light of the torches, more and more soldiers put down their wine bowls and gathered in the direction of the teleportation portal.

It's unclear who knelt down first, but then, like waves of wheat swaying in the wind, the kneeling spread from the imperial tent all the way to the camp gate.

Five hundred thousand soldiers knelt on the ground, a dark mass.

No one spoke; only heavy breathing and the crackling of torches echoed in the night wind. Some had tears in their eyes, while others had their lips pressed together until they were white.

Zhu Gaoxi stood still in the open space and waved his hand.

Golden light burst forth from his palm, like several golden dragons swirling and dancing in the night sky.

Wherever the golden light passed, wood and stone appeared out of thin air, splicing and stacking themselves. In just a moment, a magnificent golden portal stood on the open ground.

The gateposts are two golden pillars with coiled dragons. Five-clawed golden dragons coil around the pillars, and the dragon heads meet at the lintel, each holding a luminous pearl the size of a pigeon's egg in its mouth.

In the center of the lintel, a prismatic gemstone is embedded among the carvings, refracting a rainbow of colors under the moonlight and illuminating the surrounding area as bright as day.

Inside the door, white mist surged, like a pool of living water suspended in mid-air, and faintly, one could see the light of another world shining through the mist.

"Heavenly Gate...that's Heavenly Gate!" someone cried out.

"Is Emperor Taizong about to return to heaven?"

"Your Majesty...Your Majesty, don't go!"

"Please, Emperor Taizong, take us with you!"

Someone shouted that, and then the crying and shouting could no longer be suppressed.

Some people crawled forward on their knees, some banged their foreheads on the mud, and some stretched out their hands as if trying to grasp the light shining through the door.

But they didn't dare to go forward, and just knelt on the spot, calling out again and again.

Zhu Di and Empress Xu walked side by side toward the door. Empress Xu glanced back at the soldiers kneeling on the ground, a hint of pity flashing in her eyes.

She gently tugged at Zhu Di's sleeve, and Zhu Di understood, stopped, and turned around.

He glanced at the soldiers, their faces streaked with tears and their eyes filled with reluctance, and slowly said, "Rise, all of you. After I'm gone, you must cherish this hard-won peace. Remember, I'm watching over you. If anyone dares to cause the Ming Dynasty to collapse again, I will return."

"We swear to defend the Ming Dynasty to the death!" The crowd prostrated themselves and shouted, their voices like thunder, lingering in the air above Tumu Fortress for a long time.