Chapter 37: The Universal Item for Boosting National Fortune!

Within the small world.

Zhu Youjian was teasing the young Korean girl, who answered nearly every question, allowing him to quickly learn her identity.

Her name was Quan Xiao, from a prominent and long-standing Korean clan. She was fourteen years old, exceptionally intelligent, and had been exposed to Han culture from a young age, enabling her to speak some complex Chinese.

“There’s no place for you here anymore. Come with me to the Chongzhen era.”

Zhu Youjian smiled, finding her clever and capable—a person of great potential. If left in the Hongxi era, she would merely be a sacrificial pawn, and now that such sacrifices were abolished, she couldn’t even serve that purpose. Taking her to the Chongzhen era, however, he could put her to good use.

For instance, Korea had always been an inseparable part of the empire.

Queen Quan Xiao never questioned this.

“Oh.” Quan Xiao replied timidly.

[National fortune of the Chongzhen era rises, opening the space-time of ‘Year Ten of Xuande’]

[National fortune of the Chongzhen era rises, opening the space-time of ‘Year Fourteen of Zhengtong’]

What!?

Zhu Youjian was stunned for a moment—two space-time portals opened in succession! Even the legendary Zhengtong Fourteen, the infamous year of the Tumu Fortress incident, had been revealed! Was it that the steam engine had been invented, or… He glanced at the exquisitely beautiful Korean girl.

Quan Xiao, sensing his curiosity, instinctively looked up, her lively, extraordinary eyes blinking, a hint of doubt showing appropriately.

Could it be related to her?

Zhu Youjian scrutinized her again. Aside from her refreshing, otherworldly beauty, he couldn’t see anything unusual.

Not long after, Old Zhu Di returned, sighing, “Grandson, you’re right. The second and third sons really are worlds apart from the eldest. Even together, they can’t compare to a single hair of his.”

“Renzong's pure filial piety is renowned throughout history,” Zhu Youjian shook his head.

The two waited quietly. Zhu Youjian reached out and grasped, bringing Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Zhanji, who had finished their tasks in the Hongxi era, into the small world.

Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Zhanji felt their vision blur, suddenly arriving in a realm filled with celestial aura. Before they could react, a massive dragon throne appeared beneath them, with the golden characters “Hongxi” engraved behind.

“What is this…”

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“Hongxi Emperor, sit properly,” Old Zhu Di tapped the table, smiling.

“Yes, Father!” Zhu Gaochi responded promptly, straightening his posture, and Zhu Zhanji obediently stood by the Hongxi throne.

Old Zhu Di explained, “This is the Great Ming Immortal Realm. Every emperor of each era may enter this realm at the summons of the Chongzhen Emperor.”

“Greetings, Hongxi Emperor. The fame of Renzong’s ten months of virtuous rule echoes through the ages,” Zhu Youjian said cheerfully.

The golden "Chongzhen" characters glowing behind him immediately made Zhu Gaochi and his son realize that this was the immortal deity who watched over the Ming dynasty—and also its future emperor.

Zhu Gaochi glanced subtly. To his right was his father’s Yongle throne, and to his left, the “Xuande” era title, which had been settled for his holy grandson even before his succession.

He knew his own body well—it was nearly spent, the flame flickering. At most, he had three to five years left, at least four to five months before reaching his end.

“Renzong’s ten months?”

Zhu Zhanji asked urgently, “May I ask Your Majesty Chongzhen, what is the meaning of this?”

Zhu Youjian replied, “In August of the twenty-second year of Yongle, Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi succeeded at the spirit altar, and the following year changed the era to Hongxi. In May of the first year of Hongxi, Zhu Gaochi fell gravely ill and passed away at forty-eight, reigning for ten months. He cared for the people, reduced taxes, improved laws, forbade abuse of punishments, earning the temple name ‘Renzong.’ He was buried at the Xian Mausoleum of the Thirteen Tombs, passing the throne to his eldest son Zhu Zhanji, and is praised by later generations as the Ten-Month Renzong.”

So he could live another nine months.

“Thank you for the guidance, Your Majesty Chongzhen!” Zhu Gaochi said sincerely, bowing in gratitude.

With this direction, he could accomplish much more in the next nine months. This thought filled him with renewed vigor.

Upon hearing his father could live for ten more months, Zhu Zhanji anxiously asked, “Your Majesty Chongzhen, exalted as an immortal, is there any way to extend my father’s life?”

He did wish to ascend the throne, but there was no rush. The Zhu family often had conflicts between uncles and nephews, like the fourth Zhu and Jianwen, or Zhu Zhanji and the Prince of Han. But father and son affection was always deep; though he lacked Zhu Gaochi’s resolve to be crown prince for life, he’d gladly remain so for ten or twenty years.

“It can be tried!”

At these words, Old Zhu Di’s gaze sharpened. Ever since returning from the Hongxi era and learning he had only three years left, a shadow lingered in his heart. The immortal grandson’s words were like dawn breaking through the gloom, lighting up his eyes.

Zhu Youjian paused, “However, the Hongxi Crown Prince must pay a price.”

“Whatever the price, I’m willing!” Zhu Zhanji replied without hesitation. To him, the price could only be trading life for life. He was young and strong; sharing ten or twenty years with his father was no trouble. If needed, his own son could later compensate by offering his life as well.

Zhu Youjian said, “You must abandon the crown prince’s consort, Sun Ruowei.”

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“What? May I ask, immortal, what connection does this have to extending my father’s life?” Zhu Zhanji was stunned for a moment, asking dryly.

“The secrets of heaven cannot be divulged!” Zhu Youjian smiled.

Huh?

Zhu Zhanji wanted to protest further, but the heavy gazes of Old Zhu Di and Zhu Gaochi pressed upon him, so he could only grit his teeth and say, “I ask Father to issue the decree—depose the Crown Prince’s consort!”

“Granted!” Zhu Gaochi nodded.

Though he was fond of his clever and beautiful daughter-in-law, whose stunning looks had prompted him to allow her to be raised by his son, now that the immortal demanded her removal, she could not stay. Either she would become a demonic empress, or… she would be the one to end his life!

Even Zhu Gaochi, usually gentle, now wore an expression of ruthless resolve.

[Hongxi era national fortune rises, reward: ‘Minor Medical Immortal’]

Ming Fort really proved its worth!

It was practically the universal currency for obtaining rewards before the Zhengtong era!

Minor Medical Immortal, to be precise, meant the ability to handcraft all known medicines, while enhancing their potency.

Zhu Youjian flipped his hand, and a batch of diet pills appeared. He considered that the corpulent body might not handle such drastic stimulation, so he also crafted a pill of Angong Niuhuang.

“Take this pill first, then these diet pills—take three daily, be mindful, they tend to flush out fat.”

“Have the imperial kitchen prepare several pounds of chicken and beef, along with a dozen kinds of fruits and vegetables, as meal replacements. First, control your weight…”

Zhu Gaochi immediately swallowed an Angong Niuhuang pill, feeling the heaviness in his body lift by seventy or eighty percent; his mind cleared and his spirits soared.

He rubbed his belly and hesitantly asked, “Should the chicken and beef be eaten before or after meals?”

Zhu Youjian’s flow of words paused, shaking his head with a laugh, “Eat less, exercise more—the rest depends on the medicines I craft for you.”

He then produced a pile of Angong Niuhuang pills, placing them on the table, and instructed, “Ancestor, take a few as well; if you feel unwell, take one—at critical moments, they can save your life.”

These pills, enhanced for potency, had virtually no side effects—one could even eat them like candy. Such was the magic of the Minor Medical Immortal.

“Good, good, good!”

Old Zhu Di joyfully took the majority, glanced at his eldest son’s frail state, then took out a few more, whispering, “Don’t be stingy—if you finish these, I’ll beg for more, even at the cost of my old face.”

“Yes, Father, I understand,” Zhu Gaochi replied, touched. While speaking, he quietly packed away the remaining pills.

Zhu Zhanji looked on, unable to compete with his father and grandfather, but discreetly picked up two pills that rolled to the floor, slipping them into his sleeve.

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