Ming Dynasty: Gain one supernatural power every day

Back at the Crown Prince's residence, Zhu Zhanji rushed into the main hall and threw himself into Zhang Yan's arms: "Mother! I flew! Fourth Uncle took me flying on a sword! The sword was bigger than our yard, and Grandpa, Father, Second Uncle, and Third Uncle were all on it! We flew so high, the houses looked like ants!"

In the side hall, Zhu Zhanyong ran out: "Brother, what flew away?" Zhu Zhanyin, carrying a cloth tiger, followed: "Brother, flew away? Who flew away?"

Zhu Zhanji exclaimed excitedly, "Fourth Uncle! Fourth Uncle took us all flying into the sky! Second Uncle was lying by the sword, shouting down at the top of his lungs! Father was standing in the middle, his face pale, but he still insisted he wasn't afraid!"

Zhu Gaochi entered just then, his face darkening. Zhu Zhanji shrank behind Zhang Yan and peeked out, saying, "Father, I didn't say you were afraid."

Zhu Zhanyong threw away the nine-linked rings and tugged at Zhu Zhanji's sleeve: "Big brother! I want Fourth Uncle to take me flying too!" Zhu Zhanyin hugged his leg: "I want to fly too!" Jiaxing and Qingdu also gathered around: "Big brother, can Fourth Uncle take us?"

Zhu Zhanji puffed out his chest: "Don't be impatient! Tomorrow I'll go find my fourth uncle and have him take you flying together!" The children jumped for joy, and the courtyard erupted in excitement.

Zhang Yan smiled and shook her head. Zhu Gaochi sat down to drink tea, watching the children frolicking in the courtyard, a smile playing on his lips. Zhang Yan leaned closer: "Your Highness, what's it like up there? Are you scared?"

Zhu Gaochi said seriously, "Afraid? I am the Crown Prince of a country. What kind of scene haven't I seen? From the sky, I can see the entire Yingtian Prefecture. The Qinhuai River looks like a silver ribbon, and Xuanwu Lake looks like a mirror." He paused, "You didn't see the second prince, lying by the sword shouting and yelling. What kind of behavior is that? Even Zhanji is more capable than him."

Zhang Yan covered her mouth and laughed. Zhu Gaochi got even more excited, mimicking Zhu Gaoxu's tone: "'Fourth brother, go higher!' The whole heaven could hear him shouting that. I'm different; I stand with my hands behind my back, my face unchanged."

Zhang Yan smiled and shook her head: "Your Highness, aren't you 'composure' enough?"

Zhu Gaochi coughed and said, "We've been married for so long, are you making fun of me? I was thinking of you even up there. Next time, ask your fourth brother to give you some benefits too."

"It was my fault, but you should lose weight too," Zhang Yan said.

Zhu Gaochi: "..."

The Prince of Han's Palace.

Zhu Gaoxu stepped through the door, his voice booming, "Your Highness! Your Highness! Come out quickly!" Lady Wei emerged from the inner room, and Zhu Gaoxu pulled her close, kissing her lightly. "Come here, give me a kiss!"

Ms. Wei shrugged him off, annoyed: "You're never serious!"

"Did you see that dark light in the sky? It was Fourth Brother's sword! It carried us around in a circle!" Zhu Gaoxu pointed one finger to the sky, put the other on his hip, and then shouted, "The sword became bigger than a boat, the wind was howling, and the houses below looked like ants! The eldest brother was standing on the sword, gripping the third brother's arm tightly, his face was pale but he still insisted he wasn't afraid!"

Lady Wei couldn't help but laugh. Zhu Gaochi suddenly quieted down and sat down on the steps: "No wonder emperors all want to become immortals. Looking down from heaven, all the fighting on earth is nothing."

Ms. Wei turned her head to look at him.

Zhu Gaochi said earnestly, "Standing on this sword today, I thought, what's the use of me winning the throne? My fourth brother is going to become an immortal. If he can become an immortal, who would want that chair?"

Mrs. Wei was stunned by his words.

The children ran out and chattered around Zhu Gaoxu.

Zhu Gaoxu waved his hand and said, "I'll take you to see your fourth uncle tomorrow!" The children cheered and ran away.

Zhu Gaoxu leaned close to Lady Wei's ear and asked, "Tell me, if I followed my fourth brother to cultivate immortality, could I also fly on a sword?"

Lady Wei rolled her eyes at him: "Your Highness, at your age, it's probably too late."

"It's not too late, I'm not even thirty yet. I'll ask my fourth brother tomorrow." Zhu Gaoxu said nonchalantly, looking up at the horizon and muttering to himself.

In the Prince Zhao's residence, Zhu Gaosui entered cheerfully. Lady Weng greeted him, saying, "Your Highness, everyone outside is saying that Prince Rui flew on a sword..."

"It's not just a rumor, it's true." Zhu Gaosui sat down and recounted the events of the day in detail. Madam Weng listened intently.

In the side hall, five-year-old Zhu Zhanyi ran out and tugged at his father's sleeve: "Father! Fourth Uncle can fly? He flew up to the sky?"

Zhu Gaosui patted his head: "We flew up to the sky, clouds drifted by, and when we looked down, the houses all turned into small squares."

Zhan Yi's mouth gaped open: "Father, I want to fly too! I want my fourth uncle to take me flying too!"

Madam Weng tried to pull him away, but Zhanyi ran and hugged his mother's leg: "Mother! Please talk to Father! Brother Zhanji went, I want to go too!"

Madam Weng was both amused and exasperated. Zhu Gaosui beckoned his son over: "I'll take you to see your fourth uncle tomorrow. But you must behave properly; no causing trouble."

Zhan Yi nodded vigorously, jumping for joy. Madam Weng looked at the father and son, shook her head, and turned to prepare the clothes for entering the palace the next day.

In the inner palace, Consort Quan pulled out a small jade deer pendant and clutched it in her palm. Consort Wang approached her: "Sister, is this to be sent to the Qianxi Fourth Palace?"

"His Highness Prince Rui is only seven years old; children like these things," Consort Quan called out. "Bring the Third Princess here."

Five-year-old Princess Zhu An'e skipped in. Consort Quan knelt down and took her hand: "An'e'er, go play with your fourth brother, okay?"

"Is that the fourth brother who was flying in the sky yesterday?" The third princess blinked.

"Yes. When you see Fourth Brother, you should call him 'Fourth Brother' and be polite." Consort Quan placed the jade pendant into her daughter's palm. "Take this to your Fourth Brother and say it's a gift from you."

The third princess gripped the jade pendant tightly and nodded vigorously.

Consort Gong, Lady Li, held the three-year-old fifth prince, Zhu Gaowei, and wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth: "Wei'er, your fourth brother is a very capable man. From now on, when you see him, you must call him 'Fourth Brother.' You mustn't snatch things or throw tantrums, understand?"

Zhu Gaowei called out in a childish voice, "Fourth Brother."

Consort Gong's eyes reddened slightly as she hugged her son.

Zhang Zhaorong squatted down and took her four-year-old daughter Zhu Wan'er's hand: "Wan'er, in a couple of days, Mother will take you to visit your fourth brother. Give him this jade rabbit, and call him 'Fourth Brother,' and be sweet-talking, okay?"

Wan'er tilted her head: "Are there big trees in the Fourth Courtyard? Are there swings?"

"Yes, there is a big locust tree. We'll have someone set up a swing for you in a few days." Zhang Zhaorong stood up with a smile.

Consort Li handed an ancient inkstone to a palace maid: "Send this to Prince Rui. Prince Rui is a scholar, he will find it useful." She walked to the window, looked in the direction of the Qianxi Fourth Palace, and remained silent.

Consort Lü sat in front of her dressing table, lost in thought. She sighed and said, "Go and find out what His Highness Prince Rui likes to eat and play. Prepare a gift and send it over quietly, without making a fuss."

The palace maid responded and left. Consort Lü gazed at herself in the bronze mirror, her eyes holding an indescribable expression.

One by one, the lights in each palace of the inner palace were lit. Everyone had different thoughts, but everyone knew in their hearts that from now on, His Highness Prince Rui was the person they least wanted to offend in this palace.