Ming Dynasty: Gain one supernatural power every day

Before dawn, the gates of the East Palace were opened.

As Zhu Gaochi fastened his court robes, he walked out, muttering, "Hurry up, hurry up, we can't be late today."

Outside the palace gates, Zhu Gaochi, mounted on his horse, looked spirited and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Eldest brother, why are you so slow? Where's fourth brother? Isn't he coming?"

"Fourth brother is not going, and Father has granted his request." Zhu Gaochi was helped onto the carriage.

Zhu Gaoxu clicked his tongue enviously, turned his head and shouted towards his carriage, "Daughter, your father keeps his word! Today I'm taking you to visit your fourth uncle!" Several little heads popped out of the carriage window, and the cheers almost lifted the roof off the carriage.

The Zhao Prince's entourage also arrived. Zhu Gaosui, riding on horseback, bowed, while five-year-old Zhu Zhanyi, in the carriage behind him, poked his head out of the window, his eyes sparkling.

Zhu Zhanji stood by the carriage, looking at the several carriages full of children, feeling a pang of sadness. He tugged at Zhu Gaochi's sleeve and whispered, "Father, I don't want to go to court either. Even Fourth Uncle isn't going, why should I?"

Zhu Gaochi stopped and looked down at him. After a long while, he said, "Because you are surnamed Zhu, because you are the eldest grandson of the emperor, because your fourth uncle is a god, you are not."

In the imperial court, Zhu Di sat on the dragon throne, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials, and said calmly, "The fourth prince is no longer attending court. He doesn't like these things, and I won't force him. We'll talk about it when he's older."

Zhu Gaoxu stood in the ranks of military officials, clicking his tongue in envy. Zhu Gaochi kept his eyes downcast, expressionless. Zhu Zhanji stood in the eldest grandson's seat, his legs aching, still thinking: What is Fourth Uncle doing right now? He's probably in the courtyard researching supernatural powers...

In the courtyard of Qianxi Fourth Residence, Zhu Gaoxi had just finished breakfast and was sitting under the old locust tree, lost in thought. The gate was pushed open, and a large group of children poured in.

Zhu Zhanyong ran ahead and plunged into the courtyard, exclaiming, "Fourth Uncle's courtyard is so big!"

Zhu Zhanyin, carrying a cloth tiger, followed behind, calling out "Fourth Uncle" in a childish voice. Zhu Zhanhe from the Prince of Han's Mansion led the way, swaggering in and bowing, "Greetings, Fourth Uncle!" His younger siblings behind him shouted in unison, their voices so loud that the leaves of the old locust tree trembled three times.

Zhu Zhanxi, the youngest of the Zhao Prince's sons, wobbled over and opened his arms, saying, "Fourth Uncle, hug me!" Zhu Gaoxi bent down and picked him up, and the little guy immediately kissed him on the face, smearing his saliva all over his face.

The courtyard suddenly became lively. A dozen or so children ran around, some chasing butterflies, some climbing trees, and some squatting by the flowerbed watching ants. Zhu Gaoxi stood in the middle, holding Zhu Zhanxi in his arms, surrounded by Zhu Zhanyong and Zhu Zhanyin, his head spinning from the chatter.

When the news reached the inner palace, Consort Quan put down her needlework and called her daughter: "E'er, the Qianxi Fourth Palace is very lively today. Your eldest brother's, second brother's, and third brother's children are all there. You should go and play with your fourth brother."

Five-year-old Zhu An'e blinked: "Is it that fourth brother who can fly?"

Consort Quan smiled and nodded, stuffing a pair of white jade rabbits into her daughter's hands. "Take this to your fourth brother. Be polite and don't make a fuss." Zhu An'e jumped for joy and pulled the palace maid out.

Consort Gong, Li, held three-year-old Zhu Gaowei and wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth: "Wei'er, many children have come to your fourth brother's place. Your mother will take you to see your fourth brother. You must call him 'Fourth Brother' and not make a fuss."

Zhu Gaowei called out "Fourth Brother" in a childish voice, his little hands wrapped around his mother's neck.

Consort Zhang finished combing her daughter Wan'er's hair, then squatted down and instructed her, "Wan'er, your mother is taking you to Qianxi Fourth Palace to play with your fourth brother. You must call him 'Fourth Brother,' be sweet-talking, and don't snatch things from others."

With a candy in her mouth, Wan'er mumbled "Fourth Brother" and grabbed her mother's sleeve, running outside.

Consort Li, having no children, took out an antique inkstone and had a palace maid deliver it. Consort Lü, sitting at her dressing table, listened to the palace maids' reports on the situation in various places, then waved her hand, saying, "Never mind, let's wait a little longer."

In the courtyard of the Qianxi Fourth Palace, a eunuch rushed in to report: "Your Highness, Consort Quan Xian has arrived with the Third Princess..."

Zhu Gaoxi was taken aback: "Again?" He took a deep breath, "Please come in."

The gate opened again, and Consort Quan led Zhu An'e in, followed by Consort Gong carrying Zhu Gaowei, and then Consort Zhang holding Zhu Wan'er's hand.

Consort Quan smiled and nodded. Chunlan handed over the jade rabbit: "Your Highness Prince Rui, this is a small token of the Third Princess's affection."

Consort Gong stepped forward, carrying her son: "The Fifth Prince is still young, so I brought him here to meet his Fourth Brother." Zhu Gaowei, in her arms, opened his round eyes and suddenly called out "Fourth Brother" in a childish voice.

Consort Zhang pulled her daughter along, saying, "Wan'er, quickly call him Fourth Brother." Wan'er looked up and called out "Fourth Brother," then handed over the jade rabbit.

Zhu Gaoxi took it and patted her head with a smile. Zhu Wan'er hid behind her mother, peeking out half her head, her little face flushed.

Zhu Gaoxi stood under the old locust tree, holding Zhu Zhanmo in his arms, watching the child running around the yard, and his lips twitched slightly.

In the courtyard of the Qianxi Fourth Palace, Zhu Gaoxi stood under the old locust tree, holding Zhu Zhanyi in his arms. Watching the child running around the yard, his lips twitched slightly. Seeing that it was almost time, Consort Quan stepped forward and bowed with a smile: "Your Highness, I will take the Third Princess back now. If Your Highness has time, I will come to pay my respects to you another day."

Zhu An'e was squatting by the flowerbed watching the ants when Chunlan pulled her up. Reluctantly, she turned back and called out, "Goodbye, Fourth Brother." Zhu Gaoxi waved to her.

Consort Gong also stepped forward and bowed, saying, "This concubine has also taken the Fifth Prince back. Your Highness, please take care." Zhu Gaowei, who was in her arms, had already fallen asleep, his little mouth slightly open, and drool had smeared Consort Gong's shoulder. Consort Zhang pulled Zhu Wan'er over to take her leave.

Several adults led their children out in single file, and the courtyard immediately quieted down. Those remaining were the young children from the Crown Prince's residence, the Han Prince's residence, and the Zhao Prince's residence. Zhu Zhanyi from the Zhao Prince's residence was still clinging to Zhu Gaoxi's neck and refused to get down.

Footsteps sounded outside the courtyard gate, and Zhu Gaoxu's voice rushed in first: "Fourth brother, fourth brother, second brother is here."

The door was pushed open, and Zhu Gaoxu rushed in first, followed by Zhu Gaosui. Zhu Gaochi was helped in by a eunuch, and Zhu Zhanji brought up the rear. As soon as Zhu Gaoxu entered, he shouted, "Fourth brother, your second brother is hungry! I only had a bowl of porridge this morning and have been holding on until now. Do you have anything to eat here?"

Zhu Gaoxi, still holding Zhu Zhanming in his arms, glanced at him and smiled: "Yes."

Zhu Gaoxu's eyes lit up, and he plopped down on the stone bench, rubbing his hands together as he waited: "Quick, set it out! I've been standing in court all morning, my legs are numb, I've been waiting for this!"

Zhu Gaoxi handed Zhu Zhanyi, whom he was carrying, to a palace maid beside him and instructed a eunuch: "Bring a table, a big one, and put it in the courtyard. It's quite hot in July, so let's eat outside to keep it cool."

The eunuch responded and left. A short while later, several eunuchs carried a large round table to the old locust tree, laid out a tablecloth, and set out bowls and chopsticks.

Zhu Gaoxu plopped down, with Zhu Gaochi sitting next to him, Zhu Gaosui opposite him, and Zhu Zhanji sitting next to his father. The younger children also gathered around. Zhu Zhanyong climbed onto a chair and knelt, while Zhu Zhanyin sat to the side, held by his wet nurse. Jiaxing and Qingdu sat side by side, chattering incessantly.

Zhu Gaoxi sat in the main seat, looked around, and smiled: "Today I'm treating my brothers to something different."

Zhu Gaoxu's eyes lit up: "What's different?"

Zhu Gaoxi didn't answer, but instead read aloud on the table: "Orleans roasted chicken wings, burger with bursting cheese and beef filling, old Beijing chicken roll, Zibo barbecue, Wuhan hot dry noodles, Longjiang braised pork trotters rice, cheese turkey noodles, century egg and lean pork congee..."

Zhu Gaoxu was about to ask, "What are these dishes? I've never heard of them before," when a table full of dishes appeared out of thin air. The aroma of fried chicken, the sesame sauce of hot dry noodles, and the cumin of grilled skewers mingled together, so rich that the entire courtyard couldn't contain it.

The children's eyes were wide open like saucers, and their mouths were agape. Zhu Zhanyin, held by his wet nurse, pointed at the hamburger on the table with his little finger and let out a soft "ah" in his childish voice.

Princess Jiaxing leaned over the table, brought her nose close to the plate of Orleans-style roasted chicken wings, and sniffed hard, her eyes sparkling: "Fourth Uncle, this smells so good! I've never smelled anything so delicious before!"

Princess Qingdu also came over, pointing her little finger at the plate of golden fried chicken nuggets, and swallowed hard: "Fourth Uncle, what is this yellow stuff? It smells so tempting."

Zhu Zhanyong climbed up from the chair, knelt on it, and leaned forward, staring at the round hamburger with his mouth practically watering: "Fourth Uncle, what's in this patty? There's meat! And vegetables! And something white!"

Zhu Gaoxu was the first to come to his senses. He grabbed a hamburger, took a big bite, chewed a couple of times, his eyes wide, and mumbled, "Fourth brother, what kind of magic is this? How come the dishes appear just by saying their names?"

The other two brothers also stared wide-eyed at Zhu Gaoxi, looking bewildered, wondering what was going on.

Zhu Gaoxi picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said casually, "This morning, the Taoist Ancestor just taught me this. I sit at the table, recite the names of the dishes, and the dishes appear. The Taoist Ancestor said I'm young and worried that I wouldn't eat well in the palace, so he bestowed this supernatural power upon me, allowing me to eat whatever I want."