Ming Dynasty: Gain one supernatural power every day

The next morning, Zhu Di went to court. Empress Xu, having recovered from her illness, was in good spirits and was sitting at the table waiting for breakfast. Palace maids carried trays in and out, with porridge, side dishes, and snacks laid out on the table.

Zhu Gaoxi walked in, called out "Mother Empress" with a grin, and plopped down next to her.

Empress Xu smiled and patted his head: "Xi'er, you're here? Have you eaten?"

"I haven't eaten yet, come and eat with Mother." Zhu Gaoxi said, peeking at the dishes on the table, then frowned. "Mother, these are too bland. Let me add some dishes for you."

Before Empress Xu could react, she heard her youngest son recite the following to the table: "Bird's nest porridge, osmanthus lotus root starch cake, mango pomelo sago, taro boba milk tea."

As soon as he finished speaking, two bowls of bird's nest porridge, two plates of osmanthus lotus root starch cake, two cups of mango pomelo sago, and two cups of taro boba milk tea appeared out of thin air on the table.

The bird's nest porridge was thick and sweet, with a few goji berries floating on top; the lotus root starch cake was crystal clear, with golden osmanthus flowers sprinkled on top.

Empress Xu was stunned, her chopsticks hanging in mid-air. She looked down at the things on the table, then up at her youngest son, and after a long while, she managed to squeeze out, "This...this is the supernatural power that the Daoist Ancestor passed down to you?"

Zhu Gaoxi smiled and nodded, then picked up a cup of mango pomelo sago and handed it to his mother: "Mother, drink this, it's sweet."

Empress Xu took it and tasted it.

The sweet mango puree mixed with the slight tartness of grapefruit pieces, and the smooth coconut milk made it very refreshing. She couldn't help but squint her eyes and say, "Hmm, Xi'er, the Dao Ancestor is so good to you."

Zhu Gaoxi picked up another cup, took a sip, and gave a muffled reply.

Empress Xu put down her cup and looked at him earnestly: "Xi'er, if you hadn't crawled out of my belly, I really wouldn't believe you're my son. The Dao Ancestor loves you so much, you must listen to his words and not let him down."

Zhu Gaoxi put down his milk tea and nodded solemnly: "Mother, rest assured, I remember."

Empress Xu smiled with satisfaction and put another piece of lotus root starch cake into her mouth. The mother and son quietly ate for the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea.

Zhu Gaoxi put down his spoon, wiped his mouth, and suddenly said, "Mother, I have something I would like to discuss with you."

Empress Xu glanced at him: "What is it?"

"Your subject wishes to leave the palace and establish his own residence," Zhu Gaoxi said earnestly, looking up at him.

Empress Xu put down her chopsticks, her brows furrowing slightly. "Start your own household? You're only seven years old. What kind of household are you starting? What, don't you want to live with your mother anymore?"

"No, no," Zhu Gaoxi quickly waved his hand. "Your subject just wants to have his own courtyard. The Qianxi Fourth Palace is too small; there's not even a place to move around. Besides, my second and third brothers both have their own residences, but I don't..." He lowered his head as he spoke, his voice growing softer and softer.

Empress Xu's heart softened at his pitiful look, and she reached out to pat his head. "Xi'er, it's not that your mother won't let you go out. You're only seven years old. According to the rules of the Ming Dynasty, princes can only leave their residences and establish their own residences at the age of fifteen. Although your father dotes on you, he can't break the rules. Besides, the Ministry of Revenue is under a lot of pressure. They have to compile the Yongle Encyclopedia and prepare for the relocation of the capital. Where would they find the money to build a residence for you?"

Zhu Gaoxi raised his head, his eyes sparkling: "Mother, your son does not accept the Ministry of Finance's silver."

Empress Xu was taken aback: "No money? How will you build your residence? You're only seven years old, you can't possibly move bricks and mix mud yourself, can you?"

Zhu Gaoxi smiled, leaned close to his mother's ear, and whispered, "Mother, yesterday I told the Daoist Emperor that the four residences in Qianxi were too small. The Daoist Emperor knew that the Ministry of Revenue of our Great Ming Dynasty couldn't come up with the money, so he passed on to me a new supernatural power called Divine Craftsmanship. Whatever kind of house I think of, I can conjure up that kind of house, without needing bricks, tiles, or wood, without needing craftsmen, and without spending a single tael of silver."

Empress Xu was stunned, and the handkerchief in her hand fell onto the table: "You...you can conjure a house?"

Zhu Gaoxi nodded, his face serious: "If Mother doesn't believe me, I can conjure up a pavilion for you right now. Right here in the courtyard of Kunning Palace, I'll conjure one up."

Empress Xu stared at her youngest son for a long time, then suddenly smiled, reaching out to pull him into her arms: "My child, why is the Dao Ancestor so good to you, thinking of everything for you?"

She released Zhu Gaoxi and looked at him earnestly, "Xi'er, are you serious? You really won't use the Ministry of Finance's money?"

"Absolutely true." Zhu Gaoxi patted his chest. "If I were lying to Mother, may the Daoist Ancestor take back his supernatural powers."

Empress Xu was silent for a moment, then sighed: "This matter cannot be decided by your mother alone. We need to discuss it with your father. Your father is a man who values ​​rules the most. You are only seven years old and you want to leave the palace to establish your own residence. I'm afraid it will be difficult for him to agree."

Zhu Gaoxi held his mother's hand, looked up at her with bright eyes, and said, "Mother, please speak to her for me. If I have my own residence, I can invite you to eat delicious food every day. Doesn't Mother like to drink mango pomelo sago? I'll bring you delicious food every day."

Empress Xu laughed at his flattery and tapped his forehead, saying, "You're just good at making your mother happy. Can't you deliver it to her if you don't go out?"

"Can I send them all out to Mother Empress? But I really want to live in my own palace. My eldest brother, second brother, and third brother all have such big palaces. I'm the only one living in such a small place. Does Mother Empress not love me anymore...?" Zhu Gaoxi looked at Empress Xu with a wronged expression.

She thought for a moment and then said, "How about this, after your father finishes court, I'll mention it to him. But you have to promise me you won't cause any trouble in front of your father."

Zhu Gaoxi nodded vigorously, jumped down from his chair with a grin, and bowed to Empress Xu: "Thank you, Mother! Your son awaits good news from Father!"

Empress Xu watched her youngest son skip away, shaking her head with a smile. She picked up the half-finished cup of mango pomelo sago, took another sip, and as the drink slid down her throat, she pondered how to bring it up with Zhu Di.

The fourth prince was only seven years old, yet he was already leaving the palace to establish his own residence—there was no precedent for this in the Ming Dynasty. But what the child said wasn't wrong; the Qianxi Fourth Residence was indeed a bit small. With a dozen or so children crowding into the courtyard, there wasn't even room to stand. Besides, he was a disciple of the Daoist Ancestor, a person among immortals; he couldn't just stay cooped up in that small courtyard forever.

After returning from court, Zhu Di changed into casual clothes and entered the Kunning Palace.

Empress Xu went to greet him, took his outer robe, hung it on the hanger, and then took the tea offered by a palace maid and handed it to him. Zhu Di sat down on the soft couch, took a sip of tea, and sighed, "The court was noisy all morning; it was very annoying."

Empress Xu sat down next to him without saying a word.

Zhu Di took another sip of tea and suddenly asked, "Where's the fourth prince? Didn't he come today?"

"They've arrived." Empress Xu took the teacup and placed it on the table. "They came to have breakfast with me this morning, but left after sitting for a while."

Zhu Di hummed in agreement, leaned back on the soft couch, and closed his eyes. Empress Xu glanced at him, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke: "Your Majesty, I have something I wish to discuss with you."

Zhu Di opened his eyes: "What is it?"

"Xi'er wants to leave the palace and establish his own household."

Zhu Di's brows furrowed sharply, and he sat up straight. "Give him a residence? He's only seven years old. What kind of residence is that? According to the rules of the Ming Dynasty, princes can only leave their residences at fifteen. He's so young. If he goes out to live, who will take care of him? Besides, where does the Ministry of Revenue get the money to build him a residence? They're busy compiling the Yongle Encyclopedia and preparing for the relocation of the capital. They need money everywhere. And yet, he just asks to have a residence."

Empress Xu waited until he had finished venting his anger before calmly saying, "Your Majesty, Xi'er said he will not use the Ministry of Revenue's money."

Zhu Di was taken aback: "No money? How will you build the mansion? Will he carry bricks and mix mortar himself?"

Empress Xu laughed: "Your Majesty, have you forgotten? Xi'er has the inheritance of the Daoist Ancestor. Yesterday, he told the Daoist Ancestor that the area where the Qianxi Four Palaces are located is too small. The Daoist Ancestor also knew that our Ming Dynasty's Ministry of Revenue could not come up with the silver, so he passed on to him a new supernatural power called Divine Craftsmanship. Whatever kind of house he thinks of, he can conjure up that kind of house, without using bricks, tiles, or wood, without using craftsmen, and without spending a single tael of silver."

Zhu Di froze, his teacup hovering in mid-air, unaware that tea was dripping onto his robes. He stared at Empress Xu for a long time, his Adam's apple bobbing, his voice trembling: "You mean... Fourth Prince can conjure houses out of thin air?"

Then he murmured, "Is this Zhu Laosi's son, or the Dao Ancestor's son?"

Empress Xu smiled at Zhu Di's expression: "Your Majesty was also shocked at first. After all, just yesterday, the Daoist Ancestor was worried that he wouldn't be used to the food in the human world, so he taught him a supernatural power to make him eat well. Today, he bestowed upon him such a supernatural power because he was not comfortable in his lodgings. He even said he would conjure up a pavilion in the courtyard of Kunning Palace for me to see, but I didn't let him do it."

Zhu Di put down his teacup, stood up, and paced back and forth in the hall. He recalled his fourth son flying on a sword in the court, the rain of swords obscuring the sky, and the giant sword carrying his family over Yingtian Prefecture. The power of creation, the body of an immortal, flying on a sword—which of these wasn't real? Changing a house, it seemed, was nothing special.

Zhu Di was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled. He walked back to the soft couch, sat down, picked up his teacup, and took a sip. The tea had already gone cold, but he didn't care.

"The Dao Ancestor is really good to this child."

He shook his head. "They even care if the place we live is too small."

Empress Xu pressed her advantage: "Your Majesty, Xi'er has already made his mark in court; all the officials have witnessed his abilities. The establishment of his residence won't require the court to pay for it, nor will it affect the Ministry of Revenue's accounts. What else could you possibly worry about?"

Zhu Di smiled slightly, leaned back on the soft couch, stared at the roof beams, and after a long while said, "Then let him build it. I want to see what kind of mansion he can conjure up."

Empress Xu was secretly delighted, but she didn't show it on her face. She simply said, "Then I'll talk to him about it later."

Zhu Di hummed in agreement, then suddenly remembered something and added, "When he's doing the transformation, I need to be there to watch. I also want to see what kind of transformation this house-making-out-of-nothing thing is."