Ming Dynasty: Gain one supernatural power every day

Zhu Gaoxi raised both hands, palms down.

The ground trembled. A white marble platform rose from the earth, as white as snow, carved with clouds, dragons, and lotus petals. Zhu Di's pupils contracted, and Zhu Gaochi's mouth gaped open.

Thirty-six colossal pillars rise from the ground: the main pillars of the main hall are made of thousand-year-old golden nanmu wood, jet black and glossy, with shimmering golden threads; the east and west courtyards are made of rosewood and huanghuali wood, with cloud-like grain patterns. The beams, pillars, and brackets are layered, and the main beams are carved with two dragons playing with a pearl, their whiskers flowing. The roof is covered with blue glazed tiles, crystal clear like jade; the ridge ornaments are raised, and the ridge beasts are crouching in rows.

Wei Shi forgot to drink her milk tea, Zhang Yan covered her mouth, and Weng Shi froze, still holding her milk tea. Zhu Zhanji exclaimed "Wow!" and quickly covered his mouth.

The beams and rafters inside the hall feature painted decorations in shades of green and gold. The coffered ceiling is adorned with a coiled dragon, its eyes inlaid with pigeon-blood rubies. The partitions, floor-to-ceiling screens, and wall panels are all made of rosewood, huanghuali, and chicken-wing wood, with relief carvings of landscapes and figures.

The prince's throne is carved from rosewood with a five-clawed dragon, and behind it are twelve rosewood screens, the center of which is inlaid with a jade carving of a vast landscape.

Above the palace gate, golden light shimmered, and a plaque appeared—the three large characters "Ruiwang Mansion" were written with vigorous strokes and gleamed with gold.

On either side of the gate, two beams of golden light burst forth, and two stone lions appeared out of thin air. The male lion stood on a stone ball, and the female lion on a cub. The stone lions raised their heads and stared, their manes layered, with carved stone bells hanging from their necks, and thirteen bumps on their heads. The Sumeru pedestals were intricately carved with lotus petals, both facing upwards and downwards.

In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the entire Prince Rui's Mansion, including the main hall, side halls, and rear hall in the central axis, the study and garden in the east courtyard, the martial arts field in the west courtyard, the sleeping quarters and kitchen in the rear courtyard, and the vermilion walls, was completed.

In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the entire Prince Rui's Mansion, including the main hall, side halls, and rear hall in the central axis, the study and garden in the east courtyard, the martial arts field in the west courtyard, the sleeping quarters and kitchen in the rear courtyard, and the vermilion walls, was completed.

Zhu Di stood before the steps, gazing at the magnificent, ornately decorated mansion before him. He remained silent for a long while before slowly speaking: "Today I have truly witnessed it. The supernatural powers passed down by the Daoist Ancestor are indeed divine abilities. Building this house is faster than me approving a memorial."

Zhu Gaochi, panting heavily, nodded repeatedly: "Fourth brother, the time it takes you to drink a cup of tea is faster than my meal. This mansion would probably take the Ministry of Works three years to build. This... this is a celestial abode!"

Standing beside him, Zhang Yan's eyes were still fixed on the coiled dragon on the ceiling, and she murmured, "This is not a mansion, it's a palace moved down from the heavens."

The men in fine clothes around them swallowed hard. "From beginning to end, they haven't even finished a pot of tea. This is hardly building a house..."

Zhu Gaoxi smiled, stepped aside, raised his hand and pointed to the gate, gesturing for them to enter: "Father, Mother, please. Eldest brother, second brother, third brother, sisters-in-law, please come in."

Zhu Di nodded, put his hands behind his back, and stepped up the stairs, crossing the threshold. Empress Xu followed beside him, the three princesses walked behind hand in hand, Zhu Zhanji had already rushed in, Zhu Gaoxu strode in, Zhu Gaosui walked slowly, and Zhu Gaochi was supported by a eunuch and was the last to enter.

Inside the Chengyun Hall, the floor is covered with gold bricks that gleam like mirrors; the giant pillars of Phoebe zhennan wood are arranged in neat rows, and the painted decorations are dazzling; in the center of the caisson ceiling, a dragon is soaring down, and the dragon's eyes are shimmering with pigeon blood rubies.

Zhu Zhanji craned his neck and exclaimed, "Grandpa, look! The dragon is moving!"

Zhu Di did not respond, but his steps slowed down.

Zhu Di entered the hall, looked around, and after a long while said, "Fourth Prince, your Chengyun Hall... is meticulously planned and uses more exquisite materials than my Fengtian Hall. My Fengtian Hall is far inferior to yours..."

Zhu Gaoxi stood in the center of the hall, turned around and smiled: "If Father Emperor likes it, I will build one for you as well." Zhu Di chuckled and scolded him, but did not say no.

Passing through the circular hall, we arrived at the Hall of Mindfulness. On the rosewood desk were a white jade brush holder, a celadon brush washer, and a Duan inkstone and brushes. On the wall hung blank picture frames, the silk paper snow-white, without a single stroke.

Zhang Yan paused to look at it, then whispered to Zhu Gaochi, "Your Highness, this frame is quite nice, it's just missing the painting. I'll send some to Fourth Brother later." Zhu Gaochi nodded.

After leaving the Cunxin Hall, we passed through the palace gate and entered the sleeping quarters. The front palace, the middle palace, and the rear palace unfolded in succession, with main rooms and side rooms, and lush flowers and trees.

Lady Wei walked around the central palace, touched the rosewood canopy bed and clicked her tongue: "Fourth brother, this bed, I'm afraid there is no other like it in the entire Ming Dynasty. Later, send the best bedding from our mansion to your bed."

Reaching the east courtyard, the grand library stood majestically. Zhu Zhanji plunged inside, running among the empty bookshelves, exclaiming, "Fourth Uncle, this building is so big! The bookshelves are all made of rosewood! But there isn't a single book on them!"

Zhang Yan followed in, touching the empty bookshelf with envy in her eyes: "It's a nice bookshelf. We'll give some books to our fourth brother later."

Zhu Gaochi sighed, "Fourth brother, your library is ten times larger than my study in the Eastern Palace, and it's empty. Your older brothers will add some for your residence later."

In the training ground of the west courtyard, the weapon racks were neatly arranged, but they were completely empty, without a single weapon in sight.

Zhu Gaoxu ran over to take a look, patted the empty rack, and turned to shout, "Fourth brother, you've set up this weapon rack. I'll send you a few good knives to put on it later!"

Lady Wei pulled him back from behind: "Your Highness, all you know is weapons." Zhu Gaoxu chuckled.

During the tour of the Prince's Mansion, Zhu Di and the others were constantly amazed, like Grandma Liu visiting the Grand View Garden, while Zhu Gaoxi could only echo everyone else.

After touring the Prince's mansion, Zhu Gaoxu was so excited that his face turned red: "Fourth brother, your abilities are truly amazing! Golden nanmu, sandalwood, rosewood, and white marble, even the stone lions are top-grade from the Thirteen Protectors! Second brother has never seen such a magnificent place. Compared to this, my Han Prince's mansion is like a pigsty!"

The words had barely left his mouth when Zhu Di's smiling face suddenly darkened, his eyes widening as he stared at Zhu Gaoxu: "Second Prince, what did you say?"

Zhu Gaochi then realized he had misspoke, his smile froze, and he stammered, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty said... Ah, nothing, Your Majesty, you misheard me!"

Zhu Gaochi stood to the side, his lips twitching as he desperately suppressed a laugh. He thought to himself, "The second son dares to say such things! Father Emperor lived in a pigsty for a time back then. Who in the entire court dares to mention a pigsty in front of Father Emperor? It's no less than talking about a beggar to Grandpa back then!"

Zhu Gaosui turned his head slightly, pretending to look at the old locust tree in the garden, but his shoulders were trembling slightly.

Zhang Yan and Madam Wei exchanged a glance, then lowered their heads, covering their mouths with handkerchiefs. Madam Weng held the now-cold milk tea, her eyelashes fluttering, trying her best to pretend she hadn't heard anything.

Zhu Gaoxu was sweating profusely and took two steps back. Just as he was about to argue again, he suddenly felt a pain in his waist.

Wei Shi appeared behind him without his noticing and pinched him hard. Zhu Gaoxu hissed and turned to glare at Wei Shi.

Lady Wei smiled and said to Zhu Di, "Father, Your Highness is saying that Prince Rui's mansion is magnificent. Compared to this, his own mansion is too small, like a small courtyard." After saying that, she pinched Zhu Gaoxu hard.

Zhu Gaochi winced in pain, nodding repeatedly, "Yes, yes, the small courtyard, the small courtyard! I meant the small courtyard!"

Zhu Di snorted coldly and didn't pursue the matter further, but the fierce glint in his eyes hadn't completely disappeared.

Zhu Gaochi stepped on the gleaming gold bricks and sighed, "Fourth brother, after living in the Eastern Palace for so many years, this is the first time I've felt that my living quarters are so shabby."

Zhang Yan pulled Zhu Zhanji around, looking him over in amazement.

Madam Weng gently tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Your Highness, Fourth Brother's skills are truly remarkable..."

Zhu Gaosui shook his head: "It's not skill, it's fate." Madam Weng nodded thoughtfully.

Suddenly, Zhu Zhanji poked his head out from behind her, looked up and shouted, "Fourth Uncle, could you build Zhanji a mansion someday? It doesn't have to be this big, just some stone lions and dragons will do!"

Zhu Gaoxi laughed and said, "Alright, when you establish your own residence in the future, your fourth uncle will build one for you."

Zhang Yan said with a smile, "Fourth brother, don't spoil him too much."