Ming Dynasty: Gain one supernatural power every day

The words had barely left his mouth when the civil and military officials stirred again. Each of them harbored the same thought—His Highness Prince Rui was a disciple of the Daoist Ancestor, a celestial being. Serving in Prince Rui's residence would be like having a perfect opportunity! What if, one day, His Highness was in a good mood, casually bestowing upon them an elixir or offering a few pointers on cultivation? That would be a chance to rise to the heavens in one step.

The military officers were thinking of sending their own sons and nephews to serve as guards, while the civil officials were thinking of sending their sons and nephews to work in the Chief Secretary's Office and the Imperial Kitchen.

Zhang Fu was scheming about his second son, Fang Bin was thinking about his good-for-nothing son, Zheng Heng was eyeing his nephew, and Zhao Hong was already plotting against his nephew. Even Zhang Chun, the Vice Minister of Revenue, was thinking about how to get his niece into the palace as a maid, even if it was just serving tea and water, at least she would have "served His Highness Prince Rui".

Inside the palace, undercurrents were swirling. While the ministers outwardly argued about who was more suitable, they were all secretly plotting how to insert their own people into the position.

Zhu Di sat upright on his dragon throne, glanced at his ministers, a slight smile playing on his lips, but didn't say anything. How could he not see through their little schemes? However, the fourth prince did indeed need reliable people around him, and their eagerness to send people actually saved him trouble.

Fang Bin was the first to step forward: "Your Majesty! I recommend my eldest son, Fang Ming! Although he is not particularly talented, he is diligent in his work. He will certainly do his best to serve in the Prince Rui's residence!"

Before he could finish speaking, Duke Zhang Fu of Yingguo chuckled from the ranks of military officers. His voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for Fang Bin to hear: "Lord Fang, I've heard that your eldest son, Fang Ming, can't even do basic accounting. You still want him to enter Prince Rui's residence?"

Fang Bin blushed, turned and glared at him: "Duke of England, stop making things up! My son has studied under a famous teacher and read books for several years, how can he not understand the accounts?"

Zhang Fu scoffed, "Studied under a famous teacher? Which famous teacher? He can't even recite the Analects properly, and he always miscounts silver. What does he take the Prince Rui's mansion for?"

Fang Bin was so angry his beard trembled: "Duke of England, you should speak with conscience! My son Ming'er may be a little slow at accounting, but he is diligent and reliable in his work and never makes a mistake!"

Zhang Fu remained calm: "Diligent and conscientious? Then who miscalculated the three thousand taels of silver in last year's Ministry of War account?"

Fang Bin was choked, his face turning red. He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a word. Several military officers in the hall suppressed their laughter, lowering their heads and feigning coughs. The civil officials looked at each other, none daring to interrupt.

Guo Jin, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, seized the opportunity to step forward: "Your Majesty, I recommend my nephew, Guo (Yun) Wen. Although young, he is well-read, knowledgeable in principles, and skilled in general affairs. He is qualified to serve as the Chief Clerk in charge of documents!"

Everyone was speechless. They didn't know where this Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel's accent came from, but as soon as they heard that he was his nephew, they all worried about him and his entire family.

Zhang Fu spoke up again: "Lord Guo, I heard your nephew Guo Yunwen is only nineteen years old and hasn't even passed the provincial examination. You're going to send him to Prince Rui's residence to manage documents?"

Guo Jin straightened his face and said, "Your Excellency, you are mistaken! Although Yunwen did not pass the imperial examination, he has been well-versed in classical texts since childhood and is very organized in his work. He does not necessarily need to have official rank to be of great use."

Zhang Fu snorted: "What kind of logic can someone who can't even pass the provincial examination talk about?"

Guo Jin's face flushed red: "Duke of England, you..."

The military side was even more lively. Duke Zhu Yong of Cheng clasped his hands and said, "Your Majesty! I recommend my nephew Zhu Lie, whose bravery and martial prowess make him most suitable to protect His Highness Prince Rui!"

Marquis Zheng Heng of Wu'an was not to be outdone: "Your Majesty! I recommend my adopted son, Zheng Yong!"

Marquis Li Bin of Fengcheng followed suit: "Your Majesty! I recommend my nephew, Li Huai!"

Having just suffered a loss at Zhang Fu's hands, Fang Bin seized the opportunity and sneered, "Duke Cheng, your nephew Zhu Lie got into a fight at the Zuixianlou restaurant in the west of the city last month and broke someone's arm. Is someone like that supposed to protect His Highness Prince Rui?"

Zhu Yong's face darkened: "Lord Fang, that person provoked us first! Zhu Lie was acting in self-defense!"

Fang Bin said slowly, "Self-defense? Breaking someone's arm is self-defense? If he really entered Prince Rui's mansion, would he 'defend himself' if someone glared at him?"

Zhu Yong's face flushed red with anger: "Fang Bin! Stop making baseless accusations!"

Before Marquis Fengcheng Li Bin could speak, Zhao Hong stroked his beard and added, "Lord Li, I heard that your nephew Li Huai can't even understand his own family's accounts. If he goes to Prince Rui's residence, I'm afraid he won't be able to sort out the accounts of the Imperial Kitchen."

Li Bin also grew anxious: "Lord Zhao, who told you that? Li Huai is just young; he'll get better with experience!"

Zhao Hong smiled without saying a word, a smile that made Li Bin's heart burn with rage.

The palace was as bustling as a marketplace. Civil officials exposed the shortcomings of military generals, and military generals exposed the shortcomings of civil officials, each offering their own criticism, neither giving an inch.

"Enough!" Zhu Di slammed his hand on the armrest of the dragon throne. His voice wasn't loud, but it silenced the clamor in the hall. The hall instantly fell silent, and the ministers all lowered their heads.

Zhu Di's gaze swept over the assembled officials, and he said coldly, "Do you think this is a marketplace? Arguing heatedly, each of you pointing fingers at each other—what kind of decorum is this?"

Zhu Di leaned back on his dragon throne, glanced at his ministers, and said in a low voice, though his voice was loud enough to be heard throughout the hall: "I have noted down all the people recommended by you, my esteemed ministers. The officials of the Prince Rui's residence will be selected according to regulations, and the guards will be chosen by Ji Gang. If any of your residences have suitable candidates, you may also recommend them. Whether or not they are employed is up to me."

He paused, then said, "As for those words of mutual recrimination, I will pretend I didn't hear them. Anyone who makes such a fuss in court again will go to the Censorate to receive their punishment."

The assembled officials responded in unison, "We obey your decree."

Zhu Gaochi stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Father, I have two reliable stewards in my household who have served me for many years and are very steady in their work. If my fourth brother's household is short of manpower, I am willing to transfer them over to help."

Zhu Di glanced at him and nodded: "Your Highness is very thoughtful."

Zhu Gaochi stepped forward immediately, his voice louder than anyone else's: "Father! I have several capable guards in my residence, highly skilled in martial arts and utterly loyal. I would like to transfer them to my fourth brother's residence!"

He swallowed his words back. Actually, he wanted to put his own people into the guards, but his father had just said that the guards would be selected by Ji Gang. If he insisted on it, it would make him seem like he didn't trust his father's arrangements.

He opened his mouth, but ultimately only added, "I cannot be indifferent to my fourth brother's safety!"

Zhu Di glanced at him and said calmly, "I know what I'm doing."

Zhu Gaosui walked out unhurriedly, cupped his hands and said, "Father, I have several gardeners and florists in my residence who are quite skilled. My fourth brother's garden has just been completed, and I would like to transfer there to help."

Zhu Di nodded without saying anything more.

After the court session ended, the ministers left in twos and threes, still discussing the matter. Fang Bin tugged at Zhang Fu's sleeve: "Duke of Yingguo, you just said that my family couldn't settle accounts tomorrow, that was last year's matter, he's much better this year!"

Zhang Fu shook off his hand: "Lord Fang, you should just take care of your son and stop worrying about the Prince Rui's mansion."

Fang Bin was so angry that he stomped his feet.

Zhu Gaochi, Zhu Gaoxu, and Zhu Gaosui walked side by side at the back.

Zhu Gaoxu was still pondering this when he suddenly lowered his voice and asked, "Elder brother, do you think Father will allow us to send someone to Fourth Brother's residence?"

Zhu Gaochi glanced at him and said indifferently, "Stop having those crooked ideas."

Zhu Gaoxu pursed his lips: "What wicked idea did I have? I was just worried about my fourth brother."

Zhu Gaochi didn't reply, but a slight smile played on his lips. Zhu Zhanji, following behind, looked up and asked, "Father, is Fourth Uncle's mansion bigger than ours?"

Zhu Gaochi knew what he was going to say, and glanced down at him: "Whether it's big or small has nothing to do with you. Your fourth uncle just moved in, don't go and cause trouble."

Zhu Zhanji pursed his lips and muttered under his breath, "I'm not going to cause any trouble..."