Ming Dynasty: Gain one supernatural power every day

Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Zhanji walked in front, supporting each other, while Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosui walked side by side behind.

Zhu Gaoxu patted his stomach and turned to Zhu Gaosui, saying, "Third brother, what good food do you think Fourth brother has today? Let's go and mooch another meal there. I didn't get enough of that fried chicken from yesterday."

Zhu Gaosui's lips curled up slightly, and he was about to reply when a commotion suddenly arose in front of him.

The crowd outside the Meridian Gate suddenly stopped in their tracks. Some looked up, some pointed to the sky, and exclaimed in surprise, "Look! Look what that is!"

Zhu Gaosui looked up at the sound, his pupils suddenly contracted, and he reached out to pat Zhu Gaoxu beside him: "Second brother, look at the sky!"

Zhu Gaoxu was planning his fried chicken and hamburger when he impatiently looked up at his third brother's hand and froze on the spot.

A long, golden dragon swept past the direction of the imperial city, its body outstretched, its scales shimmering in the sunlight, and a small, moon-white figure sat on its back.

Zhu Gaoxu's voice changed, and he shouted at the top of his lungs, "That's Fourth Brother?! Fourth Brother is riding a dragon?!"

He grabbed Zhu Gaosui's arm. "Third brother, did you see that? Fourth brother is riding a dragon! That really is fourth brother!"

Zhu Gaochi had just stepped down the stairs when he heard his second brother's shout. Looking up, his obese body swayed, but thankfully a eunuch steadied him. Zhu Zhanji emerged from behind, excitedly jumping up and down, tugging at his father's sleeve: "Father! Look! That's Fourth Uncle! Fourth Uncle is riding a dragon! Father, look!"

Zhu Gaochi trembled: "Fourth Brother is a frightening man every day, his supernatural abilities keep coming one after another..."

All the civil and military officials outside the Meridian Gate stopped in their tracks and looked up in unison, creating a spectacular scene.

Duke Zhang Fu of Yingguo looked up at the golden dragon in the sky, almost dropping his official tablet: "A dragon...it really is a dragon...exactly like the one described in the book..."

Fang Bin stared, mouth agape, before finally managing to stammer, "Your Highness, is...is...is he about to ascend to heaven?"

Duke Zhu Yong of Cheng, stroking his beard, froze in mid-air, his eyes wide, his voice booming: "That's a real dragon! A four-clawed golden dragon! His Highness Prince Rui is riding a real dragon!"

Zhao Hong stood in the crowd, his mouth agape, unable to close for a long time, his face drained of all color. Xia Yuanji, head tilted back, didn't even notice his official tablet falling to the ground, muttering, "Dragon... dragon... it really is a dragon..."

A sharp-eyed eunuch had already spotted it, dropped his whisk, and turned to run towards the Fengtian Hall. The guards stopped him: "What are you doing?"

The eunuch, panting and trembling, cried out, "Go...go report to His Majesty! Prince Rui has ascended to heaven on a dragon!"

The guard froze, nearly dropping his spear. The eunuch had already bypassed him and jogged into the Fengtian Hall.

Zhu Di was sitting in a side hall reviewing memorials when he heard hurried footsteps outside. He looked up and saw a eunuch running and kneeling on the ground, covered in sweat: "Your Majesty! Prince Rui... His Highness, he..."

Zhu Di frowned: "What's wrong? Explain yourself."

The eunuch swallowed hard. "Prince Rui... His Highness Prince Rui was riding a golden dragon, flying in the sky! All the officials saw it!!"

Zhu Di paused, his pen still. He looked at the eunuch, hurriedly put down his pen, stood up, and walked to the window. Pushing open the window, he saw only a faint golden light remaining on the distant horizon, slowly moving as if a dragon were roaming among the clouds.

Zhu Di stood by the window, his gaze fixed on the golden light, remaining motionless for a long time. His voice was hoarse, unlike his usual composed tone: "You said… the fourth prince rode a dragon? A real dragon?"

The eunuch knelt on the ground, his voice still trembling: "Your Majesty... all the officials saw it. Everyone outside the Meridian Gate was kneeling... The Duke of Yingguo said it was a four-clawed golden dragon... a real dragon..."

Zhu Di clenched his fist on the window frame for a moment, then released it. He was already shocked enough by the sight of his fourth son flying on his sword that day, but now a real dragon had appeared.

There are records of people becoming immortals by flying on swords, but dragons are different. Dragons are legendary creatures that only exist in the Classic of Mountains and Seas and ancient myths. There is no conclusive record of "true dragons appearing in the world" in historical books, nor are there any legends of immortals riding dragons.

Today, his son rode a dragon. A real, golden dragon that could soar through the clouds.

Zhu Di suddenly chuckled. The laugh wasn't loud, but it carried the feeling that something that had been suppressed for a long time had finally been released.

He stood by the window for a long time, gazing in the direction where the golden light disappeared, and slowly spoke: "Throughout history, everyone has claimed to be the chosen one, but who has ever seen a real dragon? Emperor Gaozu of Han started his rebellion by slaying a white snake, but it was just a white snake; Emperor Taizong of Tang was hailed as the Son of Heaven, but it was just a dragon in a painting. My son rode a real dragon and flew around the sky above Yingtian Prefecture, and all the people in the city saw it."

His voice grew louder and louder, until it was almost a shout: "The entire court has seen it! What is this if not the Mandate of Heaven?!"

He suddenly burst into laughter, the sound echoing in the side hall, startling the pigeons outside the window into taking flight. That laughter carried something that had been suppressed for over a decade, finally being released completely.

His son rode a dragon and flew in the sky. Everyone in Yingtian Prefecture saw it. The historians would also record it—in the fifth year of Yongle's reign, Prince Rui, Zhu Gaoxi, rode a real dragon in the sky above Yingtian Prefecture. The whole world saw it; this was the will of Heaven. The Yongle reign would surely last for a thousand generations.

He turned around, the smile still on his face, but his voice regained its usual composure: "Issue the decree that all officials and guards of Prince Rui's residence be in place within seven days. All expenses of Prince Rui's residence shall be in accordance with those of the Crown Prince's residence..." The eunuch kowtowed and scrambled out.

Zhang Fu gazed at the golden light fading into the distance, his eyes landing on the small figure on the dragon's back. After a moment of silence, he suddenly turned around and grabbed Zhu Yong's arm: "Duke Cheng! We can't wait any longer!"

Zhu Yong was taken aback by his tug: "Duke of England, what can't we wait any longer?"

Zhang Fu lowered his voice, but his eyes shone with an alarming light: "Prince Rui's Mansion! If we wait any longer, we won't even get a sip of soup! I'll go back to my residence now and immediately send my granddaughter to Prince Rui's Mansion! Let's secure a spot for her first!"

After he finished speaking, he lifted his robe and strode towards the Meridian Gate, leaving a group of military officers looking at each other in bewilderment.

Zhu Yong was stunned for a moment, then slapped his forehead: "Duke of England! Why are you running so fast! Wait! I have a daughter too! Let's go together!"

As he spoke, he lifted his robe and chased after them. Zheng Heng, anxiously stamping his feet behind, cried out, "Duke of Yingguo! Duke of Chengguo! Wait for me!..." A group of military officers all ran off in a flash, while the civil officials stood there, looking at each other in bewilderment.

Fang Bin was the first to react, turning around and running towards his carriage, but Zhao Hong grabbed him from behind: "Lord Fang, why are you running?"

Fang Bin didn't even turn his head: "Lord Zhao, don't pull me! If we're late, we won't even get to drink the soup!" The other civil officials exchanged glances and then mostly dispersed as well.

Outside the Meridian Gate, only a few young censors, still caught off guard, stood there, looking at each other in bewilderment.