Ming Dynasty: Gain one supernatural power every day

Zhu Gaochi stood on the steps, watching his brothers circling the dragon ring in the courtyard, and suddenly laughed: "Alright, stop circling. Fourth Brother's mansion has just been built, and things aren't all set up yet. Let's hurry up and arrange things while it's still early."

He had barely finished speaking when a lively commotion arose outside the courtyard gate. The gatekeeper rushed in to announce, "Your Highness, the Empress has arrived, and the three princesses have also come!"

Zhu Gaoxi quickly got up and led his three elder brothers to the door to greet them. Empress Xu walked at the front, followed by Crown Princess Zhang Yan, Princess Wei of Han, and Princess Weng of Zhao.

Each of the three princesses was followed by a maid, carrying various items—brocade quilts, tea sets, porcelain, potted plants, and antique ornaments—and moving them one by one into the courtyard.

Several children also ran in. Zhu Zhanjun and Zhu Zhanyong followed behind the Crown Princess, while several children of similar age from the Han Prince's Mansion and the Zhao Prince's Mansion timidly looked around the new courtyard.

"Fourth Uncle, your place is so beautiful..." the children exclaimed as soon as they entered.

"It's even better here than in the palace... I love it here!" Then she chattered on and on.

Zhu Gaoxi quickly led his three elder brothers forward to pay their respects: "Your subject greets Your Majesty."

Empress Xu smiled and helped Zhu Gaoxi up, then looked at her three sons: "Alright, alright, there's no need for such formalities at home. Your mother heard that the decorations at your residence aren't finished yet, so I came to take a look and lend a hand. The eldest son's wife, the second son's wife, and the third son's wife have also come, and they've brought their gifts."

She glanced back at her three daughters-in-law, "They are all very attentive, afraid that your household might lack something."

Zhang Yan stepped forward, holding the brocade, and said with a smile, "Fourth brother, your sister-in-law brought you several new quilts and some brocade. You can use them to make the bed and hang curtains. The colors are all refreshing. Your eldest brother also brought you a lot of books and antiques."

Madam Wei smiled and said, "Fourth brother, your second sister-in-law brought you a new tea set, and your second brother brought you a bunch of weapons."

A group of people followed behind Madam Weng, carrying a lot of things: "Fourth brother, your third sister-in-law and your third brother brought you some flowers and bonsai. These plants have been growing for several years and are perfect for your study."

Empress Xu patted Zhu Gaoxi on the shoulder: "Alright, let them go about their business. You keep your mother company and chat with her. Eldest, second, and third sons, don't just stand around doing nothing. Do what you need to do, don't just stand there and watch."

She glanced at the children again, "Zhanjun, Zhanyong, you two come here to keep your fourth uncle company."

The courtyard suddenly became lively. Zhang Yan went into the bedroom to make the bed and fold the quilts, Wei Shi went to the side hall to set out the tea set, and Weng Shi carried the orchid to the study. Zhu Gaochi stood in the main hall directing the hanging of paintings, Zhu Gaoxu was in the west courtyard directing the moving of weapons, and Zhu Gaosui followed the servants to the back garden to tend to the flowers and trees.

Zhu Gaoxi led his mother and several children toward the pavilion. A clean brocade cushion was laid on the stone table, and several stone benches were placed there. Empress Xu sat down on a stone bench, where she could see the busy figures in the courtyard. Zhu Gaoxi sat opposite her, and the children sat around the stone table, chattering incessantly.

Zhu Zhanjun climbed onto the stone bench and sat down, with Zhu Zhanyong sitting next to him, his short legs swinging back and forth on the edge of the bench. Several children of similar age from the Han Prince's Mansion and the Zhao Prince's Mansion also crowded around, curiously examining the arrangement of the pavilion.

Zhu Zhanjun tugged at Zhu Gaoxi's sleeve: "Fourth Uncle, I want to drink that milk tea from last time? You know, the one that's black, tastes sweet, and has little beads in it!"

Zhu Zhanyong chimed in, "And there's the iced one! You scoop it out with a spoon, it's cool and delicious!"

The children all chimed in, shouting "milk tea" and "ice cream."

"Children should eat less iced food," Zhu Gaoxi smiled and recited twice towards the stone table. Several cups of milk tea appeared on the table.

"Fourth Uncle is amazing!" The children were still quite shocked. Zhu Zhanjun took a big sip of milk tea, his mouth full of pearls, and shouted indistinctly, "This is it! Fourth Uncle, I want to drink this!" He quickly quieted down, leaving only the sound of slurping.

"Drink slowly," Empress Xu said to Zhu Gaoxi, looking at the children. "Everything here is fine, but you don't have anyone to serve you. In such a large mansion, you need a few caring people around you."

As she spoke, she turned her gaze away from the children and said, "Your father has assigned you guards and servants, but they are all just for gatekeeping and handling affairs. I'm worried about you not having a trusted maidservant by your side. I have two steady palace maids who have been with me for over ten years, as well as a girl named Qiutang and a girl named Yuehe. They are both quick-witted and discreet. I brought them with me today, so they can stay in your residence."

Zhu Gaoxi rose and bowed, saying, "Thank you, Empress Dowager." Empress Xu waved her hand, "What are you thanking me for? I'm only at ease when you're doing well."

As Empress Xu spoke, she beckoned towards the outside of the pavilion. Two maids walked over from under the corridor, their steps light and steady, their heads bowed and hands at their sides. When they reached the pavilion, they stopped and bowed in unison: "This servant, Qiutang (Yuehe), greets Your Highness."

Zhu Gaoxi looked over and saw that Qiu Tang was pretty, with delicate features and a tall, slender figure, standing there like a straight bamboo stalk; Yue He had an oval face, almond-shaped eyes that smiled, and naturally upturned corners of her mouth, making her a delight to behold. Both of them were twenty-three or twenty-four years old, beautiful, and would be considered internet celebrities by today's standards.

Empress Xu patted Zhu Gaoxi's hand: "From now on, they will be your people. Qiutang will be in charge of things, and Yuehe will take care of your daily life. Just tell them what to do. They are all your own people."

Qiu Tang and Yue He bowed again, and Zhu Gaoxi glanced at them and nodded.

Qiu Tang and Yue He glanced at Zhu Gaoxi discreetly, then quickly lowered their eyes again.

Empress Xu picked up her teacup and took a sip, casually mentioning, "This morning, the whole city was buzzing with the news that you rode a dragon and flew over Yingtian Prefecture. What happened?"

Zhu Gaoxi smiled and said, "Mother, yesterday the Daoist Ancestor passed on a divine power that can bring inanimate objects to life." As he spoke, he raised his hand, and a golden light slid down from his wrist.

Little Jinpan sat on the stone table in the pavilion, flicking its tail as if sizing up a new face. Zhu Gaoxi said, "Your Majesty, I brought to life the wooden dragon on the pillar in the palace; that's it. This morning, I rode it out for a spin, and the ministers who were leaving court saw it."

Empress Xu stared at the golden dragon on the table, her teacup hovering in mid-air. After a long while, she put it down, her voice tinged with disbelief: "It...is it really alive?"

Zhu Gaoxi did not answer, but only lowered his head and said to Xiao Jin, "Xiao Jin, show it to your mother."

After saying that, Xiao Jin let out a soft murmur, rose into the air from the stone table, circled once above the pavilion, and stretched out its dragon body, which was more than three zhang long and golden in color. After circling for a while, it landed back on the stone table and coiled up again.

"Truly amazing... Xi'er, you're becoming more and more like a deity."

Empress Xu looked up as it flew around once, then looked down at the little thing coiled on the stone table. The golden creature was quietly curled up on the table, as if the enormous thing that had just circled in the sky was another dragon.

Qiu Tang and Yue He, standing behind Empress Xu, were completely dumbfounded. Their mouths were slightly agape, their eyes wide open. They had served in the palace for many years and had witnessed many strange things. Although they already knew about Prince Rui's supernatural abilities, seeing a live dragon leap from their wrist and circle above their heads was something no one could handle.

Upon seeing the real dragon, Yuehe and Qiutang were extremely excited: This is a real dragon... a living dragon... From now on, we will be serving a deity.

They couldn't help but glance at Zhu Gaoxi again, their hearts racing. They thought that if such a master were to ascend to heaven one day, they, who served him closely, might also have some affinity with immortality and become fairies. How wonderful that would be.