Ming Dynasty: Gain one supernatural power every day

Zhu Gaoxi didn't reply, but turned around and sat down at the stone table next to the viewing platform.

He raised his hand and swept it across the table. A golden light flashed across the gourmet dining table, and several cups of drinks and plates of snacks appeared out of thin air on the stone table.

He picked up one of the cups, took a sip through the straw, and then slowly beckoned to Zhu Di: "Father, come sit over here and talk, don't stand there."

Zhu Di followed him over and sat down opposite him. He looked at the cold drink on the table, picked it up and took a sip, then quickly resumed his preoccupied expression.

Zhu Gaoxi leaned back in his chair and said casually, "Didn't I just give you a somersault cloud? You can just ride it."

Zhu Di held a drink in his left hand and scratched his head with his right: "These clouds are comfortable, but I'm thinking that when your Heavenly Palace hovers over Annam, the sheer scale of it will terrify them. Then we can take Annam without losing a single soldier, and also reduce the casualties of our Ming soldiers."

His tone suddenly turned heavy as he wiped his eyes with his sleeve: "Alas, Fourth Prince, you have no idea how difficult these past two years have been for the Ming Dynasty. Taxes are not coming in, the national treasury is tight, and your eldest brother, who is in charge of the Ministry of Revenue, complains to me about being poor every day. If we could avoid this war and reduce the number of deaths, I would feel much better..."

Zhu Gaoxi, with a straw in his mouth, watched Zhu Di's performance with a blank expression.

The Ming Dynasty has been in trouble these past two years? Isn't that because you insisted on fighting wars? The construction of the Grand Canal, the conquest of Annam, the voyages to the Western Ocean, the compilation of the Yongle Encyclopedia—weren't all of these decisions made by you? However, he didn't expose it, wanting to see what other tricks Zhu Di could pull.

Seeing that his fourth son remained silent, Zhu Di assumed that his words had worked and thus became even more enthusiastic.

He pulled his sleeve down from the corner of his eye, adopting a fatherly expression: "Besides, if your Heavenly Palace could really float to Annam, they'd most likely surrender immediately. The military expenses saved from surrendering wouldn't be a small amount. If your elder brother, as the crown prince, could save such a large sum of money, his role as regent would be much easier. Your elder brother has been in poor health since childhood…?"

Zhu Gaoxi was speechless upon hearing these words. He looked at the young Zhu Di across from him, who was wiping away tears with his sleeve and trying to appeal to his elder brother's emotions.

I thought to myself: It's a good thing you're the supreme plus version of Zhu Di. If it were a middle-aged, greasy Zhu, I would never agree to it.

Using the common people of the Ming Dynasty as leverage earlier was moral blackmail. Now, using his elder brother as leverage is playing the kinship card. Zhu Di skillfully employs this combination of moral blackmail and kinship blackmail.

If these were the other brothers, Zhu Di would have devoured them completely.

He leaned back in his chair, quietly watching Zhu Di's performance with his green grape popsicle in hand, neither interrupting nor responding. After all, he was going to Annam anyway, and the Tiangong was going to set sail anyway; they would make their appearance sooner or later.

Seeing how engrossed Zhu Di was in his performance, he couldn't bear to interrupt.

Just then, the Willow Goddess accompanied Empress Xu from the back garden. She had been wandering around the Heavenly Palace for a long time, squatting on the ground to look at the flowers and plants, and leaning on the railing of the viewing platform to look down. She was so excited that she finally felt her mouth was dry.

She walked to the stone table, sat down skillfully next to Zhu Gaoxi, picked up a cup of beverage and took a sip: "Xi'er, when was this heavenly palace built? It wasn't built just yesterday, was it? When I came, I saw that cloud below, it was exactly the same as the cloud we're sitting on."

Zhu Gaoxi nodded and said, "Yes, it was built on top of the base made of the somersault cloud."

Empress Xu looked around in admiration: "Xi'er, you've built such a magnificent palace overnight. You're truly amazing."

Zhu Di listened from the side, wanting to say something but holding back.

Seeing Zhu Di's expression, Zhu Gaoxi knew what he was going to say: "Father, don't even think about it. Your cloud is too small to support such a large palace. Even if we built one for you, you wouldn't be able to control it with your mental power, and you wouldn't even be able to find the location."

Zhu Di was instantly heartbroken. Empress Xu, watching Zhu Di's discomfiture, covered her mouth with her drink and chuckled softly.

Empress Xu glanced around the Heavenly Palace and then fixed her gaze on Zhu Gaoxi, saying with concern, "Xi'er, I just took a look around, and your Heavenly Palace is indeed quite large. Such a big palace, yet only you and Miss Liu live there, and there isn't even anyone to serve you tea or water on a daily basis."

"Should I transfer a group of palace maids and eunuchs from Kunning Palace to serve you? Don't worry, they are all people I'm used to working with. They are quick and efficient and keep their mouths shut."

Zhu Gaoxi shook his head: "Mother, no need. I still live in the Prince Rui's mansion most of the time. I only come here occasionally to stay overnight and enjoy the scenery."

Empress Xu glanced at Liu Shen, as if she wanted to say something.

Zhu Di patted his chest and waved his hand, "Fourth Prince, if you need anything, just ask. I'll pick out the best batch for you from the palace, as many eunuchs and palace maids as you want. Although your Prince Rui's residence already has people assigned, I feel it's not enough. If you're too embarrassed to ask, I'll arrange it for you directly."

Just as Zhu Gaoxi was about to decline, Zhu Di spoke again, this time in a more serious tone: "By the way, there's something else. I mentioned to you a few days ago that several officials for the Prince Rui's residence had been selected, and yesterday I reconsidered and filled the remaining positions as well."

"The judge will be Jian Fang, son of Jian Yi; the steward will be Zheng Cong, son of Zheng Heng; the ancestral hall steward will be Song Xuan, son of Song Li; and the deputy commander of the guards will be Zhang Ni, brother of Zhang Fu, and Xue Bin, son of Xue Lu. With this combination of civil and military officials, the team will be complete."

Zhu Gaoxi didn't care about the arrangements for the people in the Prince's Mansion; Zhu Di could arrange them as he saw fit. He was just about to say that Zhu Di could arrange them as he saw fit.

Zhu Di's tone changed: "Among these people, there is one whose identity is rather special, your cousin, Xu Jingchang." As he said this, he glanced at Empress Xu unintentionally.

Upon hearing the name "Xu Jingchang," Empress Xu put down her cup, her eyes lighting up.

Zhu Di continued, "Jingchang is your mother's nephew, the son of your uncle Zengshou, and inherited the title of Duke of Dingguo. Logically speaking, a Duke should not be confined to a minor official position in a prince's mansion, given his noble status."

"But I'm thinking of giving him a temporary post at your residence. That way, he can help you manage the daily affairs of Prince Rui's residence and also get closer to you. He can hold the position of Master of Ceremonies and also serve as a study companion. Anyway, the Master of Ceremonies' job is only busy during festivals, and he's usually quite idle. Having two roles will allow him to be around you more often. What do you think?"

Before Zhu Gaoxi could answer, Empress Xu smiled involuntarily when she heard her nephew's name: "Your cousin? He's tall and thin, not very talkative, but very honest."

"The Empress Dowager was seriously ill a few days ago, and your cousin took some people out to find medicine. They should arrive in the next few days. If your cousin comes to your residence, you don't need to worry about any of the miscellaneous matters at your residence. Just leave them to your cousin."

As she said this, she suddenly remembered something and added with a smile, "By the way, Jingchang is a very easy-going child, and he gets along well with your older brothers. You'll see when you meet him."