Ming Dynasty: Gain one supernatural power every day

Zhu Gaoxu walked up to Zhu Gaochi and grinned, "Isn't this the Crown Prince? What brings you to my Prince of Han's residence today? What a rare guest! Are you here to see the Fourth Prince?"

Zhu Gaochi smiled and shook his head: "Second brother, what are you saying? Your elder brother can't even come to see you? It's too formal for us brothers to talk like this."

Zhu Gaosui watched his two older brothers bickering from the side, a faint smile playing on his lips as he watched the spectacle unfold.

After exchanging a few words, Zhu Gaochi suddenly stopped joking and moved closer to his two younger brothers.

Then he said in a low voice, "I have something to tell you. When I left the palace just now, I saw Father Emperor riding on a cloud, flying around the palace happily. I guess he's going to show off to those old ministers again."

Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosui exchanged a glance, somewhat bewildered. Zhu Gaoxu asked in surprise, "Where did the old man get the cloud? Wasn't it Fourth Brother riding it?"

Zhu Gaochi's tone became smug: "Look, you all don't know this! This cloud was a gift from my fourth brother. Father and Mother each received one. Mother's cloud is called 'Little Cotton,' and Father's cloud is called 'Yongle.' Mother told me this herself."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosui's eyes lit up simultaneously. Zhu Gaoxu realized what was happening and, with a hint of excitement, exclaimed, "Then... can we also ask our fourth brother for one?"

Zhu Gaochi shrugged, his face bearing an expression that said, "I knew you'd say that." "That's what my mother told me anyway. One person can create a cloud." He deliberately emphasized the words "one person" and then said no more.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu's brows furrowed.

He first grabbed Zhu Gaosui's sleeve and pulled him aside: "Third brother, the eldest brother just said 'one person can create a cloud,' what does that mean? You think about it for your second brother, there seems to be a hidden meaning in his words?"

Zhu Gaosui pondered for a moment and replied, "Second brother, 'one person can make a cloud' means that one person can make a cloud."

Zhu Gaoxu waited for a long time, only to find that his third brother said just this: "Nonsense! I know that one person can create a cloud, I'm asking you, what does he mean by that!"

Zhu Gaosui thought for a moment and said, "It should be that as long as you are human, you can get one."

Zhu Gaoxu was taken aback for a moment, then exclaimed, "Oh my! No wonder the eldest brother brought his whole family! Look at him, he brought his sister-in-law, Zhanji, Zhanjun... they've all come!"

He counted on his fingers, his eyes widening with each count. "This boss is a real sly fox! He can pull off a whole cloud all by himself; he's here to buy clouds wholesale!"

After hearing this, Zhu Gaosui realized what was happening and showed a rare look of annoyance: "Second brother is right. Then...aren't we at a huge disadvantage? My family only has two children, Zhanyi and Yaoyao, plus me and her mother, that's only four people in total."

Zhu Gaochi was also heartbroken: "Who can argue with that! If I had known it would turn out like this, I should have had more children!"

He counted on his fingers, "The eldest son's wife gave birth to five, while your second sister-in-law only gave me two. Oh dear, what a huge loss! I should have had more children too! Now it's too late! No, I have to talk to your second sister-in-law about it. After this battle, let's have a few more children too! Otherwise, the eldest son will always get the better deal."

Zhang Yan was also speaking quietly with Madam Wei and Madam Weng.

She glanced at the large cloud-patterned carpet in the courtyard, then turned to her two younger siblings and whispered, "Your eldest brother just heard from Mother that Fourth Brother can give away these clouds. Each person can get one. Father and Mother each got one..."

Upon hearing this, Madam Wei and Madam Weng immediately looked up at her. Madam Weng asked softly, "Sister-in-law, can we have this cloud too?"

Zhang Yan smiled and nodded: "My mother said it herself, one person can get one flower."

Madam Wei and Madam Weng exchanged a glance, both feeling a little expectant. Their fourth brother was always generous, and he might actually give them each one later. However, they were too embarrassed to ask for them, since they hadn't really been able to help him much.

While the women were still whispering among themselves, Zhu Gaoxu could no longer sit still.

He strode toward Zhu Gaoxi under the eaves, a rare solemn expression on his face.

Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaosui followed behind him. They exchanged a glance and guessed what he was going to do. Instead of stopping him, they followed on either side of him, as if they had planned in advance to set up a stage for him.

Zhu Gaoxi sat on the veranda, watching his second brother stride over, wondering what his second brother was up to now.

Zhu Gaoxu walked up to him and spoke, his voice deep and serious: "Fourth brother, actually, your second brother has always had a dream since he was a child."

Zhu Gaochi immediately chimed in, his tone perfectly matching the line, like a straight man in a comedy duo: "Second brother, what are your dreams? Tell me."

Zhu Gaosui stepped forward and nodded in agreement: "Second brother, you speak."

Listening to the three brothers talk, Zhu Gaoxi felt like he was watching a crosstalk performance. Looking at his second brother's unusually serious face, and then at his eldest and third brothers standing on either side like straight men, he almost burst out laughing. "I really should introduce you three to Teacher Guo," he thought.

Zhu Gaoxu raised his head, his tone carrying a hint of righteous indignation: "Fourth brother, I've loved reading storybooks since I was a child. In those stories, immortals ride cranes and clouds, roaming freely between heaven and earth, going wherever they want. But what about us mortals? We're trapped in this small place, destined to be frogs at the bottom of a well for our entire lives."

This speech was practically saying "I have a dream."

He turned his head and looked at Zhu Gaoxi with sincere eyes, "Until today, when I saw you descending from the sky on a cloud, I suddenly felt that my dream was not far away... Although I cannot become an immortal, I would be satisfied if I could ride the clouds."

Zhu Gaochi, standing nearby, added at the opportune moment: "Fourth brother, what your second brother means is that he also wants to ride the clouds."

Zhu Gaosui nodded in agreement: "Yes, that's exactly what I mean."

Zhu Gaoxi finally couldn't help but burst out laughing, his hands trembling as he said, "Alright, alright, Second Brother, all you want is a somersault cloud. Just say so, why did you talk about your dream for so long? I'll give you one."

He raised his hand and gestured towards the horizon. Several white clouds drifted leisurely from above the Prince Rui's residence, and he used his spiritual power to guide them to land in the courtyard, hovering in front of his brothers. The clouds were pure white and soft, though a little small.

Zhu Gaochi, Zhu Gaoxu, and Zhu Gaosui looked at their respective clouds, their thoughts self-evident.

Zhu Gaoxu was the first to reach out and touch it. His fingers sank half an inch into the cloud, and he was so excited he almost jumped up: "I have a cloud too!"

Zhu Gaochi reached out and touched the cloud in front of him, unable to suppress his smile: "I'm really sorry to have troubled you, Fourth Brother!"

"Thank you, Fourth Brother, for the Somersault Cloud." Zhu Gaosui was also unsteady at this moment.

Zhu Gaoxi withdrew his hand and looked at the somersault clouds hanging beside each of his three elder brothers: "The method of recognizing a master is very simple, it is to take a drop of essence—blood."

Fortunately, it was blood essence, otherwise it could only be passed down to sons and not daughters!