Ming Dynasty: Gain one supernatural power every day

Upon hearing this, the eyes of several officials around him lit up, but then dimmed again.

Making a name for yourself isn't easy. I've been working overtime these past few days and my hair is almost falling out. I don't know if I can get ahead of others.

As they were talking, a mature and steady Vice Minister of Revenue in the crowd was being questioned by several colleagues. He had been boasted about the Heavenly Palace by Zhu Di the day before.

He put on airs and mocked these people for their ignorance: "All you know is clouds. What are clouds anyway?"

"His Highness Prince Rui built a celestial palace in the heavens. His Majesty and the Empress had lunch there yesterday. His Majesty himself said that the celestial palace has a base of white jade and beams of purple sandalwood. From the viewing platform, one can see the entire Yingtian Prefecture."

"The Heavenly Palace?" Several officials nearby gasped in astonishment.

Someone pressed on, asking, "Were there any fairies serving you in the palace that day?"

The Vice Minister of Revenue stroked his beard and shook his head: "His Majesty didn't mention that. It seems that the Heavenly Palace was just built by His Highness Prince Rui, and there hasn't been time to assign staff to it yet."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a senior official from the Ministry of War suddenly slapped his thigh, his eyes shining with an alarming light: "No one to serve you? Then wouldn't it be perfect to send my daughter to serve Prince Rui? My daughter is just sixteen this year, proficient in all the arts, and has a gentle temperament."

Someone immediately interrupted him: "Your daughter? How dare you send your daughter, who looks like that, to His Highness Prince Rui? My niece is absolutely gorgeous, well-mannered, and a skilled embroiderer!"

Someone else chimed in, saying that what His Highness Prince Rui lacks is not servants, but a princess.

Upon hearing this, the surrounding officials exchanged glances, all harboring the same thought.

When His Highness Prince Rui was still a child, they wanted to give him nieces and grandnieces. Now that he has grown into a young adult overnight, why bother with nieces? Of course, they will push their own daughters to the position of princess.

Just as things were getting lively, someone asked, "Why haven't Prince Han and the others arrived yet?"

The other person looked at the sky and said they would probably arrive soon.

No sooner had he finished speaking than a tiger's roar was heard from afar. It wasn't a real tiger's roar, but Zhu Gaoxu standing on the back of the white tiger, letting out a spirited shout.

Everyone looked up and saw three cloud-borne divine beasts flying towards the Meridian Gate from different directions.

The Vermilion Bird spreads its wings, the Black Tortoise stands steadfast, and the White Tiger at the very front holds its head high, with Zhu Gaoxu on its back, his robes fluttering, looking smug.

Yesterday, after the Han King and his brothers returned home, the first thing they did was to settle their precious Yun.

Such a big cloud can't just stay in the yard overnight. What if a strong wind blows it away? Who will you cry to then?

So the brothers unanimously cleared out an empty room to serve as a "cloud-resting room," stuffed the clouds inside, locked the door, and only then did they feel at ease.

Zhu Gaochi even specially assigned two guards to take turns guarding the door, for fear that some foolish thief would steal his "Overlord".

The children were overjoyed and refused to go to sleep when they got home, insisting on playing with the clouds a little longer.

Zhu Gaoxu called Zhu Zhanhe and Zhu Zhanqi to his side, and unusually put on a kind father's face, speaking gently and kindly: "My sons, I have something to discuss with you. Every morning, you can borrow this cloud for a while. I need to ride the white tiger to court. After court, you can play with it however you like when you come back."

Before Zhu Zhanhe could retort, Zhu Gaoxu immediately added, "If you don't agree, you can forget about ever going to your fourth uncle's house again."

Upon hearing this, the two children swallowed back the protests that were on the tip of their tongues and could only nod reluctantly.

Lady Wei watched from the side, fully aware of the situation. Riding a white tiger to court? Clearly, she wanted to ride the white tiger to the Meridian Gate to show off.

With his personality, if he has a new treasure and doesn't show it off to others, he'll feel worse than if he doesn't get to eat meat.

Sure enough, before dawn this morning, the Prince of Han's residence was in an uproar. Zhu Gaochi, unusually, woke up on his own without being woken up.

He first had his servants open the door to Tingyun Room, then went in personally to summon Baihu Yun and inspected him from head to toe.

Then he went back to change his clothes, and specially chose a dark blue outfit, which made him look even more heroic.

Watching from the side, Lady Wei couldn't help but chuckle: "Your Highness seems even more attentive today than you were on your wedding day."

Zhu Gaoxu didn't even turn his head: "Woman, I won't allow you to talk nonsense."

It was just dawn when he went out.

The white tiger cloud spread out in the courtyard, its entire body pure white, its tiger head held high. Although it was just a cloud eagle, it managed to exude the majesty of a real tiger.

He flipped himself onto the tiger's back, roared, "Let's go!" Then he lowered the tiger's head and flew low over the alley, eliciting another gasp from outside.

In fact, the Crown Prince and the King of Zhao did the same thing.

Inside the Prince Zhao's residence, Zhu Gaosui squatted in front of Princess Zhending and discussed things with her in a gentle and courteous manner for a long time.

Princess Zhending clung to his leg, crying out in her childish voice, "Yaoyao wants to ride the Xuanwu too!" This child not only refused to give up her own cloud, but also wanted other people's.

Zhu Zhanming stood to the side, looking equally unwilling.

Zhu Gaosui had no choice but to ask Madam Weng to step in and coax his daughter with two pieces of osmanthus cake. She also promised to take them to her fourth uncle's house in the afternoon, which is how Xuanwu Yun was "borrowed".

When Zhu Gaosui left, he sighed, which was rare for him. He had never wasted so much breath in the court. But riding Xuanwu out was really exhilarating!

The situation in the Crown Prince's residence was similar, but Zhu Gaochi didn't have to put in much effort because Zhu Zhanji was exceptionally cooperative. Not only did he voluntarily hand over control of Yun, but he also got his younger brother and sister's Yun as well.

Because the two of them attended court together, Zhu Zhanji didn't suffer any loss; it was his younger brothers and sisters who did.

Zhu Gaochi had actually finished getting ready long ago, but he hadn't left the house yet because he had sent someone to keep watch at the gate of the mansion. He would then ride the Vermilion Bird over when his second and third sons were almost at the Meridian Gate.

He appeared alone at the Meridian Gate riding the Vermilion Bird. All the civil and military officials would surely surround him, asking him all sorts of questions, which would be incredibly annoying.

But if the second and third princes arrive first, all the officials' firepower will definitely be directed at the second prince's loud voice. He can land quietly behind them, which will not only preserve his dignity as a prince who rides a cloud to court, but also avoid being surrounded and questioned by a group of people.

Zhu Gaoxu, riding a white tiger, encountered the Prince of Zhao in mid-air.

Standing atop the white tiger, Zhu Gaoxu's eyes lit up when he saw his third brother arriving on a cloud: "Third brother! You've managed to trick the cloud too?"

Standing on Xuanwu's back, Zhu Gaosui corrected him expressionlessly, "Second brother, it's not a lie, it's a loan."

Zhu Gaoxu waved his hand: "Borrowing or swindling, the point is that the three of us brothers are making our debut today! Third brother, hurry up, don't keep those old guys waiting too long!"

The two flew side by side for a while, and Zhu Gaoxu muttered, "Big brother is closer, I wonder if he's arrived yet."

Zhu Gaosui said calmly, "Don't worry, my elder brother will definitely wait until we're almost there before leaving. He doesn't want to be surrounded by officials asking questions."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu couldn't help but sigh that his eldest brother was indeed shrewd.

But this suited him perfectly. After all, his boss hated trouble, but he didn't. He loved being surrounded and asked questions, the more the better, ideally everyone would know that Zhu Gaochi rode a white tiger.

As they approached the Meridian Gate, the servants of the Crown Prince's residence spotted the figures of the White Tiger and Black Tortoise in the sky and hurried inside to report.

Zhu Gaochi then led Zhu Zhanji onto the Vermilion Bird, and they took off into the sky.

Three divine cloud beasts appeared almost simultaneously above the Meridian Gate. The three beasts were pure white and gleamed with a soft luster. Although they were not as impressive as the golden dragon that led the way yesterday, their simultaneous appearance was enough to leave the civil and military officials in front of the Meridian Gate in awe.

The three descended from the clouds, and the eyes of all the ministers were fixed on the three cloud beasts.