Ming Dynasty: Gain one supernatural power every day

Zhu Gaochi was just about to send someone to summon him.

Zhu Gaoxi raised his hand to stop him: "No need. Brother, where is Zhanji now?"

Zhu Gaochi thought for a moment: "He should be in his room right now reviewing the scriptures he read during the day and practicing calligraphy."

Zhu Gaoxi used his spiritual power to scan the Eastern Palace and saw Zhu Zhanji playing with crickets inside the room.

He smiled, activated his telepathic spell, and sent a voice directly into Zhu Zhanji's ears: "Fourth Uncle is back. I'll open the door and come to your place in a bit. Don't be surprised."

After saying that, he waved his hand, and a teleportation portal appeared out of thin air inside the room.

Golden light swirled, and wood and stone floated in the air. The door was exactly the same as the previous large teleportation portal, only much smaller, just over a meter tall, just big enough for a person to pass through.

Two lifelike golden dragons coiled on the door frame, and a luminous pearl the size of a pigeon's egg was inlaid on the lintel, shimmering and sparkling under the candlelight inside the hall.

Although Empress Xu, the Crown Prince, and Prince Zhao had seen the portal in videos before, they were still shocked to see it appear out of thin air in person.

Empress Xu leaned closer for a closer look, clicking her tongue in amazement: "Is this the celestial gate from the second prince's video?"

Zhu Gaochi also stepped forward, touching the door from the left and right, inwardly marveling at the fourth prince's generosity, as even a casually placed door could be priceless.

Zhu Gaosui circled the door twice, then suddenly asked, "Fourth brother, can this door... be pushed open directly?"

"Yes." Zhu Gaoxi nodded. "Just push the door open and go in. Mother, Third Brother, why don't you give it a try too? But I've already told Zhanji first, so he won't be frightened."

Zhu Gaochi pushed open the door and stepped inside. He felt a blur before his eyes, and when he opened them again, he was already in the study of Zhu Zhanji in the Eastern Palace. Empress Xu and Zhu Gaosui followed closely behind.

The side hall of the East Palace was elegantly furnished, with several calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls and writing brushes and inkstones on the table.

Zhu Zhanji was indeed at his desk, but instead of studying, he was playing with a cricket.

The cricket was chirping happily in its jar. Zhu Zhanji was teasing it with a blade of grass, muttering to himself, "Chirp, chirp a couple more times."

He suddenly heard his fourth uncle's voice in his mind, saying, "Fourth Uncle is back. I'll open the door and come to your place in a bit." He was so startled that his hand trembled and the grass stem fell onto the table.

He jumped off the chair, and as soon as he stood up, a door appeared out of nowhere in front of him.

Zhu Zhanji exclaimed "Ah!" and took two steps back, staring wide-eyed.

"Father! Grandmother! Third Uncle!" Zhu Zhanji was startled at first, then rushed forward, his eyes constantly glancing towards the door. "Where's Fourth Uncle? Is Fourth Uncle here too?"

"Your fourth uncle didn't come, it's just the three of us." Zhu Gaochi patted his head with a smile, when suddenly they heard a cricket chirping from the cricket jar.

Zhu Gaochi's expression changed. He strode to the table, picked up the cricket jar, and said in a deep voice, "Zhanji, weren't you reviewing your lessons? What's this?"

He thought of the cricket emperor recorded in the book, but he never expected that Zhanji would start playing with crickets now.

Zhu Zhanji shrank back and whispered, "I've finished reviewing the scriptures during the day... This cricket wandered into the yard by itself, I caught it to listen to its chirping..."

Empress Xu's expression also softened: "Zhanji, your father is right. Reviewing the old helps one understand the new. Don't play with crickets too much."

Zhu Gaosui added, "Your third uncle also told you that you shouldn't touch this stuff. Focus on your studies and stop playing with these useless things."

Zhu Gaochi put on a stern face: "You're not allowed to touch crickets again, or your mother and I will definitely teach you a lesson."

"I understand, Father, Grandmother, Third Uncle." Zhu Zhanji lowered his head, looking aggrieved.

"Let's go, your fourth uncle is waiting," Zhu Gaosui said, taking Zhu Zhanji's hand and leading him into the portal.

As soon as he stepped through the door, Zhu Zhanji opened his eyes again and found himself inside the Wuying Hall.

He spotted Zhu Di, Zhu Gaoxi, Zhu Gaoxu, and a general wearing golden armor and helmet at a glance.

He first bowed to Zhu Di, saying, "Grandfather!"

Then he looked at Zhu Gaoxu and obediently called him "Second Uncle".

Zhu Gaoxu merely grunted in response, his expression indifferent. Zhu Zhanji was a little puzzled; his second uncle usually teased him whenever they met, so why was he being so cold today?

Zhu Gaoxu hummed in response, then his gaze fell on Zhu Zhanji with mixed feelings. Just thinking about how he had been turned into a roast chicken by this kid's adult version in the book made him feel uneasy about his nephew.

Then Zhu Zhanji turned his head and saw Zhu Gaoxi. His eyes lit up: "Fourth Uncle!" He rushed towards Zhu Gaoxi like a small cannonball, but was caught steadily by Zhu Gaoxi.

Zhu Zhanji turned to look at the general in golden armor and helmet beside him, his eyes sparkling as he asked, "Fourth Uncle, is this a general from heaven?"

"Marshal Tianpeng," Zhu Gaoxi said with a smile, "He commands 80,000 naval troops in the heavens."

Zhu Zhanji exclaimed "Wow!"

Then he added, "Greetings, Marshal."

Pigsy chuckled: "Your Highness is too kind."

Zhu Zhanji then asked, "Fourth Uncle, it's so late, where are we going?"

Zhu Gaoxi smiled slightly: "Go play with your son."

Zhu Zhanji was stunned, his eyes wide open: "Fourth Uncle, I don't have a son!"

"There will be more in the future," Zhu Gaoxi patted his head.

Everyone got ready, and Zhu Gaoxi attached the supernatural power of the Great Ming Pass to the teleportation portal.

The Golden Gate still appears magnificent, but it is completely different from before, because the anchor of time has quietly changed.

"Let's go." Zhu Gaoxi pushed open the golden gate and stepped in first.

On the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the fourteenth year of the Zhengtong reign, at Tumu Fortress.

The Ming army of over 200,000 men was stationed on a high earthen slope, without water or food, and exhausted.

The Oirat cavalry surrounded them from all sides, and the only river to the south had already been seized by Esen's troops.

Ministers such as Kuang Ye, the Vice Minister of War, earnestly urged the emperor to quickly enter Huailai City, rely on the city walls and water sources to hold the city, and then devise a plan for the future.

But Wang Zhen's words, "The supplies have not yet arrived," brought the army to a standstill at Tumu Fortress.

Just then, the Oirat envoy delivered a letter, feigning to negotiate peace. Zhu Qizhen paced back and forth in his tent, and upon hearing the words "negotiation peace," his face lit up with joy, as if his desperate situation had been resolved.

Inside the main tent, important officials such as Cao Nai, Zhang Fu, and Zhu Yong were all present, but they could only stand aside and watch helplessly as Wang Zhen seized military power and issued a series of chaotic orders.

Zhang Fu hesitated, then finally sighed heavily. This veteran general, serving four dynasties, was now powerless to command troops, being bossed around by a eunuch—it was truly awful.

Suddenly, the curtains moved without any wind.

A golden light ripped open from the void, and a golden gate suddenly stood in the tent.

Zhu Qizhen was startled and instinctively hid behind Wang Zhen, exclaiming, "What... what is this?!"

Wang Zhen was also terrified, his face turning pale. He shouted in a shrill voice, "Guards! Protect the Emperor! Quickly, protect the Emperor!"

Amidst the golden light, a group of people filed out. Then, a throng of guards surrounded them.

First came a young man in a python robe, followed by a graceful woman, then Zhu Di, Zhu Gaoxu, Zhu Gaochi, and Zhu Gaosui, and finally a curious little boy.

As soon as Zhu Zhanji came out, he looked around and turned to ask Zhu Gaoxi, "Fourth Uncle, where is this? Why are there so many people? Who is that person in the dragon robe?"