Many children, many blessings: Stealing the offspring of powerful figures to cultivate immortality.

Without any warning, it struck Liu Neng's head with perfect accuracy.

"Bang!"

A loud bang.

Liu Neng's official hat, a symbol of his status as a fourth-rank official, instantly turned into a charred mess and flew away emitting black smoke.

His carefully styled hair was also ripped apart, his hair stood on end, and his face was as black as if he had just crawled out of a coal mine.

"ah--!"

Liu Neng screamed, his eyes rolled back, and he fell straight to the ground, his body still twitching occasionally.

The entire court of officials: "!!!"

Everyone is stupid.

This is the Imperial Palace! Who would dare to make a move here?

All eyes turned to Chu Jinglan... and the baby in his arms.

The little guy was holding up a chubby little hand, with a lingering arc of electricity still visible on his fingertips.

Facing the horrified gazes of the officials, Chu Anyan was not afraid at all. Instead, he yawned and gave everyone an extremely contemptuous look.

That look seemed to say: What are you looking at? Haven't you ever seen a cheating boyfriend before?

Chu Jinglan felt a throbbing sensation in his temples.

This kid! This is the imperial court!

If word got out that he had struck a high-ranking official with lightning in public, the historians would write him, the regent, as a tyrant who allowed his son to commit atrocities!

"Your Highness...this..."

The prime minister stood up shakily, pointed at the charred remains on the ground, and spoke incoherently.

Chu Jinglan took a deep breath and quickly put on his signature fake smile.

"Don't panic, everyone."

He reached out and pressed his son's hand down, while also using his sleeve to block out the lingering lightning.

"This is an auspicious omen."

Officials: "?"

Your Highness, do you think we're blind? Splitting someone into a pile of charcoal and calling it an auspicious omen?

Chu Jinglan remained expressionless and spoke nonsense with a straight face: "What Minister Liu just said is untrue and has angered Heaven."

"My son is born with the Purple Star Emperor Physique, possessing an innate righteous spirit and the ability to distinguish between loyalty and treachery."

"This thunder is called 'Heart-Questioning Thunder'."

"Those with wicked intentions will be struck by lightning; those with honest and upright hearts will be spared by lightning."

Chu Jinglan's gaze swept over the group of trembling officials below, his voice slightly cold.

"It seems that Vice Minister Liu's accounts are indeed not clean."

"Guards, drag him away and thoroughly examine the Ministry of Revenue's accounts."

Several golden-armored guards rushed up and dragged Liu Neng, who was still foaming at the mouth, away.

The remaining officials shrank back, wishing they could bury their heads in their crotches.

terrible!

In the past, the regent would have to find an excuse to kill someone, but now he can just bring a thunder god's son to court!

Anyone who dares to say the wrong thing will be turned into charcoal on the spot!

This official can't be in office anymore!

"Does anyone else have a memorial to present?"

Chu Jinglan spoke again, his tone gentle.

The entire hall was filled with people shrinking back.

Only Chu Anyan, feeling bored, grabbed a top-grade spirit jade pendant from Chu Jinglan's waist and snapped it off like a bone.

It crunched loudly as it was chewed.

The officials lowered their heads even further upon hearing that sickeningly loud voice.

……

After the court session ended.

Chu Jinglan, carrying this ancestor, returned to the imperial study with unsteady steps.

"Ancestor, can you please shut up for a bit?"

Chu Jinglan placed Chu Anyan on the large rosewood desk and then slumped unceremoniously in the chair.

"That jade pendant was a gift from the late emperor; it's a sacred artifact, not a chew toy!"

Chu Anyan casually tossed the remaining half of the jade pendant aside, her small face cold.

"It tastes awful."

Chu Jinglan clutched his chest, his heart aching so much he could hardly breathe.

That's top-grade Xuan Jade! What a wasteful thing!

"The memorial has been approved."

Chu Anyan pointed to the mountain of memorials piled on the table and gave orders like a supervisor.

"Okay, okay."

Chu Jinglan resignedly picked up the vermilion pen.

He was a dignified Confucian and Taoist semi-sage, a great power in the Integration Stage, who could command the wind and rain outside.

And yet, I'm being led by the nose by this little baby son.

Chu Jinglan buried himself in his work, dealing with the numerous and complicated official duties caused by the frequent beast tides.

The imperial study gradually quieted down.

Only the soft scratching of the vermilion brush on the paper could be heard.

Chu Anyan sat at the corner of the table, kicking her little feet listlessly.

His gaze fell on the square object in the brocade box on the corner of the table.

That is the Imperial Seal of the State.

Chu Jinglan was reviewing an urgent military report.

"The northern border is experiencing unusual activity from the monsters. We urgently request reinforcements of formation masters to strengthen our defenses..."

Chu Jinglan frowned; this matter could not be delayed.

He picked up his pen and wrote the imperial approval in red ink, just about to reach for the jade seal to stamp it.

My hand reached for nothing.

Chu Jinglan's heart skipped a beat.

Chu Anyan was holding the heavy jade seal in both hands, treating it like a large seal and playing with it with great enjoyment.

And on that top-secret imperial edict that had just been unfolded and hadn't yet been put away.

It was clearly printed with... an enormous red turtle.

It was printed little by little using the base of the Imperial Seal of the State, dipped in cinnabar.

The turtle shell symbolizes "receiving the mandate from heaven," while the turtle's head symbolizes "longevity and prosperity."

In addition, Chu Anyan added four legs and a small tail himself using his fingers.

Lifelike and endearing.

Chu Jinglan looked at the bright red turtle and felt a sudden darkness engulf his vision, as if the world was spinning.

"Chu! An! Yan!"

Chu Jinglan squeezed out these three words through gritted teeth, his voice trembling.

"This is an imperial edict for the General Who Guards the North to mobilize troops!"

"Draw a turtle on it, what will he think?!"

"Do you want him to think I'm calling him a coward?!"

Chu Anyan blinked her big eyes, looking completely innocent.

"nice."

He pointed at the turtle, speaking with righteous indignation.

"Like his father."

Chu Jinglan: "..."

I can't live like this anymore.

I really can't go on like this anymore.

This is no son; this is clearly a karmic obstacle sent by heaven to punish him!

"Someone come here!"

Chu Jinglan threw down the vermilion brush, splashing ink all over himself.

"Go and fetch the Grand Tutor! Now! Immediately! Right now!"

He can't teach anymore.

Everyone has their own expertise; let the professional teachers handle this little devil.

Fifteen minutes later.

The renowned Confucian scholar, the tutor of three emperors, was trembling as he was invited into the imperial study.

The old tutor had a white beard and exuded an aura of righteousness. He held a scroll of bamboo slips in his hand, which commanded respect.

"This old minister pays his respects to the Regent."

"Grand Tutor, you may dispense with the formalities."

Chu Jinglan seemed to have seen a savior and pushed Chu Anyan, who was still trying to add flowers to the turtle's back, forward.

"This child is unruly and beyond redemption."

"I trouble you, Grand Tutor, to give him his first lessons and teach him!"

Grand Tutor Kong stroked his beard, looked at the exquisitely handsome Chu Anyan, and smiled kindly.

"Your Highness is too kind. The young prince has a full forehead, which is a sign of intelligence."

"I've been teaching for sixty years; what kind of naughty child haven't I seen?"

"As long as I recite the classics of the sages a few times, I will surely be able to influence their minds."

After saying this, Grand Tutor Kong sat down cross-legged, opened the bamboo slips, and began to recite them with a swaying head.

"At birth, human nature is inherently good..."

Chu Anyan sat opposite him, tilting his head and looking at the old man as if he were a fool.

Grand Tutor Kong was pleased to see the young prince quiet down.

It seems this child has some talent.

He raised his voice and read the crucial part.

"If a child is raised but not taught, it is the father's fault. If the teaching is not strict, it is the teacher's laziness."

Grand Tutor Kong read this sentence with intonation and full of emotion, and even glanced at Chu Jinglan, who was drinking tea to calm his nerves.

The meaning is clear: Your Highness, the child is like this because you haven't taught him well; it's your fault as the father.

Chu Jinglan paused, his hand holding the teacup still, and his face darkened.

Chu Anyan's eyebrows furrowed.

This old man rambled on and on for ages, even though I couldn't understand the beginning.

But he understood the phrase "the father's fault".

Was he cursing the old man drinking tea next to him?

That old man is really a bad person; everyone wants to curse him!

but……

Chu Anyan raised a small eyebrow, looking at the old man who was being scolded yet still "smiling foolishly"...