Even emperors have it tough, so don't be too picky about the entries.

Blood test for kinship?

Chen Shao almost burst out laughing. Such an old-fashioned way to deal with a child raised under the red flag?

Soon, the eunuch brought up a bowl of water.

A needle was used to prick Liu's second finger, and a drop of blood was collected in a bowl.

Han Cao and Zhou Wenli exchanged a barely perceptible smile.

Alum had been added to the water long ago, so that the blood of any person could mix together.

"His Majesty."

Zhou Wenli bowed deeply and said, "Your Majesty, I humbly request that you take my blood for testing."

Chen Shao feigned displeasure:

"This is dragon's blood! How can we just take it like that!"

"If Your Majesty does not take it, could it be that you are afraid..."

"You bastard!" Han Cao glared at him immediately.

"How dare you speak like that? If His Majesty doesn't want to take it, then he doesn't want to. Are you trying to force me to abdicate?"

"If His Majesty says he is innocent, then he is innocent. Guards, drag all those who slander His Majesty out and beat them to death with sticks."

"Never mind, never mind."

Chen Shao waved his hand, "My bloodline is pure, how could I be afraid of these things?"

He slowly rose and walked to the center of the main hall, taking the silver needle from the eunuch's hand.

He examined it for a moment.

"I'm just curious, is this blood test for kinship truly accurate?"

Han Cao smiled slightly and cupped his hands in greeting:

"Your Majesty, the method of blood kinship testing has existed since ancient times."

"When blood is dripped into water, the blood of a father and son mixes, but the blood of others does not. This is the natural order and human ethics, and it cannot be wrong."

"That's amazing?"

Chen Shao surveyed the assembled officials. "Is that really the case?"

"Your Majesty, blood kinship testing has long been included in the legal system."

"Yes, Your Majesty, there will be absolutely no mistakes. I can guarantee it with my life."

"This is an ancient method, recorded even in the books of sages!"

One after another, court officials patted their chests and made guarantees, as if they wanted to lay their hearts bare before Chen Shao.

Chen Shao confirmed it several times before slowly nodding.

"Since Chancellor Han and all my ministers have confirmed that there is no mistake, then I am relieved."

The silver needles swayed in front of my eyes.

Chen Shao suddenly turned around and grabbed Han Cao's wrist.

The silver needle pierced deep into the index finger.

Although he wasn't very strong in martial arts, he was extremely fast at such close range.

Moreover, Han Cao was just a weakling with a combat strength of 50.

By the time everyone realized what was happening...

tick-

A drop of bright red blood fell into the bowl.

"Your Majesty! You!" Han Cao roared in fury.

Chen Shao ignored him, and the other officials were also preoccupied with their eyes fixed on the bowl of water.

A drop of blood fell in, and ripples spread across the clear water.

Two drops of blood are blooming in the water at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Then... they merged.

Everyone was stunned.

The Empress Dowager behind the curtain suddenly stood up, covering her mouth with her hand in disbelief.

"Han Cao Ta..."

Chen Shao clicked his tongue, then smiled at Han Cao.

"Congratulations, Prime Minister Han. You're almost sixty, aren't you? It's truly remarkable that you've been able to reunite with your biological father at this age."

Han Cao's expression was extremely interesting.

It changed several times in an instant.

Shock, bewilderment, anger, absurdity...

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

Chen Shao asked curiously, "Why is it impossible? Just now, Prime Minister Han patted his chest and assured me that there was absolutely no possibility of anything going wrong."

He then gestured to the officials.

"You, you, you, you, and you—didn't you all just confirm that there couldn't possibly be a mistake?"

The officials were speechless.

How are they supposed to respond?

But this is really strange. How could Han Xiang's blood be mixed with Liu Er's?

Could it really be...?

Han Cao gave a wry smile:

"Your Majesty, look at my age, and Liu Er's age... how is that possible?"

Chen Shao suddenly realized.

He then congratulated Han Cao, saying:

"Oh, I understand. Congratulations to Prime Minister Han on becoming a father. You're getting old, but you've found your long-lost son."

Han Cao still tried to defend himself.

But then Chen Shao shouted:

"This is a good thing!"

"This is an incredible stroke of luck! It deserves a reward!"

Han Cao's face darkened:

"Your Majesty, this matter still needs to be verified..."

"What's there to investigate? I trust you. With the nation in peril, the fact that Chancellor Han and his son have reunited is a sign of divine protection for the Great Yan."

"Guards, convey my decree: Liu Er is hereby granted the title of Grand Master of the Palace Attendants, a mansion, and a thousand taels of silver!"

What Chen Shao said is probably impossible to implement.

For example, if it's a thousand taels of silver, who would pay for it?

He was just deliberately trying to disgust Han Cao.

Han Cao knew that this kid must have seen through his methods long ago.

He was too lazy to argue with Chen Shao anymore.

He waved his hand, about to have someone take Liu Er and his wife away.

But then Chen Shao took a silver needle and pricked the little eunuch's hand again.

Three drops of blood mingled.

Chen Shao asked in surprise:

"Prime Minister Han, you are truly remarkable! You even castrated your own son and sent him to the palace!"

"I am truly impressed, truly impressed!"

The young eunuch looked at Prime Minister Han with a bewildered expression, a hint of resentment slowly creeping into his eyes.

"Stop fooling around, Your Majesty." Han Cao's face gradually darkened.

"Someone come here."

"Take Liu Er and his wife away first. This matter should not take up time during the court session."

...

At this moment, Yu Qi'an strode in from outside.

He bowed to Chen Shao.

"Your Majesty, I have something to report!"

"speak!"

Yu Qi'an said with deep concern:

"The imperial edict to defend the emperor has been sent to various regions by express courier. It should be available within a few days at the earliest."

"Once the armies of the regional vassal kings arrive, we can coordinate from within and without... and we might just be able to fight against the Northern Barbarians."

Chen Shao neither confirmed nor denied this.

It's better to rely on Han Cao than on those ambitious vassal kings.

So-called loyalty is often just a matter of the price of betrayal being too low.

When the Great Yan Dynasty was at its peak, they might have been loyal ministers and filial sons.

But given the current situation, with those uncles being like that, they probably can't wait to "suppress the rebellion and purge the court of corrupt officials."

Chen Shao sighed inwardly, but did not discourage this loyal minister with such fervent passion.

"You've shown great interest, Minister Yu. Please continue."

"Yes."

Yu Qi'an's expression grew even more solemn:

"The second matter, Your Majesty, is that in the Battle of Shuangmu City, our Great Yan's elite forces were almost completely wiped out. At most, the three major camps in the capital only have 100,000 men left."

"Most of them are elderly, weak, sick and disabled, and their military pay has been delayed for a long time. They can't even afford decent armor."

"I have set up recruitment points in the city, but recruitment requires silver. Without silver, no one will be willing to risk their lives."