"Is the harvest... secure?"
The prime minister's white beard trembled slightly in the warm winter afternoon sun. He blinked hard, his eyes, now somewhat cloudy with age, trying to find even the slightest trace of a joke on the emperor's serious face.
However, no.
Xiao Che's expression was as solemn as if he were announcing a major military decision. His interpretation of "fetal movement" was delivered with confidence and conviction, as if he had just interpreted not an unconscious kick from the fetus in his womb, but the movement of stars that concerned the safety of the nation.
The entire Kunning Palace was plunged into a deathly silence that was even more eerie and prolonged than when Lin Wanwan had experienced morning sickness.
A group of trusted ministers, whose mere stomp of their feet could shake the Liang court, stood there dumbfounded, dressed in their court robes and official hats, some even carrying swords, all gazing up at the direction of the imperial throne, their minds blank.
They rushed into the palace in a panic, thinking the country was about to collapse and prepared to sacrifice their lives for righteousness.
So... all just to hear a sentence about "this year's harvest"... a fetal movement interpretation?
This enormous disparity left these seasoned veterans of the political arena completely speechless for a time.
"Cough cough..."
Finally, Lin Wanwan broke the extremely awkward silence with a light cough. She looked at the group of elderly people in front of her who were being tormented by their husbands, her face full of sympathy.
If he continues to "play freely" like this, the entire cabinet will probably have to submit their resignations at tomorrow's morning court session.
“Your Majesty,” Lin Wanwan spoke softly, trying to steer the topic back on track, “Your Excellencies are all very busy and must have many important matters to attend to. Perhaps we should let them return first?”
Xiao Che was still immersed in the joy of becoming a father and a divine interpreter, and was somewhat reluctant to leave after hearing this. He felt that such a good omen should be shared by the ministers, and it would be best to write a ten-thousand-word memorial to announce it to the world and let all people rejoice.
But seeing the tired smile on Lin Wanwan's face, he immediately softened.
"Yes, the Empress is right." He immediately adopted a "considerate of his subjects" expression and waved to the group of petrified statues below. "Very well, the Crown Prince's decree has been delivered today, and auspicious omens have appeared. All of you ministers may withdraw. Remember, go back and properly appease the various departments, and tell them that our Great Liang enjoys favorable weather and a peaceful and prosperous nation!"
"My lord...my lord...obey your order..."
The ministers, as if granted a pardon, mechanically bowed like zombies, then staggered out of Kunning Palace at an almost fleeing pace.
Only after stepping out of the palace gates and being buffeted by the cold winter wind did the Minister of War glance down at the sword he was still clutching tightly in his hand, muttering to himself, "I... I was just about to come in... to kill someone?"
The prime minister sighed deeply, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, and felt that his ordeal today had cost him at least three years of his lifespan.
Inside the bedchamber, the atmosphere finally returned to normal after the ministers left.
Xiao Che approached Lin Wanwan like a treasure, his face full of praise: "Wanwan, look, I told you, our child is extraordinary! In just a few months, he has already begun to care about state affairs! He is a genius!"
Lin Wanwan looked at her father's silly expression and didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She knew that ordinary persuasion would be useless; she had to immediately steer the emperor's enthusiasm in a new and more controllable direction.
“Your Majesty,” she said, pulling Xiao Che’s hand and making him sit beside her, her face serious, “you are right, our child is indeed exceptionally gifted.”
“Of course!” Xiao Che immediately puffed out his chest.
“But precisely because of this,” Lin Wanwan’s tone shifted, becoming serious, “we cannot afford to be careless. A piece of jade that is not carved cannot become a work of art. If such a gifted gem is not properly guided and refined, wouldn’t it be a waste of its talent?”
Xiao Che was taken aback, then realized there was some truth to what she said: "You mean... prenatal education?"
He recalled the novel term Lin Wanwan had mentioned to him before, which he had dismissed as mere idle chatter among young ladies without giving it much thought. But now, after personally experiencing the "Crown Prince's" earth-shattering kick, his perspective on the matter had undergone a complete transformation!
"Exactly!" Lin Wanwan was secretly delighted to see him take the bait, but she remained expressionless and began to deepen and elevate her previous theory.
“Your Majesty, since the Crown Prince can respond to state affairs with fetal movements, it proves that his mind has already been awakened and he is no ordinary fetus.” She analyzed with a solemn expression, “Ordinary prenatal education, such as listening to music and reciting poems, is probably too superficial and insufficient for him.”
Xiao Che nodded repeatedly, deeply agreeing.
That's right! Only ordinary fetuses need to listen to "High Mountains and Flowing Water," but my dragon son is born to understand "Han Feizi"!
"Then what do you think we should do?" he asked humbly, looking just like a student attending his first class.
"In my opinion," Lin Wanwan looked at him and slowly and clearly stated her core idea, "what we need is not simple prenatal education, but a systematic, comprehensive, and fundamentally superior preschool education for emperors!"
"Preschool education for emperors!"
These words exploded in Xiao Che's mind like a thunderclap!
His previous esoteric remedies, such as "inverted pregnancy" and "exposing oneself to dragon energy," which he had learned from the "Pregnancy Safety Manual," were nothing like the witchcraft of a country bumpkin compared to Lin Wan-wan's grand plan, which sounded incredibly "scientific," incredibly "systematic," and even had the word "emperor" attached to it!
He was completely shocked!
He slapped his thigh, stood up abruptly, and the light in his eyes was ten times brighter than when he was interpreting the fetal movements!
"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!" He paced back and forth in the hall, muttering to himself, "How could I not have thought of that! Yes! Why wait until he's born? Education should start from the very beginning! From the moment he's... from the moment he's conceived, he should begin receiving the most orthodox imperial education!"
He felt that his previous anxiety about his child losing at the starting line had suddenly found an outlet!
No! Not only can we not lose! We must be far ahead!
He, Xiao Che's son/daughter, must begin receiving the most advanced and comprehensive imperial education from the stage of fertilized egg!
"It's settled then!" He immediately made the decision, his face filled with unprecedented fighting spirit and pride. "Wanwan, you just focus on your pregnancy. I will personally formulate this grand plan for 'Imperial Preschool Education'!"
Lin Wanwan looked at his expression, as if he were about to launch a great reform, and chuckled inwardly, her goal achieved.
Above Xiao Che's head, the area designated for his emoji instantly switched to a brand new, vibrant animated image.
A cute, cartoonish figure with a red headband and bulging muscles strikes a fighting pose against a backdrop of raging flames. Above his head, a line of bold, energetic words scrolls enthusiastically.
[My child must win at the starting line! .gif]
Lin Wanwan suppressed her laughter as she looked at the expectant father, who was now bursting with energy, knowing that a brand new, hilarious "prenatal education fiasco" was about to unfold in Kunning Palace.
Xiao Che's ability to act always exceeds expectations.
His ambitions are not just empty words.
After being successfully "fooled" by Lin Wanwan, His Majesty the Emperor immediately demonstrated his decisive and efficient handling of state affairs.
Without hesitation, he pushed aside all the mountain of memorials concerning national affairs piled up on the dragon's desk.
In his view, at this moment, nothing is more important to the nation than planning for the future of his unborn child.
He ordered someone to bring the largest piece of white paper he could find, which was half the size of the table, and solemnly laid it on the dragon table.
Then, he picked up the vermilion brush, pondered for a moment, and wrote several large, vigorous characters at the top of the huge white paper.
Lin Wanwan curiously leaned closer to take a look, and saw that it said—
"Top Secret Curriculum for Developing the Potential of Imperial Heirs of the Great Liang Dynasty (0-3 Years Old) (Personally Made by the Emperor)".
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