“Qinglian, how does it taste? Does it suit your appetite?”
“Qinglian, although you are the emperor, how can you handle this much state affairs every day? Does it not tire you out?”
“Qinglian, look at you. You already look worn out. You have become this tired after only one day. Why don’t you go back and sleep for a while before continuing? It would be for your sake and the children’s sake.”
“…”
He chattered on and on without stopping.
Ye Qinglian only felt her head ache.
“Just eat if you are eating. Why say so much nonsense?”
Seeing that his wife was annoyed, Chu Ning immediately shut his mouth and did not say another word.
He could not disturb the pregnancy.
This was all for the children!
Yet when Chu Ning stopped speaking, Ye Qinglian felt even more irritated.
For some reason, making this endlessly talkative person close his mouth and say nothing felt strange.
She felt that her status as emperor had no threatening power before Chu Ning at all. Was it because she was carrying his children, so he was this confident?
She picked up a mouthful of food and put it into her mouth. It was her favorite spicy flavor, so her mood improved slightly.
“We have already told you that you cannot walk around the palace casually.”
“You are afraid others will discover me, but I move very discreetly. It is absolutely impossible for others to find out. Is that still not allowed?”
Chu Ning looked at her eagerly. “I only came to deliver food because I saw that you were eating at a time like this and worried about your health. Is even that not allowed?”
Ye Qinglian remained silent for a moment.
“How did you avoid even those hidden guards?”
“I, your husband, am an expert living beyond the world.”
When she heard the word “husband,” Ye Qinglian immediately glared at him. “You and We have not yet held our wedding. Even after the wedding, you should still call Us Your Majesty!”
“All right, Qinglian!”
Ye Qinglian was speechless.
“Do you think that because We are carrying your children, We would not dare make a move against you?”
“We just broke through to the saint level today. Crushing you would be like crushing an ant!”
The woman glared at him and threatened him, but Chu Ning only smiled.
“Qinglian, your threat really has no force. If you wanted to attack me, would you need to tell me first?”
Ye Qinglian narrowed her eyes. Did he truly think she did not dare?
“Besides,” Chu Ning added with a smile, “I am doing this for your own good. I have not caused you any trouble either, so why would you hit me?”
Forget it!
She would teach him a lesson another day!
For the sake of how good the food tasted!
Ye Qinglian gave a cold snort. “Although We do not know what method you used to avoid the hidden guards’ eyes, there cannot be a second time!”
Chu Ning refused decisively.
“That will not do!”
“You dare defy Us?”
“I have to think for you and the children. Xiao Bing said you are obsessed with work and spend all day handling state affairs, with no time even to eat. If I do not secretly deliver food to you and watch you finish it, what if something happens to your body?”
Ye Qinglian froze when she heard this, and her imposing aura immediately weakened.
Her face remained expressionless. “We are a cultivator. There is no need to worry.”
“Cultivators are people too, unless you are not human.”
“So what if you are a god? You still have my children, and you will still be my future wife.”
Ye Qinglian was speechless.
“We do not wish to argue with you. You are merely a mortal. We fear that if We strike, you will be smashed to pieces!”
She glared at Chu Ning and warned him, “So do not anger Us. Understand?”
Chu Ning shook his head.
“I have to think for you and the children. Although I cannot help you with anything else, at least I have to guarantee your three meals a day.”
Ye Qinglian stayed silent for a moment, then tugged at the corner of her mouth.
“If you want to deliver meals, then deliver them. But if anyone discovers you even once, We will definitely hold you accountable!”
This fellow was truly annoying. Yet most of her anger came from the fact that she could not quite adapt to this kind of kindness from Chu Ning.
She had never had it before. Then suddenly, it appeared. Moreover, this man was focused only on her and the children in her belly. The change was simply too great, and she still found it hard to adjust.
So she had no real reason to attack Chu Ning, nor could she actually do it.
Chu Ning was merely a mortal anyway. His cooking was passable.
If he was willing to cook, then let him. If one day he stopped delivering meals, so be it. In any case, this enthusiasm would probably only last a few days.
She said calmly, “Later, go find Xiao Bing. You may take 1,000 taels of gold from Our private treasury. Consider it the reward for cooking for Us.”
She never owed anyone. She would only repay others with better conditions.
“No.”
Ye Qinglian was slightly displeased. “You do not even want gold and silver?”
Chu Ning said helplessly, “I am inside the palace. Even if you give me money, I have nowhere to spend it. Besides, there is food, drink, a wife, and children here. Why would I need money? To go outside and find women?”
“You dare!”
Ye Qinglian glared at Chu Ning, then said calmly, “Then what do you want? Just say it. As long as We can satisfy it, We can agree!”
“I do not believe you.”
Ye Qinglian froze.
This fellow…
He was definitely doing this on purpose!
He was making fun of her!
Chu Ning took Ye Qinglian’s bowl and chopsticks, his eyes curved in a smile.
“Someone went back on her word just now. Clearly, the saying that an emperor’s word cannot be taken back is all nonsense. A promise that cannot be kept is useless even if I ask for it. Don’t you think so?”
The corner of Ye Qinglian’s mouth twitched.
Was what happened just now the same thing?
Just now, she had lost control because even her strongest hidden guards had failed to detect Chu Ning’s traces. She had been too angry!
Now, they were discussing a reward for Chu Ning, for cooking!
Before Ye Qinglian could speak, Chu Ning smiled.
“Among common people, most husbands handle outside matters while wives handle the household. Inside the palace, you definitely handle the outside matters, Qinglian. I cannot help you with much, so I will just be responsible for cooking and making use of my strength.”
“Besides, there is really no need to reward me with anything. Between husband and wife, doing that feels far too distant.”
Ye Qinglian’s face reddened, but she quickly found an explanation for Chu Ning’s actions.
She understood!
This fellow was not after rewards. He was after her empire!
If he deceived her into his hands, then the empire would also fall into his hands. Once that happened, he could have anything he wanted!
“What you are thinking is impossible. The empire belongs to Us. We will never hand it over to anyone!”
Chu Ning looked bewildered.
“Huh?”
Her empire was too vast. If a mortal did not seek wealth or fame, what else could he be after?
Throughout history, there had been many cases of the rear palace interfering in politics and throwing the state into chaos. What was more, he was a man, and men all had ambition!
“We advise you to state your conditions now. You only have this one chance. If you mention them again next time, it will be impossible.”
She looked at Chu Ning expressionlessly and spoke calmly.
The two of them would owe each other nothing. If he wanted to enter court and receive an official position, or command the army, she could agree.
She would consider it repayment for letting her eat such delicious meals.
Chu Ning hesitated for a moment, then tentatively asked, “Really?”
“We guarantee it with Our own reputation. As long as We can do what you ask, We can agree, as long as it is not too excessive!”
Chu Ning smiled. “All right. It is actually not anything too excessive. Can you let me hold the children?”
Ye Qinglian asked in confusion, “But We are only three months pregnant. How are you going to hold them? Are you going to cut them out?”
Her expression instantly changed, and she pressed her hand to the sword at her waist.
“If you dare lay a hand on Our children, you are dead!”
Chu Ning was completely bewildered.
“They are my children too! How could I possibly do that? What are you thinking?”
Ye Qinglian frowned.
“Then how do you want to hold them?”
“Does that mean you agreed?”
“Of course. It is not some excessive request.”
Chu Ning immediately stood up and smiled as he moved closer to Ye Qinglian.
“Simple. Qinglian, stand up and do not move…”
The woman grew even more confused.
Stand up and not move? What was he planning to do?
Take the chance to attack her?
Forget Chu Ning having no cultivation. Even if he had sixth-realm cultivation, wanting to harm Ye Qinglian, who had now reached the saint level, would be completely impossible.
“Chu Ning, you had better quickly explain what you are going to do. Otherwise…”
Suddenly!
A pair of arms wrapped around her from behind in an instant, and Chu Ning pressed himself against her body.
Ye Qinglian’s face instantly flushed red. Her eyes widened in astonishment, and her whole body trembled.
This fellow! He actually wanted to hug her!
She had never imagined Chu Ning would be so bold, daring to embrace her, the current Empress!
Moreover, she was now at the saint level!
Ye Qinglian was about to slap this shameless man flying with one palm and teach him a lesson, but Chu Ning’s voice came immediately after.
“Qinglian, I think I can feel the babies moving.”
Those hands were indeed wrapped around her lower abdomen.
She froze.
So he really was holding the children?
But in this manner…
She forcefully endured the shyness in her heart and felt it carefully.
“Eh?”
Her expression instantly softened, then turned into joy.
“They really are. They are really moving…”