Ye Qinglian's Solution

Of course.

There was still no way he could stay in Qianqing Palace to sleep.

He would probably have to wait until they were married, right?

But looking at this, even after they got married, it probably still would not be allowed.

Their feelings would have to develop slowly first...

At least things were no longer awkward now. Holding hands had been tacitly permitted, had it not?

After returning to the palace, Chu Ning was in quite a good mood.

He had actually been thinking of ways to deal with it too, but when it came to matters between men and women, if the other person had no such thoughts, then there was probably nothing to be done.

Now, it seemed his wife still loved him!

Back to sleep!

These past few days in the palace, he had not been entirely asleep.

His consciousness had wandered beyond the heavens, taking in all the world's splendor, and he had incidentally surveyed the entire imperial palace as well.

Now, he was truly sleepy.

What bliss!

Early the next morning, before it was even time for Chu Ning to cook, Xiao Bing had already arrived.

"Mister Chu, Your Majesty has asked you to attend court today. These are clothes that were custom-made earlier. Your Majesty instructed you to put them on..."

Freshly awakened, Chu Ning looked utterly bewildered.

"You are joking, right? I am really attending court?"

Xiao Bing smiled. "Of course. All the civil and military officials are discussing it in court now. They had originally been recommending someone to come find the Emperor Consort, but Your Majesty directly established the position instead. And your treatment... is equivalent to that of a second emperor!"

Xiao Bing did not believe that Chu Ning had any designs on the dynasty. After observing him these past few days, she had found that he truly was content to rot!

Aside from going to cozy up to Her Majesty every day before, he either slept or was still sleeping the rest of the time.

He was too lazy even to leave the palace!

At that moment, the young girl looked at Chu Ning curiously.

"What did Your Majesty say to you yesterday? It feels like your relationship has gotten better..."

Chu Ning got up with a solemn expression.

"Children should not ask about things they should not ask about!"

"Xiao Bing has cultivated for over thirty years. Shouldn't I be older than you, Mister?"

Chu Ning fell silent for a moment, left speechless.

Then a Dragon Robe was stuffed into his hands.

"There was precedent for an Empress in the Great Zhou Dynasty. The Emperor Consort held the same rank as the Son of Heaven, so his attire was also custom-made according to the Dragon Robe..."

Chu Ning examined the garments in his hands, then set them down anyway.

"I will go speak to Your Majesty. Forget about attending court. I have neither the interest nor the ability..."

Before long, breakfast was ready, and he arrived at Qianqing Palace.

The moment Ye Qinglian saw Chu Ning, she frowned.

"Where is your Dragon Robe? You intend to attend court wearing that?"

Chu Ning said helplessly, "You only needed to say it. I am not actually going to attend court, am I? Leaving aside the dynasty's rules, this does not conform to ritual propriety. More importantly, I have no interest in this. Stop testing me..."

Ye Qinglian's expression darkened with displeasure.

"Did you not understand a word I told you yesterday? Either attend court with me, or take this food away. Tomorrow, go sleep in the Imperial Mausoleum for the rest of your life!"

At the side, Xiao Bing curiously studied the two of them.

So what exactly had happened between them? Her Majesty valued power so greatly, yet she had given Chu Ning such a lofty status and even ordered him to attend court as well?

Was that not tantamount to directly splitting her authority?

What was Her Majesty thinking?

Oh, she remembered. The awkwardness between them before seemed to have been because Chu Ning had displayed those methods, causing Her Majesty to be wary of him, right?

So Her Majesty's move was meant to reconcile their relationship...

Xiao Bing was exceedingly clever, unmatched at reading expressions and judging the situation. She understood it at a glance.

Seeing that Chu Ning was about to refuse again, Xiao Bing hurriedly spoke up. "Mister Chu, this servant feels it would be better for you to attend court with Your Majesty. The news has already been leaked. Even if Mister Chu has no intentions in that regard, you cannot let Your Majesty's words come to nothing. Otherwise, there will surely be discussion in court."

"Of course, Mister Chu need not do anything at all. Just consider it showing yourself before the people of the world. After all, the Emperor Consort was established so suddenly that even the procedures and rules were directly broken. The court will certainly be thrown into turmoil."

Ye Qinglian also looked coldly at Chu Ning.

"After eating, go put on that Dragon Robe. I will wait for you. Do not make me disappointed in you!"

Chu Ning had nothing to say. He could only sigh.

"Then let us eat first..."

He truly had not expected to do it, nor had he expected Ye Qinglian to actually make him do it. Was this her way of laying every card she had on the table?

Child's Mother truly was bold and unrestrained, without equal...

"But won't this bring you trouble? For example, from the court officials—they might say you've overstepped the rites or something..."

Ye Qinglian spoke calmly. "You don't need to worry about this. Eat."

Now, in order to make her relationship with Chu Ning no longer so awkward, Ye Qinglian had gone this far.

She would directly establish an Emperor Consort, divide the realm equally with him, and rule together!

She believed Chu Ning was not that kind of person, so she had to show her trust in a fitting way.

This was the greatest sincerity Ye Qinglian could offer!

If Chu Ning truly sought to seize the country and thoroughly disappointed her, that would be the day Ye Qinglian completely severed all ties with him.

She was not merely the emperor of the Great Gan Dynasty.

She was also a cultivator who had reached the Seventh Realm in a hundred years of cultivation—hm?

Ye Qinglian suddenly froze.

Mid-Seventh Realm already?

That couldn't be right!

She had not cultivated at all lately. Had her own cultivation become this fast?

"Oh, right, Your Majesty!"

Seeing that the two had reconciled as though nothing had happened, Xiao Bing was quietly delighted as well.

"This servant has something to tell Your Majesty. This servant's cultivation speed has been incredibly fast lately. I've already reached the late Fourth Realm!"

Ye Qinglian's eyes flew wide open!

"Late Fourth Realm? Doesn't that mean your Longevity Tower has already fully condensed? It's only been less than half a month!"

From breaking through the Third Realm to reaching the late Fourth Realm now?!

Even those holy lands probably did not have such cultivation speed!

Ye Qinglian immediately thought of the reason!

"It must be the Old Ancestor's blessing. When you are free today, make a trip to the Ye Family Holy Land and see whether there are others within the holy land whose cultivation has advanced by leaps and bounds like yours. They must be heavily nurtured!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Beside them, Chu Ning silently ate.

It seemed Imperial Grade Cuisine was indeed highly effective at increasing cultivation speed.

Being good to his wife meant being good to his child as well.

In the future, he needed to get his hands on even better Ingredients!

He just did not know what exactly would happen today. He doubted the court ministers would so easily accept his status. There would probably be some difficulties...

Half an hour later, in the imperial court!

The hundred officials stood in their ranks—the cabinet and Six Ministries, along with numerous generals!

Even the Ye Family Holy Land had sent people!

When they saw the man in a dragon robe seated beside Empress Ye Qinglian in the court hall, countless people were stunned!

Ye Xuan, the Ye Family's current Great Elder, was stunned as well!

No wonder he had been called a distinguished guest. Who would have thought he was the Emperor Consort!

But even if he was the Emperor Consort, such an improper arrangement could perhaps still be explained away. Yet she was letting an Emperor Consort oversee the court cabinet and Six Ministries, command all troops under heaven!

Today's court assembly was convened to discuss precisely this matter!

Just as an official was about to speak and challenge Chu Ning, Ye Qinglian slowly rose to her feet.

Her gaze was icy beyond measure. The pressure unique to the Void-Shattering level instantly blanketed the entire hall!

"The Emperor Consort was personally appointed by I. Every special privilege granted to him is I's decision!"

"Whoever dares oppose it will be treated as one who defies the sovereign and betrays the state, and will be executed on the spot!"

"You may now pay respects to the Emperor Consort."

Even Chu Ning was stunned.

Wait...

That was the solution you came up with?

That was... a little too direct, wasn't it!

A cultivator's cultivation really was quite useful, huh!

Within the court, countless officials looked at one another.

Though it violated the rites, though his status had been established too quickly, though the authority bestowed upon him surpassed that of anyone else and allowed him to divide the realm equally with the Empress.

His Majesty's cultivation was high; His Majesty's words were the will of Heaven!

"Your servants pay respects to the Emperor Consort!"

"This servant from the Ministry of Rites will immediately begin preparing the grand ceremony. It will be ready to hold before long. This servant pays respects to the Emperor Consort!"

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