Consider It Bitten By A Dog, Annoying Guy!

Inside Mingde Hall, Ye Qinglian's expression grew increasingly complicated.

The resolution of the Jiangnan matter wouldn't have been possible without the careful planning of the person before her. The strategies he casually jotted down had genuinely stabilized countless citizens in the Jiangnan region.

Although some had died, many more had survived. Grain prices had even been driven down. With this, the Dynasty could use its treasury to purchase grain for disaster relief, allowing the people of Jiangnan to hold on!

It was a monumental good thing. The long-standing gloom in Ye Qinglian's heart vanished, and she was in excellent spirits.

However, the mastermind behind the scenes appeared calm, leaving her somewhat puzzled and worried.

Could it be that because this matter was handled in her name, Chu Ning was displeased...

After a moment of hesitation, Ye Qinglian looked at Chu Ning and slowly spoke, "If you are unwilling, I can publicly announce the mastermind behind this plan in court tomorrow. After all, you handled that memorial in my name..."

Given Chu Ning's personality, why wasn't he happy at all? It didn't make sense.

"I'm not displeased, I'm just a bit surprised it happened so quickly."

Ye Qinglian explained, "Most of the ferries in the Dynasty are enhanced with low-grade immortal artifacts, which can also be bought by the public. They are used for the people's livelihood."

Chu Ning suddenly understood, his mind clear.

"So that's how it is. Production tools were already revolutionized, I didn't expect that..."

"Then it seems the number of deaths will be less than imagined."

Ye Qinglian frowned, displeased.

"With such great joyous news, you insist on talking about death! Are you deliberately trying to oppose me!"

Chu Ning stretched and leaned back in his chair, his expression slightly relaxed.

"Not at all, I'm just stating facts. After all, with such a major famine, if it were in another era... the number of deaths might be even higher than imagined."

He looked at the memorial on the table and said calmly, "There are still some memorials left. I'll finish them first, and then you'll be free too."

Now in Emperor mode, his eyes were only on the realm!

Finish this first...

Then, he continued working!

Ye Qinglian didn't know how to speak.

Why did Chu Ning seem so unhappy?

It was such great news, and it happened right before the Grand Wedding, a good omen. Yet Chu Ning hadn't said a superfluous word.

Did he feel that she hadn't handled state affairs during this period, leaving all the trouble to him? Or was he displeased about something?

Why did he suddenly stop talking, becoming like he was before?

Was he deliberately giving her the cold shoulder!

Since the Grand Wedding was imminent, they were practically a married couple already!

Why couldn't he just say what he wanted to say, or ask for what he desired!

Why did he have to be like this!

Furious, Ye Qinglian snatched the brush from Chu Ning's hand and snapped it in half with a crack!

"Can't you just act normally? What have I done to you during this time that makes you unhappy with me!"

Chu Ning, who had just been immersed in Emperor mode, snapped back to reality and looked up, utterly bewildered.

"Huh?"

"You're probably just upset that the credit for this isn't yours, that I stole your glory. I'll announce in court tomorrow that you were the one who drafted everything. Will you be satisfied then!"

Chu Ning, still dazed, gradually regained his senses, his mouth twitching.

"I... I didn't say anything, why would you think that?"

Ye Qinglian retorted, "If it were an ordinary matter, saying nothing would be fine. But with such great news today, if you say nothing, doesn't that mean you're displeased with me!"

Uh...

He finally understood.

But he had already anticipated that this matter could be resolved. After all, merchants were driven by profit. He had merely provided a method. The fact that it could be resolved now simply removed his previous concerns. Moreover, there were still some memorials to deal with, weren't there?

If he didn't finish these memorials, how could he take Ye Qinglian to tour the Imperial Palace? How could he find an opportunity?

He hadn't expected Ye Qinglian to just come over and break his brush...

The woman before him stared intently at Chu Ning, her gaze growing complex.

"Your methods for handling military and state affairs these past few days have indeed been excellent, but I feel this is too unfair to you. From now on, I will handle these matters. As the ruler of a nation, it is absurd that I am no longer involved in state affairs..."

"And I told you not long ago, you can tell me anything. Don't suppress your dissatisfaction. I don't want to see you like this..."

Chu Ning smiled helplessly.

"It's really not what you think. I can finish these memorials in half an hour. Here you go... Of course, it's not that you're slow or bad at it, but you're pregnant now, so you should have less pressure in this regard, right?"

"Besides, I handle memorials like this every day. I need to concentrate... A single Jiangnan flood isn't really a major state affair. There are still many troublesome matters. If I get distracted, it will delay the processing of other memorials. Efficiency is key, otherwise, where would I find so much free time?"

Hearing this, Ye Qinglian looked at Chu Ning with suspicion, while also pondering Chu Ning's state over the past few days.

It seems... exactly as he said.

Chu Ning in Mingde Hall and Chu Ning in Qianqing Palace were like two different people.

The former was adorned with imperial majesty, strategizing from afar, capable of summoning winds and rain with a turn of his hand. The latter...

was simply a shameless, clingy man, focused on taking advantage of her and profiting from her.

Perhaps it was because Chu Ning's serious moments lasted only about half an hour or an hour each day, and she hadn't quite registered it?

"You really aren't angry?"

Chu Ning stood up helplessly, stepped forward to take Ye Qinglian's hand, and couldn't help but sigh.

"Don't tell me you're unhappy because I took all your work, or because the Jiangnan Flood solution was my idea and not yours, making you feel unbalanced?"

Ye Qinglian retorted angrily, "Regardless of who came up with it, isn't the ultimate goal to solve the problem? Why would I be unbalanced!"

"Besides, you're helping me handle these state affairs, and now I have more time to rest. Why would I be displeased?"

Chu Ning chuckled.

"See? That's what I thought."

"That's pretty much the feeling. Since you won't overthink these things, why should I?"

Ye Qinglian shook her head.

"But the credit should have been yours, not mine..."

"Sigh, what use do I have for that stuff? Aren't we just trying to govern the Dynasty better? Besides, what's mine is yours, and what's yours is mine, right?"

Ye Qinglian was stunned and then hummed in agreement, lowering her head.

Chu Ning smiled again and said, "Don't be so formal with each other, husband and wife. It's all consensual."

"If you really want to do something, wait until the child is born, and then I'll return these matters to you. For now, leave it to me, and you can relax."

As he spoke, a complex emotion flickered through Ye Qinglian's heart, a mixture of countless feelings. The melancholy she had felt earlier vanished instantly.

She seemed to have truly misunderstood Chu Ning's intentions; he wasn't unhappy at all...

"But I feel..."

"Stop 'feeling.' You're just too idle and thinking too much. You feel like you owe me? At most, you can kiss me a couple of times, hug me, and let me sleep in your palace. Not only can I take better care of the child, but I can also..."

Before he could finish, Ye Qinglian's eyes widened.

"Why do you always bring up these improper things when you talk? I'm having a serious conversation with you!"

"I'm being serious too. Speaking of which, you owe me quite a bit during this time."

Ye Qinglian was silent for a moment.

She had given him everything she could: the status of Imperial Sovereign, her authority, and the most precious cultivation methods, yet she still felt she owed him.

After all, in Chu Ning's eyes, these things didn't seem very important.

He seemed more interested in the things he had mentioned, but this kind of...

Chu Ning, in front of her, narrowed his eyes as he looked at the woman before him.

"Then aren't you going to compensate me?"

Ye Qinglian instinctively replied.

"I'll grant you the title of Grand Duke, increase your salary, and enhance your cultivation resources..."

"Sigh."

Chu Ning sighed.

"Let's forget it. I'll continue working."

"You can look at the memorials I've already processed. If you find anything inappropriate, you can tell me..."

Seeing Chu Ning about to turn away, Ye Qinglian panicked and grabbed him!

"All I can give you is this. It's already the greatest reward in the entire Dynasty!"

"But you know that's not what I want."

Ye Qinglian's face flushed, and she glared at Chu Ning.

"What you're saying isn't a reward at all. If you want it, why are you asking me!"

Asking if he could hold her hand, if he could hug her?

She hadn't agreed before, but he still held her hand!

As for the more excessive things he mentioned, how could she possibly agree to them!

If he wanted to kiss her, he could just do it; did he really need her explicit consent!

How could she be so brazen!

Hearing this, Chu Ning's expression remained unchanged.

But inwardly, he was already gloating.

Playing hard to get...

You know I'm interested in you, that I want to go further, but if I push too hard, I want you to be the one to say it.

When it comes to relationships, it's always a two-way street.

"I don't know what you're talking about, I need to get back to work."

Ye Qinglian gritted her teeth, how could she not see through Chu Ning's cheap tactic? He was doing it on purpose!

She had already given Chu Ning everything she could, but this man didn't care about anything else, he just wanted her!

Fine, if that's what he wanted!

"Do you want it or not? If not, don't even think about it again!"

Chu Ning turned his head curiously, feigning ignorance.

"Want what?"

Ye Qinglian could no longer stand it.

It's not like being bitten by a dog, she thought, treating Chu Ning's mouth like a dog's!

Without a moment's hesitation, Ye Qinglian grabbed Chu Ning and bit down hard on his dog-like mouth.

Then, she pushed him away.

"Go back to your work!"

So annoying!

[Author's Note: 12,000 words updated today. Starting tomorrow, I'll be updating a stable 6,000 words. Brothers, please click the "Urge Update" button. Thank you!]