Inside Mingde Hall, Ye Qinglian's expression gradually grew complicated.
The Jiangnan matter could be resolved thanks to the man before her meticulously planning everything. The countermeasures he had casually written down had truly stabilized countless commoners throughout Jiangnan.
Although some people had died, even more had survived. The grain prices had even been forced down. That way, the dynasty could use the grain in its storehouses to purchase more supplies and provide relief, allowing the people of Jiangnan to hold on until they made it through!
This was an enormous blessing. The gloom that had weighed on Ye Qinglian's heart for so long had completely vanished, and she was in an excellent mood.
Yet the person who had made all this happen remained completely calm, leaving her puzzled and worried.
Could it be because this matter had been handled in her name, and Chu Ning was dissatisfied?
After hesitating for a moment, Ye Qinglian looked toward Chu Ning and slowly said, "If you're unwilling, I can announce the person behind this plan in court tomorrow. After all, you handled that memorial in my name at the time..."
With Chu Ning's personality, how could he be so unhappy? It made no sense.
"I'm not dissatisfied. I'm just a little surprised that it happened so quickly."
Ye Qinglian explained, "Most of the ferries in the dynasty are equipped with low-grade immortal artifacts, and they can also be purchased among the common people. They're used for civilian purposes."
Chu Ning suddenly understood.
"So that's how it is. Production tools had already been revolutionized, and I hadn't even thought of that..."
"Then it seems fewer people will die than expected."
Upon hearing this, Ye Qinglian frowned unhappily.
"This is such a joyous occasion, yet you insist on bringing up dead people. Are you deliberately trying to oppose me?"
Chu Ning stretched lazily and leaned against the back of his chair, looking somewhat relaxed.
"Not at all. I'm merely stating the facts. After all, if such a massive disaster had happened in another era... the number of deaths might have been even greater than expected."
He glanced at the memorials on the desk and said calmly, "There are still a few memorials left. I'll finish handling them first. Once they're done, you'll be able to relax too."
I'm in Emperor Mode right now. My eyes only see the entire realm!
I'll finish this first...
Then I can get back to work!
Ye Qinglian did not know how to begin.
Why did Chu Ning look as if he was not happy at all?
This was clearly such a great thing, and it had happened right before the Grand Wedding, making it an auspicious sign. Yet Chu Ning had not said a single unnecessary word.
Did he think she had failed to handle these affairs during this period and dumped all the trouble on him, or was he dissatisfied with something else?
Why had he suddenly stopped speaking again? Why had he gone back to being exactly as he was before?
He's deliberately giving me the cold shoulder, isn't he?
Since they were about to have the Grand Wedding, they were practically a married couple now!
If he had something to say, why couldn't he just say it directly? If he wanted something, why couldn't he simply ask for it?
Yet he insisted on acting like this!
Enraged, Ye Qinglian snatched the writing brush from Chu Ning's hand and snapped it in two with a crack!
"Can't you act normally for once? What have I done to you lately to make you dissatisfied with me?"
Chu Ning, who had been immersed in Emperor Mode just moments ago, came back to himself and looked up in confusion.
"Huh?"
"You're dissatisfied because the credit for this matter doesn't belong to you, because I took your fame. Tomorrow, I'll announce in court that you were the one who wrote all of this. Surely you'll be satisfied then!"
Chu Ning gradually came to his senses, the corner of his mouth twitching.
"I... I haven't said anything. Why would you think that?"
Ye Qinglian said unhappily, "If it were some ordinary matter, then saying nothing would be fine. But this is an earth-shaking piece of good news, and you haven't said a word. Isn't that proof that you're dissatisfied with me?"
Uh...
Only then did he understand what she meant.
But he had expected this matter to be resolved from the beginning. After all, what merchant did not pursue profit? He had merely provided a method. Now that the matter could be resolved, it simply meant that the previous concerns had been eliminated. Besides, there were still memorials that needed to be handled, weren't there?
If he did not finish the memorials, how could he take Ye Qinglian on a stroll around the imperial palace and find an opportunity?
He had never expected Ye Qinglian to come over and snap his brush in half...
The woman before him gradually wore a complicated expression as she stared intently at Chu Ning.
"You've indeed been handling military and political affairs very well these days, but I feel that this is too unfair to you. From now on, leave these matters to me. I'm the ruler of a nation, yet I've stopped interfering in court affairs. It's truly absurd..."
"Besides, I told you not long ago that you could tell me anything. Don't suppress your dissatisfaction in your heart. I don't want to see you like this..."
Chu Ning smiled helplessly.
"It really isn't what you think. These measly memorials only take me half an hour to deal with. Here, I'll give them to you... Of course, I'm not saying that you're slow or incapable. It's mainly because you're pregnant now, so you should have less pressure in this regard, don't you think?"
"Besides, don't I handle memorials like this every day? I have to concentrate... A Jiangnan Flood, to put it bluntly, isn't really a matter of national importance. There are still plenty of troublesome matters. If I get distracted, I'll only delay processing the memorials below. I need to be efficient, or where would I find all that free time?"
Hearing this, Ye Qinglian looked at Chu Ning suspiciously while recalling his state over the past few days.
It seemed... he really was exactly as he said.
Chu Ning in Mingde Hall and Chu Ning in Qianqing Palace seemed like two entirely different people.
The former possessed the bearing of an emperor, planning strategies from a thousand miles away and turning clouds into rain with the flip of his hand. As for the latter...
He was simply a shameless, clingy dog of a man, focused on taking liberties with her and taking advantage of her.
Perhaps Chu Ning's serious period each day only lasted half an hour or an hour, and she had failed to realize it?
"You really aren't angry?"
Chu Ning rose helplessly, stepped forward, and took Ye Qinglian's hand. He could not help sighing.
"Could it be that you're dissatisfied because I've taken over all your work, or because the solution to the Jiangnan Flood was my idea instead of yours, making you feel unbalanced?"
Ye Qinglian angrily replied, "Regardless of who came up with it, wasn't it ultimately to solve the problem? Why would I feel unbalanced?"
"Besides, you're helping me handle these affairs. Now I have more time to recuperate. Why would I be dissatisfied?"
Chu Ning chuckled.
"Isn't that exactly what I mean?"
"That's more or less how I feel. Since you wouldn't overthink something like this, why would I?"
Ye Qinglian shook her head.
"But the credit should have belonged to you, not me..."
"Ah, what use do I have for that stuff? Aren't we doing this to govern the dynasty better? Besides, what's mine is yours, and what's yours is mine, right?"
Ye Qinglian froze at his words and lowered her head, humming in acknowledgment.
Chu Ning smiled and continued, "Don't be so formal between husband and wife. This was something we both willingly agreed to."
"If you really feel that you want to do something, then return these matters to you after the child is born. For now, let me handle them. It'll make things easier for you."
After he finished speaking, a trace of complexity flashed through Ye Qinglian's heart. Countless emotions became intertwined, and the gloom from before instantly vanished.
It seemed she had truly misunderstood Chu Ning's thoughts. He was not dissatisfied...
"But I feel..."
"Don't feel anything. You're just too idle and overthinking things, feeling that you owe me? At worst, you can kiss me twice, hug me twice, and let me move into your bedchamber to sleep. Not only would I be able to take better care of the child, I could also..."
Before he could finish, Ye Qinglian glared at him.
"Why do you always bring up these improper things whenever you talk? I'm seriously discussing this with you!"
"I'm serious too. Speaking of which, you owe me quite a lot these days."
Ye Qinglian fell silent for a moment.
She had given him everything she could: the identity of Emperor Consort, the authority in her hands, and even the most precious cultivation method. Yet what should she do if she still felt she owed him?
After all, it seemed that in Chu Ning's eyes, none of these things mattered much.
He seemed to care more about the things he had mentioned, but this sort of...
Chu Ning narrowed his eyes as he studied the woman before him.
"So you don't plan to compensate me?"
Ye Qinglian instinctively said, "I can confer upon you the title of Grand Commandant, increase your salary, and increase your cultivation resources..."
"Ah."
Chu Ning sighed.
"Forget it. I'll keep working."
"You can look through the memorials I've finished. If you find anything inappropriate, you can tell me..."
Seeing that Chu Ning was about to turn around, Ye Qinglian immediately panicked and grabbed him!
"All I can give you is this. These are already the greatest rewards the entire dynasty can offer!"
"But you know that isn't what I want."
Ye Qinglian's face flushed as she glared angrily at Chu Ning.
"How are those things you mentioned considered rewards? If that's what you wanted, why did you ask for my permission?"
Asking whether you could hold my hand or hug me?
I didn't agree before, but didn't you hold my hand anyway?
As for the more excessive things you mentioned, how could she possibly agree to them?
If you wanted to kiss her, then just kiss her. Did you really have to make her give verbal consent?
How could she possibly say it herself?
At her words, Chu Ning's expression did not change.
But inwardly, he was already overjoyed.
Draw her in by retreating...
You know that I'm thinking about you and want to go further, but I'm deliberately refusing to do so. I want you to say it yourself.
Emotions are a two-way street, after all.
"I have no idea what you're talking about. I have work to do."
Ye Qinglian gritted her teeth. How could she fail to see through Chu Ning's lowly tactic? He was doing it on purpose!
She had already given Chu Ning everything she could, yet this man did not care about any of it. All he wanted was her!
Fine, then. I'll let you have what you want!
"Do you want it or not? If you don't, you can forget about it forever!"
Chu Ning turned his head curiously and pretended not to understand.
"What?"
Ye Qinglian could endure no longer.
It was only like getting mauled by a dog. She would just treat Chu Ning's mouth as a dog's mouth!
Without the slightest hesitation, Ye Qinglian grabbed Chu Ning and fiercely mauled his mouth with hers.
Then she let go of him at once.
"Go do your work!"
What an annoying man!
[Author's note: Today's update is twelve thousand words! Starting tomorrow, I'll be maintaining six thousand words a day. Brothers, please click the urge-to-update button. Thanks!]
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