Before I Fall Asleep, You're Not Allowed to Leave!

She didn't know why she'd said something like that.

But for some reason, she felt so flustered right now that she didn't want Chu Ning to leave so soon...

At least... stay with her for a while.

After all, she was carrying Chu Ning's child. If she couldn't sleep well, wouldn't the baby suffer too?

As the child's father, couldn't he be a little shameless?

As for her bellyband and all that... she just hadn't noticed. She'd pretend he hadn't seen it. Besides, she was wrapped up in the blanket now, so Chu Ning couldn't see anything...

And there was also some inexplicable feeling in her heart, probably because Chu Ning had rubbed off on her.

Maybe a married couple didn't have to be so cautious around each other. But there was no way she'd let him get handsy...

It was all Chu Ning's influence!

Under the dim lamplight, Chu Ning grinned and sat back down on the bed. Looking at Ye Qinglian, wrapped up like a caterpillar, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"Do you really have to be so afraid of me? Didn't you say you were a great cultivator at the Void Shattering realm? You don't have the bearing of one at all."

Ye Qinglian glared at Chu Ning and snapped, "If your cultivation were higher, I would've chopped you down ages ago. I'd have killed you with one casual swing of my sword!"

"I'm afraid that if I make a move, I'll chop you up like vegetables. Understand?"

"At least let me hold your hand or something..."

"In your dreams. Did I say you could hold it? You think you can just hold my hand whenever you want?"

She pursed her lips and turned to gaze up at the rafters.

"Anyway, as long as you're alive, that's good enough. At least I'll have someone to cook for me. You may not have any other talents, but you're pretty good at cooking..."

Chu Ning grinned and edged closer, until half his body was nearly on the bed. Ye Qinglian frowned and shoved him toward the edge with her shoulder, trying to push him away without saying a word. Her actions said it all.

You damn man, what are you trying to do!

Ye Qinglian looked so comical that Chu Ning found himself especially captivated by her.

His wife had such an adorable side to her, too. How interesting. Getting here early really was better than arriving just in time...

"Now, about something serious."

"What serious matter is there to discuss? You already finished handling today's memorials, didn't you?"

Ye Qinglian looked at him in confusion.

Chu Ning smiled.

"Didn't you just say I could move in here? Were you serious?"

Ye Qinglian gave a soft snort.

"A ruler's word is his bond. I'm only doing it to keep you safe. Your cultivation is so low, and you don't even apply yourself to training. What else can I do?"

"Otherwise, you could go live with Elder Fang, though he probably wouldn't think much of you."

Chu Ning thought of Fang Houren, who had never been particularly friendly to him. Whether it was his disdainful looks or the way he seemed to want to kill him, every pore practically shouted:

What makes you think you can lay a hand on our precious cabbage!

"Never mind. Living with you sounds pretty good."

Ye Qinglian's mouth twitched as she corrected him. "You'll only be staying in the room next door. You're not living with me. Don't get that mixed up!"

Chu Ning chuckled.

"What if I can't sleep at night and come crawl into your bed..."

A long sword suddenly hovered over Chu Ning's head.

Ye Qinglian looked at Chu Ning with a cold smile.

"You can try."

A real sword of Damocles...

Chu Ning sighed helplessly.

"So I have to move back after the Grand Wedding, is that it? That's not fair. We're married, after all..."

"Don't get it wrong. You're only the child's father, not my husband. I haven't accepted a powerless mortal like you!"

She was soft from head to toe; only her mouth was hard.

She always ate quickly, and she'd only ever praised his cooking reluctantly.

But Chu Ning had already figured out Ye Qinglian's personality. He simply smiled at her.

"Fine, fine. Your Majesty hasn't accepted me yet. So what would it take for you to accept me? At least give me some conditions."

Ye Qinglian glanced at Chu Ning and pondered for a moment.

"You only need to know that it's impossible. Once the child is born, you can just look after it in the Inner Palace. Leave the affairs of the empire to me."

As soon as she finished speaking, Chu Ning reached out and pinched Ye Qinglian's cheek.

She froze for a moment, then glared at him.

Chu Ning pinched her again.

"Your skin feels pretty nice. Can I kiss you?"

Ye Qinglian's gaze shifted from anger to icy disdain.

"What do you think?"

"If you're not saying no, that means yes?"

Ye Qinglian was about to curse him for his wishful thinking when his face suddenly moved close.

Ye Qinglian was startled and hurried to dodge, but it was already too late!

What was going on?!

Why had she forgotten to use her cultivation?!

With a soft smack, the woman's face turned scarlet. She controlled the sword and pressed it against Chu Ning's neck!

"Chu Ning! What are you doing?"

"I told you to keep me company, not to kiss me!"

Even if he'd kissed her cheek rather than her lips, how could she ignore how intimate the moment felt?

Damn that man!

"If you dare move again, I'll kill you!"

Chu Ning wasn't scared in the least. Instead, he looked puzzled.

"But you didn't refuse. If you don't refuse, that means you agree. Next time, just say no directly and I definitely won't do it."

Ye Qinglian pressed her lips together, gritting her teeth.

"You're shameless. Why did I ever get involved with such a shameless man?"

"Women love bad boys."

"And you say that as if you're proud of it!"

"She's my wife. Of course I'm proud of it."

"I told you, I'm not! It's only in name!"

"But I take it seriously."

Ye Qinglian: "..."

What a nuisance!

That sudden sneak attack had flustered her so much that she hadn't even had time to use her cultivation. She hadn't dared to, either.

She was afraid she might accidentally slap Chu Ning to death.

"At least let me hold your hand. Otherwise, I'm staying up all night with you, and it'd be unfair not to get any reward..."

Ye Qinglian fell silent for a moment, then reached one hand out from under the covers.

"You're not allowed to do anything outrageous, or I'll..."

"I know. You'll kill me, of course."

They held hands again, their fingers interlaced and clasped tightly together. When Chu Ning looked up at the woman before him, her face had already turned scarlet.

Was there something wrong with my head? Why did I agree to this...

I could've just smacked Chu Ning away and stopped him from getting carried away.

She couldn't help muttering to herself. Gradually, her expression calmed as she thought back over everything that had happened lately. Her life had changed so much.

The child in her belly and Chu Ning at her side had both brought her so many changes that she could barely keep up, and she didn't know what to do.

But she did know that the man by her side wasn't so bad. He was all right, and he genuinely cared about her. That was enough.

Besides, they really would be husband and wife someday. Even if Chu Ning died one day, he would be buried in the imperial mausoleum. They would still sleep together after death.

So letting him hold her hand shouldn't be too much, right...

Tsk, this man was so annoying. He was staring at her again.

"Stop looking. I'm going to sleep. You're not allowed to leave before I fall asleep."

"Are you really that afraid?"

Ye Qinglian fell silent and didn't answer.

That dream had felt so real that she hadn't even thought she was dreaming. It had seemed just like reality.

Only with Chu Ning by her side did she feel a little at ease.

Things were going pretty well in the empire right now. As long as the people around her stayed safe and everything carried on as it was, that was good enough.