A Day of Delivering Meals Begins!

Early the next morning, Xiao Bing hurried to the palace where Chu Ning was staying.

Bang bang bang!

"Mister, weren't you going to cook for Your Majesty? She'll wake up in half an hour. If you start now, there's still time..."

The stove in Qianqing Palace had already been set up. After getting up, she had already made a round through the Inner Palace.

She had thought that since Chu Ning said he would be responsible for cooking, she could rest easy and need not summon the imperial meal. They could simply have the food sent over to the Imperial Clan's side. Yet there had been no movement at all from the kitchen!

Chu Ning was still asleep!

Yesterday, this man had said he would take responsibility for Her Majesty's daily meals and living arrangements. Yet today, he had not even gotten up!

That was something Her Majesty had specifically instructed. It showed how highly she regarded Chu Ning. If he messed up on the very first day...

"Mister, are you still not awake? If..."

Suddenly, Xiao Bing caught a whiff of fragrance.

She turned around and looked not far away.

A figure stood there, holding a wok spatula and a pan, fiercely stir-frying over blazing flames!

His movements were so skillful and his technique so practiced that Xiao Bing stared in a daze.

Beside him, more than a dozen finished dishes had already been placed in ceramic basins on the table.

Where had Chu Ning gotten cooking utensils from...

And that fire...

Xiao Bing was startled and hurriedly said, "Mister, you can't make a fire here. If there's smoke, people will discover it, and then..."

Then she froze again.

There was no smoke?

How had that fire been lit?

Chu Ning was not even a cultivator, was he?

After finishing the stir-fry, the last dish was done.

Xiao Bing walked over blankly, awkwardly scratched her head, and gave a sheepish laugh.

"Chu... Mister Chu, you woke up so early?"

Wake up, my ass!

My wife had not eaten breakfast yet. Of course I had to prepare the ingredients!

The Dragon Marrow Jade Precious Soup, the Congealed Fat Jade Cake, and these dozen dishes—he had spent several hours finding the Ingredients for all of them!

When he returned, it happened to be almost dawn, so he hurriedly started cooking again!

Chu Ning picked up a serving tray in one hand, holding more than a dozen dishes atop it, and looked at Xiao Bing with a serious expression.

"Xiao Bing, you need to understand that while Qinglian is the ruler of the Great Gan Dynasty, she is also my Wife, and she is carrying my child."

"You don't need to remind me. I'll naturally take this to heart!"

With that, he carried the food toward Qianqing Palace.

Xiao Bing was stunned by those words.

What Mister said made so much sense. Had he started preparing everything so early because of that?

Was that why Her Majesty had been so reassured that she could leave such matters directly to him?

The fire in the stove also vanished as Chu Ning left.

There were no materials inside it at all.

So how had that fire been lit?

Before Xiao Bing could figure it out, Chu Ning had already left.

Xiao Bing immediately grew anxious again and hurried after him!

"Mister, Her Majesty is not awake yet. You cannot enter Her Majesty's bedchamber. Although you are Her Majesty's future Emperor Consort, right now..."

"And the food must be tested for poison. Her Majesty's meals cannot simply be served to her..."

"Pah! Would I poison my own Wife and child? You just want to sneak a bite. Say so next time. It's not like I can't serve you some to whet your appetite!"

Xiao Bing was nearly in tears.

Although she was a Three Realms cultivator and Chu Ning was merely an ordinary man...

She did not dare lay a hand on Chu Ning!

"It really is the rule, Mister..."

Chu Ning curled his lip.

"What are you panicking for? I'm not going inside. I'll just wait until Qinglian wakes up before going in, won't I?"

Before Qianqing Palace, Chu Ning stood tall, holding the tray of more than a dozen dishes in one hand!

Xiao Bing, standing beside him, finally let out a sigh of relief.

"Xiao Bing was merely explaining Her Majesty's rules. Even Mister cannot enter at will right now. Once you hold the Grand Wedding in the future, it will not really matter..."

"And there still needs to be a poison test..."

Chu Ning sighed.

"Seeing how diligently you look after my Wife, I suppose letting you have a bite is not impossible. Go get some bowls and chopsticks!"

"I... I don't want to eat. I'm only testing for poison..."

"Heh. Do you think I'd believe that?"

Xiao Bing looked a little aggrieved and earnestly explained, "Everything brought into the palace must undergo strict inspection. After the Imperial Kitchen finishes preparing the food, someone will specifically test it for poison, and then I conduct a taste test..."

Chu Ning thought it over and figured that made sense.

"Fine, then. When in Rome, I suppose. Go get the bowls and chopsticks."

When in Rome...

This was the imperial palace, the palace of one of the Five Great Dynasties on the Tianxuan Continent—the palace of the Great Gan Dynasty!

What was ordinary about it!

A moment later, Xiao Bing returned with a Silver Bowl and Chopsticks.

Chu Ning found it rather strange.

"They say emperors use gold bowls and chopsticks. So it's actually true. I've really broadened my horizons..."

"No, this set is specifically for testing poison. It is not ordinary gold or silver. Any poison can cause this bowl to change color."

She said seriously, "So I really am not sneaking food! I'm testing for poison, all right? It's not what Mister Chu thinks!"

Seeing how serious the young woman was, Chu Ning nodded.

He held the dishes steady as a mountain in one hand while using the other to open the ceramic basins one after another.

Xiao Bing was completely dumbfounded, practically drooling...

No wonder Her Majesty had refused when she left the palace yesterday, only to agree later...

It really smelled amazing...

Chu Ning narrowed his eyes and chuckled.

"You still dare say you aren't sneaking food? Your drool is the biggest evidence. I'll report you to Her Majesty later..."

"Tch, it's the palace rules. Besides, I only taste a tiny bit each time. I'm risking my life to test for poison and ensure Her Majesty's utmost safety. Isn't it only natural that there are some benefits?"

The young woman truly did serve herself only a tiny amount each time. She did not even dare fill a spoon, placing it in the bowl to observe before tasting it.

This is so good... How did he make it?

Those useless fools in the Imperial Kitchen could be kicked out of the palace. Chu Ning ought to be put in charge of the Imperial Kitchen!

Chu Ning had naturally only been joking. He more or less understood the rules, though not much. Still, food brought from outside could not possibly be casually served before the sovereign without inspection.

There were more than a dozen different dishes. Xiao Bing was dumbfounded, and every single one she tasted astonished her. The more she ate, the more excited she became.

"It's so delicious. Her Majesty is truly fortunate. Mister Chu actually knows how to cook!"

"Of course. Come early at noon, and I'll make something for you to try. Not this morning, though. You don't get a share."

Xiao Bing gave a light snort. "I said I'm only testing for poison. I'm not trying to sneak food. As Her Majesty's personal maid, I understand these rules very well!"

"Mister Chu, why not let me carry them? Holding them like that must be tiring."

"You aren't tired?"

"I'm a cultivator, so of course I'm not tired?"

"Then forget it. You're only in the Third Realm right now. Seeing me is like a frog at the bottom of a well looking up at the moon. The day you enter the Celestial Phenomenon Realm, seeing me will be like a mayfly seeing the heavens."

"Tch..."

Xiao Bing said unhappily, "Mister probably does not know what the Celestial Phenomenon Realm means, does he? Ordinary people divide martial cultivation into the Martial Dao Nine Realms, from Ninth Rank to First Rank. Above First Rank is Grandmaster."

"And Grandmaster is merely the threshold of the Subtle Realm, the first realm of immortals. Above that are Spiritual Agility and Knowing Fate, the lower three realms of immortals."

"After that come the middle three realms and the Upper Three Realms. Celestial Phenomenon is the highest level among the Upper Three Realms. There are fewer than five people on the Tianxuan Continent who have reached the Celestial Phenomenon Realm, and they all belong to the top sacred lands!"

Xiao Bing put her hands on her hips and gave a light humph. "Roughly speaking, the gap between the Celestial Phenomenon Realm and Mister is hundreds of stories high!"

Chu Ning nodded in agreement.

"Thousands of stories would be more accurate."

He had slaughtered quite a few great demons of the Celestial Phenomenon Realm just yesterday. The gap really did feel like thousands of stories. A single glare had killed them. They were not very tough.

Xiao Bing nodded as though it were only natural. "Exactly. Mister is merely an ordinary man, so just let me do it. Otherwise, Mister will get very tired."

"It's fine. I'm only waiting for my Wife to get out of bed. It's nothing!"

Chu Ning's eyes suddenly lit up as he looked through the door and saw the scene beyond it.

On the bed, Ye Qinglian lazily sat up.

Unlike how tightly she usually wrapped herself up, she wore only a Hanging Belly Band while sleeping. It was even golden, embroidered with Dragon Patterns. That figure...

Xiao Bing suddenly saw Chu Ning's lecherous expression and looked at him in confusion.

"Eh? Mister, what's wrong?"

Chu Ning coughed lightly.

"Nothing. Her Majesty seems to be awake. Why don't you go in and take a look?"

"No, right? It's still early, after all..."

"Xiao Bing, come help me dress."

Xiao Bing was completely dumbfounded.

"Mister Chu, how were you so accurate? Then I'll go in first. Ah, you cannot enter. Her Majesty has not married you yet..."

"You may enter only after I finish helping Her Majesty dress. I'll call for you then."

"No, that's not right. Even after she is dressed, you still cannot enter. This is Her Majesty's bedchamber..."

Chu Ning smacked the young woman on the head. "Hurry up. Don't delay my Wife's meal!"

Xiao Bing rubbed her head. It did not hurt, but it still felt strange.

She was an immortal, after all. How had someone smacked her on the head...

Meanwhile, Chu Ning continued watching.

That figure, damn...

It was a pity that he had been completely unconscious back then and could not get a closer look!

Still, Chu Ning had needed three months to recover afterward.

It felt like his kidneys were gone!

Was this woman really that fierce?

Was it related to his Wife's physique?

Whatever. Keep watching...

Damn...

Inside Qianqing Palace's bedchamber, Xiao Bing quickly helped Ye Qinglian dress.

"Your Majesty woke much earlier than usual today."

Ye Qinglian also found it strange. "I slept very well yesterday, and I feel energetic upon waking today. It feels as though something within my body is helping me break through in cultivation..."

"I do not know what the reason is."

Xiao Bing smiled and said, "Mister Chu prepared breakfast very early today. This servant thought he had not woken up, but by the time I went over, he had already finished..."

Ye Qinglian glanced out the window. The sky was still dark.

"He has worked hard, waking so early. Where is he?"

"He is waiting outside the palace. This servant said I would bring it in myself, but Mister Chu insisted on delivering it personally..."

Ripples stirred in Ye Qinglian's heart again.

This man truly was quite attentive.

His cooking was indeed rather good, too.

A moment later, she had finished dressing and once again carried the bearing of the dynasty's Empress. She also looked far more energetic than before.

She was in a good mood.

"Forget it. Let him bring it in and eat with me. Later, take some gold and silver from my Imperial Treasury to reward him. Do not let him feel that I have treated him poorly."

Xiao Bing nodded repeatedly.

When she stepped outside, Chu Ning wore a disappointed expression.

Xiao Bing was too capable. In such a short time, there was nothing left to see...

"Mister Chu, Her Majesty asks you to bring the food in and eat with her."

Chu Ning was delighted!

See? This was the advantage of being proactive!

He had already been permitted to enter the Empress's bedchamber!

Chu Ning immediately carried the food inside and began arranging the dishes.

There were thirteen dishes in total, not inferior to Ye Qinglian's breakfast from the Imperial Kitchen.

More importantly, whether in presentation or aroma, they left Ye Qinglian staring in astonishment.

She... had not seen anything besides that soup last night!

Why did she feel as though, as an emperor, she had never seen the world before?

"Qinglian, hurry and eat while it's hot. I made this especially for you. It's best for calming your mind and nourishing the pregnancy. After court later, remember to take care of yourself. You cannot tire yourself out while handling state affairs either. You need to think about both yourself and our child now..."

Looking at the bowl of soup Chu Ning had served before her, Ye Qinglian felt another stir in her heart.

This man...

He really did seem quite decent.

His lack of cultivation would not affect her grand ambitions. He did not meddle in politics, and he looked very, very good—especially dressed like this. He truly had the bearing of an Emperor Consort now.

And this food really smelled wonderful...

Xiao Bing beside her did not dare look at it at all!

If she looked any longer, she would start drooling. She could not take it!

How could Mister Chu's cooking smell so good!

Seeing this, Ye Qinglian spoke calmly.

"Bring two more sets of bowls and chopsticks. You and Xiao Bing can sit down and eat with me."

Xiao Bing immediately grew excited. To be honest, she really was craving it...

Besides, Your Majesty usually treated her well. It really would not matter if they ate together sometimes!

But Chu Ning spoke with righteous seriousness!

"I've already eaten. You're pregnant, so your health comes first. I made all this especially for you, so I won't be eating."

Xiao Bing immediately lowered her head dejectedly.

"Um... this servant thinks it would be better if Your Majesty ate it. After all, it is Mister Chu's heartfelt effort..."

Ye Qinglian rolled her eyes.

"What do you take me for? Do you think I can finish all this by myself? Go get the bowls and chopsticks, and eat together. Otherwise, with you two staring at me, how am I supposed to eat?"

"Right away, Your Majesty!"