Xiao Bing froze when she heard that.
"No, why would Chu Ning curse Your Majesty behind her back?"
"That's because you don't know. Yesterday, he called me a foolish ruler here."
"Ah??"
Xiao Bing was even more confused, but quickly explained, "He wasn't cursing Your Majesty. I was just asking Chu Ning what he thought of Your Majesty."
Ye Qinglian gave a cold snort.
"Do I need to know what he thinks of me? I'm keeping him around now for no reason other than to give the Dragon Prince company once the child is born. That's all he's good for. Whatever he thinks of me behind my back won't change a thing!"
"Um... I think Your Majesty may be judging Chu Ning too harshly. He's not really that kind of person."
Ye Qinglian looked at her impassively. "You can't judge what someone is like based on a few words and actions. How many people have you even met to be so sure he's not that kind of person? You've known him for only a day."
Xiao Bing thought it over, then decided not to say anything more. Her Majesty was so guarded because of her position...
Unless Her Majesty changed her mind on her own, no matter what Xiao Bing said or what she showed her, it probably wouldn't help.
However, just as Xiao Bing was about to leave, Ye Qinglian spoke again, her voice calm.
"What did he say today?"
Xiao Bing smiled at that.
Her Majesty did care what Chu Ning thought of her...
"Chu Ning said he doesn't really have any sincere feelings for Your Majesty..."
Ye Qinglian's expression didn't change, but her heart sank, and her thoughts grew tangled.
"Hah! So what? It's not as if I have sincere feelings for him!"
"For some unknown reason, that man barged into the secret chamber where I was in seclusion, and everything that happened afterward was because of that. How could anyone in the world develop sincere feelings for someone over something like that?"
"As I've said, I simply don't want the child to be born without a father. That's all..."
She had no need to say so much, but the urge to get the last word had made her blurt it out.
Why was it that just as she had been moved by Chu Ning's actions today, he could say he had no sincere feelings for her?
She was the one who had suffered, and Chu Ning had been the one to disrupt her life...
She clenched her fists tightly. After she finished speaking, her expression grew even more complicated.
Xiao Bing had served Ye Qinglian for many years. She could tell at a glance.
With Her Majesty's personality, things could never develop normally between her and Chu Ning. That was why Xiao Bing had urged Chu Ning to take the initiative!
Look at them—they already had a child. Wouldn't it be better for their relationship to improve, so the child could have a happier life in the future?
Xiao Bing smiled and said, "But Chu Ning also said that since it was their first meeting, it was only right that he didn't have sincere feelings for Your Majesty, even though they now had a Dragon Prince."
"Hah! If that's the case, why was he getting sentimental? Do you think I'm short one cook?"
If she said anything more, Ye Qinglian would lose her composure. She had never faced anything like this before, and a strange, tearing feeling stirred inside her.
So yesterday and this morning had meant nothing to him? He hadn't given them a single thought?
Seeing her reaction, Xiao Bing continued, "But Chu Ning also said that his relationship with Your Majesty now feels more like a kind of responsibility."
"Like those in the court who seek noble titles and high office for fame and fortune, or like how I entered the palace to serve Your Majesty for better treatment..."
"He also said that so-called sincere feelings are an illusion. Real feelings develop through spending time together and getting to know each other. Right now, he feels a sense of responsibility toward Your Majesty and wants to shoulder it of his own accord, doing all he can."
Ye Qinglian paused.
She roughly understood.
The court now cared deeply about the Great Gan Dynasty and sincerely wanted to see the country prosper.
And Xiao Bing genuinely had her best interests at heart.
Everything kept changing. Chu Ning's opinion of her would change over time—and, in turn, so would hers?
Somehow, those words felt more reliable than any talk of sincere feelings...
Ye Qinglian's face suddenly flushed. She spun around.
"I am the sovereign, chosen by Heaven above and supported by the people below. Why would I need Chu Ning to take responsibility for anything?"
"Go tell Chu Ning to stay quietly in his own little corner. He must stop making strange things, and he must never say anything like that again!"
"Yes, Your Majesty. I'll be off, then..."
Would Xiao Bing actually pass that message along?
Of course not.
Her Majesty had been moved and embarrassed by those words. She was only saying that out of anger.
Xiao Bing knew the empress well. She was hard on the outside but soft within, and cared deeply about the people and things around her. She just looked fierce.
So there was no way Xiao Bing would tell him! She was still hoping to mooch a few more meals!
Back in Mingde Hall, after Xiao Bing left, Ye Qinglian clenched her fists.
"Bah! Do I need you to take responsibility? You took my body and got me pregnant. Does that mean I need you to take responsibility? Dream on!"
"You're only the child's father. That's all!"
As she said it, her flushed face gradually calmed.
How could she dispel the petty troubles in her heart?
Only handling state affairs could keep her mind from wandering!
But as she worked, her thoughts kept drifting...
Xiao Bing shouldn't have said those things. From now on, she couldn't let Xiao Bing say anything like that!
But truthfully, she was still a little happy.
At least, although that man had nothing, he was willing to take responsibility...
At noon.
The door creaked open.
Ye Qinglian had returned to normal and was frantically working through memorials.
She set herself an extremely strict standard: at least two thousand memorials a day. She wasn't allowed to rest until she finished them.
"Xiao Bing, is that lunch?"
"Just set it down. I'll eat later."
She would finish two hundred more, take a quick break to eat, and then get back to work. Her thoughts were a mess right now, and she was considering how to handle affairs at the border...
The tray clunked onto the desk. In the hall, where the only sound had been the scratch of her brush, it was especially jarring.
Ye Qinglian paid no attention and remained absorbed in her work.
Suddenly, she felt someone pat her on the shoulder.
A pair of chopsticks appeared by her mouth, holding a piece of pastry.
Ye Qinglian frowned, but still took a bite.
"I said I'd eat later. You didn't have to..."
The pastry melted in her mouth and whetted her appetite. Ye Qinglian had been hungry all morning, and she smacked her lips.
"Today's chef did an excellent job. Reward him with some silver later. Give me another piece."
The chopsticks brought her another bite. Once she had finished a memorial, she was ready to eat again.
So she went on, one bite after another.
"Strange. Why does today's food taste so unusually good..."
Finally giving in to her appetite, Ye Qinglian set down the memorial and stood up.
"Xiao Bing, today's chef..."
She froze and stumbled back three steps, staring wide-eyed at Chu Ning.
And Chu Ning was holding a pair of chopsticks!
"Why are you here? Wasn't that Xiao Bing?"
She had been eating for half an hour and hadn't even realized the person beside her was Chu Ning!
"Hehe, the food's good, right? I made it especially for you!"
Chu Ning smiled at Ye Qinglian. "So, Qinglian, did you just praise me?"
Ye Qinglian's expression darkened. In a cold voice, she said, "I've told you several times not to leave the palace you're staying in. If you come to Qianqing Palace, Xiao Bing has to accompany you. If someone sees you, won't you be exposed?"
Chu Ning froze, then sighed.
"So I'm that embarrassing to have around..."
"And here I went to all this trouble for you. Fine, then. I won't leave the palace again."
With that, Chu Ning turned to leave.
Ye Qinglian was furious. She grabbed him by the arm.
"I mean that if someone sees you outside, it'll cause trouble for you. Don't you know men aren't allowed in the Inner Palace?"
"I don't want you cooped up in the palace, feeling miserable. But if you go out, Xiao Bing has to go with you. Besides, as the future Emperor Consort, what's there to be embarrassed about?"
"So, Qinglian, you really don't mind having me around?"
Ye Qinglian was at a loss.
"I brought you back to the palace. What's there to mind?"
Chu Ning grinned. He had been putting on an act.
"It's fine. No one saw me. I was very careful. I understand the importance of this better than you do!"
Ye Qinglian looked at Chu Ning with a cold smile, as if his words had amused her. "No one saw you? You think I'd believe that?"
"How about we make a bet? If no one saw me, you'll agree to one condition?"
"Fine!"
Ye Qinglian immediately gave an order.
"Dark Guards, report to me at once!"
All the palaces between the main hall and Mingde Hall were under the Dark Guards' watch. They were even stronger than the Dragon Guards and far more elusive!
Only she and Xiao Bing in the entire dynasty knew the Dark Guards existed!
Ye Qinglian casually cast a Barrier Spell, concealing Chu Ning's figure. A black-clad woman appeared in the hall in an instant.
Chu Ning was taken aback. So there were spies planted here, too?
He hadn't even noticed...
"Your Majesty! May I ask why you summoned me?"
Ye Qinglian said with a cold smile, "Who came to Mingde Hall today besides Xiao Bing?"
The woman immediately reported, "No one else came besides her!"
Ye Qinglian instantly drew her sword.
"Lies! Are you saying someone could sneak past you right under your noses?"
What a joke. Chu Ning was standing right here, merely hidden by her spell.
He had come from the main hall. Where else could he have come from? The Dark Guards kept a close watch on every part of Mingde Hall!
The woman panicked and hurriedly knelt. "Your Majesty, we truly didn't see anyone come in. We have been diligent in our duty. Not even a fly could get in! If Your Majesty doesn't believe me, you can summon the other Dark Guards. I swear we aren't hiding anything!"
Ye Lianyi looked utterly stunned.
They hadn't noticed Chu Ning at all?
Had he flown here? Even if he had, they should have seen him!
Besides, he had walked right in through the main entrance!
Chu Ning wore a smile.
As I said.
You're like frogs at the bottom of a well, looking up at the moon. If I conceal myself, how could you possibly spot me?
Ye Qinglian looked at Chu Ning and saw his smug expression!
The Dark Guards were absolutely loyal to her. They couldn't have been bribed.
So how had this man gotten in?
"Enough. You may leave. Don't let this happen again!"
"Thank you for your mercy, Your Majesty!"
The woman withdrew at once. Chu Ning cleared his throat.
"Um, Your Majesty, you know a ruler's word is sacred..."
"You have to honor what you promised me, right?"
Ye Qinglian immediately grew wary.
This man had deliberately set a trap for her!
She slowly raised her sword and pointed it at Chu Ning, smiling coldly.
"Oh? What promise? When did I say anything?"
Chu Ning looked devastated.
"Qinglian, you can't do this! I even called you Your Majesty. You don't have to take it this far!"
Ye Qinglian calmly sheathed her sword and remained expressionless.
"Shouldn't you call me that?"
"But I'm your future husband! If I call you Your Majesty, our child might think something's wrong!"
Chu Ning grinned and pulled Ye Qinglian down into a seat.
"Even if you're busy, you need to eat first. Finish your meal, then get back to work. I'll clean up later."
"Hmph..."
"Don't touch me. I can walk by myself."
"What's the big deal? We'll be sharing a bed anyway. Isn't it better to get used to it early?"
Ye Qinglian glared at him, her face turning red!
"You're shameless! This is the imperial palace, and I am the emperor of the Great Gan Dynasty!"
Chu Ning looked confused.
"But aren't you also my future wife?"
Ye Qinglian suddenly froze.
Besides, this guy had no shame and didn't care about the rules of the palace.
She'd just ignore him!
He wanted to sleep in the same bed? In his dreams!
As soon as she sat down, Chu Ning handed her the Dragon Marrow Jade Precious Soup.
"Your Majesty, please enjoy your meal!"
Seeing this, Ye Qinglian's expression softened a little.
"If you haven't eaten, sit down and eat with me."
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