After hearing these three trials, Illustrious's elegant brows furrowed. These trials sounded anything but simple! Why did consummating with his own wife have to be so much trouble?
Seeing Illustrious's troubled expression, Keqing said disdainfully, "If you can't do it, I suggest you don't go. After all, your life is more important. It's just that I won't consummate the marriage with you."
Hearing Keqing say he couldn't do it, Illustrious got angry and said, "Who says I can't! I just think it's a bit of a hassle. I'll definitely finish these three trials for you to see. When the time comes, you'd better obediently consummate the marriage with me!"
Seeing her reverse psychology work on Illustrious, Keqing was delighted internally: I was only afraid you wouldn't accept the trials. Now that you have, hmph! Just wait to die in those three trials! Once you're dead, I can find a new life partner!
"Aha~ In that case, I'll consummate with you after I finish tomorrow. It's late now, let's sleep first!" Illustrious said with a yawn.
What arrogant talk, actually thinking he could finish three trials in one day. But this was fine too; the sooner he set out tomorrow, the better. So Keqing nodded and said, "Fine, I'll sleep first. I wish you a triumphant return."
Just as she was about to lie down, she noticed Illustrious walking toward her bed. Keqing said in confusion, "What are you doing coming to my bedside?"
"What for? To sleep, of course!" Illustrious didn't understand why Keqing would ask such a stupid question.
"Didn't I say I'd only consummate with you after you finish the three trials?" Keqing said in a low voice.
"Right! I'm going to finish your three trials before we do that! But even if we're not doing that, you have to let me sleep in your bed! Otherwise, where am I supposed to sleep tonight?" Illustrious explained.
Keqing immediately pulled a quilt and a blanket from the cabinet and threw them forcefully at Illustrious. Catching them, Illustrious said with a face full of confusion, "Why are you throwing a quilt and blanket at me? The ones on the bed are warm enough! No need for more!"
Seeing that Illustrious still didn't understand, Keqing said flatly, "You sleep on the floor, I sleep on the bed. Got it?"
"Why! I don't want to sleep on the floor. I won't be able to fall asleep on the floor." Illustrious was very dissatisfied with Keqing's behavior and protested.
"If you don't sleep on the floor, are you going to make me sleep on the floor? Do you have the heart to let your wife sleep on the floor?" Keqing said with an angry face.
"Ah, that! You have a point!" No matter what, he shouldn't let his wife sleep on the floor. Wait, why did one of them have to sleep on the floor? Couldn't they both sleep on the bed? So Illustrious suggested, "Actually, we could sleep on the bed together. If two people sleep there, I really don't mind!"
"You don't mind, but I do! Enough! I'm very sleepy, I'm blowing out the lamp! If you're not sleeping, then just play around there!" After saying this, Keqing blew out the lamp, ran to the bed, covered herself comfortably, and went to sleep, leaving Illustrious standing motionless in the dark holding the quilt and blanket.
Looking at the already asleep Keqing, Illustrious wanted to throw the quilt in her face! But then he thought he shouldn't be so petty; after all, she was his wedded wife. "Hmph! A good man doesn't fight with women. Once I finish the three trials, I'll show you what I'm made of."
Spreading the blanket on the floor, Illustrious lay down, covered himself with the quilt, and fell asleep in no time.
...The next morning, the sun rose, the rooster crowed, and sunlight shone into Keqing's room in the Ke Family estate. Keqing rose early, having already changed out of her wedding dress into her usual clothes.
Keqing had always done her own hair and makeup, never allowing maids to look after her. She believed she had hands and feet and wasn't a cripple, so she had no need for maids.
Looking at herself in the mirror from a distance, Keqing was very satisfied. The mirror reflected a purple cat-ear twin-tail hairstyle, pink eyes that sparkled like gems, a Purple Phoenix Dress on her upper body, and black floral pantyhose on her lower body.
The overall color scheme was purple, harmonious and elegant. The dress featured a gradient effect, transitioning naturally—understated yet extraordinary.
"Good! I have to work hard today too. Hmm! Following my usual schedule, I'll go practice swordplay for half an hour first!" Just as she was about to leave, Keqing saw Illustrious still sleeping on the floor. Such laziness immediately made her angry. "Unbelievable! Yesterday he said he'd definitely finish the trials, yet the sun is up and he hasn't even gotten up to start."
Coming to Illustrious's side, Keqing looked at the comfortably sleeping Illustrious and thought to herself: To be honest, Illustrious is actually quite good-looking. If he finishes the trials, being my life partner wouldn't be bad.
Meanwhile, Illustrious was dreaming that after completing the trials, he was consummating the marriage with Keqing. He'd tried all eighteen positions, making Keqing completely unable to take it, and Illustrious was feeling very smug.
Illustrious talked in his sleep, saying, "Keqing, you'd better listen to me from now on. If I tell you to go east, you go east; if I tell you to go west, you go west. Do you hear me?"
Hearing Illustrious's sleep talk, Keqing's face immediately darkened. She took back what she said—this guy should just die in the trials!
Unable to stand Illustrious's bossy attitude in his dream, Keqing pinched his nose, making it difficult for him to breathe and sleep.
With his nose pinched, Illustrious's face gradually turned blue due to the lack of air. Finally, unable to sleep, he woke up directly from his beautiful dream and snapped his eyes open.
Opening his eyes, Illustrious saw Keqing pinching his nose. He slapped her right hand away and said angrily, "Wife, what are you doing! Why are you disturbing my beautiful dream for no reason?"
Keqing said with a smile, "Oh? What beautiful dream? Why don't you share it with me?"
"Of course it was... uh! It wasn't really much of a dream! Right, I still have to finish your three trials today. By the way, where are my clothes from yesterday?" Illustrious remembered what the dream was! It was indeed a beautiful dream, one where he was heroically making Keqing submissive on the bed, but he definitely couldn't tell Keqing that! Or it would be the end of him! So he changed the subject.
"They're all in the wardrobe. I'm going to practice my swordplay! Once you finish the trials, let me know," Keqing said indifferently.
"Then I'd better change quickly! Otherwise, I won't be back within the day!" Illustrious said, stretching.
To ensure Illustrious actually went to do the trials, Keqing ran up to him before going out to practice and gave him a kiss on the cheek to give him motivation.
Feeling the warmth left by Keqing's kiss on his cheek, Illustrious smiled. "I'm full of motivation now! I feel invincible. Just watch, my dear wife! I will definitely complete the trials you've set."
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