The Prime Minister Knows How to Handle His Wife (ABO, GL) - Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Perhaps guilt played a part, or maybe she lost the mood to argue with Ning Qingge, or perhaps other thoughts mixed in. Sheng Shiyue did not resist. She even forgot to call Ye Liuyun and followed Ning Qingge listlessly.

In a daze, Sheng Shiyue realized she had followed Ning Qingge into the study.

This was…

The person, lost in thought for a while, blinked and finally sensed something was off. Her back stiffened instantly, and she looked around warily.

Although Sheng Shiyue did not love the Four Books and Five Classics, or poetry and prose, she would still casually flip through a few travel notes and miscellaneous books during her spare time. As a result, all four walls of the room had shelves filled with various books, and by the window there was a beauty couch covered with soft fur, meant for Sheng Shiyue to rest on.

The only thing out of place was the desk. It lacked paper, ink, brush, or inkstone—only an imperial edict Ning Qingge had placed there yesterday.

Sheng Shiyue’s gaze fell on it. The familiar silk brocade still bore the fingerprint she had left carelessly…

The conversation from that night and the edict’s contents surfaced in her mind, stirring complex emotions in her heart.

At the same time, Ning Qingge suddenly turned around. Before she could speak, a loud thud sounded. The person who had been dazed moments ago went weak at the knees and knelt on the floor.

Ning Qingge froze in shock.

“I won’t study!” Though her posture was not defiant, Sheng Shiyue’s blurted words were forceful.

A clatter followed as an object loosely hanging at her waist fell during the movement. It was the golden abacus Meng Xiaosi, busy drinking earlier, had asked Sheng Shiyue to hold temporarily.

Ning Qingge looked at the floor, frowning slightly, instinctively wondering why Meng Qingxin’s precious abacus was with Sheng Shiyue.

But the other misunderstood. Her gaze shifted from Ning Qingge to the abacus, a flash of humiliated defiance in her eyes.

Before Ning Qingge could ask, Sheng Shiyue raised her knee, pressing it onto the golden abacus with a snap. She looked up unwillingly and shouted again, “I was wrong to sneak out over the wall today, but you can’t force me to study.”

Ning Qingge: …

She pursed her lips. The words she meant to say stuck in her throat, leaving her momentarily at a loss, a rare moment of uncertainty.

The other, however, stood her ground. The forehead band slipped, revealing a bit of white bandage. Her jaw tightened into a line, her back straight, though the knee pressing on the abacus trembled slightly.

The pampered noble had never endured such hardship. Even slightly rough fabric would leave red marks on her skin, let alone the beads of a golden abacus.

She acted unyielding, but inwardly she was cursing Meng Qingxin. Why did she mention being henpecked? It made her kneel instinctively!

“You…” Ning Qingge opened her mouth, trying to say something.

Sheng Shiyue quickly interrupted, repeating, “I absolutely won’t study.”

Ning Qingge’s brows furrowed.

She still wore the purple crane round-collar official robe from earlier, with a thirteen-tassel gold and jade belt at her waist. Her hair was tied with a jade crown, making her look refined and elegant, her every move carrying a faint authority.

In court, people would already be trembling, wondering what they had done wrong.

But Sheng Shiyue raised her head higher, as if writing “I’d rather die than yield” on her face.

Kneeling was fine, but studying was absolutely not.

A thoughtful look flashed in Ning Qingge’s eyes. She softened her voice and asked, “Why won’t you study?”

“Boring, makes me sleepy, gives me a headache,” Sheng Shiyue replied without thinking, rattling off excuses she used to brush others off.

Ning Qingge knew this clearly and did not press further. Instead, she tilted her head toward the edict on the desk. Her eyelids lowered slightly, her lashes trembling faintly. She said nothing, but the Prime Minister, second only to the Empress, seemed inexplicably fragile with just a moment’s silence.

Sheng Shiyue’s heart raced with panic. Her lack of confidence with Ning Qingge stemmed from this. Thinking of Ning Qingge’s humiliation outside the brothel, she felt guilt pile up. Even if Ning Qingge schemed, it was Sheng Shiyue who had grabbed her hand first.

“You… you,” Sheng Shiyue’s confidence dwindled further.

Ning Qingge sighed softly and said, “Today…”

She started but stopped.

“Forget it,” she shook her head.

Sheng Shiyue frowned. Nothing annoyed her more than half-spoken words. She said quickly, “What about today? Speak!”

“Did someone mock you? Or is someone ridiculing you behind your back?”

When Ning Qingge did not answer, Sheng Shiyue’s mind raced with possibilities.

“It’s nothing. Get up,” Ning Qingge’s tone remained unchanged, a trace of worry in her eyes.

Sheng Shiyue refused to obey. She pressed her knee harder onto the abacus and said firmly, “If you don’t tell me, I won’t get up.”

Ning Qingge showed a helpless expression and sighed, “I don’t want to make things hard for you.”

Sheng Shiyue said immediately, “Tell me first!”

Ning Qingge looked troubled. As she turned, her hand brushed the edict. Her fingertips, pale as warm jade in the sunlight, seemed burned by the apricot-yellow silk, curling into a fist.

“Your Highness, you know my status…” Ning Qingge paused before saying, “They’ve always been biased against me, and now…”

She did not complain or show sadness, only lowered her eyes, her shimmering gaze dimming slightly, like dark jade losing its luster.

She did not need to say more. Sheng Shiyue filled in the rest. The old court conservatives likely found another excuse. Unable to best Ning Qingge in politics, they attacked her personal life: So what if you’re learned? You’re still married to a wastrel who only knows how to eat, drink, and play.

In the past, the Sixth Sister and Eighth Sister might have spoken for her. But now, married to Sheng Shiyue, her situation grew tougher.

The pure, radiant moon had been pulled to earth, stained by Sheng Shiyue’s mud, as if anyone could step on her.

Ning Qingge changed the subject, saying, “Your Highness, don’t overthink it. I can handle this myself.”

Sheng Shiyue was fiercely protective, even without affection. After all, Ning Qingge was her nominal wife. How could she let others mock her?

She gritted her teeth and said, “I can only promise to try.”

Ning Qingge’s eyes lifted, showing a hint of joy, but she said, “I know Your Highness dislikes studying. If it’s too hard, forget it…”

“Get a tutor for me tomorrow,” Sheng Shiyue declared firmly.

Ning Qingge seemed to smile and said gently, “I know Your Highness is diligent, but studying requires a gradual approach. Since Your Highness says books cause headaches, I’ll first arrange an archery and riding instructor, then find time for arithmetic. As for reading…”

Hearing this, Sheng Shiyue already felt like backing out but gritted her teeth. Her gaze met Ning Qingge’s, unintentionally revealing a hint of pitifulness.

“Before bed, I’ll read to Your Highness to help you adjust slowly. Is that alright?”

Ning Qingge looked at Sheng Shiyue, showing slight guilt, and added, “With the military exams approaching, as Prime Minister, I’ll be busy and may return late these days. Your Highness might have to wait a bit.”

Who could not be moved by this?

The Prime Minister, managing countless affairs, still worried about a wastrel like her, reading to her and concerned about making her wait.

Sheng Shiyue, soft-hearted to kindness but not force, might have hit a wall again if Ning Qingge took the wedding night’s attitude. But Ning Qingge yielded repeatedly for her sake.

Sheng Shiyue could not muster any resistance. She nodded glumly and asked, “Very late? Should I send someone to pick you up?”

Ning Qingge shook her head, “Wanyuan will bring people.”

“Alright.”

The conversation ended. Sheng Shiyue suddenly hissed, realizing she was still kneeling on the abacus. Her legs trembled uncontrollably.

Ning Qingge quickly stepped forward, grabbed Sheng Shiyue’s wrist to pull her up, but Sheng Shiyue yelped, “Don’t pull, don’t pull! Let me sit a bit. I can’t get up.”

Ning Qingge immediately let go. Sheng Shiyue sat on the floor, grimacing and gasping, waving her hand, “Ning Qingge, get me a physician quick. It hurts, it hurts.”

The once-defiant person’s eyes reddened, as if tears might fall. Kneeling so long by mistake, she had truly suffered.

Ning Qingge quickly agreed and hurried out.