The Prime Minister Knows How to Handle Her Wife (ABO, GL) - Chapter 13

Chapter 13

In the blink of an eye, several days passed.

Because Sheng Shiyue injured her knee earlier, she rested quietly for a few days, then resumed practicing horseback riding and archery. This part was not difficult for her, as she often played polo, but her archery was somewhat weak. After resting, she complained that her arms ached, and it took her a while to adjust.

In other matters, Ning Qingge, perhaps fearing that pushing too hard would make Sheng Shiyue rebellious, never brought up anything else. She only added one extra page to their daily reading compared to the previous day.

“Has Madam Ning not returned yet?” Sheng Shiyue asked, glancing at the sky outside, unable to resist asking the person beside her.

It was already after dinner, and the sky gradually darkened. One by one, lanterns quietly lit up, and a cool breeze brought a sense of calm.

Ye Liuyun, standing nearby, replied, “Wan Yuan went to wait earlier, but there’s still no sign of her return. Madam must be held up by official business.”

Sheng Shiyue frowned slightly. She hadn’t heard Ning Qingge mention anything about today’s affairs yesterday, yet Ning Qingge couldn’t even make it back for dinner.

A white-feathered falcon perched on an iron stand tilted its head, puzzled why its master held a strip of meat in midair and stopped.

Only when Sheng Shiyue snapped back to attention did she quickly offer the meat to its beak, saying hurriedly, “Come eat, come eat, these are all yours.”

Ye Liuyun was already used to this sight.

After all, everyone in Bianjing knew that Sheng Shiyue had three things she valued more than her own eyes: the necklace given by Lord Wu’an, the jade bracelet left by the Empress, and the Haidongqing falcon she had gone to great lengths and spent a fortune to acquire.

For it, Sheng Shiyue not only set aside a small courtyard but also assigned over a dozen people to care for it. Whenever she had time, she personally fed it, treating it far differently from the crickets and roosters kept in other courtyards.

After feeding the entire bowl of meat, Sheng Shiyue set down the special golden feeding bowl and asked, “Did she send anyone to say when she’d return?”

“No,” Ye Liuyun shook her head.

Sheng Shiyue’s brows, which had just relaxed, furrowed again. She then said, “Prepare a horse. I’ll go check on her.”

Those who had followed Sheng Shiyue for a long time were slightly surprised, astonished by Ning Qingge’s special place. In the past, others always waited for Sheng Shiyue or came to fetch her, but now someone made Sheng Shiyue actively worry.

Ye Liuyun sensed something slightly off but didn’t speak. She quietly agreed and went to arrange a carriage.

A luxurious carriage rolled out of the mansion, its wooden wheels crunching over the bluestone pavement. Bells hanging from the horse’s neck jingled, and the air carried a damp, earthy scent from a light rain earlier in the day.

“Madam,” someone called, stepping through a puddle and hurrying forward.

A woman in a palace dress ahead turned at the sound, her dark eyes reflecting the silent palace gates before settling on the person catching up.

“Prime Minister,” the person first bowed, then stood upright.

Her expression was urgent, filled with confusion. She immediately asked, “Why does Madam demean herself like this? Sheng Shiyue has always been reckless, her moods unpredictable. Just a few days ago, she was throwing money around at Fan Tower. Who knows what trouble she’ll stir up next!”

Ning Qingge didn’t respond. The distant light and nearby darkness intertwined, casting her in half-shadow. Unlike her gentleness in front of Sheng Shiyue, her refined features now held a trace of coldness.

“Madam!” the person grew more anxious, stepping forward involuntarily and lowering her voice. “How can Sheng Shiyue be worthy of you?”

“A few days ago, we submitted memorials to shift His Majesty’s anger onto Sheng Shiyue, to help the Eighth Princess escape blame for the Southern Border incident. You knew and allowed it then!”

The Sixth Princess and Eighth Princess had long been rivals—one inclined toward literature, the other toward martial arts. Their imperial favor and family influence were roughly equal, but the Eighth Princess, as the highest-ranking Qianyuan among the heirs, held a slight edge in public opinion, seen as more suitable to marry Ning Qingge.

Unfortunately, some time ago, the Eighth Princess was accused in a public drumming, claiming that when she led troops to support the Southern Border two years prior, she ignored advice, causing ten thousand soldiers to fall into an enemy trap and perish.

His Majesty was already displeased with the Eighth Princess’s defeat. Hearing this, he furiously scolded her, ordered a thorough investigation, and confined her to her residence. Even now, he hadn’t relented.

As the Sixth Princess’s faction gained momentum, the Eighth Princess’s supporters grew desperate. Someone proposed a ruthless plan to shift blame westward, reminding His Majesty of his other useless princess to divert some of his anger.

After all, the drumming accusation was tied to Lord Wu’an, who guarded the Southern Border. Even if he wasn’t directly involved, he had some responsibility. Otherwise, how could mere accusers safely travel thousands of miles from the Southern Border to Bianjing?

Dragging Sheng Shiyue into this was also a small warning to Lord Wu’an.

They thought this and acted on it, submitting memorials the next day. An unexpected boon came with it.

As His Majesty aged and his energy waned, Ning Qingge reviewed and filtered memorials before presenting them to him. Their memorials were similar, so some would naturally be culled, but Ning Qingge, as if intentionally aiding the Eighth Princess, submitted all their memorials, making the plan proceed smoothly.

Upon learning this, the Eighth Princess was overjoyed, writing to Ning Qingge for three consecutive days to express her sincerity.

But she hadn’t anticipated what followed.

“Learning of this, the Eighth Princess grew despondent, drowning her sorrows in wine daily, hating that her confinement prevented her from stopping this absurd marriage,” the person said earnestly, as if wishing to drag Ning Qingge to the residence to see for herself.

“Her Highness sent me to ask Madam if she holds even a shred of affection for her.”

She looked urgently at Ning Qingge. “If so, the Eighth Princess would defy all propriety to save Madam from this pit of fire.”

But Ning Qingge remained unmoved, her expression unchanged by the words. She only said, “Is Young Master Xu so exhausted these days that he spouts such nonsensical drivel? If others overheard, causing baseless trouble, wouldn’t that be bothersome?”

The person, hoping to pull Ning Qingge into the Eighth Princess’s faction, was stunned, not expecting such a response.

Her expression grew more anxious, and she instinctively reached for Ning Qingge’s wrist. Ning Qingge swiftly stepped back, dodging her.

She angrily said, “Does Madam truly intend to…”

“Get lost!”

A bronze bell rang in the distance, its jingle echoing. A carriage bearing the full moon crest emerged from the night. A girl in a scarlet dress lifted the curtain, not waiting for the carriage to stop before stepping onto the shaft and leaping down, striding toward Ning Qingge.

Her long hair fluttered in the wind, the qilin necklace at her throat rising and falling, making the gemstone tassels dance. Her dark boots paused, and she easily grabbed the wrist the other couldn’t, pulling Ning Qingge behind her.

“Who are you to act so brazenly outside Chengtian Gate?” Sheng Shiyue raised her brows, shouting sharply.

“Madam,” Xu Ling, halted by the shout, instinctively turned to look at Ning Qingge.

But Ning Qingge, slender and slightly shorter, was mostly shielded by Sheng Shiyue, leaving only her skirt fluttering in the wind visible.

“I didn’t know the court had such discourteous people,” Sheng Shiyue said, further protecting Ning Qingge behind her.

Xu Ling, carrying the Eighth Princess’s hopes, felt unwilling after being rebuffed and interrupted by Sheng Shiyue. Holding some disdain for her, Xu Ling ignored her, continually looking past her.

Sheng Shiyue gave a cold laugh and said, “What?”

“Do I need to personally drag you to the palace before Mother Empress to make you bow?”

Liang Kingdom’s law required all officials below the first rank to perform two bows to imperial heirs and three to the Crown Princess, though outside formal settings, few strictly enforced this, often showing minimal respect in private.

But now, Sheng Shiyue had declared her identity. If Xu Ling refused to bow, it would signal disloyalty.

Xu Ling clenched her teeth, unwilling but forced to bend and clasp her hands, squeezing out, “I, Xu Ling, Junior Minister of the Court of the Imperial Stud, pay respects to the Ninth Princess, Your Highness.”

Hearing her faintly threatening words, Sheng Shiyue’s attitude didn’t soften. She coldly said, “Young Master Xu, you’re a fourth-rank official. How can you lack even a shred of shame, accosting another’s wife in the dead of night?”

Xu Ling had mentioned her rank to make Sheng Shiyue restrain herself, but didn’t expect her to turn it against her.

The person opposite didn’t care how ugly Xu Ling’s expression became. Her anger didn’t subside, mistakenly believing that because Ning Qingge was humiliated at a brothel days ago, even a mere fourth-rank official dared bully her.

The Prime Minister behind didn’t clarify, letting Sheng Shiyue hold her wrist, even deliberately stepping to hide fully in her shadow.

Ye Liuyun, having parked the carriage, stood to the side. Initially rushing over in a panic, she grew more puzzled the longer she watched, finally stopping.

Her gaze shifted between Ning Qingge and Sheng Shiyue.

Her Highness claimed to dislike Ning Qingge, yet last time, she forgot Ye Liuyun at Fan Tower because of her. Now, rushing to fetch her and shielding her, no matter how Ye Liuyun looked, it didn’t seem like dislike.

Did she like her or not?

Ye Liuyun was perplexed.

Sheng Shiyue didn’t care, about to mock further when Ning Qingge tugged her wrist.

She softly reminded, “Your Highness, the Imperial Guards are coming.”

Perhaps they lingered too long, and the palace gate guards, sensing something amiss, approached to investigate.

Sheng Shiyue didn’t fear the guards, but alarming His Majesty would be troublesome, especially not knowing if Mother Empress’s anger from days ago had subsided.

She acted decisively, saying to Xu Ling, “No need for my reminder, Young Master Xu. You know my past antics. If you dare trouble my wife again, beware of endless unrest in your household.”

With that, she led Ning Qingge away, kicking Ye Liuyun to hurry her along.

The carriage rolled out again, bells jingling, leaving the distant figure behind.

The night deepened, distant mountains reduced to faint outlines. The towering stone walls stood firm, guarding the peace within.

Inside the carriage, Sheng Shiyue still looked puffed up with anger. Compared to usual, she wasn’t fully satisfied this time, lingering irritation showing on her face. About to turn back, she saw Ning Qingge smiling brightly beside her.

Was she foolish?

Being bullied and still so happy?

Sheng Shiyue frowned and asked, “What are you laughing at?”

“I’m laughing at Your Highness…” Ning Qingge’s voice suddenly lowered, making Sheng Shiyue lean closer. After hearing clearly, her expression changed instantly.