The Prime Minister Knows How to Handle His Wife (ABO, GL) - Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Nobody mentioned last night’s events, as if a page had been turned by the wind, yet ripples lingered, hard to smooth.

Sheng Shiyue was distracted all morning, muddling through until noon. She wanted to rest properly, but Xiao Jing rushed in hurriedly.

“Sheng Jiu!” Xiao Jing’s shout came before she arrived.

Unlike typical Qianyuan, Xiao Jing preferred a scholar’s attire, with a refined, delicate air. Her slender frame and fox-like eyes had a tear mole at the corner.

Sheng Shiyue was surprised. Xiao Jing was always sharp and the most composed among them. Why was she so frantic?

As Xiao Jing stopped, she shouted, “Meng Xiaosi was deceived!”

Sheng Shiyue’s expression changed. She asked quickly, “Who’s bold enough to trick her?”

Meng Qingxin came from a prominent family. Her mother was the commander of the Imperial Guards, and her grandmother was a founding hero under the Great Ancestor. Even if Meng Qingxin wasn’t favored at home, she was still a Meng daughter. Who dared deceive her?

“It’s her greed’s fault,” Xiao Jing explained, urging, “Let’s talk while walking.”

Ye Liuyun nearby hurried to prepare a carriage, while the two strode toward the gate.

Dark boots clicked on the green bricks, words falling with their steps.

“Last night, Meng Xiaosi was invited by the Chang family to drink at Yicui Tower. After three rounds, she heard吵闹 from next door. You know Meng Xiaosi loves a spectacle. Hearing such a ruckus, she couldn’t sit still, immediately stepping out to eavesdrop at the door.”

Sheng Shiyue tsked, stepping onto a low stool to board the carriage. Xiao Jing followed, sitting and continuing, “What she overheard was incredible—a treasure.”

“Oh?”

“They were arguing over an ancient painting from the previous dynasty. All wanted to buy it, but the seller’s price was too high. They invited him to Yicui Tower to drink, hoping to negotiate it down. But after good wine and food, the seller wouldn’t budge, and they argued heatedly.”

Sheng Shiyue caught on, asking, “Meng Xiaosi bought the painting?”

Xiao Jing slapped her thigh, fuming, “Exactly!”

“She’s money-obsessed! Hearing about an ancient painting, she peeked through the window crack, glimpsed it vaguely, and slipped into the room while they stepped out to discuss.”

“It was night, Yicui Tower’s candles weren’t bright, and Meng Xiaosi, drunk and nervous, mistook a fake for the real thing. She figured buying it at the seller’s price and reselling it could double her money.”

“Normally, she might’ve hesitated and asked our opinion. But with the buyers about to return and the seller urging her to leave, she agreed instantly, giving all her silver, signing an IOU, and even pawning her golden abacus.”

Sheng Shiyue’s lips twitched in a forced smile. “I shouldn’t have sent someone to return her golden abacus.”

If delayed a few days, Meng Qingxin could’ve cried holding it.

Xiao Jing, angry and annoyed, cursed, “She slept happily with that fake painting. The next morning, sober, she realized it was wrong and rushed to Yicui Tower to find them.”

“They fled?”

“No, they’re waiting with the IOU for her money!”

“Such nerve?” Sheng Shiyue frowned, sensing something off.

Having dealt with swindlers, Sheng Shiyue knew their ways. By their rules, they’d flee the city that first night, not linger boldly.

Xiao Jing sneered, “With Xu Zhengming’s group backing them, how could they not be bold?”

At that, Sheng Shiyue understood, suppressing anger. “After all that scheming, it’s about me.”

The carriage stopped, and they stepped off together.

As Sheng Shiyue’s foot hit the steps, she recalled someone’s house rule…

No more setting foot in places of vice.

“What’s wrong?” Xiao Jing looked back.

“Nothing,” Sheng Shiyue touched her nose, striding inside.

She was protective, and since this started because of her, Meng Qingxin was just caught in the trap. She had to come.

Entering, she felt an unusual tension.

Sheng Shiyue raised a brow, ignoring the crowd ahead, glancing sideways instead.

Ye Liuyun deftly handed silver to a servant, saying, “My master’s here. Where’s your Madam?”

The servant, standing uncertainly, bowed hurriedly. “Your Highness hasn’t visited lately. Yicui Tower’s owner changed, and we’re busy with the transition, unable to greet Your Highness promptly.”

Sheng Shiyue sensed something amiss, but with people waiting, she couldn’t dwell on it, suppressing her thoughts.

She gave a lazy smile, saying, “Fine, bring some wine and food like before…”

Her words were cut off.

Someone spoke up, “Oh, Ninth Princess has time to drink?”

Sheng Shiyue narrowed her eyes, looking over. Her playful smile faded. “What? You block the door in broad daylight, stopping their business?”

Her tone turned mocking. “Is that how your elders taught you?”

“You!” Xu Zhengming, leaning on a crutch, grabbed his friend, forcing a smile at Sheng Shiyue. “Your Highness exaggerates. We just happened upon this merchant with an IOU, unable to collect, so we’re helping out.”

A few words distanced their involvement, posing as righteous helpers, leaving no grounds for future complaints.

“Xu Zhengming, you!” Meng Qingxin, unable to hold back, glared at him.

She looked disheveled, reeking of wine, having rushed over in the morning, her waistband loose.

Before she could act, Sheng Shiyue kicked her, making her yelp.

“Stay back,” Sheng Shiyue lifted her eyelids, sitting in Meng Xiaosi’s auspicious-patterned chair. Other wastrels, hearing of this, rushed to join, crowding around.

Her gaze swept the hanging painting—a landscape mimicking Fan Zicheng’s style, with grand peaks, but its strokes lacked his vigor, appearing softer. The seal was convincing, and the pearwood scroll added authenticity.

Those with poor judgment might mistake it for a lost masterpiece.

They’d gone to great lengths to trap Meng Xiaosi.

After the painting, she eyed the IOU. If paid, it’d cost Meng Qingxin all her savings.

Meng Qingxin, seeing her expression, thought Sheng Shiyue was worried, stepping forward. “Your Highness, don’t bother. I’ll pay the money myself…”

Before finishing, she took another kick.

“Ouch!” Meng Qingxin’s face crumpled, a clear shoeprint on her pants, a solid hit with no restraint.

Sheng Shiyue glared, scoffing, “You deserve it.”

She turned to Ye Liuyun. “Get her some orange peel soup to sober up. Who knows how much she drank, still talking nonsense after a night.”

“And get me some plum soup,” Sheng Shiyue added, glancing at the others. “What? Usually, you enjoy yourselves. Now you watch a show without ordering food, just standing there?”

At that, the wastrels snapped awake. The tense atmosphere filled with calls for soup, pastries, and the screech of dragged chairs.

Xu Zhengming’s group turned livid.

Their elaborate scheme aimed to humiliate Sheng Shiyue’s group, hoping to see them red-faced and fuming, mocked thoroughly. Initially, it worked—cheerful faces turned grim, especially Meng Qingxin, like a frostbitten eggplant.

But Sheng Shiyue’s arrival gave these useless wastrels a backbone.

“Tch, is Yicui Tower under new management or closing? This mulberry drink has just two ice cubes. Afraid I’ll catch a cold or can’t pay?” Xiao Jing grumbled, holding her bowl.

The others sprawled comfortably, ignoring decorum.

Xu Zhengming’s group stood like stunned geese.

He clenched his fists, forcing out, “Ninth Princess sure knows how to enjoy, but this IOU…”

He tried to disrupt their cheer.

Sheng Shiyue, as if just remembering him, didn’t set down her porcelain bowl, replying casually, “This little money? You dare call so many to collect it?”

The wastrels burst into laughter.

Though it was Meng Qingxin’s entire fortune, it wouldn’t ruin her. The Meng family disapproved of her speculative dealings, and losing her golden abacus would bring punishment.

If needed, the wastrels could pool money to redeem it. Wastrels were rich, powerful heirs; without that, they’d just be thugs.

Their earlier anger stemmed from Xu Zhengming’s trickery, bullying their group.

Sheng Shiyue grew impatient, saying lazily, “Speak. After all this fuss, what do you want?”

She added, “Skip the flowery nonsense. I’m not listening.”

Xu Zhengming’s face darkened, squeezing out, “Three rounds. Sheng Shiyue, compete with us. Win two, and we return Meng Qingxin’s IOU and abacus. Lose, and you return my pipa and cricket…”

His gaze lingered on Sheng Shiyue’s necklace, then bitingly shifted. “And your Zhifeng.”

Zhifeng was Sheng Shiyue’s Haidongqing falcon.

Sheng Shiyue didn’t miss his glance or shift, her proud eyes gaining scorn. “If you dared demand this necklace, I’d respect you a bit.”

They didn’t dare respond.

Their elders combined wouldn’t cross that person, let alone them.

Sheng Shiyue shifted tone. “Why should I compete? If you drag us into reciting classics, who could outdo you?”

Xu Zhengming forced a smile. “Your Highness, rest assured, we won’t use that to bully you.”

“Oh?”

“Crickets, dice, polo—games you all play often,” he said confidently, looking at Sheng Shiyue. “What do you think?”

Sheng Shiyue frowned slightly. Their boldness suggested confidence, but with Meng Qingxin trapped because of her, refusing would seem callous. Even if Meng Qingxin didn’t mind, others would gossip.

Her gaze swept the so-called merchants, nodding slowly. “Fine.”

The next second, her lips curved, eyeing Xu Zhengming’s bandaged leg mockingly. “Pity Young Master Xu can’t ride anymore, or…”

“Your other leg could break, making it complete.”