The Prime Minister Knows How to Handle His Wife (ABO, GL) - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

The grassy field descended into chaos, but the culprit responsible for it all brazenly left the scene, tossing the horse to a waiting servant and heading alone toward the tent at the farthest edge.

As Xu Zhengming had thought, she, though a spoiled dandy, was fiercely protective of her own. She could not abandon an injured subordinate and walk away. She inevitably came to check on the situation.

Polo matches were always dangerous. A fall from a horse could result in a fracture at best or death at worst. Therefore, a dedicated medical area was usually set up at the edge of the field, with doctors stationed in tents to provide timely treatment for the injured.

The wind lifted the scarlet hem of her robe, and her black boots crushed the dust beneath.

Sheng Shiyue had only walked halfway when she heard hushed voices ahead. She had no interest in others’ gossip and did not want to engage. She raised her foot, intending to kick a nearby pebble to make a sound and signal those ahead to quiet down.

But before she could lift her foot, she heard someone say, “Prime Minister.”

Her instincts reacted faster than her mind. Sheng Shiyue withdrew her right foot and swiftly spun behind a nearby tent to conceal herself.

It was not that she wanted to eavesdrop on the other party’s conversation. She simply had no desire to run into them, lest she endure another lecture from that sanctimonious person.

Sheng Shiyue quietly exhaled in relief, cautiously leaning out and peeking. She spotted a flash of cyan clothing on the other side of the tent she hid behind.

This spot was extremely remote, nearly at the edge of the field, where few people passed by. The speakers did not lower their voices much, and the storage tent was small, so Sheng Shiyue, despite not wanting to, could not help but overhear.

The voice of another woman sounded familiar, but Sheng Shiyue could not place it. She only discerned that the woman seemed particularly concerned about Ning Qingge.

The woman quickly said, “A few days ago, Her Majesty mentioned the matter again, hinting at a desire to arrange a marriage. But when others inquired, she closed her eyes, feigned sleep, and refused to reveal anything.”

Ning Qingge responded with a “Hmm,” a brief syllable that betrayed no emotion. Outside the tent, Sheng Shiyue smirked with a touch of schadenfreude.

Ning Qingge held a unique status. Though she was the current Prime Minister, she came from humble origins. Her family had been stripped of all honors and titles for aiding a deposed Crown Princess in rebellion. The Qianyuan and Zhongyong members of her family were executed, while the Kunze and underage children were enslaved in the palace.

At the time, Ning Qingge was only nine. She survived that brutal place only through her mother’s desperate protection. Later, by sheer luck, the Empress noticed and nurtured her, elevating her step by step to her current position.

Thus, Ning Qingge had no family to rely on and was considered a close confidante raised by the Empress herself.

Moreover, Ning Qingge was the only top-tier Kunze in the Liang Kingdom today.

Rumors once circulated that Ning Qingge was groomed by the Empress to be the future Empress, and whoever married her would gain the Liang Kingdom.

Though mere rumors, they were hard to refute. Why else would the Empress personally mentor a former slave and elevate her to a position second only to herself?

Now, the Sixth Princess and Eighth Princess, the strongest contenders for the throne, clearly believed the rumors. They had openly and covertly pursued Ning Qingge for a long time, even declaring they would marry no one else.

At twenty-five, Ning Qingge had been the subject of several marriage proposals from other ministers, but the Empress had not agreed to any. Ning Qingge herself showed no urgency, leaving it unclear whom the Empress favored.

But none of this concerned Sheng Shiyue, a carefree dandy. She had no interest in the throne and only wanted to be granted a fief, leave the capital, and live a truly unrestrained life.

The other person seemed to ponder for a moment before speaking slowly and solemnly, “That night, the Sixth Princess was summoned to the palace. All attendants were dismissed to the hall’s exterior, leaving only the Sixth Princess to play chess with Her Majesty for several rounds. She left quietly late at night without disturbing anyone.”

Sheng Shiyue nodded in realization. So it was her Sixth Sister.

She felt a twinge of sympathy for Ning Qingge. The Sixth Princess appeared warm and virtuous on the surface but was actually cunning and suspicious, always scheming. Sheng Shiyue had suffered plenty at her hands as a child.

But on second thought, she figured the two were equally matched.

This was no baseless claim. People always said she feared Ning Qingge, but she disagreed. She simply avoided contact with her, going out of her way to steer clear.

Who could blame her? Ning Qingge outwardly presented herself as a composed and upright minister, earning the Empress’s favor, the trust of court officials, and the love of the people. Yet whenever she encountered dandies like Sheng Shiyue, she would pause, furrow her brow, and lecture them on etiquette and propriety.

This caused many of the capital’s spoiled heirs to detour at the sight of Ning Qingge.

Sheng Shiyue had been the same at first, until she witnessed Ning Qingge forcing a brothel woman to kneel.

It was a coincidence. Sheng Shiyue, annoyed by her rowdy companions, had slipped out of the Yicui Brothel to a secluded alley behind it, seeking some quiet. There, she stumbled upon the scene.

A woman in Yicui Brothel attire knelt on the ground, crying and begging for forgiveness.

Ning Qingge, standing over her, was unrecognizable. Half her body was shrouded in shadow, her expression dark, her eyes cold, sending a chill through Sheng Shiyue. For a moment, she genuinely believed Ning Qingge might kill someone herself.

Sheng Shiyue despised such hypocrites—smiling and friendly one moment, only to stab you in the back the next. Whether a dandy or a rogue, one should at least be open and honest, not a scheming, unpredictable person like Ning Qingge.

Thus, Sheng Shiyue avoided her, unwilling to have any contact.

Yet, despite all her efforts to avoid her, she found herself in this awkward situation.

Her thoughts snapped back. She realized the conversation across from her had ended. Tilting her head, she saw a figure hurrying away, vanishing into the distance.

Where was the other person?

Had they left in another direction?

Sheng Shiyue rubbed her nose, preparing to leave. But after two steps, before she could exit the tent, she froze. A familiar figure in cyan stood there.

Sheng Shiyue’s pupils shrank, a flash of panic crossing her face. She instinctively wanted to flee but was too late. The person, lost in thought, looked up at the sound.

Ning Qingge was strikingly elegant, her features exquisitely refined, as if crafted by a master artist’s finest work. Her slightly upturned eyes added a touch of gentle charm, like snow-laden branches, cold yet captivating.

But Sheng Shiyue felt a chill. Her lips moved, blurting out, “Why is the Prime Minister here?”

The question amused Ning Qingge, who looked at her with a half-smile. The wind lifted her wide cyan robe, the bamboo patterns on the hem swaying, as if real bamboo leaves rustled.

Sheng Shiyue forced out, “Does the Prime Minister have business? If not, I will leave first.”

The other did not speak, only stepped forward, closing the distance between them.

Sheng Shiyue instinctively wanted to retreat, but her stubborn pride held her back. She usually avoided Ning Qingge, but only when unnoticed, slipping away quietly. To flee now, in plain sight, would be too humiliating.

She was, after all, a Qianyuan.

Her spine stiffened under her scarlet robe, and sweat formed in her palms unnoticed.

Ning Qingge seemed to smile, the expression fleeting, gone before Sheng Shiyue could discern it.

Before Sheng Shiyue could pursue it, she hurriedly said, “Qianyuan and Kunze are distinct, and there are no others here. If someone saw us, rumors would cause trouble. If the Prime Minister has no business, I will leave first.”

Sheng Shiyue was usually carefree, but now she even used the formal “I” as if she had leapt from the polo field to a classroom. The wild, defiant girl tamed herself, like an obedient cat.

Ning Qingge finally spoke, her tone unreadable, saying, “Does the Ninth Princess truly think there is no business?”

Sheng Shiyue forced calm, feigning ignorance, “What business could a dandy princess like me have with the Prime Minister?”

She resolved to deny everything.

Being slightly taller than Ning Qingge, she never noticed the difference from a distance. Now, only half an arm’s length apart, she had to look down slightly. Their robes occasionally brushed in the wind.

If someone passed by, they might mistake them for lovers hiding from the crowd, whispering sweet nothings.

The thought made Sheng Shiyue uneasy, and she turned her head aside.

Ning Qingge, unflinching, looked up at her, her jade-like eyes reflecting Sheng Shiyue’s image. With an undeniable tone, she said, “You heard.”

She cut off any chance for Sheng Shiyue to play dumb.

Sheng Shiyue gritted her teeth, stepped back half a pace, and immediately bowed with hands clasped at her brow, performing a junior’s courtesy. She said, “Then Little Nine congratulates Sister-in-law. My Sixth Sister, mentored by great scholars since childhood, is gentle and virtuous. She will surely treat Sister-in-law well and not let her suffer any grievance.”

Her words were entirely fabricated, yet the more she spoke, the more real they felt. She almost believed them herself, ignoring Ning Qingge’s suddenly cold expression.

“Is that what Your Highness thinks?” Ning Qingge asked.

She seemed to raise her hand, perhaps to strike or grab Sheng Shiyue’s collar, but stopped, her hand fixed at her side, only her rustled robe betraying the motion.

Sheng Shiyue stiffly nodded, affirming her stance.

Ning Qingge suddenly smiled, the smile not reaching her eyes. She said, “Can no one else do? Why must it be the Sixth Princess?”

How would Sheng Shiyue know what the Empress thought?

She suppressed the retort, forcing a grin. “Anyone will do, as long as the Prime Minister likes them.”

Whether the Empress agreed, she did not know.

“What if I never marry?” Ning Qingge stared at her, perhaps teasing or seeking an elusive answer.

Sheng Shiyue blinked, finding this difficult. As the only top-tier Kunze in the Liang Kingdom and a high-ranking official, if Ning Qingge did not marry into the royal family, how could the suspicious Empress trust her with power? Though Sheng Shiyue was no expert in court politics, even a dandy like her could see it. How could Ning Qingge not?

Stammering, Sheng Shiyue managed, “If the Prime Minister has decided, that is fine too. But with no companion, holidays might feel lonely. It is better to choose a good match.”

She added, “The Empress and the ministers likely think the same, so they are so eager, right?”

Her scarlet robe clung to her straight back as the wind blew.

The Ninth Princess, usually arrogant, disregarded even the Three Excellencies. She acted as she pleased, never weaving such convoluted, insincere words. But she was somewhat afraid of Ning Qingge, and having been caught eavesdropping, she felt guilty and dared not offend her further.

Hearing this, Ning Qingge’s expression did not soften but grew colder. She said, word by word, “Thank Your Highness for the patient advice. This official will carefully consider it.”

Sheng Shiyue sighed in relief, her smile genuine at last. She hurriedly said, “It is a small matter, just a small matter.”

Ning Qingge continued, “As thanks, I will tell Your Highness something too.”

“Huh?”

Before Sheng Shiyue could react, Ning Qingge said, “I should congratulate Your Highness on an impending good match…”

“What?!” Sheng Shiyue interrupted, shocked and angry.

Ning Qingge tilted her head, feigning innocence, and continued, “Does Your Highness not know? Recently, ministers have submitted memorials criticizing Your Highness for being reckless. Some suggested to Her Majesty that a marriage be arranged for the Ninth Princess. Perhaps Your Highness…”

Ning Qingge glanced at her, a faint smirk forming. “Perhaps Your Highness will become steadier for a Madam.”

This was outrageous! Clearly, the Sixth and Eighth Princesses, frustrated by Ning Qingge’s refusal to marry and tired of the court’s urging, had thrown Sheng Shiyue under the bus!

The Ninth Princess’s mouth twitched. If Ning Qingge were not standing there, she would have grabbed a blade to confront someone!

But it was not over. Ning Qingge kindly added, “The Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Household are busy with the ceremonial preparations, so they lack staff to select a Kunze for Your Highness. Thus, Her Majesty assigned the task to Lord Xu.”

“Lord Xu?” Sheng Shiyue blinked.

Ning Qingge smiled patiently, explaining, “Censorate Chief Lord Xu Houyun.”

She added, “Lord Xu dotes on his youngest son, Young Master Xu. Does Your Highness know?”