The Prime Minister Knows How to Handle Her Wife (ABO, GL) - Chapter 21

Chapter 21

The person who arrived was Ning Qingge.

Her eyes swept over the person lying down, her refined face unable to hide her heartache, and she softly called out, “Sheng Jiu.”

The person in a deep sleep did not respond, trapped deeper and deeper by nightmares.

Ning Qingge watched anxiously, placed the back of her hand on Sheng Jiu’s forehead, and felt a frighteningly high temperature.

It was understandable, as Sheng Shiyue had soaked in the lake water for a long time the previous night, then shared half a bucket of hot water with someone else, and the chill in her body had not fully dissipated. If she had stayed indoors all day, it might not have been a big deal, but unfortunately, the Empress summoned her, and with one scare and one punishment, the lingering chill naturally surged in during her weakened state.

Sweat kept pouring out, soaking a large patch of the thin cloth beneath her.

Ning Qingge furrowed her brows tightly, knowing this could not continue, and she needed to find a way to lower the temperature and wake Sheng Shiyue to drink medicine.

Her gaze shifted to the side, where a wooden box she had brought was placed on a round table.

This was prepared by Qu Li. Ever since Sheng Shiyue entered the palace, Qu Li had been waiting outside for news. Upon hearing that Sheng Shiyue was punished with a beating and had to stay overnight in the palace, her legs went weak, and she panicked. Fortunately, Ning Qingge was there.

In the Liang Kingdom, all court officials worked in the administrative hall beside the palace, entering through the Meridian Gate, but it was still some distance from the actual palace. The higher the rank, the closer one was to the Xuanzheng Hall, making it easier to report to the Empress at any time.

Ning Qingge had entered the palace earlier, unaware that Sheng Shiyue had been summoned, likely because the Empress deliberately kept it from her. It was not until the afternoon, after Sheng Shiyue’s punishment, that Ning Qingge received the news. She could only delay with official duties, then had Qu Li bring the wooden box under the pretense of delivering something to her. Afterward, she found the Imperial Guards and managed to make her way to Jingyang Palace.

Her thoughts returned, and Ning Qingge stepped outside the room. Without much effort, as if very familiar with the place, she fetched a basin of well water in a moment.

The bronze candelabrum nearby cast a dim yellow light, making the room slightly dark. A wet white cloth was wrung out, water droplets falling into the bronze basin with a pattering sound. Then, slender fingers held the cloth and placed it on Sheng Jiu’s forehead.

“Hmm…” The person in a deep sleep felt the coolness and instinctively leaned toward it, mumbling and unaware of seeking a pillow.

Ning Qingge lowered her head, her eyes soft in the lamplight, and lifted her other hand to support Sheng Jiu’s head, gently wiping away the thin layer of sweat.

Sheng Shiyue couldn’t help but let out a hum and rubbed against her palm.

She looked pitifully endearing.

A cat who should have been pampered and held on someone’s lap was now weakly humming in illness. When Ning Qingge heard the attendants recount the events, her heart ached, let alone for Sheng Shiyue, who experienced it firsthand.

Thinking back, Sheng Shiyue had knelt in the study for a while and started shedding tears, her knees red and swollen, crying out at the slightest touch. Tomorrow, when she returned, who knew how long she would need to lie in bed.

The white cloth was washed and wiped several times, then moved to the clothes underneath.

Ning Qingge paused for a moment. It wasn’t that she hadn’t seen before—on that night at Yicui Tower, though Sheng Shiyue was drunk, Ning Qingge was sober and had already seen her fully. When Sheng Shiyue bumped into the wall, it was Ning Qingge who helped wipe and change her clothes, but…

“Water… water…” Sheng Shiyue’s voice interrupted her thoughts at that moment.

After wiping, the temperature on her forehead had slightly decreased, not as heavy as before.

Ning Qingge immediately put down the cloth and turned to the round table.

Though it was a temporary residence, it wasn’t too makeshift. A pot of brewed tea and several teacups were still placed on the table.

As Sheng Shiyue became slightly more awake, intense pain surged in, and she hummed unconsciously a few times. She struggled to open her eyes and saw a blurry figure ahead, dressed in a white skirt that outlined a slender frame.

She couldn’t tell if it was a dream or reality.

She tugged at her dry, peeling lips and hoarsely called out, “Crown Princess?”

People in Bianjing all knew that the deposed Crown Princess loved white clothes. Once, while sitting alone in a teahouse watching the rain, a scholar heading to the capital for exams caught sight of her and thought she was a fairy descended to earth, only daring to watch from afar for a long time. It wasn’t until someone pointed it out that the scholar realized and exclaimed: Her Highness the Crown Princess was like a clear breeze, with the grace of orchids and jade trees.

The person turned at the sound, but it was someone else.

The hopeful look in Sheng Shiyue’s eyes dimmed, and she muttered, “Prime Minister.”

Ning Qingge’s face remained as cool and refined as usual, showing no trace of her earlier emotions. She only said, “Hmm,” then stepped forward, handed her a teacup, and instructed, “Your Highness has just woken, so speak less and first drink some tea to moisten your throat.”

Sheng Shiyue felt a bit confused. From the moment she opened her eyes until now, she had only said two sentences, so why was she suddenly accused of talking too much?

Still, she reached out, struggled to take the teacup, and brought it to her lips.

She really had no strength. Her knees were bruised from kneeling, and the area below her waist was torn and bleeding. Even slight movements made her grimace in pain, so she could only maintain this awkward position.

Sheng Shiyue didn’t usually like tea, preferring sweets. Moreover, this tea had cooled considerably, making the bitterness stronger. Normally, she wouldn’t touch it, but now she drank it all in one gulp and looked at Ning Qingge expectantly.

She wanted more.

She hadn’t had a drop of water since being summoned to the palace and had endured until now.

“Ning Qingge…” she called out pitifully, her collar unintentionally revealing much of her skin, her upturned eyes tinged with a rosy hue, looking at her like a little cat.

It was as if refusing her would make Ning Qingge some unforgivable sinner.

Ning Qingge’s gaze shifted for a moment, then returned to normal. She reached out, took the cup, and refilled it.

Sheng Shiyue drank three cups in a row before stopping. Only then did she notice the bitter taste on her tongue, spitting out a tea leaf with a few “peh peh peh” sounds. Finally regaining some energy, she immediately complained, “When did the palace start buying this kind of tea?”

Such a quick change of attitude was a first.

Ning Qingge didn’t know what to say and could only fish out the white cloth soaking in the bronze basin and wring it dry again.

Sheng Shiyue’s eyes swept over, her foggy mind gradually clearing. She realized Ning Qingge had been taking care of her and said, “Thank… hey! What are you doing?!”

She widened her eyes, staring in shock at the white cloth reaching toward her collar.

“Wiping,” Ning Qingge’s dark eyes remained calm, gesturing for her to look down.

Sheng Shiyue had drunk so hastily that tea had slid from the corner of her mouth to her neck.

“Oh…” Realizing her misunderstanding, Sheng Shiyue blinked. Since last night, she had been wary of Ning Qingge. She couldn’t yet distinguish who was Kunze or Qianyuan, but she was certain Ning Qingge had intentions toward her; otherwise, she wouldn’t have done such things.

The scab on her lips was rough, occasionally brushing against other places, reminding her that Ning Qingge had bitten her.

“I-I’ll do it myself,” Sheng Shiyue said, feeling uneasy, no longer as open as before.

Ning Qingge raised an eyebrow, finally showing a hint of expression, looking at her with a half-smile and saying, “Not just this spot. Does Your Highness want to do it all herself?”

“Huh?” Sheng Shiyue was confused. She had only drunk a few cups of tea, not been splashed with it all over her body.

Ning Qingge countered, “Your body is full of sweat. Doesn’t Your Highness feel uncomfortable?”

If she hadn’t mentioned it, Sheng Shiyue might have taken a while to notice. She hadn’t been awake long, first mistaking Ning Qingge for someone else, then busy drinking water, and then startled by Ning Qingge. Meanwhile, her wounds still burned painfully, leaving no time to notice the sweat on her body.

Sometimes it’s like that—ignoring it makes it bearable, but once pointed out, she felt sticky and extremely uncomfortable all over.

Sheng Shiyue immediately furrowed her brows. Caught between shame and discomfort, she resolutely chose the former and muttered, “Then I’ll trouble Prime Minister.”

She didn’t know what she had dreamed about, but she started acting strangely distant upon waking, perhaps since last night. The situation had been chaotic then, and they hadn’t met since she woke, so Ning Qingge only noticed now.

Ning Qingge gave her an ambiguous look and said, “Then shall I help Your Highness undress first?”

Sheng Shiyue gasped, her face full of disbelief, and exclaimed, “You have to undress to wipe sweat? Ning Qingge, are you doing this on purpose?!”

She finally seemed a bit normal again.

Ning Qingge seemed to smile and said, “Your clothes are all wet. If you don’t take them off, the wiping would be for nothing.”

That seemed to make some sense.

Sheng Shiyue was still feverish, and no matter how awake she was, she couldn’t think clearly. Her speech was always slow. She tilted her head, thought for a moment, and made a difficult decision, “Then… then take them off.”

She usually loved cleanliness, changing clothes at the slightest speck of dust, let alone in this situation.

She closed her eyes tightly, buried her entire head in the pillow, and, unable to stop it, simply chose to escape.

But this was clearly not a good idea. Losing her sight made her other senses sharper, and she couldn’t pretend to be deaf, having to cooperate with the other’s movements.

For example,

“Your Highness, lift up a bit; the sash is pressed under you.”

Sheng Shiyue could only try to lift her waist.

“Your Highness, raise your hand.”

Sheng Shiyue complied, lifting her hand, feeling the other tug at her sleeve. The thin cloth slid over her arm bit by bit, and the spot where Ning Qingge touched her waist felt cool and ticklish.

The removed clothes were tossed to the side. Sheng Shiyue shivered, and then a wet white cloth pressed against her.

The little cat let out a muffled hum, her hands clutching the pillowcase, her toes curling involuntarily, and her fingertips and earlobes tinged with a faint red.

The other person seemed not to notice and said, “It’s a bit cool. Your Highness, please bear with it.”

Sheng Shiyue couldn’t not respond, so she muffled a “Hmm” and buried herself deeper into the pillow, playing the part of an escaping ostrich.

Ning Qingge, sitting by the bed, was in a rather good mood, even curling her lips. Her gaze lingered on the other’s slender back. As she raised her hand, the timid cat shivered again.

A chuckle was held back at her lips. Ning Qingge knew very well that if she made a sound, this cat would immediately bristle, claws out, and push her away, no matter how uncomfortable she felt.

The consequences would be quite severe.

The white cloth slid downward, revealing a graceful curve.

Though Sheng Shiyue was a Qianyuan, she was raised more delicately than a Kunze. Her smooth, fair skin showed no scars, only a small mole under her neck, between her shoulder blades, centered on her spine, rising and falling with her breathing, adding a touch of allure.

Further down, her waist was soft and thin, with red marks from being pinched last night still visible on the sides, faintly resembling fingerprints, like vines wrapping around her.

Ning Qingge suddenly paused, her deep, pool-like eyes stirring with obscure emotions.

The other person, unaware, tensed to the extreme and blurted out, “Ning Qingge, your fingers are so rough.”

Ning Qingge froze, then explained after a beat, “I did some rough work in the inner court when I was young.”

Her hands were long and fair, and after differentiation, many small scars had faded, but the calluses on her knuckles and palms remained. They weren’t noticeable to the eye, but now, resting on Sheng Shiyue’s back, the sensation was quite distinct.

The room fell silent for a moment. Sheng Shiyue felt she had said something wrong, thinking she had touched on a sore spot for the Prime Minister.

But Ning Qingge didn’t think much of it. Not only did she not find that experience shameful, but since entering the court, she had faced all sorts of insults and cold words. Sheng Shiyue’s unintentional remark was nothing in comparison.

The only thing Ning Qingge cared about was whether it might hurt Sheng Shiyue again, so she became even more cautious, controlling her fingertips to avoid touching her and momentarily forgetting to speak.

Sheng Shiyue, however, misunderstood further, filled with guilt. Though she didn’t know how Ning Qingge got in, seeing her dressed in a palace skirt like an attendant, she must have gone through many twists and risks to reach Jingyang Palace to find her. A dignified Prime Minister had undressed her and wiped her body, and Sheng Shiyue’s attitude was mediocre at best, yet she still said such things.

After wiping her back, it was time for the front. Since Sheng Shiyue couldn’t easily get up, Ning Qingge said softly, “Your Highness, lift up a bit.”

Sheng Shiyue struggled to prop herself up, but it tugged at her wounds, making her eyes red again. She could only manage to shift slightly, her abdomen curving into an arch after taking a deep breath.

Seeing her struggle, Ning Qingge thought to finish quickly, not lingering as before. But as the cloth reached her waist, Sheng Shiyue suddenly relaxed, trapping Ning Qingge’s hand underneath.

“Your Highness?” she thought Sheng Shiyue couldn’t hold her breath anymore.

But Sheng Shiyue struggled to shift her body, her face flushed, and awkwardly said, “It’s not that rough.”

She was making up for her earlier mistake with action.

Some people have sharp tongues and feel no guilt, but Sheng Shiyue was like a lion cub with sharp claws, only using her soft paw pads to pat others, and even feeling guilty for it.

The night breeze outside rustled the osmanthus tree, and the dark clouds parted, revealing a full moon that turned the courtyard into a pool of spring water.

The smile held back at her lips finally slipped out softly.

Her Highness was always so adorable.

The laughter was noticed by someone, and as expected, she bristled.

Sheng Shiyue turned her head and glared at Ning Qingge, both shy and annoyed, scolding, “Ning Qingge, what are you laughing at?!”

Not fierce at all, as if “bluffing” was written all over her.

Adorable.

Ning Qingge couldn’t help but laugh, her brows relaxing, her autumn-water-like eyes rippling, shattering the moonlight across a lake.

The utterly unintimidating Sheng Shiyue pouted, took a breath to puff out her stomach, then patted Ning Qingge’s hand, signaling her to move it quickly.

So annoying—she shouldn’t have comforted Ning Qingge.

But the next second, Ning Qingge leaned down, her porcelain-white fingertips brushing aside a stray lock of hair, tucking it behind Sheng Shiyue’s ear, and then lightly kissed her forehead.

The bristling cat widened her eyes again.

What was Ning Qingge doing!

Did she agree to this? Was this woman used to stealing kisses, always suddenly coming so close? Last night, she should have pushed Ning Qingge hard, held her head, and dunked her in the lake—this coal-eating turtle of an old bastard!!

The kiss held no other intentions, just a fleeting touch, like a dragonfly skimming water, before retreating and keeping a distance.

Afterward, Ning Qingge got up, put on the inner clothes prepared by Qu Li for Sheng Shiyue, and then fed her medicinal soup and rice porridge. Though the wooden box kept them warm, after all the fuss, the porridge had long cooled, so Sheng Shiyue didn’t eat much, lacking appetite.

As for the wounds on her knees and below her waist, the imperial physician had already applied medicine. Ning Qingge couldn’t even take a look—touching the edges made Sheng Shiyue cry out in pain, so she gave up, thinking to have a doctor reapply medicine once back at the mansion tomorrow.

Perhaps startled by the sudden kiss, Sheng Shiyue was extremely obedient most of the time, letting Ning Qingge fuss over her. At most, she frowned tightly while drinking medicine, taking several sips to finish.

The only interruption was when Ning Qingge went to empty the basin of water. Sheng Shiyue tugged at her sleeve, refusing to let her go, unwilling to stay alone in the room.

Seeing her pitiful look, Ning Qingge would abandon even the most pressing matters, let alone something as small as emptying water.

In the end, she just placed the basin in a corner to avoid stepping on it in the morning.

It was now late at night, and all of Bianjing had fallen into a quiet darkness. The guards at the door had changed shifts but showed no energy, dozing off from time to time, barely keeping themselves upright.

As for the extinguished candlelight inside, they neither looked back nor dared to, always facing away without the slightest turn.

In the pitch-black room, footsteps approached slowly, then lifted the bedding and carefully lay down.

Ning Qingge said softly, “Your Highness, you can lie closer.”

“Hmm?” Sheng Shiyue didn’t understand.

“Leaning against me will feel more comfortable,” Ning Qingge said, lifting her hand to wrap around Sheng Shiyue’s waist, guiding her to move onto her.

Lying face-down was always uncomfortable, and Sheng Shiyue had complained a few times but had no choice. Even lying on her side would touch the wound’s edges. So Ning Qingge thought to let her lie partially on her, which would be more comfortable than the hard bed.

Sheng Shiyue hesitated but ultimately couldn’t resist the temptation.

The bedding rustled, and then, through thin inner clothes, they pressed close together.

Sheng Shiyue let out a comfortable hum. She was still slightly feverish, and the bedsheets felt stifling. After wiping, she had started sweating again, but Ning Qingge’s cool body temperature eased her discomfort.

Ignoring everything else, the pleasure-seeking creature snuggled even closer.

Ning Qingge didn’t stop her, letting her rub closer. The hand resting on Sheng Shiyue’s waist patted lightly, silently soothing her.

The summer heat faded with the night, and moonlight fell into the bronze basin in the corner, rippling with the breeze.

Sheng Shiyue suddenly said sullenly, “Ning Qingge, you just stole a kiss from me.”

Still holding a grudge.

Ning Qingge, feeling a bit sleepy, closed her eyes, lazily said, “Hmm,” and asked, “And then?”

Not expecting such a response, it was outrageously candid.

Sheng Shiyue couldn’t help but emphasize, “You didn’t have my permission and stole a kiss from me.”

Ning Qingge finally took it a bit seriously and said, “What should we do then? Should I let Your Highness kiss me back?”

Sheng Shiyue gripped her sleeve, the faint red that had just faded surging back to her face. Her lips opened and closed, unable to form a sentence.

How could a Kunze be so shameless!

No shame!

But it seemed to make some sense… She couldn’t keep letting Ning Qingge take advantage of her while she retreated again and again. She had to teach Ning Qingge a lesson.

Sheng Shiyue hesitated for a long time, almost letting the other fall asleep. Finally, she tilted her chin up, brushed the corner of Ning Qingge’s lips with a very brief and hurried kiss—less than a second—before pulling away. If unaware, Ning Qingge might have thought it was a cat’s whisker brushing past.

After quickly doing this, Sheng Shiyue pretended to be fierce and warned, “Don’t do that again next time.”

The other didn’t answer, seemingly asleep.

But a moment later, in the pitch-black room, a voice sounded again.

“Ning Qingge, your scent is coming out.”

The person pretending to sleep finally said, “Hmm.”

“Ning Qingge, there’s more.”

“Hmm… does it smell bad?”

“It’s okay, like lychee.”

“Then Your Highness, bear with it for now? It seems… I can’t suppress it…”