The Prime Minister Knows How to Handle His Wife (ABO, GL) - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

The Liang Kingdom thrived, and people looked to Bianjing. By day, the western district bustled with prosperity, but after nightfall, only Chunsheng Street glowed.

The ten-mile-long street sparkled with continuous red cloth decorations. Low and high buildings rose and fell like mountain ridges, with candlelight hanging everywhere.

At the center, the Yicui Tower stood out most. Sounds of strings, bamboo, and laughter never ceased. Someone leaned on the wooden railing, long sleeves swaying, occasionally tossing down a colorful handkerchief, causing even those who hadn’t planned to stop to turn their steps.

Further inside, the three-story building offered a unique charm, modeled after Huizhou’s four-water-to-hall style but improved. For example, the central courtyard expanded, and the former water pool transformed into a lake scene. A high platform stood in the lake’s center for singing and dancing, while the surrounding wooden buildings had elegant seats for viewing the performances from above.

Yet, these seats couldn’t compare to a delicate pearwood boat in the lake. Low couches on the boat overflowed with fine wine, fresh fruits, and delicacies. One glance up revealed the song and dance, as if one could reach out and touch a dancer’s skirt hem.

Sheng Shiyue, the notorious playgirl of Bianjing, sat there now.

Her earlier narrow sleeves changed to a long, glossy silk dress with golden butterfly patterns in the same color. She kept her qilin necklace and added jade earrings to her lobes. Thanks to her trace of foreign bl00d, her features shone vivid and deep, untouched by mundane things. She reclined lazily in the boat, looking noble and unrestrained.

“Shen Jiu!”

A voice called from the shore. Two women in splendid robes stood there, their brows carrying the same mischievous air. Seeing Sheng Shiyue look over, they waved their raised hands quickly.

No need to think hard—one could tell these two were Sheng Shiyue’s bad influences, infamous playgirls in Bianjing.

Sheng Shiyue lacked the mood to entertain them today. She only waved her hand to show she heard, then remembered something and shouted, “Meng Xiaosi, order two more jars of Lanqiao wine for me.”

Since they came out to fool around, everyone used their surname and family rank instead of real names. Even if others knew their identities, they pretended to hide them. Sheng Shiyue never took a courtesy name, so calling her Shen Jiu felt slightly closer, more comfortable than “Your Highness” over and over.

The woman opposite shouted back in agreement. Before she turned to call someone, a quick-witted servant hurried forward to respond.

Sheng Shiyue lay back in the boat, her mind recalling an earlier conversation.

She heard the news, and her heart filled with shock and fear. She returned to her mansion without visiting her subordinates, sending people to inquire everywhere.

Ning Qingge didn’t lie—there was indeed such a matter. But perhaps the Emperor ordered secrecy, or the ministers worried Sheng Shiyue might cause trouble, so they acted discreetly. They revealed not a hint to her. If not for today’s incident, Sheng Shiyue might have learned of her sudden betrothal only upon receiving the imperial edict.

After confirming the news was true, Sheng Shiyue panicked.

Half a month passed already. The portraits of Kunze in the capital likely went through screening, and a suitable candidate might already exist, awaiting the Emperor’s decision. Her greatest backer remained in the southern border, and even a swift horse carrying a message wouldn’t arrive in time.

She recalled Ning Qingge’s congratulatory voice. Sheng Shiyue gritted her teeth, stomped her foot, and devised a reckless plan that harmed others and herself.

Tonight, she would, in front of everyone, flirt with the Yicui Tower’s top courtesan and drag her into her room, thoroughly ruining her own reputation. No matter how families schemed to marry her, they would fear her reckless behavior. If one day she implicated them, their plans would backfire, costing them more than they gained.

As for her, she would simply marry the courtesan. After three or two years, when no one cared, she would divorce the courtesan, give her a thousand taels of silver, and grant her freedom—a deal even the Yicui Tower’s people couldn’t dream of. No wonder the courtesan agreed immediately when Sheng Shiyue sent someone to ask.

Thinking of this, Sheng Shiyue felt smug, her brows lifting as she looked at the high platform.

She owed thanks to Ning Qingge. If she hadn’t seen Ning Qingge bullying someone that day, she wouldn’t have pitied the victim. Later, when they met by chance, she helped the person, elevating an unknown figure to the top courtesan. Otherwise, this deal wouldn’t have gone so smoothly.

The time remained early. Only a few dancers swayed their long sleeves. The much-anticipated courtesan, perhaps dressing up or deliberately delaying, hadn’t appeared.

A servant rowed over, placed the wine jars on the table, and left, stirring ripples in the water.

To steel her resolve, Sheng Shiyue drank plenty before coming. Yet she still felt it wasn’t enough. She brushed off the note on the wine jar, lifted the lid, and drank directly.

Meng Xiaosi, now on the second floor, jumped in anger, shouting, “Shen Jiu didn’t even look at my note! I just wanted to sit with her and taste the Lanqiao wine. When did she become so stingy?!”

Though they came from privileged families, their monthly expenses had limits. Unlike Sheng Shiyue, who had a war-hero aunt doting on her, showering her with rewards. In Bianjing, besides the Emperor, Sheng Shiyue had the most money.

Thus, most of their expenses usually came from Sheng Shiyue. Seeing her today, they thought they could join her boat and enjoy her wine and food, but she rejected them.

The person beside Meng Xiaosi held her back, consoling softly, “I see her mood is terrible today. Don’t provoke her.”

Meng Xiaosi, slow-witted, let out a dull “Ah,” then said, puzzled and confused, “I see her eating and drinking well. How is her mood bad?”

The other person, quite helpless, sighed, “Shen Jiu is always picky. Yicui Tower’s food and wine are top-notch, but she never eats much. Only the rare vintage imperial wine satisfies her slightly, and she sips it slowly from a small cup.”

“But look at her now. She either uses food to chase the wine or wine to pair with food, gulping down jars, one sip of wine, one bite of food. She’s clearly upset.”

Meng Xiaosi finally understood, leaning on the railing to look down. As the other said, though Sheng Shiyue dressed as usual, she exuded a strange despondency. Spilled wine darkened her collar, deepening the scarlet hue.

“What’s wrong with her today? Because of this morning? But the Emperor didn’t punish her…” Meng Xiaosi scratched her head.

“I can’t guess,” the other shook her head, saying only, “Don’t bother her tonight. We’ll go ask her tomorrow.”

“Alright.”

As they spoke, the long-awaited courtesan finally arrived by boat, wearing a honey-lotus-colored gauze dress that outlined her charming figure. A veil covered half her face, revealing only a pair of captivating peach-blossom eyes.

Cheers erupted, and everyone’s gazes fixed on her, ignoring the white-robed zither player standing in the shadows, also veiled.

The courtesan bowed as custom dictated, then spoke a few clever words.

Drunk, Sheng Shiyue couldn’t hear clearly. Her slightly blue-tinted eyes grew misty with wine, a red flush at their corners. She thought several people stood on the platform, crowded together.

As the zither sounded, the courtesan waved her sleeves and danced.

Unlike others’ deliberate flattery, her dance moved lightly and gracefully, like a proper court dancer.

But Sheng Shiyue, in her current state, couldn’t appreciate it. The dancer seemed to have four or five shadows spinning, making her eyes ache and her head dizzy. The clear zither music felt more soothing.

The empty wine jar rolled at the boat’s bottom. Sheng Shiyue shook her head but found no relief.

The Lanqiao wine, aged long, tasted smooth but hit hard and fast. Combined with what she drank earlier, it intoxicated her deeply.

To avoid getting dizzier, Sheng Shiyue turned her head to the other side.

The zither sat on a low table. The white-robed zither player knelt at the platform’s edge. From Sheng Shiyue’s angle, she saw her profile clearly. The breeze lifted the white veil slightly, revealing a hint of delicate charm.

She seemed oddly familiar.

Who was she…

The usually arrogant playgirl didn’t bother guessing. She took a small gold ingot from her waist and threw it at the player.

She wanted the player to turn and look at her.

But her drunken, weak limbs failed. The gold ingot traced a short arc and plopped into the water.

The zither player didn’t notice, but others’ gazes turned.

“Meng Xiaosi, look what Shen Jiu is doing!”

Meng Xiaosi hissed, confused, “Why is this ancestor staring at the zither player instead of tipping the courtesan?”

They didn’t understand. They watched Sheng Shiyue throw another gold ingot, which fell into the water again.

Finding it amusing, Sheng Shiyue grabbed a handful of gold ingots. With each splash, ripples spread across the lake.

Others watched enviously, itching to jump in and retrieve them.

But the lavish spendthrift kept tossing.

The zither player didn’t turn. Sheng Shiyue furrowed her brow, her childish temper flaring, growing annoyed.

“Shen Jiu’s in a bad mood today. Is it because of this zither player? No wonder she’s throwing ingots to vent,” someone guessed.

They didn’t know Younger know the reason, only seeing the scene.

Another protested, “If she were truly mad, with her temper, would she sit calmly on the boat? She’d have stormed up and kicked her already!”

Pausing, she hesitated, “I think Shen Jiu’s interested in her. Since the player appeared, she’s been staring. The ingots are probably to tease her.”

Meng Xiaosi nearly nodded in agreement but saw Sheng Shiyue suddenly stand, step onto the low couch, and stretch a long leg onto the platform.

“Heavens, Shen Jiu must really have a grudge!” she shouted in shock.

The entire building’s attention turned to the reckless act. The courtesan’s steps faltered, but no one noticed.

The shore’s madam panicked, but both boats were across the lake, and the supply raft held only the rower, unable to reach her.

Since Sheng Shiyue disturbed only the zither player, not the dance, it wasn’t the worst case. The madam didn’t want to offend the Ninth Princess.

Thus, no one stopped Sheng Shiyue. She staggered onto the platform, sat boldly beside the zither player, and said, “Have I seen you somewhere before?”

Translator Note:
Sheng Jiu is a nickname for Sheng Shiyue