The Prime Minister Knows How to Handle Her Wife (ABO, GL) - Chapter 32

Chapter 32

Later, Bianjing saw light rain again. The heat of summer faded, and the evening breeze brought coolness. People worn out by the hot summer finally slept well. The usually lively city fell quiet early.

Ning Qingge rarely returned today. Busy washing up, she didn’t enter the room. She called out to Sheng Shiyue from outside. No response came from inside. She wondered if Sheng Shiyue slept or sulked again.

After bathing, Ning Qingge pushed the door open and looked inside. This time, treatment was much better than before. She wasn’t kicked out. But her pillow sat on the bed’s edge, half hanging off.

She didn’t know how this ancestor expected her to sleep. Sheng Shiyue curled up deep in the bed, back to the outside, facing the wall.

Ning Qingge stayed silent. She stood in place, watching for a moment. A smile crept into her eyes.

She found this person oddly cute. Holding in anger from morning till now, anyone else would have snapped with a cold face. But this hot-tempered ancestor just slept with her back turned.

The rain continued. The candlelight in the room went out. Footsteps sounded. The thin blanket lifted.

Sheng Shiyue tensed her back but refused to speak. First, she held morning’s anger. Second, the day’s events weighed on her mood. Too lazy to talk, she pretended to sleep.

But the other person leaned closer. Fabric rustled as they pressed against Sheng Shiyue’s back.

Sheng Shiyue’s breath hitched. She faintly smelled cool soap fragrance lingering at her nose.

Even so, the other didn’t let her be. An arm hooked around Sheng Shiyue’s waist, pulling her in. A warm body, clad only in inner clothes, pressed tightly against her slim back. Thin fabric blocked nothing. Soft places pressed against her, and she felt the rise and fall of a breathing abdomen.

In the blinding dark, all sensations doubled.

Sheng Shiyue stiffened, unable to pretend anymore. She spoke up: “Ning Qingge, your pillow is on the other side!”

Yes, this outrageous person not only pressed against Sheng Shiyue but took half her pillow. On such a big bed, they squeezed into a tiny space.

“Where?” Ning Qingge asked knowingly. Her lips brushed Sheng Shiyue’s nape, warm breath hitting her gland.

“Over—over there,” Sheng Shiyue instinctively wanted to dodge. But a wall blocked the front, and Ning Qingge blocked the back. The angry person now fell into her own trap. She shrank her neck, clinging to her last shred of dignity: “You go—go over.”

She curved her body, trying to nudge the other aside.

But the other played rogue, hugging even tighter.

Even a clay figure had some temper, let alone the Ninth Highness?

She raised her voice and shouted: “Ning Qingge!”

Her fur bristled again.

Angry and annoyed, she found an excuse: “Move, it’s too hot.”

Ning Qingge laughed instead of getting mad. Still pressed close, she didn’t budge. She asked softly: “Still angry?”

So Ning Qingge knew everything. Sheng Shiyue thought maybe she was too busy with piles of work, overlooking her. But no, Ning Qingge knew it all, said nothing, and had time to teach others but not to mind Sheng Shiyue!

Sheng Shiyue fumed.

The other seemed to think it wasn’t enough. She pressed closer, speaking by Sheng Shiyue’s ear: “So angry?”

“If you’re this mad, why didn’t you chase after me?” She bit Sheng Shiyue’s earlobe, her tongue lightly teasing.

Sheng Shiyue shivered, her trembling voice still defiant: “Why would I chase you?!”

Memories flashed in her mind. Her heart soured again. She snapped: “Someone prepared a proper excuse, personally coming to fetch Lord Ning.”

Her tone gritted, emphasizing each word.

Ning Qingge earlier saw her pillow still there and thought Sheng Shiyue wasn’t too mad. But she held it in, and once provoked, it poured out.

Sheng Shiyue forced out: “I don’t have any excuse to stop Lord Ning from handling proper business.”

Good thing she rushed back tonight. A few more days, and her pillow might have ended up at the mansion’s gate.

Ning Qingge couldn’t help but laugh. She kissed Sheng Shiyue’s ear and called: “Little pufferfish.”

Just like a puffed-up pufferfish.

Cute.

“Ning Qingge!” The angry one only repeated her name, over and over. Hard to believe she was once a wastrel; she hadn’t learned a single harsh word.

“Move,” Sheng Shiyue squirmed, trying to escape.

But Ning Qingge held her tight, biting her earlobe again. Her teeth grazed it, like a small punishment.

“Hiss,” Sheng Shiyue gasped.

A warm tongue covered the bite, filling the dent. A low voice sounded: “She had no proper business to discuss with me.”

“Hmm?” Tricked, Sheng Shiyue blinked and shot back: “Then what did she say?”

“You want to know?” Clearly at fault, yet Ning Qingge took control, teasing her.

Sheng Shiyue cursed angrily: “I’ll expose you outside, let everyone see your true face.”

What cool, moonlike Prime Minister? Just a shameless rogue!

Ning Qingge chuckled, nibbling her earlobe, and finally coaxed: “Good girl.”

“Not good! What did she say?!” Sheng Shiyue teetered on exploding.

Ning Qingge felt a bit regretful. If she’d been more outrageous, she could’ve teased longer. Biting soft flesh, she mumbled: “She said she didn’t mind I’m married, that I only wed to avoid the throne dispute, ruining myself.”

Sheng Shiyue got truly mad now, cursing: “She’s all honeyed words with a hidden blade, two-faced…”

Her vocabulary ran short, but the cursing didn’t satisfy.

“Needle in silk,” Ning Qingge kindly added.

Sheng Shiyue jumped on it: “Needle in silk.”

“False affection.”

Sheng Shiyue repeated: “False affection.”

“Sly and hypocritical.”

Sheng Shiyue followed, then realized, grumbling: “Why am I reciting with you? I’m not a child learning words!”

She added herself: “She’s a fake, sanctimonious old fox.”

She didn’t forget to jab at the other’s age.

Ning Qingge wasn’t done and added: “She said if I agreed, she’d ask His Majesty for a divorce decree. Once she took the throne, she’d marry me, sparing me the shame of staying with you and fulfilling my wish to avoid the throne dispute.”

Her tone sounded odd. If Sheng Shiyue were older, she might recognize it as the tone of a scheming concubine whispering against the main wife.

But she knew nothing, far outmatched by this Prime Minister, who thrived among cunning officials.

Sheng Shiyue fumed, itching to kick the Sixth Princess’s mansion door.

She flipped over, pushed Ning Qingge back, pulled some distance, and scolded: “You’re still laughing?!”

She’d heard such talk before. In Fan Tower and Yicui Tower, those self-smart types guessed Ning Qingge avoided the princesses’ fight, picking a useless wastrel. Whichever princess won, she’d remain Prime Minister, untouched by any side.

Sheng Shiyue burned with rage. The person opposite still laughed, not worried at all.

She should let others know Ning Qingge’s true nature! Talking about ruin? Ning Qingge clearly lusted after her body, coveted her! Schemed to marry her!

If she’d known, she’d have slept next door from the start, ignoring Ning Qingge’s nonsense about no newlyweds in Liang Kingdom sleeping apart. She’d give this woman no chance.

“You laugh again, and I’ll throw you out!” The bristling lion cat issued her harshest punishment.

Ning Qingge quickly hid her smile. But in the dark, her bright, glossy eyes betrayed her amusement.

“Alright, alright, good girl,” Ning Qingge pressed close to coax, tilting her head to kiss Sheng Shiyue’s lip corner.

Sheng Shiyue turned to dodge, but the other pressed closer again.

Ning Qingge said: “I refused.”

“I said if the Sixth Highness meant this, she could stop the carriage and let me off now.”

Sheng Shiyue’s expression softened. That was more like it. She muttered: “And then?”

“Then we reached the palace gate.”

Sheng Shiyue let out an “oh,” still a bit dissatisfied.

Ning Qingge nuzzled her lips, saying softly: “Why didn’t you chase me?”

She taught patiently: “Highness, I’m your wife. That’s reason enough no one can dispute. If you don’t want me leaving with another Qianyuan, you should chase me and take me back.”

After all that, it became Sheng Shiyue’s fault again.

Sheng Shiyue sensed something off but didn’t know what to say. The other stole all the words. She could only mutter another “oh.”

Ning Qingge said no more. Instead, she cupped Sheng Shiyue’s face and whispered: “Open your mouth.”

Sheng Shiyue obeyed instinctively. A soft tongue slipped in, stealing her breath, claiming every corner.

Though the other took the lead, Sheng Shiyue still held some anger. No longer the clueless one, she pushed back in a few moves, deliberately pressing forward, one hand pinning Ning Qingge’s shoulder.

Darker than the night was Sheng Shiyue’s shadow, hiding the person beneath in total darkness. Losing sight meant all sensations came from the other.

Ning Qingge didn’t resist, even aiding the mischief by closing her eyes, fully yielding to Sheng Shiyue.

The little Highness fiercely bit Ning Qingge’s lip like a puppy. Her falling hair swayed on Ning Qingge’s cheeks, stirring itchiness. The hand on the shoulder gripped tightly, locking the prey with no chance to resist.

Their roles flipped. But Ning Qingge relished it, as if this was her true aim—provoke the kitten, then watch it swipe its soft paws, venting in a huff.

The rain outside didn’t stop, falling like fine needles. Many lotus petals in the pond wilted, floating on the water.

Iron chains under the eaves guided the rain into white streams, splashing down.

When the one on top was satisfied, Ning Qingge patted her shoulder and asked: “So? Where did you go today?”

Sheng Shiyue felt lazy. Even her planned archery got pushed to late morning. Yet she rose so early today, which surprised people.

Though busy these days, Ning Qingge wasn’t clueless. Nanyuan always kept watch.

When she entered, Nanyuan rushed over, saying the Highness returned and stayed shut in, eating half her meal. Even Jin Jinglian and others who followed didn’t return.

Ning Qingge guessed a bit but didn’t ask right away. She settled the first issue, coaxing this person happy first.

Hearing this, Sheng Shiyue’s sated expression dimmed. Clearly tormented by the matter, she hadn’t meant to burden Ning Qingge. But since she asked, Sheng Shiyue didn’t hide it and briefly explained the cause and effect.

Ning Qingge first frowned, then let out a muffled hum.

The ancestor on top tired her hand and simply collapsed onto Ning Qingge, expertly burying into her neck, escaping.

During her injury, she always slept on Ning Qingge. At first, she felt shy, but after many times, she grew bold.

Ning Qingge didn’t scold her. Instead, she placed a hand on Sheng Shiyue’s back, stroking from top to bottom, silently comforting.

“Ning Qingge, why don’t you speak?”

Clearly, she pressed down first, yet now complained the other ignored her.

Ning Qingge, helpless, turned her head, kissed Sheng Shiyue’s head, and coaxed: “I’m just thinking how to say it.”

Sheng Shiyue poked her shoulder, criticizing: “It’s you officials’ inaction that lets filthy worms seize chances, making innocent children suffer such wrongs.”

“Clearly, it’s your job to handle. What’s it got to do with a wastrel like me? Why’s it bothering my head?”

Her fingertip kept poking, making small dents in the fabric.

The criticized little Prime Minister didn’t argue, letting the wastrel vent.

How could she be blamed? The Prime Minister hadn’t served long. Before, her rank and power were low, gossip swirled, and she balanced proving herself while coping. Once steady, she stayed busy daily. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have gained such a name so fast.

But even with her effort, the court wasn’t hers alone. A pile of cunning folks gathered, who knew what kind emerged?

With officials shielding each other, colluding high and low, even if someone spotted clues and tried to probe, tight lies fooled them. Doubts lingered, but real filth stayed hidden.

If not for someone escaping and running into Madam Jin and others, who knew when this would’ve burst?

When Ning Qingge felt Sheng Shiyue vented enough, she caught her finger and admitted softly: “This is indeed my fault. I didn’t know such people were in the court.”

Sheng Shiyue huffed and said: “It’s not too late now.”

Ning Qingge asked calmly: “So what does Your Highness want to do?”

This matter involved many. Even she didn’t dare act rashly. Bound by her role, she couldn’t investigate herself. If noticed, a crowd would block her with various matters, quickly destroying all evidence.

And she also…

A dark glint passed through Ning Qingge’s eyes, landing silently on Sheng Shiyue. Starting to study and train so late was too slow. This matter was a good chance.

Sheng Shiyue fell silent at her words.

Ning Qingge didn’t rush her, slowly stroking her back.

The rain’s sound continued.