The Prime Minister Knows How to Handle Her Wife (ABO, GL) - Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Sheng Shiyue woke up in the afternoon of the next day. The groggy person was helped up by Qu Li, who scolded her thoroughly.

Sheng Shiyue leaned weakly against the bedhead, listening as Qu Li finished recounting the remaining events.

That day, when Ye Liuyun saw Sheng Shiyue collapse on the ground, she panicked instantly. Ignoring everything else, she stuffed the ledger into her clothes and carried Sheng Shiyue on her back, running outside.

Later, they learned that the seemingly perfect plan turned into complete chaos during execution. Sheng Shiyue’s situation was obvious, but the most outrageous part involved Meng Qingxin and her group. After causing a scene in the hall, they were escorted to a side room. The steward intended for Meng Qingxin and the others to calm down briefly in the room before he personally went to soothe them.

Unexpectedly, these troublemakers didn’t follow the usual path. As soon as the steward left, they knocked out the guards outside the door and wandered aimlessly through the secret passages.

Whenever guards stopped them, they pretended to be lost and obediently followed the guards. When the guards let their vigilance down and led the way, Ye Chili knocked them out and tossed them into the nearest empty room.

In this chaotic wandering, they stumbled upon a room storing gunpowder, which led to the loud explosion Sheng Shiyue heard.

The constables outside, hearing the noise, thought something had happened inside. Ignoring any signals, they drew their swords and rushed in.

Jin Jinglian’s group had a tougher time. They searched endlessly but couldn’t find the so-called dungeon. In the end, they accidentally encountered the head steward and secretly followed him for a while, only to discover the dungeon entrance hidden behind a stone room’s secret door.

Coincidentally, if Meng Qingxin hadn’t loudly complained in the hall that the place was mediocre, filled with ordinary goods, and a waste of her time, the head steward wouldn’t have gone to the dungeon to fetch some promising candidates to appease them.

When the explosion rang out, the head steward rushed out with the dungeon guards. Tian Ling and the others, who had been waiting nearby, seized the chance to slip into the dungeon and rescue the children.

Currently, the ledger was handed to Fang Huaying, and the children from the dungeon were left in the care of the authorities. The only unforeseen issue was that the underground space had other secret passages, allowing many people to escape during the chaos. They could only wait for the authorities to interrogate and devise a plan to capture them later.

To prevent anyone from suppressing the matter, Fang Huaying, after apprehending people, immediately rushed to the palace gates and “coincidentally” met Ning Qingge, who was leaving the palace. Upon hearing the situation, Ning Qingge promptly led her into the palace to face the Emperor.

The Emperor, furious upon hearing the report, summoned the capital’s judicial officer, berated him harshly, and ordered a thorough investigation within five days.

“…You’ve gotten bolder lately. The moment I leave the capital, you stir up a mess, don’t you?” Qu Li finished recounting and scolded her irritably.

Since Lord Wu’an’s last letter, Qu Li had been tirelessly searching for skilled physicians for Sheng Shiyue. Yet, upon returning to the capital, she found Her Highness injured again.

Sheng Shiyue gave an awkward smile, mumbling, “I didn’t expect this…”

Who could have known there were secret passages or that she’d run into the Sixth Princess?

Qu Li sighed heavily, unable to control her, and said, “I got lucky this time. Shortly after leaving, I found a highly skilled physician. I wanted to observe him for a few more days, but when I heard about your incident, I had to bring him to the capital first.”

Sheng Shiyue’s emotions grew complicated, unsure of what to feel. She touched her nose and said, “How did you find one so quickly? I thought it’d take a year or two.”

Qu Li glared at her, still in a bad mood, and said, “Time was tight. I haven’t fully investigated this person yet, so I’ve temporarily settled him in Bianjing. Once you’re healed, you can visit him. If he’s trustworthy, we’ll reveal your identity and bring him into the mansion.”

Qu Li’s plan was thorough, and Sheng Shiyue nodded in agreement. As they were about to continue, a sound came from outside.

A servant waiting outside called, “Madam.”

Then came hurried footsteps, and with a creak, the door opened.

Blinding sunlight flooded in, forcing Sheng Shiyue to squint. She could only make out a blurry figure in green approaching her.

Seeing this, Qu Li called out “Madam” and left. She couldn’t discipline Sheng Shiyue, but someone else could.

Sheng Shiyue blinked hard, finally seeing the person clearly. Her voice stammered, “Ning, Qingge, why are you back?”

It was only around 2 p.m., and usually, Ning Qingge would still be busy in the palace. Why had she returned suddenly?

The person who rushed in heard this, her face growing colder. Her dark eyes glanced at Sheng Shiyue, and despite the summer heat, her tone sent a chill down the spine. “What, does Your Highness not want me back?”

Hearing her tone, Sheng Shiyue didn’t dare say no. She grabbed Ning Qingge’s robe and said讨好ly, “How could that be? I’m just curious why you came back early.”

Ning Qingge’s expression didn’t soften. Her tone remained cold. “Your Highness is lying in bed unconscious. What mood am I in to work?”

She even used “this official.”

Sheng Shiyue inwardly winced, her back stiffening against the bed. She hadn’t been this nervous even when fighting Sheng Xianyin last night.

Before she could respond, Ning Qingge continued, “If Your Highness truly dislikes me and thinks I’m disturbing your rest, this official will leave to avoid ruining your peace.”

The words grew harsher.

The pampered Sheng Shiyue couldn’t bear such heavy words. She looked up to argue but noticed a faint redness at the corners of Ning Qingge’s eyes.

Some people spoke coldly, but their eyes quietly reddened.

Her words circled back. Sheng Shiyue let out an “ouch,” quickly tugged Ning Qingge’s robe, and said urgently, “What’s wrong? Who bullied you?”

She didn’t connect it to herself, thinking Ning Qingge was upset from some grievance and left the palace early.

Sheng Shiyue’s brows furrowed, and she declared, “I’ll go deal with them now.”

But she didn’t consider that Ning Qingge, the Prime Minister, was someone few dared to openly offend.

Ning Qingge was both angry and heartbroken. Now, this clueless person made her laugh despite her anger. She patted Sheng Shiyue’s hand and said, “Let go, don’t grab me.”

She countered, “You got knocked out yourself. Who can you deal with?”

Sheng Shiyue retorted unwillingly, “That was an accident. Besides, she’s worse off…”

Before she finished, she saw Ning Qingge’s expression change. She scolded, “You’re proud of that?”

Sheng Shiyue finally realized.

From Ning Qingge’s perspective, it was indeed frightening. Sheng Shiyue had left perfectly fine, but soon, she was carried back covered in bl00d, with a gash on her forehead and bruises on her temples.

Ye Liuyun said that when she arrived, only Sheng Shiyue remained in the stone room. It made people imagine the worst—if someone had cruelly taken her away, no one would know where she was or if she was alive. How could that not terrify someone?

Seeing Ning Qingge’s face darken and her eyes mist over, Sheng Shiyue panicked. Unsure what to say, she suddenly stood, knelt on the bed, her back straight, forehead bandaged, and face serious, exuding a sense of righteous determination.

The bed creaked, and outside, servants’ laughter drifted by.

Sheng Shiyue opened her mouth, struggling for a long time, and only said, “Ning Wangshu, don’t be angry.”

Even when the Ninth Highness, who rarely bowed her head, tried to appease, she was clumsy. She tugged Ning Qingge’s clothes, wrinkling the smooth fabric.

“It’s not my fault. Who knew there’d be a secret passage and someone would pop up?” Sheng Shiyue pouted, still a bit defiant.

Tian Ling had gone there multiple times without encountering anyone, yet Sheng Shiyue’s luck was terrible.

Ning Qingge stayed silent, turning her head aside.

The room fell quiet. Afternoon sunlight filtered through the window’s oiled paper, slowly spilling onto the floor, with tiny dust motes dancing in the beams.

To prevent Sheng Shiyue, who was unconscious, from catching a chill, only a basin of ice sat in the corner, slowly emitting mist.

The surroundings were silent, save for their intertwined breathing and the occasional rustle of Sheng Shiyue shifting her knees.

Sheng Shiyue cautiously glanced at Ning Qingge.

Ning Qingge’s robe was slightly disheveled, her jade-pinned hair loose with strands falling over her forehead, likely from rushing back in a frenzy. Her usually cool, refined face held a trace of anger. She wanted to scold Sheng Shiyue but couldn’t bear to, so the anger settled in her brows and misted her eyes.

Probably only Sheng Shiyue had the ability to make Ning Qingge lose her composure and stir her emotions with a bit of chaos.

“Ning Wangshu…” Sheng Shiyue called softly.

She tugged Ning Qingge’s clothes toward her, not yet done apologizing, and began complaining, “My knees hurt.”

Who else would apologize halfway and then start whining?

Ning Qingge was pulled half a step closer.

Sheng Shiyue raised her arms, wrapped them around Ning Qingge’s slender waist, and leaned into her like a sloth, drawling, “Ning Wangshu, don’t be angry. My head’s still dizzy, my heart’s heavy, and my knees hurt. Can you comfort me first?”

Her voice was sticky, soft with a spoiled, shameless tone, confident Ning Qingge would indulge her, certain she’d feel sorry, boldly acting coy.

She looked up, her forehead wrapped in bandages, her already thin face even paler and gaunter from recent injuries, the light seeming to pierce her thin skin, revealing clear bones, like a sickly cat.

Ning Qingge couldn’t help but raise her hand, instinctively wanting to hug back.

Sheng Shiyue hugged tighter, rubbing her head against Ning Qingge’s waist, murmuring stickily, “So dizzy. If Lord Ning isn’t going back, can you lie with me for a bit?”

The anger in Ning Qingge’s heart rose to her throat but was pushed down by this person’s antics.

Ning Qingge pursed her lips, patted Sheng Shiyue’s hand, and relented, “Let go.”

Sheng Shiyue misunderstood, still clinging, looking pitifully at her.

Ning Qingge, helpless, explained, “Didn’t you want me to lie with you? How can I lie down in my outer robe?”

It wasn’t impossible, but she worried Sheng Shiyue wouldn’t be comfortable.

Sheng Shiyue finally let go, kneeling on the bed, staring eagerly as if afraid Ning Qingge would run off.

Ning Qingge turned away, undoing her sash, then glanced back, “Didn’t you say your knees hurt? Why are you still kneeling?”

Instead of minding Sheng Shiyue not looking away while she changed, she worried about her knees aching.

Sheng Shiyue’s half-apologies turning into tantrums and coyness were entirely due to Ning Qingge’s indulgence. Only Ning Qingge could spoil her and deal with it.

The wide robe was hung on a wooden rack. Ning Qingge lifted the blanket and got into bed. Sheng Shiyue, already lying inside, immediately scooted over, draping her left arm and leg over Ning Qingge, skillfully half-sprawling onto her, curling into her embrace.

Ning Qingge didn’t stop her, even pulling the thin blanket over Sheng Shiyue’s waist, careful not to let her get too hot or catch a chill. Her other hand gently patted Sheng Shiyue’s back.

Still unsatisfied, Sheng Shiyue grabbed the hand behind her, moved it to her head, rubbed against the palm, and whined, “Rub here, it’s so dizzy.”

This wasn’t trivial. Even the physician frowned upon seeing it, taking a long time to check her pulse, prescribing more medicine than before.

Ning Qingge paused, looking at the person already half-closing her eyes, waiting. In the end, she said nothing and gently massaged her.

The afternoon grew quieter, the sunlight hot, its sting keeping people indoors, drowsy.

The ice basin in the corner melted halfway, leaving water stains around it.

The person feigning sleep couldn’t stay still. Using her slightly longer legs, she pressed her foot against Ning Qingge’s sole, her toes deliberately tickling lightly.

The thin blanket, barely covering a corner, hid nothing, and her movements hiked up her wide pant leg halfway.

Speckled light fell, like intricate patterns, illuminating the texture beneath her fair skin, faint veins rising like bold ink strokes in a painting, outlining distant mountains.

“Ning Qingge…” she called lazily.

The other replied with a soft hum.

Sheng Shiyue grew bolder, rubbing her leg against Ning Qingge, dissatisfied with her calm reaction.

“Ning Qingge, are you sleepy?” Sheng Shiyue opened her eyes, looked up, and asked.

Ning Qingge replied, “I’m fine.”

“Then why aren’t you ticklish?”

Her prank hadn’t worked as expected.

Ning Qingge lifted her eyelids, her dark eyes reflecting Sheng Shiyue’s face. After a long pause, she said, “It’s ticklish.”

“Then why didn’t you dodge?” Sheng Shiyue asked, puzzled.

“I couldn’t bear to,” Ning Qingge said calmly, as if it were something ordinary, despite the slightly ambiguous words.

With her looks, many Kunze had flirted with Sheng Shiyue, spouting flowery words, eager to bare their hearts. Sheng Shiyue found it amusing, forgot it by night, and slept soundly.

Yet Ning Qingge’s simple words made her curl her toes, responding awkwardly, “Ning Qingge, when did you learn to talk so slickly?”

Ning Qingge replied concisely, “It’s sincere.”

She sounded like she was writing a report.

Sheng Shiyue raised a brow, teasing, “I don’t believe you.”

“Then how does Your Highness want me to prove it?” Ning Qingge looked at her, her calm eyes flickering with a hint of obscure darkness.

Sheng Shiyue froze, suddenly at a loss for words.