The Prime Minister Knows How to Handle Her Wife (ABO, GL) - Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Some days later, the case of child trafficking finally had results. Few officials were involved, and the highest-ranking one was only Fang Huaying’s direct superior, the Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture.

He confessed a list of just a few dozen people, mostly wealthy merchants in Bianjing. The highest official was an insignificant sixth-rank minor official. After investigating, apart from Shuntian Prefecture being cleaned up, the others were just small fry.

As for the burial site outside the city provided by Jin Jinglian, the judicial officer deliberately ignored it, as if the place didn’t exist at all.

When Sheng Shiyue and others heard this news, they couldn’t help but guess someone was deliberately manipulating things to cover up the truth.

But apart from feeling angry and frustrated, they had no solutions.

After all, they weren’t in the court. They were just a group of second-generation heirs with family backgrounds but no real power. If they jumped out now, it would inevitably arouse suspicion. If someone investigated, they might uncover some flaw, which could implicate their families.

However, letting the matter be brushed off so carelessly made them feel dissatisfied. They felt depressed and irritable, staying home for days and refusing to go out. Even Meng Qingxin, who loved visiting others, acted this way. She only sent a little girl to Sheng Shiyue and didn’t step out herself.

This little girl was the one who had hit Sheng Shiyue on the head some days ago.

It was said that when the constables rushed in, she refused to go with them. She sat on a wooden bed, clutching a stone, muttering about waiting for someone. In the end, the constables forcibly carried her out. When asked about her parents or hometown, she stayed silent. The constables, helpless, reported to Fang Huaying. Fang Huaying then went to Xiao Jing, and after a long detour, they found Sheng Shiyue.

At noon, the bright sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting butterfly-like light spots in the shade. A moment later, they were crushed under embroidered boots.

The person had unbound long hair, loosely draped over the shoulders. A white cloth still wrapped the forehead, adding a touch of frailty. She wore a light blue and white gauze Taoist robe, a gold collar around the neck, and a green palace sash tied at the waist with jade pendants hanging from the thin cord. The wide sleeves and long hem reached the ankles, swaying with her movements, giving a carefree and elegant air.

If someone unfamiliar saw her, they would hardly recognize her as the arrogant playboy others spoke of. Instead, she seemed like a frail, sickly noble who lived quietly in a mountain retreat, passing time with books.

“I knew it was you,” Sheng Shiyue said with a smile, her eyes curving.

The wind blew through the leaves, making a rustling sound, and the light spots on the ground swayed.

Perhaps because the other was a child, Sheng Shiyue’s voice softened. She bent down and explained, “That day, I fainted unexpectedly. When I woke up, someone had already taken you away, so I couldn’t find you.”

The child didn’t speak, only looked up at her forehead.

“It’s not your fault; someone else hurt me,” Sheng Shiyue said briefly, waving to dismiss the nearby servants.

Though the servants in the mansion were trustworthy and knew about Sheng Shiyue’s injury that day, she still didn’t want others to know too much.

As the sound of footsteps faded, Sheng Shiyue walked slowly forward with the child.

Compared to the radiant Sheng Shiyue, the child was extremely thin, wearing only coarse cloth clothes. Her exposed arms and legs bore scars, stark against her pale skin. Her young, delicate face had a cold, reserved air despite her age.

Sheng Shiyue looked at her for a while. From their first meeting until now, the child gave her an inexplicable sense of familiarity, as if…

Sheng Shiyue asked, “What’s your name?”

The child glanced up at her, showing she heard, but didn’t answer. If Sheng Shiyue hadn’t heard her speak before, she might have thought the child was mute.

“They said you were making a fuss to find me,” Sheng Shiyue said, not getting an answer, so she continued, “Don’t you want to go home? The others have given their addresses to the constables, and someone will soon take them home.”

Sheng Shiyue changed her tone, “If you don’t remember, they can help post notices to find your parents.”

Many children didn’t know where they lived and could only stammer vague impressions for others to deduce. But this child, who could secretly sharpen a stone blade under such circumstances without the guards noticing, must be clever. How could she remember nothing?

The little girl pursed her lips, looking unwilling to speak.

Sheng Shiyue didn’t get angry. She had heard yesterday that this girl was like this—whenever asked about these things, she acted mute. It was just a bit tricky.

After all, Sheng Shiyue was usually the pampered little ancestor. When had she ever needed to coax someone else?

Let alone a child who acted like a mute.

But just as Sheng Shiyue felt at a loss, a childish voice sounded in her ear.

“They won’t come for me. I was sold.”

Sheng Shiyue was stunned. Looking at the child, though only seven or eight years old, she spoke of this with no expression, her voice flat, as if talking about something unrelated to her.

This manner…

It was somewhat like Ning Qingge.

Sheng Shiyue frowned. A long-sealed memory, buried under dust, suddenly surfaced. But when she tried to look closely, it vanished, leaving no trace, only a strange feeling lingering in her heart.

She had once had a similar conversation with Ning Qingge.

Was it in the palace, or had she said it even earlier?

Sheng Shiyue tried to recall, but no trace remained.

Now wasn’t the time for memories. Sheng Shiyue could only suppress her doubts. Looking at the girl again, perhaps thinking Sheng Shiyue was upset by touching a sore spot, a hint of worry appeared on her face.

Sheng Shiyue found it amusing. The girl was expressionless when talking about herself, but worried when she saw Sheng Shiyue in pain. Thinking of how the girl had asked in the stone room if she would save the other children, Sheng Shiyue felt a stir of consideration.

But she didn’t mention it right away. Instead, she rubbed the girl’s head, glanced at the wooden boat by the lake, and said, “Want to row the boat, kid?”

Meng Qingxin’s niece loved coming to her place to row boats, playing all afternoon. But Sheng Shiyue found that child too noisy and rarely let Meng Qingxin bring her.

Hearing this, the little girl’s eyes indeed lit up.

Sheng Shiyue smiled. No matter how clever, she was still just a child.

She casually waved, and the guards by the lake pulled the rope, dragging the wooden boat to the shore.

Since it was a spur-of-the-moment idea, the boat had no soft blankets or silks. Another person hurried off and brought some fruits and pastries.

Sheng Shiyue waited for them to finish before reaching out to the girl and saying, “Let’s go.”

The girl, seeing this, loosened her hand, which had been hanging by her side, and put the tightly clutched stone into her clothes. Then she reached out to hold Sheng Shiyue’s hand.

Sheng Shiyue raised an eyebrow, catching a glimpse of the stone’s edge. It was the same familiar stone blade, kept until now.

She held the girl’s hand and stepped onto the wooden boat.

Once seated, a servant pushed the boat’s stern, and it glided out slowly. Servants on the other shore pulled the rope tied to the bow, and the boat moved forward unhurriedly.

Lotus flowers and leaves swayed around the boat, sending a faint fragrance that dispelled the summer heat, leaving only a comfortable calm.

Sheng Shiyue hadn’t come here in days. Now, she didn’t mind the single cushion behind her, leaning back in the boat as if boneless.

The child opposite sat upright and proper.

Sheng Shiyue glanced at her and felt the child resembled Ning Qingge even more.

When they reached a quiet spot, the boat stopped.

The child suddenly spoke up, asking, “Will they all get the punishment they deserve?”

Sheng Shiyue paused, her face darkening instantly, and she turned her head to the side.

The child seemed to understand and asked, “Are they very high-ranking officials?”

Though clever, she was still a child, limited by age and education. She could guess some things but couldn’t imagine much, only asking such questions in childish words.

The frustration that had lingered for days surged back, the feeling of powerlessness tormenting her. Sheng Shiyue opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say.

The girl seemed to understand and said, “Sorry.”

It wasn’t clear if it was for hitting her last time or for this abrupt question.

Sheng Shiyue took a deep breath and said, “Sorry.”

Her heart felt heavy, as if a massive stone was tied to it, pulling her down.

This wasn’t the first time she felt this way. It had happened countless times since she chose to become a carefree, ignorant playboy, destined to be powerless many times.

Even if she was unlearned and unwilling to think deeply, her family background and surroundings constantly reminded her of the importance of power.

“Imperial Sister…”

Before her eyes flashed the image of the woman in dragon robes, sitting high on the throne.

Sheng Shiyue closed her eyes and repeated, “Sorry.”

The girl said, “Can I eat a piece of pastry?”

She looked at the low table between them, where the servants had hurriedly placed pastries and fruits. Her eyes showed no longing, but she shifted the topic.

Sheng Shiyue tugged her lips and looked at her.

She didn’t know what this little one had been through, but at just seven or eight, she understood these things. Meng Qingxin’s niece, a few years older, was annoyingly bothersome, asking endless silly questions like why lotuses bloom, tormenting everyone around.

Who knows why lotuses bloom?

Even if answered, she’d come up with countless other questions—why is there a sun, why are there lotus leaves, why do lotus roots grow in mud?

But why are there so many whys? Flowers bloom because they want to, the sun rises because it does, lotus roots grow where they please. Those vile people hide their filth with power to protect their positions and heads. Is that hard to understand?

But…

Why should they?

Flowers blooming is their own matter, lotus roots growing in mud is their choice. But their way of venting desires is built on the cries and corpses of countless children.

Why should those with power control others’ lives and deaths, pretend nothing happened, and continue living in luxury, praised by others?

Sheng Shiyue closed her eyes, her hands under her robe clenching into fists.

After a while, she said, “They will get the punishment they deserve.”

Her voice was soft, as if afraid to disturb the calm lake or shake the nearby lotuses, light and fleeting, as if a breeze could scatter it.

The girl stared at her, her clear eyes still untouched by adult murkiness, like a young cat struggling in the human world.

Sheng Shiyue smiled, her brows relaxing, her gloom dissipating, exuding boundless charm. She casually pulled a jade pendant from her sash and offered it, saying, “Kid, how about trading this for that broken stone in your pocket?”

Sheng Shiyue, usually so picky, offered a Hetian jade pendant worth a hundred taels, though it was just an ordinary sash decoration.

Anyone else would have eagerly traded, but the girl looked at her steadily, then took out the stone and handed it over.

Sheng Shiyue, impatient, stuffed the jade pendant into her hand, grabbed the stone, and turned to throw it forcefully into the lake.

—Splash!

The stone broke the water’s surface with a loud sound and sank, disappearing completely.

Sheng Shiyue turned back, showing no attachment to the stone she’d bought at a high price, and said, “Since you don’t know where to go, stay at my mansion.”

She had picked up children before—Ye Liuyun, Ye Chili, and several others in the mansion were her finds—so she continued without pause, “Shall I give you a new name? How about…?”

Her gaze shifted, and she decided, “How about Little Lotus?”

Her naming was this casual. Seeing a cloud, she got Ye Baiyun; seeing charcoal, she got Ye Huotan. It was only because Lord Wu’an couldn’t stand it that he refined the names, avoiding Baiyu and Huotan.

She was quite pleased with herself and turned to the girl, saying happily, “Little Lotus, do you like it?”

She even started calling her that.

The girl silently looked at her, expressing her stance with silence.

Sheng Shiyue ignored it, picked up a pastry, stuffed it into the girl’s mouth, and said, “From now on, take pastries whenever you want. Tell the kitchen what you want to eat, and they’ll make it. No need to ask me.”

“I’ll have them prepare a small courtyard for you,” Sheng Shiyue said, rubbing her chin and muttering, “Will you be scared living alone?”

“How about staying with Chili for now? We’ll set up a courtyard, and you can decide whether to live there. Oh, Little Lotus, do you want to study literature or martial arts?”

Sheng Shiyue was excited. She hadn’t picked up anyone since becoming an adult, so she rambled on, “It’s up to you. If you study literature, I’ll find you a literate teacher. If martial arts, Liuyun and Chili can teach you.”

The girl, with a pastry stuffed in her mouth, cheeks puffed out, couldn’t make a sound, only listening to Sheng Shiyue’s chatter.

“Oh, your bond contract…” Sheng Shiyue remembered something and said, “I’ll have someone look for it. If they can’t find it, we’ll get you a new registry.”

In the Liang Kingdom, a registry was needed to be considered a citizen, like a modern household registration. It allowed buying land or houses, marking one as free. A bond contract was for human sales; if sold into servitude, the contract was held by the master. In Liang law, those without a bond contract weren’t citizens but property, their life and death decided by the master.

Little Lotus’s eyes flickered, wanting to say something but only managing muffled whimpers, with pastry crumbs falling.

Sheng Shiyue didn’t notice and continued, “Later, I’ll introduce you to people. Aunt Qu is like the head steward of my mansion; you can go to her for anything. Ye Liuyun and Ye Chili are my personal guards, raised with me, picked up like you…”

Her peripheral vision caught someone on the shore, and she turned to look.

A graceful figure stood by the shore, gazing gently their way, waiting for who-knows-how-long.

Sheng Shiyue couldn’t help but smile, her eyes like spring breezes. She pointed and said, “Little Lotus, that’s my Madam.”

Little Lotus, mouth full of pastry, looked over and made an “mm” sound, showing she understood.

Sheng Shiyue said no more, waved to the distance, and someone pulled the rope, drawing the boat to the shore.

Lotus leaves parted, and petals fell into the water.

As the boat reached the shore, Sheng Shiyue jumped off, took three steps in two, and quickly walked to Ning Qingge, saying, “Why are you back so early? How long have you been here? Why didn’t you call me?”

A string of questions spilled out, leaving it unclear which to answer.

Ning Qingge looked at her helplessly, casually taking her hand. Her fingers slid between Sheng Shiyue’s, interlocking tightly, and she said gently, “Walk slowly; I’m not running away.”

Sheng Shiyue’s eyes curved as she smiled, losing her earlier elegance and gaining an inexplicable charm.

Ning Qingge asked, “Didn’t the doctor say you need rest and no jolting for a few days? Why are you on a boat?”

Her tone held a hint of reproach but remained gentle, not quite a scolding.

Sheng Shiyue scratched her head, knowing she’d been reckless, and defended, “I was coaxing the kid.”

Ning Qingge’s expression didn’t change, and she said, “I saw. You even gave her a jade pendant.”

Sheng Shiyue was about to nod and boast about her care for the young and bringing a child home, but Ning Qingge added softly, “A Hetian white jade pendant you wore personally.”

Sheng Shiyue’s expression froze, sensing something amiss.

“Not only did you give her a Hetian white jade pendant you wore personally, but you also invited her to row a boat with you in the lotus pond, laughing and playing…” Ning Qingge’s gaze shifted to the child behind Sheng Shiyue and added, “You even personally fed her a pastry.”

Sheng Shiyue swallowed hard, about to speak but was interrupted.

“What’s this little sister’s name? Is it one, three, five at her place, and two, four, six at mine?”

The words were getting more outrageous!

Sheng Shiyue’s brows jumped, and she quickly said, “What nonsense are you talking? She’s just a kid. I don’t have that kind of fetish.”

Ning Qingge gave a half-smile, “Oh, she’s a bit young. So you’ll keep her in the mansion until she grows up?”

“Ning Qingge!” Sheng Shiyue raised her voice, hurriedly explaining, “Don’t overthink it. I didn’t mean that.”

“Really? But you personally gave her a jade pendant you wore…” Ning Qingge raised her eyes and said, “Don’t you know the meaning of giving someone a jade pendant?”

“I only have one wooden hairpin I begged for myself.”

Sheng Shiyue’s expression stiffened, cold sweat pouring down her back like rain.