The Prime Minister Knows How to Handle Her Wife (ABO, GL) - Chapter 43

Chapter 43

The Yicui Tower was quiet during the day, with the sound of water from the lake bringing a cool shade. A servant sat alone in the middle of the stage, holding a pipa and casually strumming.

Looking up from the first floor, one could see two figures, one large and one small, sitting side by side leisurely on the second floor.

The people below lowered their voices, whispering among themselves. The case of trafficking children in Bianjing had just passed, making it a sensitive time. Sheng Shiyue’s poor reputation, often doing lawless and bizarre things, combined with this, fueled even more gossip.

“…What is Sheng Jiu doing, bringing a child to a brothel? That’s absurd!”

Someone nearby added, “Didn’t the rumor say that Ninth Highness is very afraid of her wife and was forced by the Prime Minister to reform and study diligently? How come she’s out causing trouble in broad daylight?”

Another person scoffed, “I said it was a rumor. How could she possibly change? Buying a golden abacus herself, kneeling until her knees were swollen, and getting ointment for bruises from the doctor—it’s all just an act!”

Sheng Shiyue couldn’t hear what they were saying, and even if she did, she wouldn’t bother. She leaned against a low table, looking boneless, her posture lazy, her half-closed eyes showing some tiredness.

She slept late yesterday and got up early to be busy until now. Exhausted, the soft sound of the pipa made her drowsy.

Little Lotus beside her didn’t make a sound to disturb her. With her hair in a three-bun style and wearing a peach-colored dress, she looked innocent and lively, yet she sat upright on a cushion, facing forward with a serious expression, like she was in a classroom.

Sheng Shiyue lazily noticed and chuckled, teasing, “What’s the teacher up front saying? Is she scolding you?”

Little Lotus was startled, then realized and frowned, calling out, “Ninth Highness.”

Sheng Shiyue, with no adult self-awareness, kept teasing, “Why are you calling me? If the teacher catches you daydreaming, you’ll get a spanking.”

Little Lotus, helpless, could only look at Sheng Shiyue with clear, bright eyes.

This worked better. Sheng Shiyue rubbed her face, forced herself to wake up, and looked outside, muttering, “Why is it so slow today?”

She was about to fall asleep waiting for the snacks.

Maybe her muttering worked, as messy footsteps sounded outside, like three or four people. Then a knock came at the door. Sheng Shiyue casually called, “Come in.”

The door opened, and several people carrying wooden trays stepped in.

Sheng Shiyue’s gaze landed on the leader, her eyebrow raised. The sleepiness in her eyes faded, replaced by a playful and cold look.

Plates of snacks were placed on the table, and the other servants left silently. But the woman in a purple silk dress with green patterns stayed, kneeling by the low table as if to serve, bowing and saying, “Ninth Highness.”

Sheng Shiyue ignored her, grabbed a pastry, and stuffed it into Little Lotus’s mouth, smiling, “Eat this, and don’t be mad at me anymore, okay?”

She wasn’t even mad!

Little Lotus couldn’t speak, her mouth full of pastry, only making muffled sounds.

Sheng Shiyue nodded, agreeing, “Okay, okay, I know. Next time, I’ll be careful not to mess up our Little Lotus’s hair. Our Little Lotus needs to look good outside too.”

The naive child widened her eyes, never having seen such a shameless person.

Sheng Shiyue kept laughing, clearly bullying but acting pitiful and humble, saying, “I’ll definitely remember next time, okay? I won’t let Little Lotus lose face outside again.”

The child wanted to explain, hurriedly swallowing the pastry, but before she could speak, Sheng Shiyue stuffed another piece in.

Little Lotus: …

“Mmph.”

Sheng Shiyue kindly offered some plum juice, saying, “If you like it, eat more. No rush, this whole table is yours.”

Absolutely outrageous!

Little Lotus’s face flushed with anger, chewing with puffed cheeks, both mad and pitiful.

Meanwhile, the ignored woman didn’t get upset. She lowered her head, acting humble and obedient. When Sheng Shiyue paused, she moved a plate forward, softly saying, “Your Highness, try this pastry.”

She added, “It’s been a while since I made this osmanthus cake. I’m not sure if my skills have slipped.”

Everyone knew Yicui Tower’s top courtesan excelled in song and dance, with a beautiful demeanor, but Sheng Shiyue loved her pastries most. She always sent someone ahead to let her prepare.

Sheng Shiyue’s smile faded, her tone cooling, “What’s that?”

“Is Madam Huanyan so free today that she’s wandering in front of me?”

She knew she shouldn’t have come. She should’ve gone to Fan Tower instead. Sheng Shiyue showed annoyance. The last few visits, Huanyan wasn’t around, so she thought Huanyan was tactful and stayed away. Yet here she was now.

Ning Huanyan was prepared for this. Her face paled, but she forced an explanation, “Your Highness, I have my own difficulties.”

“And then?” Sheng Shiyue grew irritated, her tone worsening.

Because she once saw Huanyan kneeling by chance, Sheng Shiyue felt pity. She spent a fortune to turn a mere servant girl into Yicui Tower’s top courtesan, shielding her from many sordid things. Such kindness, yet Huanyan not only didn’t appreciate it but betrayed her to Ning Qingge.

How could Sheng Shiyue tolerate this? Not flipping the table and leaving was only because this place belonged to Ning Qingge’s business.

Ning Huanyan bit her lip, saying, “That day, when Miss Meng and the others rushed over, I had someone change the story…”

She tried to soften Sheng Shiyue’s heart this way.

But she underestimated Sheng Shiyue’s temper. Sheng Shiyue sneered, “What? Does Madam Huanyan want me to thank her profusely?”

She casually pulled out a banknote, slapped it on the table, and said, “Is this enough for your hush money?”

Her personality was clear-cut in likes and dislikes.

If she saw someone as her own, she treated them well from the heart, while showing her spoiled and bad-tempered side.

Like how she always teased Meng Qingxin, but when Meng Qingxin was leaving, she asked Madam Meng for help, gave banknotes, and even sent her most trusted aide, worrying endlessly for her.

But once Sheng Shiyue cut someone off, as long as they didn’t appear before her, she couldn’t be bothered to think of them or waste a word.

Luckily, Ning Qingge had salvaged things in time, jumping into a lake without hesitation, coaxing and explaining emotionally to show her feelings. Otherwise, once Sheng Shiyue calmed down the next day, no amount of groveling from Ning Qingge would’ve helped.

Seeing this, Ning Huanyan couldn’t hold on. Her face full of misery, she said, “Your Highness knows that’s not what I mean.”

She nearly broke down, leaning forward, grabbing Sheng Shiyue’s sleeve, almost prostrating, crying, “Why can Ning Qingge do it, but I can’t?!”

Her figure was alluring, her face gentle, her peach-blossom eyes brimming with tears. Even silent, she could make hearts ache, let alone with such a display.

She sobbed, “Your Highness, I’m not like Ning Qingge. I’ve always loved…”

“Madam Ning!” Sheng Shiyue cut her off sharply, her eyes icy, her tight jaw like a sharp line, saying word by word, “You can’t have it both ways.”

Sheng Shiyue rarely showed this side. Her usual carefree and lazy demeanor vanished, her overly refined features now cold, looking down with a commanding air.

Ning Huanyan froze, then showed a trace of realization, looking up with a bitter laugh, “You always knew?”

Sheng Shiyue softened her expression, her eyelids half-lowered, saying only, “This is what you chose.”

At some point, the surroundings grew quiet, the chaotic noises gone, leaving only the woman’s suppressed sobs.

Little Lotus beside her clutched Sheng Shiyue’s sleeve, crumbs still on her mouth, mimicking her fierce glare at the other.

Sheng Shiyue, extremely annoyed, caught sight of the child in her peripheral vision and couldn’t help but laugh, forgetting what she just said, vigorously rubbing the child’s head.

Her already messy hair became even worse, turning into a complete bird’s nest.

Sheng Shiyue wasn’t foolish. How could she not notice the occasional fervent looks from the other?

Back then, though she didn’t understand love, she gave her a chance, thinking Bianjing’s top playgirl and a brothel courtesan might match. She offered sincerity, promising that if it didn’t work, she’d grant a divorce, give a thousand taels of silver, and set her free.

But Ning Huanyan gave her up, going from a disposable courtesan to the madam of Bianjing’s largest brothel.

Sheng Shiyue didn’t want to hear her excuses—status, position, or whatever. Nor did she care how Ning Huanyan and Ning Qingge made their deal or what was promised. She wouldn’t ask either.

Little Lotus, with her hair a mess, finally couldn’t take it. She grabbed Sheng Shiyue’s hands, then hugged her arm, stopping her from continuing.

Sheng Shiyue let the child hold her, her voice still carrying laughter, but not because of Ning Huanyan. She said her final words, “I hope you understand, my wife now is Ning Qingge.”

Ning Huanyan froze, her body under the ornate dress like a still stone. Tears slid from her eyes, wetting the soft fabric. She slowly closed her eyes, stood up moments later, said nothing, didn’t even glance at Sheng Shiyue, and turned to leave.

Sheng Shiyue didn’t look back, busy “coaxing” the child, her laughter free of guilt, saying, “Oh, how did it get so messy with one touch? Shall I braid it back for you?”

“Come on, eat some pastries. Why be mad? At such a young age, why learn to scowl like them? It’s not cute at all.”

Little Lotus silently glared, expressing her anger without words.

At the door, Ning Huanyan paused as if to turn back but saw someone outside. Her body shook, she muttered something softly, then hurried away.

The person stepped over the threshold, walked to the table, knelt, and slowly said, “Your Highness.”

Sheng Shiyue was stunned, genuinely unaware, turning back in surprise, “Why are you here?”

She blinked, realizing belatedly, and asked, “When did you get here?”

How long was she eavesdropping outside?

Only now did she notice the excessive quiet. The gossiping crowd had gone silent, ears perked for the commotion upstairs, with only the lake’s water and distant noise remaining.

Ning Qingge didn’t hide it, saying, “When she knelt by Your Highness’s side, I was already here, standing outside.”

Sheng Shiyue rolled her eyes ungracefully, huffing, “You came just in time. No need to pay for a show—you heard the whole drama from outside.”

Ning Qingge, who arrived in a rush, still wore her purple crane robe from court, her gold-jade belt slightly askew, hair tied with the hairpin Sheng Shiyue gave her. Though dignified, her refined eyes lowered, giving an oddly submissive air.

She replied, “I didn’t want to disturb Your Highness.”

Sheng Shiyue laughed in exasperation, sarcastically saying, “If you really didn’t want to disturb, you wouldn’t have carried me into the Prime Minister’s Mansion in a sedan.”

Mentioning this, she felt angry. The rushed wedding skipped so much that she couldn’t even say “three letters, six rites” or “proper marriage.” All she could muster was, “My wife now is Ning Qingge.”

The more she thought, the angrier she got, stuffing a pastry into Ning Qingge’s mouth.

Didn’t she dislike sweets? This red bean pastry was cloyingly sweet—sweet enough to kill Ning Qingge!

She also moved the tea far out of Ning Qingge’s reach.

Ning Qingge didn’t resist, obediently biting the pastry.

The overly sweet taste made her frown, but she didn’t spit any out.

Sheng Shiyue, far from pitying, stuffed another piece in.

The Prime Minister’s mouth was stuffed, cheeks puffed rounder than Little Lotus’s, looking even more pitiful, barely able to chew, grinding it down bit by bit.

If the crowd downstairs, expecting the Prime Minister to punish the wayward playgirl, saw this, they’d sigh in dismay. How could the Prime Minister, second only to the Emperor, suffer such indignity?

Some hotheads might even rush up to stop Sheng Shiyue.

Sadly, no one saw. The only bystander, Little Lotus, was sipping plum juice.

She ate too fast earlier, and the pastry stuck in her throat, refusing to go down.

Ning Qingge knew Sheng Shiyue was upset, with a knot in her heart. Usually, it was fine, but Ning Huanyan’s mention stirred old grudges, making her furious. Not storming out was already good—just eating a few pastries.

Unable to speak, Ning Qingge took her hand, skillfully sliding from palm to fingers, interlocking tightly.

Sheng Shiyue huffed but didn’t stop her, softening slightly, still puffed up like an angry pufferfish.

Ning Qingge wasn’t in a hurry, chewing slowly, gently shaking Sheng Shiyue’s arm.

They sat close, their different-colored robes overlapping, the shaking arm brushing the fabric, making a rustling sound.

Whether she was deliberately acting pitiful, the two small pastries seemed like poison. Her furrowed brow didn’t relax, her watery eyes fixed on Sheng Shiyue. As she swallowed painfully, her usually subtle Adam’s apple seemed to bob up and down.

Sheng Shiyue pouted, then brought back the teapot she’d moved away.

It was because Little Lotus was there—she couldn’t be too harsh with Ning Qingge, or else…

She’d have it coming.

She glared at Ning Qingge again. Before, Ning Qingge didn’t seem to like her much, always scolding her or standing sternly at a distance. Who could understand her feelings?

No pursuit, just schemes and deals, and she was carried back to the mansion. The more Sheng Shiyue thought, the angrier she got, her cheeks puffier than the pastry-eater’s, physically showing her discontent.

Noticing something off, the other leaned close, swallowed the remaining pastry in one go, rested her head on Sheng Shiyue’s shoulder, and hoarsely said, “I was wrong.”

Her apology was quick and sincere.

Sheng Shiyue’s gaze shifted to the lake’s high platform, recalling something, and fumed, “Ning Qingge! You haven’t played the zither for me since!”

Holding her hand, Ning Qingge quickly coaxed, “Tonight, I’ll play for you tonight.”

Failing to pick a fight, Sheng Shiyue switched tactics, saying, “Don’t lie to me again, or… or I’ll sleep in a separate room.”

What a scary threat.

Ning Qingge blinked innocently, saying, “I have something to confess.”

There was more? What else was she hiding? Sheng Shiyue nearly choked, gritting her teeth, “Speak.”

Ning Qingge was frank, “I found that doctor.”

“Xu Sanchi?”

“Yes,” Ning Qingge nodded.

Sheng Shiyue smirked. She knew Qu Li couldn’t have found someone so easily—someone was helping behind the scenes.

Ning Qingge explained gently, “I was afraid you wouldn’t want it, so I found a suitable doctor first, so when you’re ready to heal, we’d have someone.”

Mindful of the child, she kept it brief.

Sheng Shiyue glanced at her, asking, “Anything else? Like what you’ve found out?”

No need to think hard—since Ning Qingge found a doctor, she must’ve investigated the details too.

“Not much to find. If Your Highness could tell me…”

Before she finished, Sheng Shiyue rolled her eyes, cutting in, “I’m not telling you. Find out yourself. Let’s see what you can dig up.”

Since that person erased the traces, Ning Qingge finding any clues was already impressive. Going further was impossible, even with her skills. And Sheng Shiyue, still mad, wouldn’t tell her.

Ning Qingge wasn’t annoyed, softly coaxing, “Your Highness, tell me, please?”

“No way!”

“In your dreams!”

Ning Qingge seemed to smile, then said, “How can Your Highness calm down? Maybe…”

Her tone dragged, winding seductively, warm breath by the ear, strangely enticing.

“Punish me with those things you bought.”

Sheng Shiyue blinked, shamefully tempted.

After half an incense stick, the waiting crowd finally heard footsteps from the second floor.

Everyone held their breath, looking over.

No expected scene—just Sheng Shiyue holding the child’s hand, striding out.

The Prime Minister, disappointing the crowd, followed half a step behind.

What… was this?

Where was the drama they waited for?

Shouldn’t the Prime Minister, cold-faced, drag the naughty playgirl out by the ear, with Sheng Shiyue wailing she’d never dare again? Why did it look like the Prime Minister messed up and got scolded by Sheng Shiyue?

The crowd was confused, unable to understand.