The Prime Minister Knows How to Handle Her Wife (ABO, GL) - Chapter 51

Chapter 51

As the prayer for a bountiful harvest and favorable weather concluded, a black ox horn sounded. The newly crowned martial champion drew a bow and shot an arrow at a straw target hanging from a tree in the forest.

The silver arrow pierced the wind, striking the center of the straw target, prompting a cheer from the crowd.

The martial champion whipped the horse and led the charge into the forest. Others followed, and the sound of hooves and shouts filled the air, stirring up dust and shaking the leaves.

In the past, Sheng Shiyue would have rushed into the forest first, but now she deliberately lingered in a secluded spot, her gaze sweeping toward the center.

The emperor, advanced in years, grew tired from even this short journey. She rested in a cushioned chair, eyes half-closed.

A few days ago, some court officials had advised Her Majesty to care for her health and avoid the strain of the summer hunt.

Though meant as concern, the words angered Sheng Lishu. She tossed the memorial aside, cursed loudly, and insisted on attending despite her aging body.

Earlier, some whispered that Sheng Lishu had secretly summoned alchemists to the palace. No one knew what treasures they offered, but they pleased her greatly, and she granted them official titles. Ministers privately discussed how to dissuade her.

But…

Sheng Shiyue’s eyes lowered, recalling the scene she witnessed when entering the palace. She feared the emperor was too deeply immersed in this path for mere advice to sway her.

Sheng Shiyue closed her eyes. When she opened them, all emotion had vanished from her gaze. She looked toward the center again.

Sheng Lishu, resting her head on one hand, waved. Her attendants lifted the cushioned chair and carried her to a prepared tent.

Last year’s autumn hunt came to mind. The emperor could still order guards to drive rabbits and foxes from the hunting grounds, trap them in bamboo enclosures, and shoot them herself. She gifted three rabbits she killed to Ning Qingge, Sixth Princess, and the autumn hunt’s champion.

Eighth Princess was so furious about it that she scolded everyone around her.

Now, did she lack even the strength to draw a bow?

If not for the martial exams delaying things, the emperor would likely have already moved to Nanyuan for a summer retreat. She wouldn’t have come to the summer hunt.

The timing of the martial exams was unfortunate. Had they been a year earlier, this wouldn’t have happened. The ministers’ advice happened to touch the emperor’s sore spot. Even an emperor couldn’t face aging calmly.

Once the emperor left, Ning Qingge, standing nearby, began to move.

An attendant brought her horse and helped her mount. After a few steps back, Ning Qingge tugged the reins, and her horse trotted into the forest.

Sheng Shiyue raised an eyebrow, set aside other thoughts, and waved to her group. They spurred their horses forward.

The wind lifted her green robe, her high ponytail fluttering. As she entered the forest, a cool shade enveloped her, leaving the sunlight behind.

Without pausing to savor it, Sheng Shiyue shouted, “Ning Wangshu!”

Zhaoye, her clever horse, understood her intent without words and trotted toward the black horse ahead.

Ning Qingge glanced back instinctively. Sheng Shiyue leaned close, stretched out a long arm, hooked Ning Qingge’s waist, and, without asking, pulled her over with force.

Ning Qingge recognized her voice and didn’t resist, though the sudden move startled her. By the time she reacted, she was sitting sideways on Sheng Shiyue’s horse, held in her arms.

Sheng Shiyue looked down at her, as if she’d forgotten past events. Her playful, reckless demeanor returned. With a smirk, she said, “Why didn’t you wait for me?”

Ning Qingge struggled, but Sheng Shiyue held her tighter, her grip like a vice. Though her face remained calm, her heart fluttered with unease, and she dared not relax.

Sheng Shiyue leaned forward, her broader Qianyuan frame curling around Ning Qingge, shielding her. She said, “Didn’t you ask me to teach you archery?”

She refused to let her go, finding endless excuses.

Softening her voice, she pleaded, “Ning Wangshu.”

Luckily, Zhaoye kept a steady pace, leaving Qu Li and the others behind. Otherwise, they’d be snickering at Sheng Shiyue.

Ning Qingge, helpless, softened her tone. “I thought you’d already gone ahead.”

“No way!” Sheng Shiyue immediately denied, raising her voice.

Seeing Ning Qingge didn’t understand, she explained, “I saw Your Highness always rushing ahead in the past, so I thought you’d already left with your group. I was about to go find you.”

Hearing this, Sheng Shiyue’s expression softened. She nuzzled Ning Qingge’s head and muttered, “That’s because I don’t want them scaring off the prey, so I ride ahead to avoid them.”

She added, “Ning Wangshu, what do you like to eat? I’ll hunt a big deer or wild boar for you. A raccoon tastes good, but it’s so small, there’s no point in shooting one.”

She mumbled on, not saying anything flattering but subtly coaxing.

Ning Qingge pressed her lips together, finally giving in. “Let me sit properly first.”

But Sheng Shiyue disagreed, raising an eyebrow confidently. “Don’t you like watching me ride? This way, you can see better.”

Sheng Shiyue had been pondering alone, unable to figure out if Ning Qingge was upset or why. After much thought, she only concluded that Ning Qingge seemed to enjoy watching her ride.

She didn’t care why—it was enough to use it to please her.

Her lips brushed Ning Qingge’s forehead, leaving soft kisses.

It was hard to say what to make of her. She coaxed like a child, piling things she thought Ning Qingge might like into her arms, all without strategy, charmingly naive.

Qu Li and the others kept their distance behind. An occasional worried glance revealed Sheng Shiyue with a longbow on her back, an arrow quiver at her waist, left hand on the reins, right arm around Ning Qingge, her eyes obediently pleading. It was as if she wished she could grow a fluffy tail to wag eagerly for the Prime Minister’s smile.

Some riders, not vying for the lead, passed by with shocked and curious expressions.

Sheng Shiyue ignored them, lowering her head to hum, “Ning Wangshu, Ning Wangshu.”

“Lady Ning.”

“Prime Minister, Great Prime Minister Ning.”

She blinked and added, “Sister Ning.”

Her clear voice, even when drawn out, didn’t feel greasy. It was like a fluffy kitten nuzzling with its head.

Hearing the term “Sister Ning,” Ning Qingge’s body stiffened for some reason.

Sheng Shiyue, pressed close, noticed immediately. Like sticky candy, she latched on, calling, “Sister Ning, Sister Ning.”

Her drawn-out tone twisted and turned, the words blending together like a child learning to speak.

Sheng Shiyue dropped a word, shouting, “Sister…”

Before she could finish, Ning Qingge raised a hand to stop her. Unable to resist, she softened her tone. “Let’s go.”

“Huh?” Sheng Shiyue blinked, momentarily confused.

She looked dazed.

Ning Qingge sighed. “Didn’t you say we’d hunt a big deer? If we’re too slow, the prey will be scared off and flee far away. Where will you hunt then?”

This meant she agreed.

Sheng Shiyue’s eyes lit up, but before she could respond, Ye Liuyun and others rode up, passing by one after another, coughing loudly.

Martial artists had sharp senses, able to hear leaves fall meters away. Sheng Shiyue’s repeated calls were impossible to miss. Hearing Ninth Princess finally coax the Prime Minister, they rushed forward to make their presence known, though their motives were unclear.

Sheng Shiyue’s ears turned red with embarrassment. She spurred her horse, chasing after them, both angry and flustered.

Black, white, and red horses darted through the forest at breakneck speed. When branches blocked the way, they were sliced apart with a knife before reaching them.

A sea eagle perched on Ye Liuyun’s shoulder let out a cry, pushed off with its claws, and soared upward like a white arrow through the leaves.

Sheng Shiyue and her group followed, shouting relentlessly.

The summer hunt had changed from its original form. Initially, it was about rulers showing respect for agriculture, leading ministers to worship heaven and earth, and personally removing birds and snakes that harmed crops.

Now, aside from the rituals, little remained. People treated the summer hunt as a competition, hoping to bag larger prey to win the top spot and gain the emperor’s favor.

Unmarried Qianyuan also used it to prove themselves, hoping to win Kunze’s admiration.

Thus, everyone took it seriously. Moments after entering the forest, most vanished deep inside, seeking big game.

Only Sheng Shiyue and her group treated it as fun, occasionally shooting an arrow and riding to retrieve it. When they returned, a rabbit hung from their waists.

Sheng Shiyue, true to her word, focused on pleasing Ning Qingge. Each time she drew her bow, she placed Ning Qingge’s hand on it, guiding her to shoot.

No one knew how accurate the shots were, but when Qu Li returned, she always brought a rabbit with an odd head wound, as if struck by a pebble before being pierced by an arrow.

Sheng Shiyue coughed twice and praised Ning Qingge’s skill.

Ye Liuyun and Ye Chili joined in, echoing her praise.

Ning Qingge saw through the act but let Sheng Shiyue play along.

Deep in the forest, the foliage grew denser. A cry sounded, followed by rustling leaves, as if something large was running.

Sheng Shiyue and her group quickly drew their bows, turning to the left.

The sea eagle, missing for a while, darted through the leaves, followed by a charging black boar. No one knew how Zhendong provoked it, but it was furious.

“Good Zhendong!” Sheng Shiyue praised.

The group spread out in a practiced circle, waiting for the boar to charge in.

Perhaps sensing their presence, the boar hesitated, slowing its steps. Before anyone could worry, Zhendong swooped down, clawing at the boar’s eyes.

—Roar!

The boar roared in pain, charging forward wildly.

Those hiding behind trees silently drew their bows.

Sheng Shiyue did the same, her playful expression gone, her gaze focused, jaw tight, unusually serious.

As the saying goes, “One boar, two bears, three tigers.” A boar ranked above bears and tigers in the forest, showing its ferocity. An adult boar could weigh 400 jin, capable of toppling trees as thick as bowls when charging.

In winter, when food was scarce, boars would descend mountains, destroy homes, harm people, and devour stored grain, leaving arrogantly. Farmers could only watch helplessly.

Without the group and their sharp arrows and knives, running would be the wisest choice.

As Zhendong clawed at the boar’s vulnerable eyes again, its face was covered in claw marks from all angles, explaining its rage.

—Roar! Roar!

The boar roared in pain, crashing into a tree. With a “bang,” the tree snapped, and the boar stumbled, shaking as if it couldn’t see.

“Attack!” Qu Li shouted decisively.

Sheng Shiyue’s expression hardened. Without speaking, she grabbed Ning Qingge’s hand, placed it on the bowstring, and pulled back.

Almost simultaneously, dozens of arrows flew, aiming for the boar’s vitals. Before the first arrows landed, the group notched a second round.

Arrows whistled relentlessly. The boar howled, trying to find its attacker, but its vision was blocked. Pain overwhelmed it as arrows rained down, and it thrashed, scattering birds and damaging trees within ten meters.

Still, the group didn’t stop.

Someone, by sheer luck, hit the boar’s eye in the chaos.

The boar reared, letting out a piercing scream, bl00d streaming down its face.

Seeing this, Sheng Shiyue exhaled, and the group’s movements slowed.

Zhendong, the instigator, perched on a nearby branch, tilting its head, its bean-sized eyes watching the boar with a hint of smugness, as if the boar had greatly offended it.

The boar grew madder, bleeding faster, showing signs of exhaustion within moments.

Sheng Shiyue coughed once.

Her group understood, lowering their bows, no more arrows flying.

Sheng Shiyue handed the bow to Ning Qingge, saying softly, “Want to try?”

Ning Qingge frowned, instinctively resisting. “You don’t need to do this.”

Sheng Shiyue didn’t give up, coaxing like a child, “Just try.”

Ning Qingge knew her limits. Without Sheng Shiyue’s help, her arrow would likely fall short.

“I can’t…”

Sheng Shiyue, as if deaf to her words, looked at her with a pitiful, expectant expression, like a lion cub waiting.

Ning Qingge paused, sighed softly, and gave in. She couldn’t resist Sheng Shiyue and raised the bow.

At worst, it would fall to the ground, and everyone would laugh.

Gritting her teeth, Ning Qingge shot. As expected, the arrow lacked strength, weak enough to be caught midair.

But then, Sheng Shiyue whistled.

Zhendong took flight, grabbed the falling arrow, and flew toward the boar, aiming for its other eye. As it released the arrow, a stone flew from the forest, striking the arrow’s tail, driving it into the boar’s eye.

The boar let out a wail, weaker than before, like a final cry before death.

As the sound faded, the boar collapsed, twitched a few times, and went still.

The group laughed, shouting, “Madam is amazing!”

“Madam’s shot was so accurate!”

“Madam is a divine archer!”

“Even hitting a target at a hundred paces is nothing compared to Madam!”

It was unclear how Sheng Shiyue had teased them before, but they cooperated seamlessly, lying with straight faces.

Sheng Shiyue even clapped dramatically, exclaiming, “As expected of our Prime Minister! Her archery is top-notch.”

No matter Ning Qingge’s earlier mood, she was now both amused and exasperated. “You don’t need to flatter me like this.”

“Why not?” Sheng Shiyue countered immediately.

“I’m not a three-year-old…”

Before she could finish, Sheng Shiyue interrupted, “I don’t flatter three-year-olds.”

Her eyes lowered, clear and pure, reflecting Ning Qingge’s image. She said earnestly, “I only flatter you.”

She pressed her lips, paused, and said seriously, “Ning Qingge, from now on, I’ll protect you.”

A sudden breeze stirred a wave of green through the forest. The hand on Ning Qingge’s waist tightened, pulling her close. Sheng Shiyue repeated in her ear, “I’ll protect you.”

The girl’s promise was raw, unadorned by fancy words, almost laughably plain, like a farmer who’d never read a book, stammering vows at a wedding.

Yet Ning Qingge’s eyes wavered, and she said, “Good.”