The Prime Minister Knows How to Handle His Wife (ABO, GL) - Chapter 6

Chapter 6

When Sheng Shiyue woke again, she wore a red wedding robe.

A red cloth strip hung hastily at the bed’s head, crooked, with the double-happiness character showing rushed brushstrokes. Even the fruit tray on the wooden table sat messily, everything revealing this was an extremely hurried wedding.

The wind pushed open the half-closed wooden window, making a loud bang, dispersing the room’s lingering alcohol scent and bringing the coolness of the night.

Sheng Shiyue opened her eyes, then quickly closed them, repeating this two or three times, still feeling like she was dreaming.

It wasn’t her fault. One moment she fainted in a brothel; the next, she opened her eyes to a wedding night. No one could comprehend or believe it.

Was she trapped in a nightmare?

Sheng Shiyue resignedly lifted her eyelids, seeing unfamiliar carved patterns, realizing this wasn’t even her mansion.

It felt like a storybook plot: a fair-skinned Qianyuan captured by a spirit, forced into marriage.

Thinking this, Sheng Shiyue relaxed slightly, thinking at least it wasn’t Ning Qingge.

She exhaled, about to prop herself up, but her gaze dropped downward.

—Bang!

The person who just sat up fell heavily back onto the bed.

The figure in a matching red wedding robe, still as cold as the moonlight, was none other than Ning Qingge, whom she avoided at all costs!

The person beside her seemed to have expected this. Seeing Sheng Shiyue play dead on the bed, she only said softly, “Since Your Highness is awake…”

“No, I’m not awake.”

Before she finished, Sheng Shiyue interrupted, closing her eyes and acting shamelessly.

It wasn’t that she was avoiding reality; she was truly at a loss. Her mind was a complete mess, unable to understand how things had come to this—more absurd than a chaotic dream.

First, her carefree days were to be controlled. Then, the flower maiden turned into a zither player, who turned out to be Ning Qingge. Now, somehow, they were married!

Sheng Shiyue covered her eyes with her hand, thinking that even as an uneducated fool, she knew a wedding wasn’t trivial. Commoners needed ten days to half a month, and her second sister’s marriage took six months despite rushing. How could she go from closing her eyes to being married?

Even street children playing pretend needed a ceremony and veil-lifting, right?

Her thoughts reached this point, and Sheng Shiyue sat up abruptly, saying, “Lord Prime Minister, Sheng Jiu indeed acted recklessly before, but that time outside the tent, I truly wanted to avoid you. Instead, I clumsily ended up overhearing your conversation with someone.”

Her expression turned serious, the playful, cursing girl solemn for the first time, “Sheng Jiu promises you, I’ll never tell anyone about this. You’re magnanimous, so please stop teasing me.”

Ning Qingge sat at the bed’s end, leaning against the carved wooden frame. Perhaps due to the rush, she wore no heavy makeup, just light touches that added a hint of allure to her eyes, though no one appreciated it, and fatigue crept in.

“Teasing?” She repeated the word, then continued calmly, “Does Your Highness think I’m retaliating against you?”

The girl opposite paled, her ill-fitting robe hanging loosely, showing no joy of a wedding night. Suppressing her anger, she said, “If it’s not retaliation, why did you go to such lengths to stage this elaborate act?”

Sheng Shiyue still couldn’t accept it.

Ning Qingge lifted her eyelids, her dark eyes like a bottomless abyss reflecting Sheng Shiyue’s form, and said, “The imperial edict granting the marriage is on the table. If Your Highness doesn’t believe it, go look and see if this is an act.”

Sheng Shiyue turned her head, seeing the familiar jade scroll and silk placed on the wooden rack, illuminated clearly by the bright candlelight.

Her heart sank. Forging an imperial edict was a capital crime; even the Emperor’s most trusted minister wouldn’t dare. Biting her lip, clinging to a last shred of hope, Sheng Shiyue lifted the blanket and walked unsteadily toward it, barefoot.

Ning Qingge didn’t follow, her gaze sweeping over Sheng Shiyue’s bare feet. Her brows seemed to furrow slightly, then relaxed instantly.

Sheng Shiyue opened the edict, skipping the formalities, scanning quickly until the glaring words “sinner slave” stopped her cold.

Sinner slave.

How could such a harsh term appear in a marriage edict?

Though Sheng Shiyue cared little for court affairs, that incident was so infamous even she had heard of it.

By ancient law, whether a sinner slave due to family crimes or a bonded slave by contract, differentiation into Kunze or Qianyuan erased their status. For Ning Qingge, a rare top-tier Kunze, Liang Kingdom should have bestowed great rewards.

But the Ning family’s crime was too grave. Once a thriving noble house, they incited the Crown Princess to rebel, implicating the third and fifth princesses, all executed at Xuanwu Gate.

The aftermath shook the court. For three days, the execution ground’s tiles were soaked with bl00d, reeking. Surviving officials still paled at the memory.

Thus, Ning Qingge’s status was unique. If her slave status were lifted, she could live as an ordinary person, but she gained the Emperor’s favor and was groomed for power.

In her early days as an official, protests piled high, with court and commoners arguing fiercely, fearing another Ning family. Only the Emperor’s support and Ning Qingge’s talents silenced the opposition.

Her former sinner slave status still haunted her, mocked by some even now, but it shouldn’t come from the Emperor who elevated her to Prime Minister.

Sheng Shiyue skimmed the edict, her last hope vanishing.

Stripped of formalities, it was simple: a sinner slave matched a frivolous fool, a fitting pair—one shameless, one reckless. No six rites were needed; a sedan chair at night sufficed, lest others sneer.

In Liang Kingdom, only concubines entered without the six rites, carried in under cover of night.

The edict was set down. Even the thick-skinned Sheng Shiyue found it glaring. Her hands unconsciously rubbed her robe, imagining her Mother’s fury, saying such words about a favored minister.

“You…” Sheng Shiyue turned slowly to the other, opened her mouth, then paused.

Ning Qingge looked back, her face as calm as before, her eyes questioning, urging her to speak.

Sheng Shiyue couldn’t meet her eyes, unsure if the red at their corners was makeup or suppressed tears. She turned aside, saying, “When was this edict…”

Unable to finish, Sheng Shiyue pursed her lips, about to retract, but Ning Qingge guessed her question, saying, “This morning at the hour of the dragon, Lord Yi read it outside Yicui Tower.”

Sheng Shiyue’s lips trembled, her expression growing complex, unable to imagine this moonlit Kunze kneeling at a bustling brothel’s entrance, receiving an edict that exposed her flaws and pierced her repeatedly. Sheng Shiyue felt tortured just picturing it, yet Ning Qingge endured it alone.

While she slept soundly, unaware…

No matter what happened before, Sheng Shiyue couldn’t maintain her earlier fury.

“I… you…” Sheng Shiyue shuffled toward her, the robe’s glare stinging her eyes further.

She sat at the bed’s head, her posture oddly restrained, muttering for a while before finding suitable words, “Where are we?”

Ning Qingge answered, “The Prime Minister’s Mansion.”

Oh, she was the concubine secretly carried in.

Sheng Shiyue tugged at her lips, inching closer to Ning Qingge, choosing her words carefully, “Lord Ning, I’m reckless and foolish, still unable to grasp the reasons, but this marriage is truly absurd. A high minister like you marrying me—doesn’t it wrong you?”

She clenched her teeth, as if resolving something, and said, “No matter how you schemed or why, it was I who wanted to escape this marriage, got drunk at Yicui Tower, and unintentionally sullied your reputation.”

She paused, then said, “Once Mother’s anger fades, I’ll beg forgiveness and request a divorce.”

“Divorce?” Ning Qingge looked at her, repeating the word.

Sheng Shiyue looked back inexplicably, saying, “Yes, divorce. Or do you want to divorce me?”

Sheng Shiyue felt she was generous enough, yielding repeatedly to Ning Qingge. Normally, if someone schemed against her, she’d kick them down and beat them, not discuss so gently.

Before Ning Qingge spoke, Sheng Shiyue gasped, incredulous, “You don’t actually want to stay married, do you?”

“Ning Qingge, is something wrong with your head? A promising Prime Minister entangled with a frivolous fool like me—aren’t you afraid it’ll ruin your career?”

Sheng Shiyue slapped her forehead, adding, “Are you worried no one will marry you after a divorce? I’ll write a letter proving we never bonded and give you half my mansion’s silver as a dowry. How’s that?”

Ning Qingge’s eyes flickered.

That was a grand gesture. Though Sheng Shiyue’s maternal clan was prestigious, its bloodline was thin. After the Imperial Consort’s death, only the border-guarding Lord of Wuan remained, who doted on Sheng Shiyue, funneling family wealth and past rewards into her mansion. In Liang Kingdom, aside from the Emperor, Sheng Shiyue was likely the richest.

Regardless of Ning Qingge’s status, with such wealth, even Kunze would be drawn to her.

Even Sheng Shiyue, a spendthrift, felt the sting, schemed against yet offering money willingly.

She raised a brow at the other, as if certain Ning Qingge would agree.

But Ning Qingge shook her head, her voice steady, emotionless, saying, “This is His Majesty’s granted marriage. There’s no precedent for divorce.”

“Then it should be a marriage His Majesty blesses. What are we?”

Sheng Shiyue stood angrily, shouting, “Ning Qingge, do you want to be tied to me forever? You schemed first, and I’ve yielded repeatedly. What more do you want?”

Ning Qingge’s expression didn’t change, asking, “How did I scheme against you?”

“You!” Sheng Shiyue, furious, grabbed her wrist, demanding, “What do you want?”

“Last night, Your Highness grabbed my hand first,” Ning Qingge was forced to look up, seemingly weaker, yet making Sheng Shiyue feel oddly diminished.

Sheng Shiyue’s tone weakened, saying, “That’s because you schemed.”

“Oh?”

Ning Qingge smiled faintly, countering, “Did I hold a knife to Your Highness’s neck, forcing you to grab my hand?”

“Or did I coat my wrist with a drug, making Your Highness unable to resist?”

“No, that didn’t happen,” Sheng Shiyue stammered, then retorted, “Then why were you at Yicui Tower?”

“Which law forbids a Prime Minister from visiting a pleasure house?”

“But… you were playing the zither on stage…”

Ning Qingge showed a hint of mockery, continuing, “Is Your Highness allowed to drink and revel below, but I’m not allowed to play music? Besides…”

Her tone shifted, “Your Highness threw silver at me. I ignored it, but you climbed on stage and sat beside me.”

Sheng Shiyue was speechless. Last night’s drunken haze left only blurry fragments, making it hard to argue. She even felt Ning Qingge’s words made sense, which was why she held back earlier.

Ning Qingge showed no joy, looking at her and saying, “Your Highness leaned toward me, tore off my veil, and dragged me into a room in front of everyone.”

“But… but…”

She clearly remembered Ning Qingge straddling her, while she had no strength left!

Ning Qingge suddenly smiled, mocking, “What, does Your Highness claim to remember nothing? Shall I call witnesses to recount it for you?”

Her fingers, gripping the other’s wrist, tightened unconsciously, leaving red marks on fair skin.

Outside, silence reigned, with only the chirping of insects. Inside, twin phoenix candles burned, the air faintly scented with wine. The newlyweds in their robes—one sitting, one standing—faced each other without shyness or love, the atmosphere sinking lower.

“This matter…” Sheng Shiyue finally gave in, releasing her hand and turning aside, saying, “This was my fault. I’ll make it up to you, but we’re truly not suited.”

“You’re the beloved Prime Minister, Liang Kingdom’s pillar, trusted by Mother. I’m just a useless princess who wants to be enfeoffed and leave the capital. Will you abandon everything here to follow me to my fief?”

Sheng Shiyue sighed helplessly, “Lord, though we haven’t spent much time together, I know you’re not content with ordinariness. Following me to a fief leaves you with nothing.”

“Then we won’t go,” Ning Qingge answered quickly, adding, “Talented princes and princesses can stay in the capital to assist the new emperor.”

Sheng Shiyue blinked, genuinely confused, pointing at her head, saying, “What does that have to do with me?”

“It will,” Ning Qingge said firmly, continuing, “Before Your Highness fainted, I drafted some household rules. You should memorize them first.”

“First, you must study diligently—zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, riding, and archery are basic. Second, no more visits to pleasure houses. Third…”

Before she finished, Sheng Shiyue suddenly slammed her head against the wall, shouting, “I’ll never let you succeed!”

—Bang!

A loud crash sounded, and the Ninth Princess, who had just woken, fell unconscious again, bl00d streaming from her head.