Waiting for You for a Long Time, But You Haven't Arrived - Chapter 3

Let Me Have a Good Look

Her gaze is constantly fixed on me?

Jiang Qionghua didn’t know what to say about her. This girl, while intelligent and perceptive, was simply too reliant on and trusting of her, never once harboring suspicion.

Even when the whole world was cursing and hating her, Ming Yishu would stubbornly argue against everyone.

In the thirty-four years Jiang Qionghua had been in this world, she had witnessed countless falling-outs and betrayals, but never the feeling of being completely trusted.

She once thought Ming Yishu’s attitude toward her was merely the inevitable result of clinging to power, but who would have thought this silly girl was being truly sincere?

Bolu, the Steward of the Prime Minister’s Residence, had followed her for decades and must have seen it clearly.

Jiang Qionghua lowered her head and glanced at Ming Yishu. She still found it hard to understand how someone as wicked and evil as herself could earn such trust.

Could it be that she had been too kind to her all these years, blinding her eyes and preventing her from distinguishing right from wrong?

This wouldn’t do.

Jiang Qionghua thought that as her chess piece, Ming Yishu could have a twisted heart, but she couldn’t be ignorant of the larger picture. After all, a dull pawn couldn’t take on heavy responsibility and might as well be discarded early.

Just as she was calculating this, Jiang Qionghua suddenly felt a warmth in her palm. The hand she had previously wiped clean of blood was gently held. The touch was soft and warm. Ming Yishu’s hand, upon contact, revealed that it had never done any heavy labor; a fragrant, delicate hand, seemingly boneless.

Her train of thought was abruptly broken, and Jiang Qionghua frowned, yet couldn’t recall what she was thinking about.

She didn’t know why, but she didn’t pull her hand away from Ming Yishu, allowing the other to hold it.

“You go back to the residence first, I have some errands to run,” Jiang Qionghua sent her off into the carriage and, seeing the girl reluctantly holding her hand, added, “I will be back soon.”

Ming Yishu released her hand, her clear eyes filled with a gentle smile: “I will wait for Auntie to return home.”

Jiang Qionghua was silent for a moment, then suddenly got into the carriage as well.

She took off her dark green cloak and draped it over Ming Yishu’s shoulders, her movement decisive, as if she had wanted to do this all along.

Ming Yishu looked at her with some surprise—in this dynasty, different colors were used to distinguish power and status. This dark green, gold-woven garment could only be worn by princes and high-ranking officials. It was against the rules for her to wear it.

“The wind and snow are heavy outside, just wear it,” Seeing the worry in Ming Yishu’s eyes, Jiang Qionghua added, “This is the Prime Minister’s carriage, and my people are following. No one dares to say anything.”

The wind and snow outside grew heavier. In the vastness, heaven and earth seemed connected, making it impossible to tell morning from dusk.

By the ancient road, a sheltered pavilion stood, where the person meant to receive Yang Bofu was waiting.

Amidst the swirling snow, a figure approached from afar. The servant boy strained his eyes and recognized the staggering, solitary figure of Grand Marshal Yang.

The servant boy couldn’t help but feel confused. Why would he come alone? Where were the accompanying jailers?

The person drew near.

“Grand Marshal, over here.”

The servant boy hurried forward to meet him.

Then, the servant boy finally saw something and froze abruptly. The elderly Yang Bofu swayed in the wind and snow.

—It turned out that a hand was resting on the Grand Marshal’s shoulder. That person used the leverage to mercilessly drive a knife into the Grand Marshal’s abdomen.

Right in front of the servant boy, Grand Marshal Yang slowly crumpled and fell to the ground. The servant boy stared straight ahead in shock, his vision encountering the slightly raised chin of the knife-wielder.

The Grand Marshal’s pale prisoner’s uniform instantly burst open with a tragic red, and after the blood gushed out, it flowed into the snow.

“Prime Minister Jiang…”

The servant boy knelt down, trembling uncontrollably.

In mortal fear, the servant boy crawled forward on his knees, humbly begging Jiang Qionghua to spare his life.

Jiang Qionghua didn’t even spare him a glance, coldly instructing her subordinates: “Clean everything up.”

She disdained even investigating the power behind the servant boy, which was likely nothing more than petty riffraff.

Right now, in this freezing weather, she was more inclined to return to the residence to apply medicine to Ming Yishu’s wound.

Apply medicine…

A sudden wave of displeasure arose in Jiang Qionghua. She turned, growing angrier the more she thought about it. If it hadn’t been for Yang Bofu, Ming Yishu wouldn’t have been injured.

That was her person; without her approval, how could she be injured because of an outsider?

And also.

It was also because of this Yang Bofu that Ming Yishu had been sulking with her last night.

Jiang Qionghua felt increasingly uneasy. She hadn’t gone far before turning back, her expression growing colder and more sinister.

With the delay, it was somewhat late when she returned to the residence.

Jiang Qionghua had intended to go directly to Ming Yishu, but midway, she suddenly realized the scent of blood on her was too strong, so she changed course to bathe and burn incense first.

“Prime Minister, should this servant call Miss Ming to wash your hair?”

The attending servant stood behind the continuous screens and long curtains in the hall, not daring to step forward. This was because the Right Prime Minister disliked anyone getting close, but Miss Ming was an exception. Every time she bathed and washed her hair, the Right Prime Minister would send someone to call Ming Yishu to attend to her.

“No need, she is still injured,” Jiang Qionghua’s voice was cold. “Has the wound medicine been sent to her?”

The servant replied, “Yes, it was sent, and a doctor also checked on her, but Miss Ming rested early and likely hasn’t applied the medicine.”

Jiang Qionghua couldn’t help but feel a little angry, whether because Ming Yishu had broken her promise not to wait for her, or because she hadn’t applied the medicine in time.

“Wake her up. Tell her I’ll be there immediately, and she is not allowed to sleep.”

“Yes—”

The Right Prime Minister’s Residence was extremely extravagant. The palaces and buildings were constructed entirely according to Jiang Qionghua’s whim, disregarding regulations on scale. For instance, Ming Yishu’s sleeping chambers were more gorgeous and opulent than the Empress’s palace in the former dynasty.

Having been told the Right Prime Minister was coming, Ming Yishu had removed her hairpins, her black hair unbound, and was waiting early at the entrance. Her light yellow dress seemed to shimmer in the moonlight.

A bright moon was reflected in the nearby pond. She gazed silently, lost in thought.

In this dynasty, clothing colors represented power and status, but the Emperor did not wear bright yellow; instead, a blend of red and white was used as the imperial symbol.

Yet, gold and yellow were still colors only accessible to the children of the privileged.

Ming Yishu stood for a long time, finally waiting for Jiang Qionghua to arrive.

“What are you thinking about, so engrossed?” Seeing her lightly dressed, Jiang Qionghua spoke in the tone of a familiar elder, instructing her, “You’re still injured, and it’s so cold outside. Why don’t you wait inside the hall?”

When she approached just now, Jiang Qionghua had seen Ming Yishu’s figure from afar and, for some reason, perceived a hint of loneliness in her. The girl waiting at the hall entrance was like a sprig of bright cassia under the moon, beautiful and pure, yet tinged with melancholy. She didn’t know what the girl was feeling sentimental about.

Now, upon seeing her, the loneliness was instantly withdrawn, and the girl appeared much brighter.

“The falling snow isn’t cold, but the melting snow is. I wanted to wait outside so I could see Auntie sooner…” Ming Yishu’s first sentence hadn’t finished before the next followed, “Auntie, why is your hair not dried yet?”

Jiang Qionghua walked toward the hall with her. After taking a few steps, she looked up at her with some surprise: “Why are you so thoughtful all of a sudden?”

Ming Yishu seemed to smile but didn’t reply.

Well, she was always thoughtful, Jiang Qionghua thought as she walked, and suddenly recalled Bolu’s words in the prison earlier—If your heart is concerned, your gaze will follow.

Jiang Qionghua glanced at her again, thinking that this person was truly rare in her deep affection and understanding of how to repay a kindness.

Unfortunately, the “kindness” was false, and she didn’t care about the repayment given to her.

“Yishu will dry Auntie’s hair,” Before Jiang Qionghua could speak, Ming Yishu led her to the elegant couch.

The low couch had a gentle curve, but only enough for one person to rest on.

By the time Jiang Qionghua came back to her senses and was about to say something, the other person had already picked up a soft silk cloth to comb and wipe her hair.

Jiang Qionghua’s original intention was to supervise her applying the wound medicine, but this interruption made her forget the purpose of her visit.

Ming Yishu was too good at serving people. Her delicate jade fingers were gentle and slow. When drying hair, she didn’t just dry the hair but also used the comb to press and massage acupuncture points.

Meticulous, careful, and gentle.

Whenever Jiang Qionghua felt agitated, her head would ache slightly, but as long as Ming Yishu massaged her, the pain seemed much more bearable.

After a while, Jiang Qionghua finally opened her eyes: “I had someone send over wound medicine. Remember to use it.”

Ming Yishu put away the silk cloth and handed it to the approaching servant, then turned and smiled: “Auntie is showing me compassion.”

The goal was met, and she had checked on her, so Jiang Qionghua intended to leave.

She said, “It’s getting late, and you must be tired. Get some rest early tonight. I feel reassured now that I’ve seen you.”

Jiang Qionghua had already sent someone to wake her up once when she arrived. Knowing she was a light sleeper, she didn’t want to linger here.

“I already slept a little, so I still have some energy. If Auntie is not in a hurry, how about Yishu manicures your nails?”

As Ming Yishu spoke, the exquisite manicuring tools were already presented by a servant. She took the entire low-legged tray herself and naturally came to Jiang Qionghua’s side.

Jiang Qionghua looked at her inexplicably: “This is a task for servants; why should you take the trouble to do it for me?”

In fact, Jiang Qionghua was planning to go back to rest. She hadn’t slept last night and had been busy all day, so her body was tired. She really didn’t want to deal with such trivial matters.

“Auntie just finished bathing, which is the perfect time for a manicure,” Ming Yishu placed the low-legged tray beside the elegant couch and knelt gently on the long-pile carpet. She carefully lifted the person’s hand without looking at her. “Auntie, your nails have grown long.”

“How do you know…”

Jiang Qionghua was speaking when she lowered her head and followed the other’s gaze, only to realize her nails had indeed grown a bit. The other person had observed her closely, so meticulously that even she herself hadn’t noticed.

Since the other person wanted to groom them for her, she let her. Jiang Qionghua disliked exerting herself on such small decisions, so she acquiesced.

In the beginning, Jiang Qionghua looked down at her with some interest, watching her seriously and carefully use the nail file to shape her nails. But gradually, Jiang Qionghua noticed a problem—

Ming Yishu did not cut them directly but kept using the file to lightly smooth the edges. The manicuring tool was exquisite and not rough, so this method was extremely slow. A task that wouldn’t normally take much time was prolonged so much that it would be impossible to finish in a few hours.

Therefore, when Ming Yishu once again brushed away the fine dust, Jiang Qionghua spoke.

She said, “There’s no need to be so meticulous. It wastes effort and time.”

“Manicuring for Auntie is not a waste,” Ming Yishu replied. “Cut edges are not as good as filed ones; they can easily cause injury.”

Jiang Qionghua didn’t argue further with the other person. She leaned back on the couch, musing to herself. They are just nails; how sharp can they be? Can they really injure someone?

Never mind.

Jiang Qionghua didn’t dwell on it. She only guessed that Ming Yishu was delicate-minded and hadn’t been through much, which was why she had such a feminine, small-scale tenderness, believing that even a clipped nail could cause harm.

Ming Yishu concentrated for a long time, finally looking up at the other person, but only for a brief moment: “If Auntie finds it boring, you can rest for a bit. I will call you when I’m done.”

“Mm.”

Jiang Qionghua allowed her, observing the girl kneeling by her knee.

Ming Yishu was truly lovely. Even a casual movement could draw pity. At this moment, she knelt for so long, her shoulders and back relaxed and light, like an immortal who was composed and gentle, untouched by a speck of dust.

It was also at this moment that Jiang Qionghua realized she had kept her in the residence for six years. Time flew by; the little girl from back then had grown up.

However… her simple, pure demeanor was exactly as it was then.

Jiang Qionghua flicked away the index finger the other person was holding, then used her fingertip to lift Ming Yishu’s chin to look closely: “Let Auntie have a good look.”

Ming Yishu obediently lifted her head, her eyes pure and shimmering. When she met her gaze, she was so focused that it was as if she wanted to contain the other person entirely within the pool of her eyes.

Being looked at by those eyes, even Jiang Qionghua’s heart skipped a beat.

She was truly a beauty capable of overthrowing cities and kingdoms. Jiang Qionghua had grown used to it over the years, but seeing her at night now, she realized what she had missed all these years.

She was a young girl after all, with a bewitching and delicate beauty; every part of her was exquisite. Perhaps due to years of luxurious living, the girl was especially delicate and captivating.

Her face was beautiful, her posture and figure were exceptional, and combined with her gentle and meticulous nature, it was impossible to find a single flaw.

The only regret was that this face was too much like the person she held a grudge against. The longer she looked, the resentment buried in her heart surfaced again.

Though the enemy was dead, the pain they caused could never be erased.

Jiang Qionghua suppressed the jealousy in her heart and turned to caress her chin, sighing inwardly at the beauty of a woman’s face. Fine bones beneath soft skin, the touch was gentle, like a piece of soft, warm jade that was hard to let go of.

In the silent stillness, Jiang Qionghua thought wickedly—This delicate and beautiful girl, after I abandon her, will she still be this noble and pure?

At this moment, even kneeling before her, Ming Yishu’s shoulders were level and her back was straight; her spirit was completely undiminished. If… she were to learn the truth someday, and be retaliated against and cast aside by her, could she maintain this spirit?

Jiang Qionghua thought carefully. She realized she hadn’t really seen Ming Yishu break down and cry. In her memory, the girl was always calm and peaceful, her emotions barely fluctuating.

Fantasizing like this, Jiang Qionghua felt a surge of anticipation.

She thought she must witness this a few times in her life, to resolve the confusion in her heart.

Her thoughts gradually calmed down and sank. The tips of her nails were gently smoothed; the sound was almost inaudible, but the sensation remained. Jiang Qionghua knew that Ming Yishu was very patient with such detailed tasks. When using the file, her movements were elegant and quiet, capable of lulling someone to sleep with a sense of security.

She didn’t guard herself and closed her eyes to rest.

She didn’t know how much time passed. Ming Yishu, who had been focused on the manicure, finally raised her head—she hadn’t finished her task but still put down the tools and propped her chin on her hand to look at Jiang Qionghua.

The person in front of her was asleep. Only at moments like this could Ming Yishu enjoy exclusive time with her.

A quarter of an hour ago, she had fallen into a light sleep and dreamt of past events again. In her life in the real world, she hadn’t had capable elders; no one protected her. Since childhood, when she was bullied, she could only hide her pain and endure it alone.

When she was hurt at school, she also fantasized about a strong, resourceful auntie appearing to grab the collars of those mischievous boys, drag all the bad people to the principal’s office, and force them to apologize to her…

Unfortunately, there was none.

She was one of the victims at the time, but no one apologized to her. The bullying and insults still fell upon her. Her weak parents not only failed to comfort her but kept nodding and fawning in the face of power, and even turned around to scold her, saying she was ill-behaved, seductive, and caused trouble for everyone.

She developed a heart ailment because of this, loathing her own appearance and hating every dissolute young man who whistled at her.

Perhaps due to her long-lasting prayers, after she died and transmigrated into a book, there was finally this one person who came out of nowhere, saved her, tolerated her, and protected her fiercely with extreme methods.

Six years together. In Ming Yishu’s heart, these six years were enough to compensate for all the misfortunes of her childhood.

How could she not respect and adore her?

Six years, neither short nor long, were just enough to redeem a person’s bruised heart and turn cold thorns into a warm embrace.

In the eyes of the world, the Right Prime Minister was sinister, cunning, and had a despicable character. To Ming Yishu, however, Jiang Qionghua’s beauty should not be defined by mere words and phrases. Her mature, cold glamour should not be restricted to simple outward appearances. This kind of overwhelming, speechless beauty could only be appreciated through meticulous observation.

Jiang Qionghua possessed a grand aura, cultivated from years of immersion at the pinnacle of power. The dominance and disdain coming from this superior position were, for Ming Yishu, not things to be feared.

She had never been afraid of her.

Compared to the illusory worldly possessions in the world of the book, she was more afraid of losing the person in front of her.

If she could, she wanted to quietly stay by her side until they grew old.

Ming Yishu held Jiang Qionghua’s fingers, reverently picked up the file she had put down, and continued to gently groom her.

The process of manicuring was trivial and lengthy, but she accepted it with sweet delight.

Jiang Qionghua rested briefly. When she woke up again, her fingertips were all numb.

It wasn’t uncomfortable, but the slight tingling sensation made her feel a little unfamiliar. As the saying goes, the ten fingers are connected to the heart. When someone touched her fingers, that subtle sensitivity was impossible to ignore.

Especially when the tips of her nails were rubbed by the file, the base of her fingers couldn’t help but tremble slightly.

She didn’t know how to describe it. It was like a lingering sensation after her fingertip rubbed against fine sand—a faint, ticklish numbness. It felt novel at first, but after the novelty wore off, there was a sense of emptiness that required a deeper stimulus to suppress.

It wasn’t pain, nor was it exactly itchiness, but it caused a restless feeling in the heart.

Jiang Qionghua continued to endure, sensing that Ming Yishu was gathering the manicuring tools and brushing off the loose dust from her fingertips.

It should be finished.

Jiang Qionghua was just thinking this when she suddenly felt Ming Yishu’s movements pause for a moment. She didn’t know what she was about to do.

An alarm instantly went off in her mind, and countless defensive thoughts rushed forward.

But just as she was about to act, her thoughts abruptly cut off—Ming Yishu had gently kissed her fingertip.

She had always maintained a pure and flawless demeanor, as if nothing could disturb her composure. Who would have thought that in secret, the other person would touch her so carefully and softly?

Jiang Qionghua was stunned into immobility, unable to believe that this was something Ming Yishu could do.

How could she not understand the girl she had raised?

She usually got a slight flush in her ears when accidentally touched by her, just as she did today in the prison. She had only caressed her waist, and the girl was instantly a little uneasy. How could she be so bold now?

Jiang Qionghua opened her eyes hesitantly, only to see that the person had already stood up and walked a few steps away.

The servants attending in the sleeping chamber had all been dismissed, leaving only Ming Yishu’s delicate figure. A few candles had been extinguished, and the remaining light flickered with the movement of her silhouette.

Jiang Qionghua watched Ming Yishu’s retreating back, seeing her slowly extinguish the last of the candles, with no intention of waking her up.

When she returned, the candles were completely out. Ming Yishu retrieved a plush blanket, approached, covered her gently, and then, full of attachment, rested her head on Jiang Qionghua’s knee, guarding her as she slept.

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