Waiting for You for a Long Time, But You Haven't Arrived - Chapter 37

“I heard the Prime Minister has gone mad searching for someone.”

“Have you guys heard? The most popular pastry shop in the capital was trashed by the Right Prime Minister’s men.”

“Is it that Shangshi Workshop? My newly taken concubine quite likes the pastries there.”

“Why would the Right Prime Minister smash a food shop for no reason?”

“I heard… it seems Prime Minister Jiang’s wife ran away with someone.”

The crowd: “???”

How could such a bizarre thing happen under the heavens?

Inside a luxury pavilion of the Hongyu Mansion, the moment this news surfaced, several revelers were momentarily struck dumb with amazement.

“No way? The Right Prime Minister actually has someone she fancies?”

“Who says she doesn’t? Prime Minister Jiang hid that person in her manor for many years, doting on them like a treasure. Usually, the rare and exotic treasures we offer up—the Prime Minister doesn’t even spare them a glance before gifting them to her beauty. If that isn’t doting on someone like a wife, what is?”

“Back then, Brother Kang searched for a piece of rare jade, the likes of which are seldom seen in this world. After presenting it to the Prime Minister, she immediately sent someone to have it fashioned into a jade flute. Word is, the one in her manor likes jade flutes. Think about it, gentlemen—making a jade flute wastes so much of the raw jade material!”

“But I’ve never heard of the Prime Minister taking a wife?”

“You know the Prime Minister’s temperament… the more she treasures something, the less she’s willing to put it on display. She wishes the whole world didn’t know about it, so she can keep it under her own eyes and watch over it alone.”

“The less she makes a scene, the more it shows how much she cares in her heart. On this point, I agree.” Someone smiled amidst the noise, bringing up a past event. “Years ago, the Prime Minister grandly rewarded that ‘capable subordinate.’ Who would have thought that person wouldn’t even enjoy the glory for a few days before becoming a pile of bones?”

Everyone fell silent once more.

After a long while, someone asked jokingly, “So, following that logic… now that the wife Prime Minister Jiang has pampered for all these years has run away, must she be going mad with rage at this moment?”

“Everyone under the Prime Minister has gone out to search. It’s a stance of ‘no rest until the person is found.'”

For such a thing to happen to the Right Prime Minister was exceptionally intriguing. Jiang Qionghua usually maintained an attitude where everyone she looked at seemed like a dead person; it was hard to imagine she had ever treated anyone with her heart. It was as if she detested all close relationships and trusted no one.

And yet…

Her “wife” ran away. The person didn’t intend to follow her anymore.

Though this matter was strange, upon careful thought, it seemed quite reasonable.

“Gentlemen, since we’re here to watch the fun, why don’t we place a bet? Let’s bet on how the Right Prime Minister will settle this.”

Amidst the clinking of glasses, the crowd—never ones to shy away from a spectacle—began to place their wagers.

“The little beauty ran away; how can the Prime Minister save face? I bet that once the Prime Minister catches her, she’ll have to give her a proper lesson.”

Laughter erupted in the crowd again, and someone called out, “Brother, you’ve already lost without even waiting for the result. The people sent out by the Prime Minister are being extremely cautious while searching, for fear of startling that person. How could Prime Minister Jiang bear to punish her?”

“Then I guess the person won’t be found. That person has likely had enough of the Prime Minister’s foul temper and has been wanting to run for more than just a day or two.”

“I’m not changing my mind. I believe the Prime Minister will inevitably fly into a rage from the humiliation—she’ll definitely break that person’s legs.”

“I’ll also bet a hundred taels—the Prime Minister won’t be able to swallow this insult.”

“No, no, no. No matter how chaotic this gets, the Prime Minister will have to lower her voice and coax the person back.”

Those who came to Hongyu Mansion were mostly profligate playboys who indulged in music and pleasure; regarding matters of the heart, each had their own opinion.

Some said that even those with the worst tempers would stumble over their feelings, and someone like Jiang Qionghua, who hadn’t been moved for years, was even more susceptible. Once she encountered someone she liked and kept them by her side for years, it would be hard for her to ever get out after falling in.

“She’s not young anymore. If she wanted to replace the person, she would have done it long ago. She wouldn’t be fixated on just one person…”

While they were talking, there was a sudden, loud sound of something breaking upstairs.

These men were originally hiding in the room to gossip for fun. To be talking about this business regarding Jiang Qionghua already required borrowed courage; at the slightest sign of trouble, they all immediately tensed up like startled birds.

“What’s going on?”

“What’s that damn noise upstairs?”

“There is no need for alarm, gentlemen.” Kang Huaiyi put down his cup, soothing the group’s emotions. “The other day, the Prime Minister bestowed a maidservant upon me. I’ve settled her here in Hongyu Mansion.”

The playboys let out a long, drawn-out “Oh,” and asked curiously, “This doesn’t seem like your style, Brother Kang. You’ve actually kept her this long without making a move?”

Kang Huaiyi explained, “That woman happens to be the personal maid of the Prime Minister’s beloved. Shouldn’t I see how the situation develops before I act? What if the Prime Minister is swayed by some ‘pillow talk’ and wants me to return the person, and I couldn’t help but mistreat her? Wouldn’t I be in deep trouble then?”

Someone laughed and gave him a suggestion: “The Prime Minister can’t be bothered with that now. Brother Kang, why not make today the day? While the Prime Minister’s manor is a mess, go quickly and enjoy something fresh.”

“No rush, no rush.” Kang Huaiyi continued to pour wine and toast his friends. “When it gets a bit darker, I’ll quietly take her back to my manor. I’ll close the doors and enjoy her in my own home.”

A friend bumped his shoulder, nearly causing him to spill his wine. “Brother Kang isn’t being generous enough. How can you enjoy her all to yourself?”

Kang Huaiyi scoffed. “She’s not a top-tier beauty. I only asked for her to torment and get revenge. If she were any prettier, would I have left you brothers out of it?”

“Oh? Then tell us, Brother Kang, who is a top-tier beauty?”

“Bullshit, you’re just afraid the Prime Minister will find out and skin you alive.”

“Tell us—”

Several voices spoke at once. Kang Huaiyi raised a finger and wagged it, unhurriedly answering them one by one: “Not so. To be precise, the one the Prime Minister has always kept in her heart is the one who is truly, top-tier beautiful. But is that someone you or I can look at? I’m afraid the Prime Minister would gouge my eyes out. Those of you with guts can go try. That person… although the Prime Minister argues with her all day long, she is still kept deep in her heart. One word from her could very well cost all of us our lives.”

The atmosphere turned somber at his words.

“Forget it, let’s drink, gentlemen—”

“The Prime Minister might not even be able to find her.”

“Someone, come here—” Kang Huaiyi walked to the door and grabbed a servant who was tending to the wine. “Go upstairs and see what just happened.”

The servant took the order and quickly headed upstairs.

He pushed the door open and found that the private room where the noise originated was occupied by none other than the owner of Hongyu Mansion.

“Master,” the servant bowed and greeted. “The guests downstairs asked about the situation just now.”

The private room was warm. The lattice window facing the door was halfway open, the wind blowing in and causing the gauze curtains to flutter. A slender hand nonchalantly gathered them, tucking them to one side. “Just say all is well; a flower vase was simply broken by accident.”

The servant took his leave.

The hazy gauze curtains obscured the speaker’s figure. The servant respectfully closed the door, his downcast eyes seeing only the hem of a plain white skirt.

“So, have you made up your mind?” Ji Zijun looked out the window at the bustling street below, leaving Su Qian’er with only her back. She said, “This deal is very fair. Not only can I protect your life, but I can also bring Ming Yishu here. When the task is done, Jiang Qionghua will never trouble you again.”

Su Qian’er sat on a round stool, silently watching her. “You are truly kindhearted, and you treat Miss Ming very well.”

Ji Zijun, her back still turned, let out a faint, slight curl of her lips. “Yes. In this place, there is no one who cares for or protects her more than I do.”

Su Qian’er asked again, “This deal is not fair to you. I could do more…”

“Shh.” Ji Zijun turned her head, placing a finger to her lips. “From now on, you don’t need to mention anything I said before. Just keep it in your heart, and be careful that walls have ears.”

Su Qian’er nodded blankly.

Ji Zijun paced closer to her, leaning down to whisper: “Jiang Qionghua will go mad sooner or later. Why don’t you be the one to give her another push? Distort the truth of the past, make her suffer, make her frantic, make her doubt herself, let her believe that it is she who has gone mad…”

Even though she knew this Ji Zijun was a “good person,” hearing these malicious, whispered words still caused Su Qian’er to shudder inexplicably.

Ji Zijun raised her hand and, without expression, patted her hair bun, saying, “Alright, you’re tired too. Rest and gather your spirits. I’m going to personally pick up Ming Yishu.”

“Okay.” Su Qian’er nodded obediently.

Only after Ji Zijun had left did she rub her own arms to smooth out that strange discomfort from earlier. She didn’t know why, but Miss Ming’s teacher actually had such a side to her. Although she was helping her out of kindness, it always gave off a strange feeling—she couldn’t quite put her finger on what was wrong.

The private room was hot, yet Su Qian’er still felt cold. She stood up and walked toward the window, looked around, and reached out to close it.

The window shut, but as Su Qian’er loosened her grip, it opened again. She suddenly noticed that the window seemed to be broken, and the unease in her heart grew even stronger.

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