Waiting for You for a Long Time, But You Haven't Arrived - Chapter 9

Do not quarrel with the Chancellor in the future

The next day, she would send people to erase all traces of her past act of eliminating Tang Guangjun. From then on, she could safely become the good elder in Ming Yishu’s eyes.

Jiang Qionghua was a sufficiently ruthless person; she rarely changed a decision once she made it.

But this time, for some reason, she softened her heart merely because of a few words from Ming Yishu, completely overturning a scheme that was of paramount importance to her.

She had been planning this revenge for a full six years, but the remorse and the suppression of the malice only took the space of three sentences.

Ming Yishu’s few words disturbed Jiang Qionghua’s heart, and Jiang Qionghua herself couldn’t understand why.

Perhaps it was the particularly beautiful promise made by the person in front of her when she was injured, or perhaps it was simply because Ming Yishu was pretty, and her words were misleading, causing her to drop her guard.

Jiang Qionghua felt the delicate texture of the skin in her palm, closed her eyes, and could imagine the beautiful, fine-boned face of the person on her knee. Beauty lies in the bone and the skin. Jiang Qionghua thought that it must be because she had spent some effort raising her all those years that she had grown to be so moving.

“Does it still hurt?” Jiang Qionghua sighed and said to Ming Yishu, “Your aunt just sent someone to invite Ji Zijun into the residence. Her medical skills are superb, and she will surely heal your wound without leaving a single mark.”

The pain in Ming Yishu’s shoulder and back was constant. She was afraid that if she fainted, she wouldn’t wake up. In this ancient era, where it was easy to get sick and die, she didn’t dare to take the risk.

So, she could only force herself to stay awake by trying to talk to her aunt.

She asked, “My teacher is actually skilled in medicine?”

Jiang Qionghua’s voice was a little flat: “If she were useless, I wouldn’t have kept her as your teacher. Ji Zijun… is a rare talent in this world. It is best to have her teach you skills and poetry.”

Ming Yishu naturally knew that Ji Zijun had great abilities. The year she transmigrated, her aunt invited her to be her teacher. This person was proficient in the Six Arts. When she first arrived, she was not very familiar with ancient etiquette and vocabulary, and it was Ji Zijun who patiently taught her… That person was astonishingly learned. Even Ming Yishu, a modern person who had read many history books, could not compare with her knowledge.

It was as if Ji Zijun had lived through several dynasties in ancient times; she could talk about the knowledge of every era.

Many times when she was with Ji Zijun, Ming Yishu had the illusion that the person had a system in her mind, capable of providing the necessary knowledge at all times.

But this was impossible.

After all, Ming Yishu knew that she was the transmigator… the transmigator without a system.

Therefore, Ji Zijun’s great power could only prove one thing—that highly learned and intelligent ancient people truly existed in history.

What Ming Yishu hadn’t expected was that Ji Zijun was also skilled in medicine.

“Aunt, with my teacher’s talent, why is she unwilling to serve as an official in the court and has remained idle for so many years?” Ming Yishu had always been unable to figure this out. She asked Jiang Qionghua, “It is said that back then, my teacher was single-mindedly devoted to becoming your subordinate, even standing in the snow for three days just to see you.”

—Standing in the snow for three days, seeking only to be used.

Logically, talented and unusual people are more or less arrogant, but Ji Zijun not only lacked arrogance but also lowered her dignity to wait at the Chancellor’s residence gate for three days, just to see Jiang Qionghua.

Jiang Qionghua explained: “Ji Jun stood in the snow for three days to see me, desperately seeking to work for me. The first time I saw her, she resolutely stated her determination—she did not want power or official rank, only to be able to work for me, and her wish would be fulfilled.”

How could there be such an unexpected good deed in the world? Ming Yishu found it very absurd when she heard it. She slightly suppressed the rising pain and continued to converse with Jiang Qionghua: “How did you trust her, Aunt?”

“Naturally, I did not.”

Jiang Qionghua’s eyes were cold as she recalled the events of that year.

At that time, she had just killed Tang Guangjun and was overwhelmed with dealing with the messy aftermath. Initially, she didn’t plan to pay attention to this “talent” who offered herself, but Ji Zijun’s words sounded too much like someone with ulterior motives.

Jiang Qionghua was reminded of Tang Guangjun.

Tang Guangjun initially also offered to help her like this, making people feel as if they had stumbled upon a surprise, but in reality, the surprise was full of malicious calculations.

Ji Zijun’s words and actions unexpectedly provoked Jiang Qionghua’s anger, so Jiang Qionghua chose to meet the other party that day not because she wanted to recruit a talent—but out of spite, to kill her.

Ji Zijun had stood in the snow for three days, and when she opened her mouth, she struck right at Jiang Qionghua’s thoughts: “I heard that the Chancellor absolutely hates the Grand Tutor Tang Guangjun. I, your humble subject, boldly request the Chancellor to give me two days’ time, and I will be able to uproot all of Tang Guangjun’s subordinates. If a single person is missed, I am willing to accept extreme punishment from the Chancellor.”

Because they had a common enemy, Jiang Qionghua’s intent to kill slightly decreased. She looked at her in some surprise: “You are very bold to make such a promise for something I’ve been busy for days trying to clean up.”

Ji Zijun’s words were firm: “I have been feuding with Tang Guangjun for many years.”

That year, Jiang Qionghua kept Ji Zijun and gave her two days to handle the matter. However, the other party only took one day to neatly pull out all of Tang Guangjun’s former subordinates.

This person’s talent was completely on par with Tang Guangjun, and she personally resolved the troubles left behind by Tang Guangjun. Jiang Qionghua was very satisfied with her, so she subsequently detained her and assigned her to be Ming Yishu’s teacher.

In any case, Ji Zijun was unwilling to become an official her whole life and couldn’t cause any major trouble, so Jiang Qionghua had felt quite at ease using her all these years.

“I kept her because I cherish talent. How could Yishu think that I would trust her so easily?” Jiang Qionghua was single-mindedly trying to act like a proper elder, so her words were also amiable. She coaxed Ming Yishu, “Your aunt was planning to have her teach you, so naturally, she made layers of considerations.”

Perhaps it was the will of heaven. After Tang Guangjun’s death, she welcomed Ji Zijun into her service—Ji Zijun’s talent was comparable to Tang Guangjun’s, and her figure and appearance were not much different from Tang Guangjun’s.

Fortunately, Tang Guangjun was already dead, and she had personally avenged herself, otherwise, Jiang Qionghua would definitely have wondered if this new Ji Zijun was Tang Guangjun in disguise.

“You haven’t seen your teacher for a long time either. Since she is coming today, she can test you on your schoolwork and poetry…” Jiang Qionghua spoke to Ming Yishu, and when she looked down, she found that the person in her arms’ forehead was even hotter. She was probably forcing herself to stay awake while talking to her just now.

Jiang Qionghua casually took the cold ornament from her hair and placed it on Ming Yishu’s forehead to help cool her down: “Just bear with it for a moment longer. We will be back at the residence soon.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the carriage suddenly jolted, and she almost failed to hold the person steady.

Even though vanguards had cleared the way and dispersed the commoners, the carriage was still obstructed. A surge of anger instantly rose in Jiang Qionghua. She lifted the curtain and asked, “What happened?”

The attendant was terrified: “A crazy woman suddenly rushed in front of the horses on the road ahead, almost causing a fatality.”

Jiang Qionghua looked down at Ming Yishu, covered her ears, and instructed the attendant, “I have already ordered people to disperse the commoners. If anyone is still unafraid of death, crush them under the wheels.”

The attendant nodded: “As you command.”

Jiang Qionghua coldly put down the curtain and shielded Ming Yishu from the cold wind with her body.

“Aunt, don’t hurt anyone.” Ming Yishu vaguely heard a few words and subconsciously raised her hand to pull Jiang Qionghua’s sleeve, “It’s alright, I can hold on.”

“Look, you’re so feverish you’re talking nonsense. I didn’t say anything just now; you misheard.” Jiang Qionghua placated her without changing her expression, “If you don’t believe me, get up and talk to me. Don’t sleep.”

If she fell asleep, the fever would probably get worse.

Taking advantage of the brief pause, Bo Lu from outside quickly wrapped a ball of frozen snow in a piece of cloth and carefully handed it into the carriage: “Chancellor, use the snow to cool the young lady down.”

Jiang Qionghua took it, swapped it for her own handkerchief, and wrapped the snow securely: “Yishu, don’t sleep for now.”

Ming Yishu made a strained sound; her throat was very hoarse: “Aunt, promise me you’ll let the offending woman go.”

Seeing her persistent, Jiang Qionghua had no choice but to give a new instruction, letting go of the madwoman who had just collided with the carriage.

“If you hadn’t sobered up because of this, I would not have let her off easily.”

Jiang Qionghua was worried that someone would delay Ming Yishu’s return to the residence for treatment. Anyone or any animal that blocked them at this moment, she would certainly not spare.

But Ming Yishu spoke up to plead while injured, so Jiang Qionghua could only change her mind.

She said this was an exception and that if any other madwomen blocked the carriage in the future, they would not be so lucky.

“That woman suffers from madness. Her daughter sold herself into the Hongyu Tower to work as an entertainer to treat her mother,” Ming Yishu said, “If Aunt kills her mother, that girl…”

Jiang Qionghua interrupted her: “Have you been to the Hongyu Tower?”

Ming Yishu: “This is something my teacher once told me she saw. I have not been to the Hongyu Tower.”

Jiang Qionghua then returned to her senses: “There are thousands of pitiable people in the world. You don’t have to be so kind-hearted. Not everyone is fortunate enough for you to pity them.”

But Ming Yishu could not stand by and let someone die.

Ming Yishu asked, “If one day I also become mad, would Aunt still be willing to take care of me?”

“Why are you suddenly asking such things? Why are you making such assumptions when you are perfectly fine?” Jiang Qionghua was a little impatient, but she had already decided to treat her well, so she could only restrain her temper and continue to indulge the patient’s nonsense, “I don’t know, so you must live well for me.”

Ming Yishu didn’t get an answer and lowered her eyes in slight disappointment: “Okay.”

The carriage fell silent again for a while. Not long after, someone blocked the carriage outside again.

Jiang Qionghua started to feel a headache and annoyance again. She was seething with anger, but unwilling to direct it at Ming Yishu, she could only turn her gaze toward the unlucky person outside.

This time, the arrival was Ji Zijun.

Ji Zijun, clad in white robes, rode a horse through the snow, her dark hair dusted with snow. She had hurried out, but when she spoke, she said, “This humble subject pays respects to the Right Chancellor. Is the Chancellor well…”

Jiang Qionghua, full of anger, interrupted her nonsense: “Didn’t I tell you to wait at the residence?”

Beneath the feather mask was a pair of red lips. Ji Zijun’s voice was calm and collected, seemingly unaware of Jiang Qionghua’s anger: “My household prepared the medicine, but it is not convenient to bring it outside. I had no choice but to stop the carriage and ask the young lady to accompany me.”

So that was it. This was a reason that could let Jiang Qionghua vent her anger. Jiang Qionghua then nodded and ordered people to hand Ming Yishu over to her.

Ji Zijun bowed and asked her servants to help Ming Yishu away: “The matter is urgent, and we cannot delay. I take my leave.”

Jiang Qionghua waved her hand, allowing her to take the person back for treatment.

Ming Yishu was taken into the carriage by Ji Zijun. The servant boy led Ji Zijun’s horse away. It wasn’t until the group disappeared from Jiang Qionghua’s sight that Jiang Qionghua suddenly realized something.

—Ji Zijun arrived on horseback, but when she left, she entered the carriage where Ming Yishu was.

Jiang Qionghua rubbed her temples in vexation, feeling somewhat ill at ease. She knew Ji Zijun was doing it to take care of the patient, but she still felt that something wasn’t quite right.

Her intuition was very accurate.

In the carriage where she couldn’t see, Ji Zijun brushed the scattered snow off her white robes, fed Ming Yishu some powdered medicine, and after settling her, she very naturally reached out to tidy her hair. The movement was intimate, without any of the boundaries that should exist between a teacher and student in ancient times.

Ming Yishu smelled a light fragrance and her consciousness cleared up a lot. She spoke, accurately recognizing the person who came: “Teacher.”

Ji Zijun softly acknowledged her and said, “When the fire broke out in the prison that day, Grand Commandant Yang was saved, but the Chancellor actually went after him… Please accept my condolences.”

Ming Yishu did not say anything.

Ji Zijun continued: “However, the Grand Commandant’s only granddaughter was taken to the Northland, so you shouldn’t be too sad.”

Ming Yishu nodded tiredly.

“And—do not quarrel with the Chancellor in the future.”

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