Chapter 1

Under the azure sky and yellow leaves, in the chilly autumn wind, beneath the long pavilion.

“Cha’er, I don’t know when I’ll be able to return from this trip to Yan City. If I can pass the provincial examination, I’ll come back and marry you. Are you willing to wait for me?” The young woman in brown clothes asked the green-clad man in front of her, her eyes brimming with tears and her face full of reluctance.

The man had a face like jade, with exquisite features and eyes like paintings. A small beauty mark at the corner of his eye made him even more charming and alluring. He lowered his head, his expression sorrowful as he spoke, “Lu Cha is naturally willing to wait for you. However, marriage is decreed by parents and matchmakers. Even if I have to marry another, I would not dare disobey. I only hope you can return soon, lest I be married off to someone else.”

The woman looked even more distressed. “If only I had been born into a wealthy family, then we could be well-matched and no one could stop us from being together.”

The woman said a few more tender words, and the man responded with equal sorrow. Soon, the woman shouldered her bundle and left, turning back every few steps.

Once the woman was gone, the man’s melancholic expression instantly turned into one of disdain.

He raised his fair, slender fingers to gently wipe away the teardrops on his face. Turning around, he sat on the stone bench and picked up his teacup, taking a light sip of the tea.

“Such a weepy woman is truly annoying,” he scoffed coldly.

The purple-clad servant boy who had been standing to the side all along was somewhat puzzled. “Young master, then why did you go to such lengths to curry favor with her? She has neither money nor beauty, only able to recite a few sour poems. Yet you rejected Miss Qian’s advances for her. This servant truly does not understand.”

The green-clad man set down his teacup, the corners of his red lips curling slightly. “I merely wanted to take a gamble. If she can pass the provincial examination, I’ll marry her. If she’s useless, I’ll accept Miss Qian’s advances then.”

Zi Yi was slightly startled and sighed. “Young master…”

Zhang Meng crouched behind the dense bushes, overhearing every word. Her heart was filled with mixed emotions.

Since transmigrating to this female-dominated world, she had been living in the mountains. She never knew that not all men here were as gentle and kind as her adoptive father Yang Qing. Some could scheme like the vicious female villains in TV dramas.

But love was a matter between two willing parties. It was not her place to interfere, nor did she wish to. Even after lying on the grass and waking much later, she did not emerge to disturb the couple, merely observing silently from the sidelines.

Only after the handsome man named Xu Lu Cha left with his purple-clad servant boy did she stand up and come out.

Zhang Meng originally lived on the small mountain west of the city, where the trees were lush, flowers bloomed abundantly, and the scenery was beautiful.

Eleven years ago, her soul had transmigrated into the body of a seven-year-old girl who had been abducted. While escaping, she fell off a cliff. A young, lame man saved her.

The man’s name was Yang Qing. He had been a servant of a wealthy family but was disfigured and beaten nearly to death by his master for making a mistake. He was then abandoned in the mountains to fend for himself.

When Zhang Meng first saw Yang Qing’s appearance, she was startled, for his features were unrecognizable, his flesh a mangled mess.

Although Yang Qing’s face was terrifying, he had a kind heart. Whenever he found something delicious, he would give it to Zhang Meng to eat while he would make do with random sour and astringent fruits to stave off hunger.

Zhang Meng was deeply moved. Once her injuries healed a bit, she took over all the household chores, farm work, and sometimes even went hunting with Yang Qing.

She gradually transformed from a delicate and weak girl into a strong and robust one. Although she could not achieve the muscular physique of female athletes due to her petite frame, she was the type who looked slim in clothes but had curves underneath. She even learned some martial arts, more than enough to fend off a few hooligans.

Yang Qing’s face also slowly healed, leaving scars. Although his face was pitted and scarred, his skin was fair. Coupled with his well-proportioned features, red lips, white teeth, and autumnal eyes, he could indeed be considered a handsome man.

If Yang Qing’s face had forever remained the mangled bloody mess it was when they first met, perhaps despite his gentleness and kindness, Zhang Meng may not have developed romantic feelings for him, only seeing him as her closest kin.

But as his face gradually recovered, Zhang Meng found him growing more beautiful by the day, so beautiful that she could not take her eyes off him. Her heart could no longer be restrained.

She had fallen in love with her adoptive father, Yang Qing.

However, when Zhang Meng turned seventeen, Yang Qing said he wanted to arrange a marriage for her. Never having descended the mountain, Yang Qing took his life savings and went down to find a matchmaker, saying he wanted to find Zhang Meng a good husband.

Zhang Meng was touched, angry, and a bit heartbroken.

She blocked Yang Qing’s path and, not knowing why, blurted out the words she had long hidden in her heart: “I don’t want to marry anyone else. I only want you, I only like you, I only want to marry you.”

Yang Qing was shocked and horrified. For the first time, he picked up the rattan cane on the table and whipped her.

He whipped her heavily and fiercely. Zhang Meng was covered in blood, but she did not cry. It was Yang Qing who cried until his eyes were swollen.

That night, Yang Qing applied medicine to her wounds and said, “Tomorrow, you will go down the mountain. If you cannot find the man you love, do not come back to see me.”

The next day, Zhang Meng was driven down the mountain by Yang Qing.

Although Zhang Meng returned to the mountain from time to time afterwards, she could no longer find Yang Qing. He had left.

Zhang Meng could not understand why Yang Qing was so averse to her feelings, to the point of abandoning the home he had lived in for ten years just to avoid her.

“Zhang Meng, you’re finally back. Although it’s your day off, you know how harsh the adults are on you. Seeing you gone today, they got angry and said they would dock your salary,” Jin Yue clamored as soon as Zhang Meng returned to the yamen.

“The adults are really angry?” Zhang Meng was startled.

“Of course! They usually can’t wait for you to leave the yamen, but as soon as you do, they start raging. Who knows what they’re thinking.” Zhang Meng was also quite helpless about this.

A year ago, after being driven down the mountain by her adoptive father, she had nowhere to go and could only make a living by hauling cargo at the docks. Fortunately, she was used to hard work since childhood and did not find it too taxing.

At that time, the public security in Yun City was not very good. Street thugs and thieves frequently appeared, making life miserable for the people. Some bold bandits even dared to steal from the yamen.

Later, the aged magistrate of Yun City could no longer handle the bandits and resigned, returning to his hometown. The higher-ups then sent a young woman named Zhong Huo to take over the administration of Yun City.

As the saying goes, a new official takes drastic action upon taking office. As soon as Magistrate Zhong arrived in Yun City, she issued various decrees and reformed many old rules. She also frequently went out incognito to inspect the lives of the people.

At first, the bandits were still very rampant. Once, they even kidnapped Magistrate Zhong in broad daylight.

Zhang Meng knew some martial arts and fought off the bandits. Zhong Huo greatly appreciated her and kept her by her side as a bodyguard.

Initially, Zhong Huo treated Zhang Meng very well, giving her good food, good lodging, and a high salary.

But slowly, for some unknown reason, Zhong Huo seemed to dislike her more and more. She no longer confided in her or smiled at her, always ordering Zhang Meng to do various dirty and tiring tasks with a cold face. Zhang Meng remarked that she was the one cleaning the yamen’s toilets, preparing the yamen’s meals, and even doing the yamen’s landscaping.

Zhang Meng felt that although Zhong Huo was a bit odd, she was relatively down-to-earth and had no sense of hierarchy. She could converse with everyone in the yamen, getting along with both the rich and the poor. She had no air of officialdom about her.

The citizens of Yun City all said she was a good official, and Zhang Meng agreed.

Since Zhong Huo came to Yun City, the public security and economy had improved significantly.

What Zhang Meng could not understand was why Zhong Huo, who could get along with everyone, disliked her so much.

“Zhang Meng, hurry and show your face in front of the adults. She’s been frowning all day, looking very scary.” Zhang Meng had no choice but to agree.

Zhong Huo’s study was on the west side of the yamen, where many green bamboos were planted. Zhang Meng would occasionally go there to dig up bamboo shoots to use as cooking ingredients.

The study door was tightly closed. Zhang Meng knocked.

“Who is it?” An impatient voice came from inside the study.

Zhang Meng paused for a moment. “It’s me, Zhang Meng.”

Very soon, the door opened from the inside. Zhong Huo, dressed in white casual clothes, stepped aside to make way for Zhang Meng.

“Come in,” Zhong Huo said.

Zhang Meng hurriedly entered.

“Where did you go today?” Zhong Huo asked, sitting on a wooden chair, fingers lightly tapping the armrest.

In front of Zhong Huo, Zhang Meng was always very honest.

“I went up the mountain for a bit.”

Zhong Huo frowned. “Because of your dereliction of duty, a hundred people in the yamen went hungry today. Do you have any sense of responsibility?” Zhang Meng quickly explained, “But today is my day off. Didn’t Aunt Zhang and the others already prepare the meals?” Zhong Huo slapped the table. “Aunt Zhang’s job is not to be a cook. Don’t always let others do your work for you.” Zhang Meng was about to retort that Aunt Zhang was originally a cook, but Zhong Huo was already shooing her away.

“You may leave. If this happens again, don’t blame me for docking your salary.” Zhang Meng felt somewhat aggrieved. Having offended her superior, she was always inexplicably given a hard time.

Before leaving, Zhang Meng still couldn’t help asking, “Your Excellency, in the future, can I still take days off?” Zhong Huo glared at her. “As a member of the yamen, you have no sense of dedication. Aren’t you ashamed?” Zhang Meng’s face fell. She walked out dejectedly and closed the door.

Late at night, under the full moon and gentle breeze.

Zhang Meng squatted on the ground, washing bowls. Jin Yue stood beside her, ladling water for her.

In this world, besides Yang Qing, Jin Yue was her closest friend. One could say that Jin Yue was her confidante.

However, Jin Yue had long ago revealed to her that before long, she would resign from her job as a constable and return to her hometown to marry a husband and have children.

This made Zhang Meng very reluctant to part with her.

Jin Yue squatted beside her, helping Zhang Meng rinse the bowls and chopsticks.

“What did Her Excellency say to you when she saw you today?”

Zhang Meng sighed. “She said I lack a sense of dedication.”

Jin Yue said, “Why don’t you quit being a constable and come do business with me?” Zhang Meng declined. She did not want to leave Yun City.

She wanted to stay in Yun City and wait for Yang Qing to return.

Long ago, she had already asked all her fellow female constables in Yun City to help look for Yang Qing. But even after posting missing person notices for nearly a year, they still could not find him. Perhaps Yang Qing had already left Yun City.

However, she believed that Yang Qing would return.

“Since he has no feelings for you, just forget him,” Jin Yue said.

Zhang Meng shook her head. She wanted to forget, but how could she? They had lived together for ten years. Even if romantic love was hopeless, familial love remained.

She had also seriously considered that if Yang Qing truly could not accept her, she would not force him. After all, feelings could not be compelled. All she wanted now was to find Yang Qing and get an answer. Whether they became lovers or remained as father and daughter, she would treat him well and give him all the best things she had.

In this world, he was her only family.