Chapter 15

It’s not Yang Qing…

Zhang Meng released the black-clothed man’s hand in disappointment.

The man’s face was mangled beyond recognition, with only a pair of bright, clear eyes glistening with tears. As soon as Zhang Meng let go of his hand, he quickly covered his face with his hands, lowering his head, not daring to look at anyone.

Zhang Meng glanced at the onlookers and said loudly, “Don’t stare, go about your business.”

Seeing that the onlookers seemed reluctant to leave, Zhang Meng wanted to persuade them further, but Zheng Shu drew her sword and said coldly, “If you want to keep looking, then come with me to the government office and look to your heart’s content.”

The onlookers dispersed in fear. Zhang Meng picked up the black-clothed man’s hat and handed it to him.

The man hurriedly took the hat and put it on, then stood up to leave. Zhang Meng quickly called out to him.

“Sir, those are knife wounds on your face, right? I actually have medicine to treat the wounds on your face.”

Although Yang Qing was a servant, he was proficient in pharmacology. The wounds on his face before were similar to this man’s. After treatment, they healed quite well.

Zhang Meng had followed him for ten years. Although he was never willing to teach her medicine, through exposure, she clearly remembered the prescription Yang Qing used to treat his face.

She thought, since Yang Qing was unwilling to let her learn about medicine, he must have his reasons. Perhaps his medical skills were never meant to be passed on to outsiders. Although she knew the prescription for treating knife wounds, she didn’t intend to give the prescription to the man before her. She said, “Sir, if you trust me, come here at noon tomorrow and I will give you the ointment.”

The man stood still for a long time, but in the end did not respond to Zhang Meng’s words and quickly left.

Zheng Shu looked at Zhang Meng expressionlessly, as if mocking her for meddling in other people’s business when they clearly didn’t appreciate it.

Zhang Meng stared at the black-clothed man’s receding figure and sighed.

Now someone had followed in Yang Qing’s footsteps. Perhaps that man was also a servant who had angered his master.

The affairs of wealthy families were too complicated. Even though Zhong Huo was a capable official who had implemented many policies benefiting the people, she still couldn’t change the situation where servants in the female-dominant country had no control over their own lives since ancient times.

It had been over a year since she last saw Yang Qing. Her desperation and heartache from wanting to see him had slowly turned into calmness and melancholy. She thought she could treat Yang Qing rationally now, but she didn’t expect that upon seeing that man who resembled him today, her heart seemed to stop for a moment.

She still couldn’t forget Yang Qing after all.

…

“A-Meng, you’re already twelve…” the brown-clothed man stammered.

Zhang Meng, who was squatting on the ground wiping the floor, turned her head and smiled, “Yes, Father.”

The man’s scarred face turned red, as if it was difficult for him to speak, “Do you have any strange symptoms in your body?”

Zhang Meng thought for a moment and shook her head, “No.”

The man finished sewing a long cloth pouch and bit the thread off. He placed the pouch into a box, which already had several exquisite pouches neatly arranged inside. He said to Zhang Meng, “If you have any strange symptoms in your body, don’t be afraid to tell me, understand?”

“A-Meng, you’re thirteen now, right? Do you have any unusual conditions in your body?”

“No.”

The man put the sewn pouch back into the box. Even though it was difficult to say, he still spoke, “If there’s anything wrong with your body, you must tell me.”

“You’re fourteen now, right? Your body…”

“Father, you’re a doctor. Do I have a terminal illness? Why do you keep asking me if my body is alright or not?” Zhang Meng asked in fear.

The man’s face stiffened and quickly turned red. He coughed dryly, “…Zhang Meng, I want to know why your menstruation hasn’t started yet.”

The corner of Zhang Meng’s mouth twitched.

The man continued, “Menstruation is something every woman experiences every month…”

“Ahem, Father, I…”

The man took out a long cloth pouch from the box and explained, “This is a menstrual pad. When you bleed there…”

“Father! You don’t need to say anymore! I…”

The man interrupted her, saying seriously, “A-Meng, this is normal for every woman. You don’t need to be afraid. I’ll teach you how to tie a menstrual pad…”

…

Zhang Meng woke up from her dream. It was already dawn. She rubbed her eyes, sat up, her mind still recalling the scene from the dream.

She hadn’t dreamed of Yang Qing for a long time, but this time she dreamed of such an embarrassing thing.

Come to think of it, when she first started developing, Yang Qing seemed very anxious every day, constantly collecting medicinal ingredients to make soup to nourish her body.

When she reached fourteen or fifteen and her chest was still flat, he worried and flipped through medical books every day, looking for breast enhancement prescriptions for her.

Now, Zhang Meng looked down at her chest. Using the term “rolling waves” to describe it would not be an exaggeration.

She really should have secretly thrown away that medicine back then.

Zhang Meng got up, got dressed, washed up, and before long, the meal bell in the kitchen rang. She tidied her clothes, put on her sword, and headed to the kitchen.

…

At noon, the sun was scorching. Zheng Shu had something come up and couldn’t accompany Zhang Meng on her street patrol, and the other constable sisters also had their own matters to attend to.

Zhang Meng finally decided to go out on patrol by herself. Anyway, she had the best martial arts skills at the government office. Even if she encountered any trouble, the other constable sisters wouldn’t be of much help. At most, they could go back and call for reinforcements.

And in her heart, she still believed that Xu Lu Cha wouldn’t really do anything to her. Even if he was angry with her, even if he wasn’t a good person, she believed that even the most cold-blooded person would have a soft spot in their heart.

…

“Sir!”

Seeing the black-clothed man wearing a hat, Zhang Meng quickly called out to him.

The man’s body stiffened. He hesitated for a moment, but still walked over to her.

Zhang Meng took out a bottle of ointment from her sleeve and smiled, “I made this a few days ago. It has a very good effect on treating knife wounds. Apply it once a day and don’t let it touch water.”

The man took it and nodded, saying softly, “Thank you.”

Zhang Meng discovered that he had a very pleasant voice, clear and magnetic, with a hint of a cute nasal sound.

Zhang Meng waved her hand, “No need to thank me. When you finish the ointment, you can come find me at the government office. My name is Zhang Meng.”

The man paused for a moment and replied, “My name is Ying Xiao Chou.”

“Mm, okay,” Zhang Meng smiled. “Can I call you Xiao Chou then?”

The man: “Mm.”

After saying that, the man turned and left.

And Zhang Meng also began her street patrol.