Chapter 16

Zhang Meng sat outside the teahouse to rest. The teahouse owner personally brought out a pot of tea and sat across from Zhang Meng.

She poured tea for Zhang Meng and moved the cup in front of her. “Constable Zhang, please have some tea.”

Zhang Meng said, “Boss Lin, you don’t need to serve me. Go about your business. I’m fine resting here by myself.”

However, Boss Lin didn’t leave. She leaned close to Zhang Meng mysteriously and asked, “Constable Zhang, you’re not young anymore. Do you have any thoughts about taking a husband?”

Zhang Meng quickly swallowed the tea in her mouth and replied, “Taking a husband is not something I’m in a rush for.”

“Constable Zhang, there’s no need to be shy. It’s natural for women to marry men. We all understand. A few days ago, I noticed my nephew stealing glances at you from time to time. I reckon he’s interested in you. What do you think?”

Zhang Meng widened her eyes. “Are you talking about Lin Hao?”

Boss Lin nodded. “Although he’s ugly and irritable, he has a very kind heart and is hardworking and capable. He’s a good man. Constable Zhang, I can see you’re not someone who cares about looks… How about I betroth my nephew to you?”

Zhang Meng was shocked. She was dazed for a while before refusing, “Boss Lin, I know Lin Hao is a good man, but I already have someone I admire…”

Boss Lin showed a look of regret. “What a pity.” Her gaze swept to a corner of the teahouse.

Zhang Meng followed Boss Lin’s gaze and saw Lin Hao.

Lin Hao was wearing brown clothes. He had a tall and sturdy build with handsome features. Even though his skin was very dark, one could see his flushed face. His deep, large eyes seemed to glisten with tears.

Lin Hao’s low, rough voice rang out, “Who told you to take it upon yourself to betroth me to Constable Zhang? When was I ever interested in Constable Zhang?” His voice was filled with anger, but there was more of a wronged, crying tone.

Boss Lin was at a loss for words. Zhang Meng nodded at him slightly in embarrassment.

Lin Hao’s eyes were red. Without even glancing at Zhang Meng, he turned and left. Boss Lin hurriedly stood up and took a few steps forward, calling after him, “Hao’er…”

Lin Hao paused, turned his head, and said fiercely, “I will absolutely not marry Constable Zhang! I’d rather die than marry her!”

Zhang Meng: “…”

Boss Lin looked back at Zhang Meng, her expression awkward. “Constable Zhang…”

Zhang Meng smiled at Boss Lin. “Lin Hao is a good man. He will find a more outstanding wife-master. I’m indeed not very suitable for Lin Hao.”

…

It seemed she truly had no luck in love. Boss Lin merely mentioned the prospect of Lin Hao marrying her, and Lin Hao opposed it so resolutely. She really wasn’t liked by the men of the female-dominant country.

Even though she had no intention of marrying Lin Hao, being rejected by him like this still made her feel a bit depressed.

As Zhang Meng patrolled the streets, she suddenly saw a black-clothed man squatting on the street corner, tearing apart the steamed bun in his hands bit by bit to feed a stray cat.

The skinny stray cat devoured it ravenously. The man reached out to pat the cat’s head. After the cat finished eating the steamed bun, it rubbed its head against the man’s calf, turned around, and walked away with a feline gait.

However, the cat hadn’t gone far before it was hit by a slingshot wielded by mischievous children on the street. It yowled miserably and ran around in chaos.

The black-clothed man quickly stood up and blocked the cat, not letting the children hit it.

The children roughly pushed the man aside and swarmed forward, trying to catch the cat.

Seeing this scene, Zhang Meng felt both angry and anxious. She hurriedly stepped in front of the children and said loudly, “Don’t touch it.”

The children saw Zhang Meng wearing the red and white constable uniform. Seeing her cold expression, they all fearfully took a step back and ran away.

The cat cowered under a bamboo basket, trembling. Zhang Meng wanted to approach it, but the cat bolted away.

Zhang Meng turned to look for the black-clothed man and saw him kneeling in front of a green-clothed man, shaking like a leaf.

The green-clothed man wanted to help him up, but the black-clothed man shook his head desperately, shrinking his body, not letting him touch him.

“Xiao Chou, what’s wrong?”

Zhang Meng walked over to the black-clothed man. She saw that the man standing in front of him was none other than Xu Lu Cha. Xu Lu Cha glanced at the onlookers, his handsome face showing a wronged expression. Zi Yi, who was following behind Xu Lu Cha, hurriedly explained upon seeing Zhang Meng, “Constable Zhang, this gentleman accidentally bumped into my family’s young master. My family’s young master didn’t mind, but he knelt on the ground and refused to get up.”

Zhang Meng helped Xiao Chou up. Xiao Chou’s originally trembling body slowly calmed down.

The moment Zhang Meng appeared, Xu Lu Cha’s body stiffened for an instant. Then his fists slowly clenched, his beautiful eyes filled with coldness. He slightly bent his knees towards Zhang Meng and smiled with pursed lips. “Constable Zhang.”

Zhang Meng smiled and nodded at him. “Young Master Xu.” She shifted her gaze to Zi Yi, who was following behind Xu Lu Cha, and nodded. “Zi Yi.”

Zi Yi lowered his head, his face slightly flushed.

Zhang Meng turned her head and carefully comforted Xiao Chou. “Xiao Chou, don’t be afraid. Young Master Xu doesn’t mind your mistake. Besides, you didn’t do it on purpose. Young Master Xu naturally understands this.”

Xiao Chou still remained silent. Zhang Meng spoke again, “You won’t face retaliation from Young Master Xu. All the common folk in Yan City know that Young Master Xu is kind and gentle. He wouldn’t do such a thing. The common folk of Yan City can guarantee that you absolutely won’t encounter any strange incidents in the coming days.” Zhang Meng looked at Xu Lu Cha with a smile and said, “Right, Young Master Xu?”

Xu Lu Cha smiled and nodded. “Constable Zhang praises Lu Cha too much. Causing this gentleman to be so frightened, Lu Cha feels truly ashamed.” He slightly lowered his eyes and said, “It should be Lu Cha apologizing to this gentleman.”

…

Yingyue Teahouse.

“Young Master…”

Zi Yi stood beside Xu Lu Cha, looking at him apprehensively.

Xu Lu Cha heavily slammed the teacup on the table, causing the tea to splash out violently.

“Zi Yi, did I tell you to have Sister Long take care of that person? Did you handle it?”

Zi Yi replied, “Zi Yi indeed went to Sister Long. She said she would take care of Constable Zhang when she had time, two days at the latest.”

Xu Lu Cha’s face was icy cold, his eyes filled with anger. “Later, go find Sister Long and tell her to cripple or kill that Zhang Meng, whichever she prefers.”

“…Young Master, didn’t you say to only cripple Constable Zhang?” Zi Yi looked up.

Xu Lu Cha sneered coldly. “Someone like her deserves to die.”

Obviously it was that lowly Xiao Chou who bumped into him without watching where he was going, yet she actually helped that lowly person!

As a constable, helping others without getting the facts straight, he had seen it all.

Xu Lu Cha took a new teacup and slowly filled it with the teapot. He said coldly, “A lowly person like Xiao Chou, even after becoming hideously ugly, still hasn’t forgotten to seduce women. That Zhang Meng is also blind to fancy even someone like Xiao Chou.”

Zi Yi slightly furrowed his brows but remained silent.

Xu Lu Cha seemed to think of something, and the anger in his eyes intensified. He slammed the teacup on the table. “Zi Yi, go find Sister Long right now!”

After looking at his beautiful body for just a few days, she was already flirting with other men, and an extremely ugly man at that!

Where was she putting him?!

Xu Lu Cha simply couldn’t swallow this insult.

Someone like that was indeed better off dead!

…

“Xiao Chou, where did you go?” The young woman hurriedly walked up to the black-clothed man, her voice filled with worry and concern. “Why didn’t you tell me when you went out? I was worried to death.”

Xiao Chou lowered his head. “Sister, you don’t need to worry. I went to see Constable Zhang.”

The woman was even more exasperated. “That Zhang Meng has a pretty good relationship with Xu Lu Cha and them. Aren’t you afraid Zhang Meng will help Xu Lu Cha harm you again?”

Xiao Chou shook his head. “Sister, Constable Zhang isn’t that kind of person.” After saying that, he silently returned to his room.

The woman looked at Xiao Chou’s silent and melancholic appearance, her heart aching unbearably.

Xiao Chou used to be so cheerful and lively, but now he had been harmed into this state by that poisonous husband Xu Lu Cha. She wished she could rush to the Xu residence right now and kill Xu Lu Cha.

She had promised her deceased parents that she would take good care of Xiao Chou. Now that Xiao Chou had suffered such a great grievance, how could she face her parents’ spirits in heaven?

The woman clenched her fists tightly.

Sooner or later, she would personally kill that poisonous husband Xu Lu Cha.

…

At dawn, Zhang Meng ate breakfast, grabbed her sword, and was about to head out.

Zhong Huo stopped her, “Zhang Meng, wait a moment…”

Zhang Meng turned around, “Your Excellency?”

Zhong Huo seemed a bit conflicted. She hesitated for a while before tossing the thing behind her back to Zhang Meng.

Zhang Meng hurriedly caught it and took a closer look. It was an exquisite sachet. Whether it was the fabric material, the embroidery, or the embroidered pattern, everything was refined and skillful.

Zhang Meng was surprised, “Your Excellency! This sachet is so beautiful!”

Zhong Huo’s nervous expression eased a little. She snorted lightly, “Embroidering sachets is something…”

“Your Excellency, it was embroidered by Young Master Ji for you, right? His hands are really skillful!” Zhang Meng smiled.

Zhong Huo’s face instantly darkened, “This was embroidered by this official!”

Zhang Meng’s smiling face stiffened, but she quickly recovered. She smiled, “I didn’t expect Your Excellency to have such good embroidery skills. This subordinate admires it.”

She had been wondering why Zhong Huo had been staying in the study room lately and not going out for inspections. It turned out she was embroidering sachets. She probably embroidered it for Ji Ming.

She handed the sachet back to Zhong Huo and encouraged, “Your Excellency’s embroidery is so good. Young Master Ji will definitely like it. Your Excellency doesn’t need to worry.”

Zhong Huo looked at her with an expression that seemed like she wanted to kick her. In the end, she did indeed kick Zhang Meng. She glared at Zhang Meng, “Forget it, go patrol your streets. Seeing you really puts me in a bad mood.”

Zhong Huo took back the sachet and turned to leave.

Zhang Meng patted her leg, which didn’t actually hurt, a bit confused as to why Zhong Huo suddenly got angry.

…

“Sister Long, you better be swift with your moves. Don’t let me look down on you.”

Xu Lu Cha had his arms crossed, glancing at Sister Long out of the corner of his eye. Sister Long’s face was full of wrinkles, her eyes flashing with a fierce light. She grinned, “Xu Lu Cha, do you still not trust me?”

Xu Lu Cha snorted coldly, “After the matter is done, I will give you the due reward. You better do your best.”

Sister Long called her subordinates over and pointed at her group of sturdy sisters. She said to Xu Lu Cha, “With them, you don’t need to worry about the matter not being accomplished.”

Xu Lu Cha looked around at the group of women. Seeing that each of them was strong and powerful, he nodded in satisfaction. Suddenly, his gaze fell straight on a young woman mixed in among that group of women. He frowned and pointed at that young woman, “What’s your name?”

The person replied, “Ying Xiao Yue.”

Xu Lu Cha frowned and carefully examined that woman. Seeing her head lowered, her expression and demeanor very honest and proper, but he always felt a bit uncomfortable in his heart.

However, he didn’t say anything in the end. He turned back to look at Sister Long, “I’ll leave it to you.”

…

Zhang Meng regretted not asking Zheng Shu to accompany her.

She was ambushed. Dozens of strong women wielding clubs charged at her. Even though she had good martial arts skills, she still couldn’t avoid being hit by the clubs a few times. Her sword was carried at her waist. At first, she didn’t dare to draw her sword, afraid of harming innocent people. But in the end, she couldn’t bear it anymore and drew her sword, cutting all their clubs.

The women surrounded her in fear, not daring to approach. A few women would occasionally glance towards the street corner.

Zhang Meng quickly looked towards the street corner. Even though that person hid quickly, she still saw that light green robe.

She sighed lightly. The women, having lost their weapons, even if they charged forward, were still forced back by Zhang Meng’s sword.

Suddenly, she heard a cry of alarm coming from the street corner. Then, she saw Zi Yi hurriedly running out from the street corner in a fluster.

“Help!”