Chapter 2

Zhang Meng had been a constable for almost a year. Due to frequently patrolling the streets, she knew many common folks and generally had a good relationship with them. Sometimes, when she went shopping for groceries after patrols, they would even sell to her at a discount.

After buying groceries, considering how Her Excellency had been somewhat displeased with her lately, Zhang Meng made a detour and entered the Moonlight Teahouse, using her own private money to buy a box of pastries for Her Excellency.

Whenever Her Excellency ate the pastries from the Moonlight Teahouse, her mood would improve.

Although Zhong Huo liked to exploit Zhang Meng’s labor, Zhang Meng still couldn’t bring herself to dislike Zhong Huo. After all, Zhong Huo was a capable person, and Zhang Meng had always been fond of capable people.

Moreover, it was thanks to Zhong Huo that she had met her good sisters in the yamen. She felt very lucky.

As soon as Zhang Meng entered the Moonlight Teahouse, a light green silk handkerchief descended from the sky and covered her face.

Zhang Meng pulled the handkerchief off her face and looked up at the second floor. She saw an exquisitely featured, jade-skinned man in green standing by the railing, gazing at her with beautiful eyes. Then, seemingly a little embarrassed, his face reddened slightly. He turned his face away, not daring to look at her, and quickly retreated, turning to leave.

“Young master, why did you throw your handkerchief down?”

The purple-clad servant boy asked in puzzlement.

Xu Lu Cha’s fair hand spun the teacup as he spoke in a smooth voice, “I heard she is Zhong Huo’s favorite. Zhong Huo always has her company. Why wouldn’t I create an opportunity to make her acquaintance?” Zi Yi was slightly startled. “Young master, aren’t you waiting for Chen Cheng to pass the provincial examination?” Xu Lu Cha curved his lips. “I need to find myself a backup plan. Although Miss Qian has a wealthy family, she is lustful, ignorant, and shortsighted. How could she be worthy of me, Xu Lu Cha? Zhong Huo is a good official praised by the people. Not only is she outstandingly talented and beautiful, but she also doesn’t fancy men and has yet to take a husband. Zhong Huo is much better than that Chen Cheng.”

Zhang Meng held the handkerchief, momentarily at a loss for what to do. Soon, she saw a waiter carrying a tray and hurriedly handed the handkerchief to him, asking him to help find the owner upstairs.

Then, Zhang Meng bought the pastries and left the Moonlight Teahouse with the warm box.

“Young master, she left. She didn’t come up to find you.”

Xu Lu Cha gripped the teacup tightly and set it down on the table with a thud. The small beauty mark at the corner of his eye was enchanting.

“No one has ever been able to escape my charm, and she is no exception.” Xu Lu Cha played with the silky hair on his chest and said softly, “Zi Yi, just watch.”

Zhang Meng pushed a cart of vegetables back to the yamen. After putting all the vegetables back in the kitchen, she took a box of pastries and walked to Her Excellency’s study.

Recently, Yun City had been relatively peaceful, and people were living quite securely. There were no cases to hear. Besides occasionally going out to chat with the people and helping them with farm work, Her Excellency spent the rest of her time secluded in the study, reading books and painting.

When Zhang Meng entered the study, Her Excellency was painting the bamboo outside the window.

Zhong Huo turned her head and looked at her with a frown. “What is it?” Zhang Meng placed the pastries on the table and smiled. “Your Excellency, I just passed by the Moonlight Teahouse and bought some pastries back for you.” After thinking for a moment, feeling that this wasn’t enough to express her sincerity, she rephrased, “No, I should say, I deliberately went to the Moonlight Teahouse and spent half a month’s salary to buy Your Excellency’s favorite pastries.” Zhong Huo’s hand paused, and she put down the brush. She coughed dryly, her tone not as stiff as before.

“Are you trying to curry favor with me?”

Zhang Meng honestly nodded. “Because I have been inconsiderate lately and angered Your Excellency, I only hope that Your Excellency can be magnanimous and not haggle with me.” To be honest, Zhang Meng didn’t know where she had gone wrong.

A few months ago, Her Excellency, who had always treated her like a sister, suddenly started ignoring her and exploiting her labor.

Hearing her words, for some reason, Zhong Huo’s expression became somewhat complex.

She frowned, glanced at Zhang Meng, pursed her lips, and finally spoke, “Forget it, I don’t need your flattery. Take the pastries away.” “Your Excellency…” Zhang Meng hurriedly spoke, “Did I do something wrong…”

Zhong Huo turned away, not looking at her. “Zhang Meng, do you know how annoying you are? Every time I see you, I’m unhappy.” Zhang Meng felt aggrieved.

“You may go,” Zhong Huo said.

“Yes.” Zhang Meng turned and left the study, carefully closing the door behind her.

“What’s wrong? What did Her Excellency say to you this time?”

Jin Yue picked up a piece of braised pork from the pot, blew on it a few times, and put it in her mouth.

Zhang Meng held the spoon, stirring the nearly done braised pork, and replied, “Her Excellency said she’s unhappy whenever she sees me.” Jin Yue chewed on the braised pork and spoke unclearly, “Who knows what’s going on with Her Excellency. Didn’t you two have the best relationship before? She saved all the good food for you, making us all jealous. But now, I think you’re too pitiful.” Zhang Meng sighed.

Jin Yue suddenly thought of something and looked startled. “Could it be that Her Excellency is jealous of your large breasts?”

“Cough, cough…” Zhang Meng choked on her saliva, “What nonsense are you spouting?” “It’s not nonsense. Three months ago, didn’t she catch you bathing? Afterwards, she even avoided you for a few days. It seems that around that time, she started giving you the cold shoulder.” Although Zhang Meng didn’t believe that the revered Her Excellency would be jealous of her breasts, to be on the safe side, she decided to bind her chest as much as possible from now on.

After all, her breasts were indeed large. Every time she went out to patrol the streets, there would always be a few bold men secretly staring at her chest.

At the crack of dawn, Zhang Meng prepared breakfast. She had always been the one to call Her Excellency to eat breakfast. Even after Her Excellency started disliking her, she didn’t let anyone else take over.

However, now that Her Excellency had explicitly stated that seeing Zhang Meng made her unhappy, Zhang Meng had Jin Yue call her instead.

Zhang Meng didn’t eat with the others. She only took a few buns and went out to patrol the streets.

It was still early, and the streets weren’t very lively yet. Zhang Meng patrolled a few streets and found nothing unusual.

Soon, it was broad daylight, and the second batch of patrolling constables came out. It was the end of Zhang Meng’s shift. However, instead of rushing back to the yamen, Zhang Meng went to the western part of the city.

She would return to the mountain every few days, hoping to run into Yang Qing.

The bamboo hut on the mountain was still as empty as ever. Zhang Meng was a little disappointed. She tidied up and then went down the mountain.

Zhang Meng rested for a bit in the long pavilion at the foot of the mountain when she suddenly noticed a green jade pendant under the stone bench.

She picked it up and saw the small character “Cha” carved on the back of the jade pendant.

Zhang Meng recalled the scene of the man named Xu Lu Cha and a woman bidding each other a reluctant farewell that day and realized this must be Young Master Xu’s jade pendant.

Xu Residence.

Flowing water gurgled, red flowers covered the ground, and on a swing entwined with green vines sat a slender man. His light green robes fluttered in the wind, his jet-black hair tracing a graceful arc.

Xu Lu Cha’s slender fingers gently twirled the silky black hair hanging on his chest, his thick lashes trembling slightly.

“Zi Yi, is that Qian woman still at the residence?”

Zi Yi, carrying a small basket, was picking flower petals. Upon hearing this, he replied, “Miss Qian refuses to leave. She’s still pestering the master, wanting to propose marriage.” Xu Lu Cha sneered coldly, “A toad lusting after swan meat, how ridiculous.”

He stood up from the swing, his snow-white feet touching the ground.

“Zi Yi, go inform Miss Qin, tell her that I’m being relentlessly pursued by that Qian woman. Make it sound serious.” Zi Yi nodded. “Yes, young master.”

Zhang Meng arrived at the Xu Residence. Just as she was about to call out to the gatekeeper, she saw a handsome young man in purple clothes walking out from inside.

Zhang Meng recognized that this young man was Young Master Xu’s servant boy. She quickly called out to him.

“Hello, you’re Zi Yi, right? This should be your young master’s jade pendant. Please pass it on to him for me.” Zhang Meng smiled and handed the jade pendant to him.

Zhang Meng was already quite good-looking, and her smile was radiant and warm. The handsome servant boy blushed slightly and lowered his head, thanking her, “Thank you, Miss. Zi Yi will pass it on to the young master.” Although the sun in the sky had already slanted westward, it was still scorching. Zhang Meng left the Xu Residence, bought some vegetables at the market, and then pushed the vegetable cart back to the yamen.

Jin Yue had been waiting for her at the gate of the yamen early. As soon as she saw her return, she hurried to help push the cart back to the kitchen.

“Why are you back so late today? Did you go to the west of the city again?”

Zhang Meng nodded. “In a bit, come help me wash the vegetables. I’m back a little late, and I’m afraid I won’t make it in time for dinner.” While Zhang Meng was cooking, she suddenly heard a commotion outside. Jin Yue rushed in excitedly.

“Zhang Meng, listen, someone came to beat the drum and cry out for justice! There’s a good show to watch!” Zhang Meng’s hand holding the rice spoon paused, and she turned her head. “Crying out for what justice?” “The Qian family and the Qin family are at each other’s throats! Miss Qian and Miss Qin got into a fight and were injured quite badly. Their mothers came to ask Her Excellency for justice.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Meng wanted nothing more than to throw down the rice spoon in her hand and run out to watch the excitement.

The reason she endured Zhong Huo’s exploitation and didn’t quit was that she was particularly addicted to investigating and hearing cases.

“Wait!” Jin Yue hurriedly stopped Zhang Meng’s itching feet. “You stay here and cook obediently. Don’t give Her Excellency a reason to scold you. I’ll go gather information.” With that, Jin Yue ran out.

Zhang Meng had no choice but to cook honestly.

Two hours later, Zhang Meng and Aunt Zhang, along with a few other cooks, finished all the dishes, set up the tables, chairs, bowls, and chopsticks, and placed all the dishes on the table.

Making sure she had completed all her tasks, Zhang Meng hurried to the court without stopping.

However, unfortunately, the hearing had long since ended.

In the vast court, only Zhong Huo sat at the top, massaging her temples with a terrible headache.

Seeing Her Excellency, Zhang Meng’s face involuntarily stiffened. She quickly retreated, preparing to escape.

However, her movements were not agile enough, and Zhong Huo spotted her at a glance.