Chapter 3

Zhong Huo was stunned for a moment, staring at her for a while, then unconsciously shifted her gaze to Zhang Meng’s chest.

Seeing Zhang Meng’s somewhat flat chest, she frowned and said, “Don’t wrap those things in the future, it’s not good for your body.”

Zhang Meng had been paying attention to Zhong Huo’s gaze. Seeing her gaze linger on her chest and thinking of Jin Yue’s words, Zhang Meng wished she could crawl into a crack in the ground.

“Yes, I won’t wrap them in the future.” Zhang Meng nodded haphazardly.

Zhong Huo said stiffly, “That’s good then.” With that, she stood up, turned around, and left.

Zhang Meng put her hands on her face and rubbed it.

Although they were both women, why did she feel so awkward?

Xu Residence.

The evening breeze was gentle, and the orange lanterns swayed slightly in the wind.

Under the cool pavilion, Xu Lu Cha had black hair and green clothes, skin as white as snow, bright eyes and white teeth. He held a jade flute to his lips with his slender fingers, and a melodious flute sound rang out.

Everyone said that the third young master of the Xu family was as beautiful as a flower and had a good background, which made many people envious. However, no one knew that Xu Lu Cha was just an existence seen as a stain.

His father was originally a young prostitute in a brothel, named Gong Mi. Xu Hong, the head of the Xu family, had relations with Gong Mi during a drunken night and got pregnant. Xu Hong deeply loved her husband, and her husband never forgave her for this matter. Xu Hong was deeply remorseful. After giving birth to Xu Lu Cha, she threw Xu Lu Cha back to Gong Mi and told them to get out of Yun City.

However, Gong Mi was an ambitious person and did not leave Yun City. He often brought Xu Lu Cha to the Xu Residence to demand money. If they didn’t give it, he would spread the matter of Xu Hong mixing with a young prostitute from a brothel, ruining Xu Hong’s reputation.

This situation continued until Xu Lu Cha was nine years old. Xu Hong finally couldn’t bear Gong Mi’s endless entanglement and schemed to have someone poison Gong Mi to death.

However, Xu Lu Cha was always born from Xu Hong’s ten months of pregnancy. She couldn’t bear for Xu Lu Cha to have no one to take care of him, so she brought him back to the Xu Residence.

But Xu Hong didn’t expect that Xu Lu Cha, who appeared dazzling on the surface, was actually covered in whip wounds, stick wounds, and burn marks all over his body.

Even though Xu Hong abandoned her prejudice and wholeheartedly raised and cared for him, Xu Lu Cha’s gloomy temperament could no longer be changed. His temperament was the same as his father’s – selfish, ambitious, unscrupulous, and even more adept at disguise.

Zi Yi stood to the side, lowering his head to organize the chessboard.

The song was over, and Zi Yi raised his head.

“Young Master, what are you thinking about? It’s been a long time since I’ve heard you play the flute.”

Xu Lu Cha put away the jade flute and said with a curled lip, “It’s been seven years since Father passed away. Apart from leaving me a jade pendant, he left nothing.”

Xu Lu Cha opened his jade-like white palm, and a jade pendant as green as dripping water lay quietly on it.

“It’s ironic that someone like him would personally carve a jade pendant for me.”

“Young Master…” Zi Yi was originally a servant who served the master’s husband. Since Xu Lu Cha was brought back to the Xu Residence, he was sent by Xu Hong to serve Xu Lu Cha. He knew about Xu Lu Cha’s background.

Xu Lu Cha’s eyes were dark. He said in a low voice, “I was born a dirty existence, just a tool used by him.” He gripped the jade pendant tightly. “Every time I see it, it makes me feel disgusted.”

“Young Master, why do you still carry it with you?”

Xu Lu Cha sneered coldly, “Only by keeping it with me can I constantly remind myself that if I don’t want to be despised, I can only desperately climb up by any means necessary.” Just like eight years ago, he didn’t apply the medicine that person gave him to the wounds on his body, leaving a body full of scars, and he got what he wanted – Xu Hong’s pity.

Zi Yi put a thin shirt on Xu Lu Cha’s body and said softly, “No matter what Young Master wants to do, Zi Yi will always support Young Master.”

Xu Lu Cha put away the jade pendant and concealed the gloom in his eyes, asking, “How are those two fools doing?”

Zi Yi replied, “Madam Zhong was disturbed by them for several hours and finally sent them back, punishing Miss Qin and Miss Qian to copy the penal code a thousand times.”

“The reason for their fight was over a man. You know the third young master of the Xu family, Xu Lu Cha, right? His beauty is famous. With a frown and a smile, he’s full of charm, so he has bewitched those two wealthy young ladies.”

Jin Yue said while gnawing on a watermelon.

Zhang Meng squatted on the ground, washing the bowls and chopsticks while listening to the gossip.

“Xu Lu Cha is indeed a disaster with his good looks,” Zhang Meng commented.

She thought, whoever marries Xu Lu Cha in the future will definitely not have an easy time.

“Madam!” Jin Yue suddenly called out.

Zhang Meng raised her head and saw Zhong Huo standing not far away, frowning and looking at her.

Zhang Meng quickly stood up and nodded to her, “Madam.”

“You haven’t unwrapped it yet?” Zhong Huo looked at her and spoke stiffly.

Jin Yue looked at Zhang Meng in confusion. Zhang Meng understood what Zhong Huo meant and quickly replied, “I’ll unwrap it later when I take a bath.”

Zhong Huo nodded slightly. She stood there silently for a while, then spoke again, “You two have a good relationship?”

Jin Yue replied, “Quite good. Actually, Madam, although Zhang Meng sometimes seems a bit silly, she’s really easy to get along with, generous, and kind.”

Realizing that Jin Yue was putting in a good word for her, Zhang Meng looked at Jin Yue gratefully.

Perhaps it was because the sky had darkened, but Zhong Huo’s face was very gloomy.

Zhong Huo nodded slightly, “Not bad.”

After saying that, she turned around and left.

Jin Yue shrugged, “I’ve already tried my best to help you, but the effect doesn’t seem to be very good.”

Zhang Meng nodded very resignedly, “I no longer hope to go back to the way I was with Madam before. As long as I don’t offend her, it’s fine.”

At dawn, Zhang Meng prepared breakfast again. However, it was her turn to patrol the streets in the afternoon that day. So in the morning, she had a lot of free time. She trimmed the flowers, plants, and trees in the government office a little.

During this time, she saw Zhong Huo twice, but she quietly avoided her, and Zhong Huo indeed didn’t discover her.

In the afternoon, Zhang Meng put on her saber and went out.

The streets were bustling with activity, with carts flowing like water and horses like dragons.

Along the way, Zhang Meng occasionally helped an old man push his cart and occasionally bought candied haws for the little kids. Soon, she finished patrolling the streets.

It was still early, so she sat outside a teahouse, drinking tea that the owner of the teahouse gave her for free.

A handsome man in purple clothes walked up to her.

“Miss, thanks to you for returning the jade pendant yesterday. It’s a memento of the Young Master’s father, and the Young Master cherishes it very much. Therefore, the Young Master has prepared a small gift and wants to thank you in person. I wonder if Miss would be willing to meet him?” Zhang Meng quickly swallowed the tea in her mouth and waved her hands repeatedly, “This little matter is not worth mentioning. It’s what I should do.” Zi Yi insisted, “If Miss is unwilling to accept the Young Master’s thanks, the Young Master will certainly feel uneasy.” “If I accept the Young Master’s gift, I would feel uneasy instead.” Zi Yi still wanted to say something, but Zhang Meng interrupted him, “I appreciate your kindness, but I returned the jade pendant to your Young Master not for the sake of a reward. If it were someone else, I would have done the same.” Zi Yi stood there in a difficult position for a while, then bent his knee to salute Zhang Meng, turned around, and left.

“Young Master, she’s not willing to come over.”

Xu Lu Cha’s hand holding the white jade teacup paused slightly, and he slowly put down the teacup.

“Zi Yi, if she’s not willing to come over, then I’ll go meet her.”

Xu Lu Cha lightly brushed his sleeves and stood up.

After drinking a pot of tea, Zhang Meng felt that her dry throat was much better. She thanked the owner of the teahouse and left, holding her saber.

She first went to the vegetable market to buy vegetables. The cart she had prepared earlier was parked there quietly, and a few children climbed on top to play games. After shooing them away, Zhang Meng pushed the cart to buy vegetables.

“Young Master, there’s a strange smell here. Should we go in?” Zi Yi said, covering his nose.

Xu Lu Cha only frowned slightly, then walked into the vegetable market without hesitation. Zi Yi hurriedly followed.

Their exquisite attire quickly attracted the attention of the crowd, especially Xu Lu Cha’s beautiful appearance and ethereal temperament, which made many women stop in their tracks, as if intoxicated.

Before long, Xu Lu Cha and his companion were surrounded by women, unable to move forward.

“Dear sir, may I ask if you are betrothed?”

“Young Master, what do you need to buy? I can give it to you for free.”

“Young Master, you look unfamiliar. Are you new to Yun City?”

The women chattered incessantly. Zi Yi frowned deeply and stepped forward to shield Xu Lu Cha, blocking the women’s wanton gazes.

“Our Young Master has urgent business. Could you please make way?” Zi Yi shouted.

Xu Lu Cha lowered his head, hiding the deep disgust in his eyes. When he raised his gaze again, his clear eyes had already welled up with glistening tears. He slowly looked around at the women and then lowered his head as a crystal-clear teardrop slid down his face.

The women gasped, feeling guilty and distressed. In order not to upset the beauty, they hurriedly stepped aside to let Xu Lu Cha and his companion pass.

Xu Lu Cha walked out of the encirclement with his head lowered, but when he looked up, he could no longer find the slightly thin figure pushing the cart.

His eyes darkened.

“Ah, Miss, you’re here!” Zi Yi suddenly called out beside him.

Xu Lu Cha was slightly startled and turned his face, indeed discovering Zhang Meng not far from them.

Zhang Meng wiped her forehead, “I thought something had happened here, so I came over to take a look. I didn’t expect it to be you, Young Master Xu.” Indeed, being too beautiful is troublesome, causing traffic jams at any moment, Zhang Meng thought.

Xu Lu Cha looked at Zhang Meng and showed a shy smile, like the first ray of sunshine after the clouds had dispersed, stunning and dazzling.

He bent his knee to salute Zhang Meng and said softly, “Lu Cha specifically came to find Miss to thank her for yesterday’s incident.”

Zhang Meng waved her hand, “It’s nothing, not a big deal. No need to thank me.”

“It may not be a big deal for Miss, but for Lu Cha, it’s more important than anything. That jade pendant is a memento left by Lu Cha’s father. Lu Cha has always treated it like his own life. If it were lost, it would be equivalent to taking Lu Cha’s life. Miss is kind-hearted and returned it to Lu Cha, isn’t that equivalent to saving Lu Cha’s life?”

Zhang Meng was surprised, “Is it that serious?”

Xu Lu Cha lowered his head, “Lu Cha sincerely thanks Miss for her kindness and has prepared some food and wine at the Moonlight Teahouse, hoping that Miss…”

Zhang Meng still wanted to refuse, but Xu Lu Cha’s eyes slowly reddened and became misty, as if tears would fall with a blink.

“Lu Cha just wants to express his gratitude. Won’t Miss give Lu Cha a chance?”

The surrounding people also couldn’t bear to watch.

“Constable Zhang, he’s so sincere. Just go.”

“A beauty invites you, and you won’t go? Are you stupid?”

Zhang Meng hurriedly explained, “No, I still have to go back and cook. A hundred people in the government office are waiting for me to start the meal!”

“Constable Zhang, you go to the Moonlight Teahouse first. We’ll find someone to tell Madam. She’ll definitely agree to have someone replace you.”

Government Office.

The emerald bamboo leaves trembled in the wind, making a rustling sound.

Zhong Huo, dressed in white casual clothes, held a hoe and dug up bamboo shoots.

Jin Yue walked to her side on the stone path, finding it a bit difficult to speak.

“Madam, Zhang Meng may come back a little late today.”

Zhong Huo’s hand paused, “Why?”

Thinking that she absolutely couldn’t let Zhang Meng leave a bad impression on Zhong Huo again, Jin Yue tried her best to put in a good word for Zhang Meng.

“Yesterday, Zhang Meng found a jade pendant and, in the spirit of returning lost property, specifically returned it to the owner, who is the young master of the Xu family, Xu Lu Cha. Xu Lu Cha was very grateful to her and insisted on inviting her to the Moonlight Teahouse to eat. Zhang Meng firmly refused, but the people all demanded that she go. She had no choice but to reluctantly accept.”

With a “snap,” Zhong Huo cut off a tender bamboo shoot.

Her voice was laced with anger, “When she comes back, tell her that she’s lost half a month’s salary.”

“Ah?” Jin Yue was stunned.

Zhong Huo threw the hoe on the ground, “It’s only natural for soldiers to serve the people. How dare she accept an invitation from the people? She’s really lost face for our government office.”

“No, no, no, Zhang Meng refused for a long time… Madam…” Jin Yue hurriedly explained, but Zhong Huo had already left with a sweep of her sleeve.

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