Chapter Eight

“Zhang Meng, I’m really going back to my hometown tomorrow. Can’t you take a break?” Jin Yue asked while packing her luggage.

“The master won’t agree. There’s nothing I can do,” Zhang Meng said as she wrapped up the desserts she brought back from Yingyue Teahouse today and put them into Jin Yue’s bundle.

“Ask her again. Maybe the master will agree if she’s in a good mood,” Jin Yue said. She looked under the bed and reached inside to feel around. “Huh? Zhang Meng, where’s your vase?”

“The vase? I used it to hold flowers and gave them to someone. Why?”

Jin Yue was startled and cried out, “Why did you give it away? Did you take out the two little snakes I caught this morning?”

Zhang Meng’s heart skipped a beat. “Wh-what little snakes?”

“I caught two little snakes and kept them in there. It was even covered with a net. You didn’t know?!”

Zhang Meng’s face turned pale. “Young Master Ji…” She asked hastily, “Are the snakes venomous? I saw the net and just moved it aside without thinking much. Why didn’t you tell me you put snakes in there!”

Just as Jin Yue was about to answer, there was a sudden knock on the door.

“Zhang Meng, come out quickly! Young Master Ji fainted from being frightened by the snakes! Miss Zhong Ling is furious and looking everywhere for you!”

In the backyard.

The sun was setting, the sky already dark. The trees swayed in the wind.

“Huo, tell me, how should we punish her this time? I, Zhong Ling, have lived this long and have never seen someone as careless as her.” Zhong Ling angrily pointed at Zhang Meng.

Zhang Meng lowered her head, guilt-ridden. “This subordinate is sorry to Young Master Ji. Master, please punish this subordinate.”

Zhong Huo sat by the stone table, her expression stern. She looked at Zhang Meng and spoke, “You were indeed too careless this time. Fortunately, the snakes had their venom removed. Otherwise, the consequences would be unthinkable. But I know you truly did not do it on purpose…”

“Huo, regardless of whether it was intentional or not, someone like her must be punished.” Zhong Ling interrupted her.

Ji Ming rubbed his temples as he slowly walked out from the inner room. Black hair, white clothes, handsome features, but his somewhat pale face added a touch of sickliness.

Seeing Ji Ming come out, Zhong Ling stopped reprimanding Zhang Meng and hastily stood up. “Young Master Ji, if you’re feeling unwell, please go back and rest first.”

Ji Ming shook his head. “Ji Ming is fine. Miss Zhong Ling, please don’t blame Constable Zhang.”

Zhang Meng looked at Ji Ming with gratitude. “Young Master Ji, I’m really sorry to you this time. I’m willing to accept punishment.”

In the end, Zhong Huo docked half a year’s wages from Zhang Meng. Zhong Ling was very dissatisfied, but since Ji Ming spoke up for Zhang Meng, she could only relent.

Zhang Meng squatted down and picked up the shattered pieces of the vase from the ground one by one, placing them on a tray.

Zhong Huo stood behind her. “What’s going on with you these past two days? You weren’t this careless before.”

Zhang Meng lifted the tray and stood up.

“Master, I can’t figure out what’s wrong either. Maybe I’m just Young Master Ji’s bane.” She turned around, looking at Zhong Huo with some difficulty. “Master, could you approve a few days off for me these next few days?”

Zhong Huo’s face darkened. “Approve leave for you to do what?”

“Jin Yue is about to get married. I want to attend her wedding ceremony.”

In the female-dominant country, the wedding ceremonies for young men and women were not grand. Most of the people who could attend were close unmarried friends of the groom or bride who had no love interest. This also served as a kind of matchmaking ceremony. After witnessing the blissful union of a new couple, these young men and women would also find their lifelong companions.

Zhang Meng did not expect to find her other half through Jin Yue’s wedding ceremony, but she wanted to join in the festivity.

Moreover, after causing misfortune to Ji Ming twice in a row, she really didn’t have the face to see him these next few days.

Zhong Huo frowned at her. “You want to marry a husband that badly?”

Zhang Meng shook her head. “Not really. I just want to join in the liveliness.”

Zhong Huo clenched her fists. “What if some man takes a fancy to you?”

“How could that be?” Zhang Meng waved her hand and laughed. “Who would take a fancy to someone like me? I think, unless I spend money to hire a matchmaker to arrange a marriage for me, only then can I marry a husband. But I don’t want that. I want to find one myself, find one I truly like.”

Zhong Huo’s jet-black eyes gazed at her fixedly, seeming to surge with something inside. She said indifferently, “Since no one will take a fancy to you, why waste time attending a wedding ceremony?”

“Master, I…”

“Constable Zhang, the constabulary is short-handed recently.”

“…”

Early the next morning, Jin Yue was ready to leave with her bundle on her back. The sisters of the constabulary all came out to see her off, including Zhong Huo.

“Jin Yue, are you really not coming back to the constabulary in the future?” Zhong Huo asked.

Jin Yue nodded. “I won’t be back. My mother wants me to do business. I have to inherit the family property.”

Zhang Meng’s face was full of reluctance. “When you have time in the future, I’ll come visit you to reminisce.”

Jin Yue pushed her shoulder. “Forget it. Let’s talk about it when you can take a vacation.”

Zhang Meng looked back at Zhong Huo. Zhong Huo’s expression remained unchanged.

After Jin Yue left, Zhong Huo assigned all of Jin Yue’s work to Zhang Meng.

“Young Master, this is a gift from Miss Qian for you.”

Zi Yi held a delicate box with both hands and handed it to Xu Lu Cha.

Xu Lu Cha frowned and did not take it. “She still hasn’t given up. Just look at what kind of person she is. Zi Yi, return it.”

Zi Yi said, “Yes.” He turned to leave.

Xu Lu Cha stopped him. “Wait, keep it.”

“Young Master?” Zi Yi was puzzled.

Xu Lu Cha said softly, “Although I don’t fancy that good-for-nothing, that old undead at home values her a lot. If she sends me gifts, won’t that old undead be infuriated?” He curled his lips.

“…Yes, Young Master.”

Xu Lu Cha played with the hair hanging in front of his chest and asked casually, “Zi Yi, have you found out about Zhang Meng’s background?”

Zi Yi replied, “Zi Yi found out that Zhang Meng has no parents. She lived with her foster father in the mountains since she was young. A year ago, for some reason, her foster father left home. She had no choice but to go down the mountain to work as a porter at the docks. Later, Master Zhong saw her martial arts skills and took her under her wing, making her a constable.”

“It seems there’s nothing particularly special.” Xu Lu Cha slightly furrowed his brows. “I think she’s also a scheming one. But in any case, I won’t let her hinder me and Zhong Huo.” He paused, then said, “Zi Yi, I see that Zhang Meng seems to have taken quite a liking to you. Go and probe her background.” After a pause, he added, “In the future, when she goes out with Zhong Huo to inspect, take her away. The farther the better. Don’t let Zhong Huo see her.”

Without Zhang Meng by Zhong Huo’s side, she would not be able to influence Zhong Huo.

Once Zi Yi found out Zhang Meng’s background, he would have ways to deal with her.

Zhang Meng followed behind Zhong Huo, feeling very unhappy.

After seeing off Jin Yue in the morning, Zhong Ling and Zhong Huo argued again.

It was mainly because Jin Yue resigned to go home and marry a husband, while Zhong Huo had a fiancé but kept delaying the marriage. Zhong Ling couldn’t stand it, so she spoke with a cold face, taking jabs at Zhong Huo.

Unable to argue with her, Zhong Huo pulled Zhang Meng out for inspection again.

Zhong Huo had a dark expression the whole way and didn’t show any good face to Zhang Meng. All because Zhang Meng said, “Master, why don’t you just listen to Miss Zhong Ling and get married first? Young Master Ji is quite good.” Afterwards, Zhong Huo walked in front without turning back to look at Zhang Meng even once.

Zhang Meng felt very uncomfortable in this stiff and cold atmosphere. Fortunately, on the way, she saw Xu Lu Cha and the others again.

Usually, they would take the initiative to greet her. This time, as soon as she saw them, she quickly waved at them.

But Zhong Huo, who rarely refused the requests of the common people, rejected Xu Lu Cha’s invitation this time.

Zhong Huo put away the resentment and anger she had been emanating towards Zhang Meng and said to Xu Lu Cha very amiably, “Young Master Xu, I’m a bit busy today. Next time.” With that, regardless of Xu Lu Cha’s disappointed expression, she lifted her leg and left.

Just as Zhang Meng was about to follow her, Zi Yi, who had always stood behind Xu Lu Cha, spoke up.

“Constable Zhang, please wait a moment.”

Zi Yi walked up to her and somewhat awkwardly handed her the sachet in his hand.

“Constable Zhang, I embroidered this myself for you. I hope you can accept it.” In the female-dominant country, a man giving a woman a sachet represented the man having affection for the woman.

Therefore, when Zhang Meng received the sachet, she was extremely shocked and flattered.

Holding the sachet, she followed behind Zhong Huo, her mind in a mess.

She thought of Yang Qing one moment, then Zi Yi the next, and then the deskmate she had a crush on in the modern world.

It wasn’t until they returned to the constabulary and Zhong Huo slammed the door of the study with a “bang” that Zhang Meng came back to her senses.

She looked at the tightly closed study door, somewhat exasperated as she patted her own face.

It’s just being given a sachet! What’s there to be so nervous about?

In the afternoon, the sun was scorching. Zhang Meng and a few constable sisters went out carrying money bags and account books.

Zhang Meng had taken over Jin Yue’s work and had to collect taxes from various households.

Thus, she stepped into the homes of many wealthy families, such as the Qin Mansion, the Qian Mansion, and so on.

Seeing those rich houses with pavilions, terraces, rockeries, and flowing water, even the floor was covered with soft woolen carpets, and the hanging curtains were strung with pearls and jadeite. Zhang Meng deeply felt that the constabulary had become as poor as a slum.

At the Xu Mansion, although the interior decor was not as extravagant as the Qin and Qian Mansions, it was still quite impressive. Because a casual cup of tea there probably cost more than her monthly salary.

The head of the Xu family, Xu Hong, very enthusiastically invited them to sit.

Xu Hong had the steward bring over a bank note and hand it to Zhang Meng. Zhang Meng recorded the amount in the account book, and a constable named Zheng Shu took the bank note from Zhang Meng’s hand and put it into the money bag.

“Then, Madam Xu, we’ll take our leave first,” Zhang Meng said with a smile.

Zhang Meng and Zheng Shu stood up to leave.

While passing through the courtyard, Zhang Meng heard a series of faint groans.

She turned her head to look and saw in the distance, Xu Lu Cha in green clothes was slapping a man dressed as a servant.

The man’s face was red and swollen. He knelt on the ground, not daring to move or cry.

Zi Yi, who was standing beside Xu Lu Cha, seemed to sense her gaze. He turned his head to look, and upon seeing it was Zhang Meng, his eyes widened in surprise.

Zhang Meng somewhat uncomfortably nodded to him, then shifted her gaze and walked out of the Xu Mansion with Zheng Shu.

Xu Lu Cha flexed his fingers, examining his jade-like white hand, and said softly to the servant kneeling on the ground, “Do you still dare to steal my things?”

The servant held back his tears and quickly shook his head. “I don’t dare anymore, Third Young Master. I don’t dare anymore.”

Xu Lu Cha looked at him coldly. “You go back and tell that old undead that Miss Qian’s things can’t be touched by just anyone.”

The servant nodded repeatedly, crawled up, and ran off stumbling.

Xu Lu Cha turned his head and saw Zi Yi staring straight at the main gate. He asked casually, “What’s wrong, Zi Yi?”

Zi Yi quickly retracted his gaze. “Just now, Constable Zhang saw you hitting someone, Young Master.”

Xu Lu Cha: “…”

Zhang Meng and Zheng Shu returned to the constabulary, but it wasn’t time for a meal yet. She could only hug her stomach and go back to her room to rest.

Ever since she stopped working in the kitchen, the people in the kitchen, like Aunt Zhang, were often too busy to handle everything. They always had to serve meals very late, and the food wasn’t that good either.

The constable sisters were all complaining incessantly. They pleaded with Zhong Huo to let Zhang Meng return to the kitchen.

Fortunately, Zhong Huo kept her word. If she said she wouldn’t let Zhang Meng near the kitchen, she wouldn’t let her near the kitchen.

So every time Zhang Meng finished her shift and came back, she could rest. As for the food being unappetizing and such, she didn’t care. After all, she had also eaten the food Yang Qing made for a few years. That was truly dark cuisine.

“Zhang Meng, you’re back?” said the uncle who was cleaning the courtyard.

“Yes, Uncle,” Zhang Meng said with a smile.

The uncle approached Zhang Meng mysteriously. “This afternoon, after you and the master returned, the master locked herself in the study and still hasn’t come out.”

Zhang Meng was stunned. “Really?”

“Yes, I even sneaked to the door to listen for movement. I heard the master gritting her teeth and muttering ‘stupid person’ under her breath. Do you know what happened to the master?”

Zhang Meng quickly shook her head. “I don’t know.”

She had been by the master’s side the whole morning and indeed hadn’t noticed the master having any unpleasant encounters with anyone.

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