Chapter 13

“Young Master Xu… hold it… you can rub… you can stroke… move… just do what feels good… until it comes out…”

Zhang Meng felt she had never lost face like this before. She heard Xu Lu Cha’s heavy panting, muffled groans, and unconscious whimpering like a puppy during climax from behind the screen. She wanted nothing more than to run in and cover Xu Lu Cha’s mouth.

Covering her ears, she tried to keep her voice gentle: “Young Master Xu, please be quieter. It will be troublesome if someone outside hears.”

But Xu Lu Cha seemed completely immersed in his own world, unable to hear her advice at all.

This went on for almost an hour. Who knows how many times Xu Lu Cha had pleasured himself. Suddenly, footsteps could be heard from outside.

Then, she heard someone speaking outside: “There’s a strange sound inside… like someone crying…”

“A ghost? Do those two spouses really come back during the day?”

“I’ve never seen a ghost before. Anyway, the yang energy is strong during the day. Let’s go take a look…”

As the footsteps drew closer, Zhang Meng’s heart leapt into her throat.

If people discovered her here with Xu Lu Cha, according to the customs of this matriarchal country, she wouldn’t be much affected – at most, she’d be teased for being licentious. But Xu Lu Cha would be scolded as a loose man with no shame. In serious cases, he could be captured and drowned in a pig cage.

At this point, Zhang Meng had no time to think. She quickly walked to the screen, grabbed Xu Lu Cha’s arm, and supported him as they ran towards the back courtyard.

Xu Lu Cha’s clothes were still half-removed. His hands weakly struggled to escape her grasp. Zhang Meng had no choice but to quickly turn her back to him, lift his legs to wrap around her waist, and carry him on her back as she ran towards the back courtyard.

Who knows how much aphrodisiac Xu Lu Cha had taken. Even after pleasuring himself for so long, that part of him was still hard, uncomfortably pressing against Zhang Meng.

As they ran, her clothes rubbed against that part of him. Xu Lu Cha’s muffled groans constantly sounded in Zhang Meng’s ear, his heavy breaths hitting her neck. Zhang Meng’s whole body broke out in goosebumps.

After finding a relatively hidden spot, Zhang Meng set him down and covered his mouth.

The few people outside came in and looked around, but finding nothing, they left disappointed.

After they had gone far away, Zhang Meng hurriedly released his mouth and turned her back to him.

“I apologize, Young Master Xu. I was rude.”

Xu Lu Cha panted heavily, his beautiful eyes filled with tears as he glared at her, nearly grinding his teeth to pieces.

He gathered his clothes, hiding the poisoned rice grains under his nails as he viciously scratched towards Zhang Meng’s nape.

As if she had eyes in the back of her head, Zhang Meng quickly dodged and turned to grab his hand.

She held both his hands, bent down to carry him on her back again, and turned her head to reassure Xu Lu Cha: “I won’t tell anyone about what happened today. It seems your body has recovered somewhat. Now, let me take you back to the Xu residence.” With that, she carried him out through the small door in the back courtyard.

Xu Lu Cha’s scalding tears fell onto Zhang Meng’s nape. He opened his mouth and bit Zhang Meng’s neck viciously, holding nothing back.

Soon, his mouth was filled with the salty, metallic taste of blood.

He said hatefully in a low voice: “You saw me at my most wretched. I won’t let you off. Even if you helped me, I won’t be grateful to you…” Zhang Meng’s footsteps faltered slightly. She sighed and said: “Young Master Xu, I didn’t help you to gain your gratitude…”

…

After sending Xu Lu Cha back to the Xu residence, Zhang Meng returned to the tavern.

Her neck was bitten and bleeding quite a bit from Xu Lu Cha’s bite. She only tore off a small piece of her undergarment to roughly bandage it.

When she got back to the tavern, Zheng Shu was already waiting for her there.

Zheng Shu looked at her expressionlessly, seeming to reproach her for abandoning her duties.

Zhang Meng hurriedly explained: “I went to use the latrine. I’m sorry.”

The tavern owner had finally returned. She very apologetically took out the tax silver: “I’m so sorry to have kept Constable Zhang and Constable Zheng waiting for so long. To make amends, how about I treat you to some wine?” Zheng Shu took the banknotes without a word and turned to leave.

Zhang Meng smiled and declined the tavern owner’s kindness: “No need. We must return to the yamen.” After speaking, she hurriedly pressed her hand to her sword and ran to catch up with Zheng Shu.

…

“Young master, what’s wrong?”

Zi Yi looked at the tightly closed door with some unease as he spoke. He knocked on the door: “Young master?” Ever since being sent back by Constable Zhang, the young master hadn’t said a word and had shut himself in his room. He was truly worried.

He knocked again and was about to speak when Xu Lu Cha’s suppressed, angry voice came from inside: “Get lost!”

Zi Yi was startled and hurriedly lowered his head to respond: “Yes.”

After a long while, Xu Lu Cha finally came out of the room. Zi Yi saw that his eyes were filled with tears, his face flushed red. Zi Yi had never seen him blush before, nor had he ever seen him reveal such an aggrieved and ashamed expression.

“Young master…”

Xu Lu Cha sat by the stone table, dressed all in green, his expression icy cold. He took out a pouch from his sleeve and tossed it to Zi Yi: “Take this pouch to Miss Qin…”

Those who dared to scheme against him must pay the price.

He took out another pouch from his sleeve: “Take this pouch to Zhong Huo. Inside are all the evidences of Qian Mu toying with innocent men.” He would make her life worse than death.

Zi Yi took the pouches, looking at Xu Lu Cha in confusion: “Young master… Miss Qian, she…”

Xu Lu Cha suddenly clenched his fist, his beautiful eyes cold as ice.

“Go quickly!”

Zi Yi hurriedly nodded and turned to leave.

Xu Lu Cha waved his hand, sweeping all the tea sets on the stone table to the ground. He gritted his teeth, trembling with anger.

Since that man’s death, he had never suffered such anger, such humiliation. He had long sworn that he would make anyone who displeased him suffer.

And her too!

Thinking of what she said to him in that abandoned house, what she did to him – even if she helped him, he would absolutely not let her off!

Xu Lu Cha’s handsome face flushed red with shame and anger.

…

Zhang Meng returned to the yamen, finished organizing the account books, and it was time to tend to the flowers and plants in the yamen.

She came to the back courtyard and saw Ji Ming using a hoe to weed.

Ji Ming wore a moon-white robe, clean and otherworldly. His black hair was loosely tied back, revealing his snow-white neck. Wisps of fine hair fell down, dampened by sweat and clinging to his fair skin. His usually pale face now had a healthy flush from the exertion.

“Young Master Ji? Why are you here helping with the weeding again?”

Zhang Meng hurriedly walked up to him and said somewhat embarrassedly: “This is my job, yet you’re doing it for me. I feel very uncomfortable about this.”

Ji Ming shook his head: “It’s nothing. Ji Ming is idle anyway, and happy to do something for the yamen.”

Zhang Meng: “The magistrate is truly fortunate to have such a virtuous fiancé as Young Master Ji.”

She did envy Zhong Huo a bit. Ji Ming was truly a good man. Since coming to the yamen, he had taken the initiative to help with tasks – weeding, washing dishes, washing vegetables. Zhang Meng’s workload had been greatly reduced thanks to him.

For Ji Ming, who had grown up pampered and privileged, to do so much for the yamen was truly rare.

Ji Ming smiled slightly: “Please don’t praise Ji Ming so, Constable Zhang. Actually, Ji Ming very much enjoys life at the yamen. It’s happy and fulfilling. Ji Ming used to spend all day in my chambers doing embroidery, which was truly stifling.”

Zhang Meng smiled at him: “How is your relationship with the magistrate lately?”

Ji Ming replied: “No progress. She probably dislikes Ji Ming.” As he spoke, his tone was flat, showing no signs of disappointment.

Seeing his somewhat unconcerned manner, Zhang Meng sighed inwardly.

They were clearly a well-matched pair, yet neither had that kind of feeling for the other. No wonder Miss Zhong Ling had been so anxious lately that her mouth was full of sores.