Chapter Eighteen

“Really, not dying earlier or later, but choosing to die when we’re eating, I haven’t even eaten my fill yet!” An impatient voice grumbled. Two constables carried a stretcher out of the government office, with a person lying on it covered by a white cloth.

Another constable said: “Stop complaining, let’s quickly take her to the funeral home and then report back to the magistrate.” The constable who spoke first snorted: “This Zhang family is really troublesome…” The two constables carried the stretcher further and further away. Xu Lu Cha, standing near the government office, stared blankly at the human shape on the receding stretcher.

Indeed… dead.

Though it had nothing to do with him, why did he… feel somewhat uncomfortable in his heart?

The two constables placed the stretcher in the slightly dilapidated funeral home, then left covering their noses.

Inside the funeral home were dozens of corpses, the room was cold and filled with a pungent smell of decay.

Xu Lu Cha covered his nose with a handkerchief and walked to the newly placed corpse.

He raised his pale white hand and gently lifted a corner of the white cloth, his fingers paused.

He remembered her cheeks puffed out while eating snacks, he remembered her valiant appearance when arresting criminals, he remembered her always bright and warm smile, and those bright eyes when she took a knife for him.

Xu Lu Cha let go of his hand.

He suddenly dared not look at her remains.

Isn’t it laughable? He who had never feared anything was actually afraid to see her face.

Xu Lu Cha lowered his head. He turned and left.

The bustling street, people chatting and laughing, vendors calling out incessantly. So lively. The world would not fall silent in mourning for someone’s departure, even if she had given so much for them.

So, she was a foolish person, wasn’t she?

Xu Lu Cha went to Yingyue Tea House and bought some snacks. Returning to the funeral home, he placed the snack box beside that corpse.

He stood quietly for a while, the cold wind ruffling his black hair. His eyes slightly lowered, he turned and left.

Hope in your next life, you won’t be so foolish, isn’t it good to live just for yourself?

Hopefully in your next life, you won’t meet a poisonous husband like me who is vicious and ruthless…

…

“Young master! Something’s happened! The bridal sedan chair has come early!”

Xu Lu Cha had just returned to the Xu mansion when Zi Yi rushed up to him, looking panic-stricken.

Xu Lu Cha’s expression changed: “What’s going on?”

Zi Yi’s face was pale: “The master said to celebrate the birthday there, and for you to go there early to familiarize yourself with the environment. The bridal sedan chair is already waiting in your room, just waiting for you to return.” Xu Lu Cha turned to leave, saying quickly: “I’ll go find Qin Long first, you delay them.” Before Xu Lu Cha could walk out the door, several burly middle-aged men blocked his way.

Chen Yue walked out from the corridor, saw Xu Lu Cha, and instructed those men: “Take the third young master to get dressed, the bridal sedan chair has been waiting for a long time.” The men approached Xu Lu Cha, who stepped back, his beautiful eyes glaring angrily: “Who dares to touch me!” The middle-aged men paused, looking at each other. Chen Yue sneered: “Whoever can take the third young master to get dressed will be heavily rewarded.” The men’s eyes lit up, and they all pounced towards Xu Lu Cha. Xu Lu Cha extended his folding fan towards them, his slender white fingers lightly pressing the fan handle, several small gleaming daggers suddenly protruded.

“Get lost!” Xu Lu Cha waved the fan forcefully, his beautiful eyes filled with ice.

A man pulled out a thick wooden stick from somewhere and struck heavily at Xu Lu Cha’s wrist holding the fan. With a snap, the fan fell to the ground. Xu Lu Cha clutched his injured wrist, his face pale with pain, his lower lip bitten bloody.

The men rushed forward in a swarm, restraining Xu Lu Cha’s hands and feet, rendering him immobile.

Zi Yi was anxiously beside them, Chen Yue’s narrow eyes looked towards Zi Yi, he snorted lightly and ordered the man beside him: “Grab Zi Yi too, to prevent him from causing trouble.”

…..

“Zheng Shu, Zheng Shu, the magistrate isn’t in the office now, right?”

Seeing Zheng Shu passing by Zhang Meng’s door carrying thick account books, Zhang Meng, lying on the bed, hurriedly called out to her.

Zheng Shu glanced at her coldly, nodding slightly. Hearing this, Zhang Meng let out a big sigh of relief and struggled to get up from the bed.

Zheng Shu’s eyebrows twitched, frowning slightly, but still said nothing, coldly watching Zhang Meng grimace in pain as the movement pulled at her wound, with no intention of helping.

Zhang Meng struggled to sit up, her upper body only wearing an undershirt, her soft breasts rising high, quivering slightly with the movement. Zheng Shu looked for a moment, then calmly averted her gaze.

Zhang Meng put on her outer clothes, while arranging her clothes, she pleaded earnestly to Zheng Shu: “Later, I’m going out for a walk, please don’t tell the magistrate.”

Since she was injured, Zhong Huo had turned into a mother hen, watching over her all day, not allowing her to do this or that. If she slightly disobeyed Zhong Huo, Zhong Huo’s face would darken terribly.

Although she knew Zhong Huo meant well, she had a restless nature, and lying in bed for three whole days made her feel like she was going moldy.

Just going out for a little while, Zhong Huo wouldn’t find out.

Zhang Meng snuck out through the back door, hearing the noisy sounds from the street, she felt she had finally returned to the world of the living.

She wasn’t wearing her constable uniform, and her hair was casually tied up. Less spirited than usual, she looked more gentle and beautiful. The aunties and uncles she was usually close with teased that in this appearance she looked like a lovable young man.

Zhang Meng chatted with them for a while, then seeing it was still early and Zhong Huo probably wouldn’t return to the office yet, she walked towards the west city. It had been a long time since she’d been up the mountain, she wanted to go see.

…..

Headache, weakness…

Xu Lu Cha frowned, slowly opening his eyes. A flash of red entered his vision, he had been changed into red clothes. His hands and feet were tightly bound, unable to move.

The carriage jolted, the curtains occasionally lifted by the wind, revealing a glimpse of rapidly receding lush trees through the small gap.

His mind was in chaos for a moment, but he quickly calmed down. The more panicked one is, the less likely things are to succeed, he had understood this principle since childhood. The most urgent thing now was to untie the ropes on his body, then check the situation outside.