Chapter 2

Zhang Meng had been a constable for a year now. Because she often went out on patrol, she knew many common people and generally had good relationships with them. Sometimes when she went to buy vegetables after finishing her patrol, they would sell them to her a bit cheaper.

After buying vegetables, thinking about how the superior had been somewhat dissatisfied with her recently, Zhang Meng still took a detour and walked into Yingyue Teahouse, using her own private money to buy a box of pastries for the superior.

Every time the superior ate pastries from Yingyue Teahouse, her mood would improve.

Although Zhong Huo liked to exploit Zhang Meng’s labor, Zhang Meng still couldn’t dislike Zhong Huo. Who told Zhong Huo to be a capable person? She had always been fond of capable people.

Moreover, it was because of Zhong Huo that she got to know that group of good sisters in the government office. She only felt very lucky.

Just as Zhang Meng walked into Yingyue Teahouse, a light green silk handkerchief descended from above and covered her face.

Zhang Meng grabbed the handkerchief from her face and looked up towards the second floor. She saw a man in green clothes with delicate features and a jade-like complexion standing by the railing. His beautiful eyes were fixed on her, then he seemed to blush in embarrassment, turning his face away as if not daring to look at her, and quickly retreated, turning to leave.

“Young master, why did you throw down your handkerchief?” The servant in purple clothes asked in confusion.

Xu Lu Cha’s slender hand twirled the teacup as he spoke in a languid voice: “I heard she’s a favorite of Zhong Huo, always by Zhong Huo’s side. Why shouldn’t I create an opportunity to get acquainted with her?” Zi Yi was slightly stunned: “Young master, weren’t you waiting for Chen Cheng to pass the provincial examination?” Xu Lu Cha curved his lips and said: “I need to find a backup plan for myself. Although Miss Qian has a wealthy background, she is lustful and ignorant, short-sighted. How could she be worthy of me, Xu Lu Cha? Zhong Huo, on the other hand, is a good official praised by the people, not only talented and beautiful, but also not interested in men, and still unmarried. Zhong Huo is much better than that Chen Cheng.”

Zhang Meng held the silk handkerchief, not knowing what to do for a moment. Soon, she saw a waiter carrying a tray and hurriedly handed the handkerchief to the waiter, asking him to help find its owner upstairs.

Then, Zhang Meng bought the pastries and left Yingyue Teahouse carrying the warm box of treats.

“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 bang. The small mole at the corner of his eye was enchantingly beautiful.

“No one has ever escaped my charm before, and she will be no exception.” Xu Lu Cha played with the hair on his chest and said softly: “Zi Yi, just watch.”

Zhang Meng pushed a cart full of vegetables back to the government office. After putting all the vegetables back in the kitchen, she carried a box of pastries to the superior’s study.

Recently, Yun City had been quite peaceful, people were living quite steadily, and there were no cases to judge. Apart from sometimes going out to chat with the common people and help them with farm work, the superior spent the rest of her time hiding in the study, reading books and painting.

When Zhang Meng walked into the study, the superior was painting the green bamboo outside the window.

Zhong Huo turned her head and frowned at her: “Is there something?”

Zhang Meng put the pastries on the table and smiled: “Superior, I just passed by Yingyue Teahouse and bought some pastries back for you.” Thinking that this didn’t fully express her sincerity, she corrected herself: “No, I should say, I specially went to Yingyue Teahouse and spent half a month’s wages to buy your favorite pastries.”

Zhong Huo’s hand paused, and she put down her brush. She coughed dryly, her tone no longer as harsh as before.

“Are you trying to please me?”

Zhang Meng nodded honestly: “Because I’ve been foolish recently and angered the superior, I only hope that the superior will be magnanimous and not hold it against me.” To be honest, Zhang Meng didn’t know where she had gone wrong.

A few months ago, the superior who had always treated her like a sister suddenly became cold towards her and started exploiting her labor.

After hearing her words, Zhong Huo’s expression became somewhat complex for unknown reasons.

She frowned, looked at Zhang Meng, pursed her lips, and finally spoke: “Forget it, I don’t need your flattery. Take the pastries away.”

“Superior…” Zhang Meng hurriedly spoke, “Did I do something wrong…”

Zhong Huo turned her back to her: “Zhang Meng, do you know how annoying you are? Every time I see you, I’m unhappy.”

Zhang Meng felt wronged.

“You may go now.” Zhong Huo said.

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

“What’s wrong? What did the superior say to you again?” 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 a ladle, stirring the almost-ready braised pork, and replied: “The superior said seeing me makes her unhappy.”

Jin Yue chewed on the braised pork, speaking indistinctly: “I don’t know what’s wrong with the superior. Weren’t you two closest before? She used to save all the good food for you, we were all so jealous of you. But now, I feel you’re too pitiful.”

Zhang Meng sighed.

Jin Yue suddenly remembered something and looked scared: “It couldn’t be that the superior is jealous of your big breasts, could it?”

“Cough cough…” Zhang Meng was so startled she choked on her saliva, “W-w-what nonsense are you talking about?”

“It’s not nonsense. Three months ago, didn’t she walk in on you bathing? After that, she avoided you for a few days. It seems it was around that time she started being cold towards you.”

Although Zhang Meng didn’t believe that the highly respected superior would be jealous of her breasts, to be on the safe side, she decided to bind her chest as much as possible in the future.

After all, her breasts were indeed large, and every time she went out on patrol, there would always be a few bold men secretly staring at her chest.

At dawn, Zhang Meng had finished preparing breakfast. All along, it had been her job to call the superior for breakfast. Even after the superior started disliking her, she hadn’t let anyone else take over this task.

However, now that the superior had clearly stated that seeing Zhang Meng made her unhappy, Zhang Meng asked Jin Yue to call her instead.

Zhang Meng didn’t eat with everyone else. She just took a few steamed buns and went out on patrol.

It was still early, and the streets weren’t very busy. Zhang Meng patrolled several streets and found nothing unusual.

Soon, it was broad daylight, and the second batch of patrol officers came out. It was time for Zhang Meng to end her shift, but instead of rushing back to the government office, she went to the west side of the city.

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

The bamboo house on the mountain was still empty as usual. Zhang Meng was a bit disappointed. She cleaned up a bit and then went down the mountain.

Zhang Meng rested for a while at the long pavilion at the foot of the mountain. Suddenly, she noticed a jade green pendant under the stone bench.

She picked it up and saw that the back of the pendant was carved with a small character “茶” (tea).

Zhang Meng remembered the scene of a man called Xu Lu Cha bidding a reluctant farewell to a woman that day, and realized this must be Young Master Xu’s pendant.

Xu Residence.

Water flowed gently, red flowers carpeted the ground, and on a swing entwined with green vines sat a tall man. His light green clothes fluttered in the wind, and his black hair traced beautiful patterns.

Xu Lu Cha’s slender fingers gently twirled the smooth black hair hanging over his chest, his thick eyelashes trembling slightly.

“Zi Yi, is that Qian woman still in the mansion?”

Zi Yi was carrying a small basket, picking flower petals. Hearing this, he replied: “Miss Qian still refuses to leave. She’s still pestering the master, wanting to propose marriage.”

Xu Lu Cha sneered: “She’s really a toad lusting after swan’s flesh.”

His snow-white feet touched the ground as he stood up from the swing.

“Zi Yi, go leak some news to Miss Qin. Tell her I’m being pestered relentlessly by that Qian woman. Make it sound serious.”

Zi Yi nodded: “Yes, young master.”

Zhang Meng arrived at the Xu residence and was about to call out to the gate guard when she saw a handsome young man in purple clothes walking out from inside.

Zhang Meng recognized him as Young Master Xu’s servant and quickly called out to stop him.

“Hello, you’re called Zi Yi, right? This should be your young master’s pendant. Please help me return it to him.” Zhang Meng smiled, handing the pendant in her hand to him.

Zhang Meng was quite good-looking to begin with, and her smile was bright and warm. The handsome servant’s cheeks turned slightly red as he lowered his head and thanked her: “Thank you, miss. Zi Yi will pass it to the young master.”

Although the sun in the sky had already started to set in the west, it was still scorching hot. Zhang Meng left the Xu residence, bought some vegetables at the market, and then pushed the vegetable cart back to the government office.

Jin Yue had been waiting for her early at the gate of the government office. 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 side of the city again?”

Zhang Meng nodded: “Later, help me wash the vegetables. I came back a bit late, I’m afraid I won’t be able to prepare dinner in time.”

Zhang Meng was cooking when suddenly she heard a commotion outside. Jin Yue burst in excitedly.

“Zhang Meng, let me tell you, someone has come to beat the drum and cry for justice! There’s a good show to watch!”

Zhang Meng’s hand holding the rice spoon paused, and she turned around: “Crying 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 they’re both quite badly hurt. Their mothers have come to ask the superior for justice.”

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 didn’t resign despite being so exploited by Zhong Huo was that she was particularly addicted to investigating and judging cases.

“Wait!” Jin Yue hurriedly stopped Zhang Meng’s eager footsteps, “You stay here and cook obediently, don’t give the superior a reason to scold you. I’ll go gather information.”

After saying this, Jin Yue ran out.

Zhang Meng could only continue cooking honestly.

Two hours later, Zhang Meng and several other kitchen ladies, including Zhang Niang, had finished preparing all the dishes, set up the tables and chairs, bowls and chopsticks, and placed all the dishes on the tables.

Making sure she had completed everything, Zhang Meng hurriedly rushed to the court.

However, disappointingly, the trial had already ended.

In the vast court, only Zhong Huo sat on the bench, massaging her temples with a very headache-stricken expression.

Seeing the superior, Zhang Meng’s face involuntarily stiffened for a moment, and she quickly retreated, preparing to escape.

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

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