Chapter 22

“Zhang Meng! Where have you been these past few days? Madam Zhong hasn’t closed her eyes for days trying to find you. We’ve turned the entire Yun City upside down!”

As soon as Zhang Meng stepped into the government office, a group of female constables who were preparing to go on patrol surrounded her, chattering incessantly. Suddenly, someone noticed the blood on her back and exclaimed loudly, “Zhang Meng! There’s so much blood on your back. Are you dying?”

At this, the crowd erupted. No matter what Zhang Meng said, several people joined hands and feet to lift her up, hurriedly carrying her to the back courtyard. Those following behind didn’t stop, shouting in loud voices, “Someone quickly find a doctor! Hurry!”

When Zhang Meng was gently placed face down on the bed, Zhong Huo hurriedly parted the female constables surrounding the bed with both hands, standing by the bedside with a pale face.

She looked at Zhang Meng’s back, which was covered in dried dark red blood stains. Her jet-black eyes turned slightly red, and she clenched her fists. Her chest heaved continuously. After a long while, she finally calmed her emotions and said in a suppressed tone, “Tell me, where have you been these past few days? Haven’t I warned you not to run off? Did you listen at all?”

Zhang Meng lay on the bed, feeling very touched seeing so many people worried about her. But when she saw Zhong Huo’s face that seemed about to erupt like a volcano, she avoided Zhong Huo’s gaze somewhat guiltily, “My lady, I’m sorry. I just wanted to go out for a stroll and get some fresh air. I didn’t expect something like that to happen.”

She told them everything about going up the mountain, rescuing Xu Lu Cha, and traveling through the valley with Xu Lu Cha. To avoid worrying them, she deliberately kept the story very simple, glossing over the dangerous parts. But when she finished telling everything, everyone still had shocked and concerned expressions.

Zhong Huo’s face was terrifyingly dark, her reddened black eyes staring fixedly at her.

Zhang Meng didn’t dare look at Zhong Huo. The doctor arrived quickly, breaking the tense atmosphere. Zhong Huo stepped aside to let the doctor check Zhang Meng’s pulse and examine her wounds.

Fortunately, the doctor said the wound was only slightly infected, nothing serious. With a few days of good rest, she would be fine. In the end, the doctor even praised Zhang Meng’s good health, saying that if it were anyone else, they would have perished after going through such an ordeal.

Hearing the doctor say this, Zhong Huo’s expression finally improved somewhat.

After the doctor left, Zhong Huo shooed out the people crowding the room and sat down at the round table, mixing medicine, not saying a word. Zhang Meng rested her chin on her crossed arms, turning her head to glance at Zhong Huo, “My lady, I heard you haven’t slept for days trying to find me. I’m sorry. I’m back now, so please go and rest. For applying the medicine and such, I can ask Zheng Shu to help me.”

Zhong Huo turned her head and glared at her, “Shut up, you.” She picked up the prepared medicine and walked to Zhang Meng’s bedside. Zhang Meng hurriedly cooperated by taking off her clothes.

However, Zhang Meng’s back had bled a lot, and as the blood had dried, it stuck her wounds to her clothes. She felt great pain even trying to gently peel it off. Seeing this, Zhong Huo quickly stopped her reckless hands and picked up the scissors placed aside, gently cutting open her clothes.

“My lady! This is my only casual outfit…”

Zhong Huo patted her head, “I’ll compensate you. Aren’t you ashamed to be so poor?”

She carefully peeled off Zhang Meng’s clothes and used a clean, damp handkerchief to clean the dirty blood around the wound.

Zhang Meng lay on the bed, feeling the cool and comfortable medicine being applied to her back. Moreover, Zhong Huo’s movements were very gentle. She found it unbelievable. She had thought Zhong Huo disliked her, but never expected that after she was injured, Zhong Huo would watch over her day and night, apply medicine for her, cook porridge for her, and even give her a pouch.

As Zhang Meng was marveling at this, Zhong Huo, who was applying medicine behind her, suddenly asked, “Didn’t you come out with Xu Lu Cha? Where is Xu Lu Cha?”

“He didn’t want to return to Yun City, so I settled him in the home I share with my adoptive father,” Zhang Meng replied.

Zhong Huo said sarcastically, “I didn’t expect you two to become so close after just three days together. In a few more days, are you going to get married?”

Zhang Meng quickly turned her head to look at Zhong Huo and clarified, “My lady, please don’t tease me. You and I both know Young Master Xu’s personality. How could he possibly like someone like me? Besides, I really don’t have those feelings for Young Master Xu.”

…

After Zhong Huo finished applying medicine for Zhang Meng, she left. Zhang Meng lay on the bed, playing with the exquisite pouch Zhong Huo had given her.

When she and Xu Lu Cha had walked out of the valley, she had originally wanted to bring him back to the government office. Whether he was willing to confess to Zhong Huo or not, he was injured all over and should have seen a doctor for proper treatment. But Xu Lu Cha was unwilling, no matter what. He said he would confess to Zhong Huo voluntarily, but not now.

Fortunately, she often went up the mountain to clean the place where she and Yang Qing lived, so the house was still quite clean. She also occasionally bought rice, flour, and various seasonings to keep there, and had common medicinal ointments prepared for emergencies, which finally came in handy now.

Zhang Meng let him stay in the house on the mountain. She taught him how to use the traps around the house and how to hide in case of emergencies. She even told Xu Lu Cha about the secret tunnel in the kitchen. Even so, she was still somewhat worried about Xu Lu Cha.

Unlike her and Yang Qing who had martial arts skills for self-defense, Xu Lu Cha was not only powerless but had also sprained his ankle, making it difficult even to walk. In this condition, Zhang Meng was very concerned about his safety.

However, for the next few days, Zhong Huo would certainly not let her go out. She needed to find someone to go up the mountain and take care of Xu Lu Cha on her behalf. After much thought, she felt Zheng Shu was the idlest person in the government office.

In the evening, seeing Zheng Shu passing by her room carrying a pile of bills, Zhang Meng quickly called out to her.

“Zheng Shu! Zheng Shu! Come here! I want to ask you for a favor!”

Zheng Shu’s calm eyes glanced at her, then she walked into her room carrying the bills, placed them on the table, and walked to Zhang Meng’s bedside, looking down at her, “Pay up.”

Zhang Meng was about to tell her about Xu Lu Cha when Zheng Shu’s opening words “Pay up” startled her, “Pay what?”

Zheng Shu pulled out an ink brush and an account book from somewhere, writing in the book while speaking flatly to her, “After you left, I was docked a month’s pay by the lady for withholding information. These past few days, the lady mobilized all the constables to search for you, leaving me as the only constable in the office. I had to tend to the flowers and plants, wash dishes, cook meals, and organize bills. I did the work of eight people alone. You must pay me the corresponding wages.” With that, she placed the written bill in front of Zhang Meng.

Fifty taels!

Zhang Meng was almost shocked out of bed by this bold figure. Her annual salary was only fifty taels!

Zheng Shu brought the account book close to Zhang Meng’s eyes and repeated, “Pay up.”

Zhang Meng wanted to cry, “Can you give a discount? Or can you give me a few days? I’ll write an application to the lady for an advance on a year’s salary.”

Zheng Shu indifferently put away the account book, picked up the bills from the round table, and was about to leave when Zhang Meng quickly called out to her again, “Zheng Shu, can you help me with something?”

Zheng Shu turned her head, her lifeless eyes staring at her for a moment before replying, “No.” With that, no matter what Zhang Meng said, she left without any sympathy.

…

Xu Lu Cha sat leaning against the bed, his head slightly lowered, his black hair falling down to cover his face.

He untied the bundle, revealing clean, fire-red mountain fruits. His pale fingers gently brushed over the smooth skin of the fruits, but his mind wandered to the image of that person standing on tiptoes to pick the fruits, her long hair cascading like a waterfall, her figure graceful.

His fingers suddenly tightened, grabbing the fruit as if to throw it away.

That foolish person! That annoying woman who only knew how to urge him to confess! Shouldn’t a normal woman sympathize and protect him? She was truly wooden-headed, completely incapable of cherishing beauty.

But as the fruit was raised halfway, his hand unconsciously stopped.

Though he said this, wasn’t he even more foolish for being unable to let her go? When had he, Xu Lu Cha, ever cared so much about a woman? What spell had he fallen under?

She had neither power nor wealth, didn’t understand romance, and was even a reincarnated hungry ghost. Yet he found her charming.