Chapter Seven

“Zhang Meng, you’re back! You’re in trouble now! After eating your food, Young Master Ji felt dizzy and nauseous, vomiting terribly. Miss Zhong Ling is very angry and wants to punish you!”

Zhang Meng’s heart skipped a beat: “How could this happen?”

Jin Yue said: “It’s already happened. Miss Zhong Ling and the others are in the back courtyard. You should go and see quickly.”

Zhang Meng hurriedly put down her sword and followed Jin Yue to the back courtyard.

It was already very dark, and lanterns had been lit in the back courtyard. The dim firelight illuminated the yard, and as the night wind blew, the flames flickered unsteadily, as if they might go out.

Zhang Meng felt her heart fluttering along with those unstable flames.

Zhong Huo stood to one side with a serious expression. Beside her was a beautiful middle-aged woman.

A handsome young man sat by the stone table, his fine brows slightly furrowed, hand covering his mouth, dry heaving continuously.

Jin Yue nudged Zhang Meng and whispered to her: “The one standing next to the master is Miss Zhong Ling, and the one sitting at the stone table is Young Master Ji. Go apologize quickly.”

Zhang Meng hurriedly walked over. When Zhong Huo saw her, she pulled her to her side.

“Zhang Meng, what did you do? What kind of mushrooms did you give Young Master Ji?” Zhang Meng replied in a low voice: “Just the usual ones we eat. I’ve made them for you before, and you were fine after eating them.” Zhong Ling’s brows hadn’t relaxed since Zhang Meng appeared. She spoke in an unpleasant tone: “She must have accidentally mixed in poisonous mushrooms. Ah Huo, how could you trust such a careless person to cook?” Zhang Meng lowered her head guiltily: “I’m sorry. Is Young Master Ji alright? Has a doctor been called?”

Ji Ming weakly raised his head, his lips pale, his jade-white face covered in fine sweat. He waved his hand at Zhang Meng: “Constable Zhang need not worry, Ji Ming is not seriously ill.” Zhong Huo said to Zhang Meng: “We’ve already sent someone to find a doctor. The doctor should arrive soon.”

After the doctor came to examine Ji Ming, it was confirmed that Ji Ming had accidentally eaten poisonous mushrooms, which caused vomiting and dizziness. Fortunately, the mushrooms weren’t very toxic, and Ji Ming hadn’t eaten much, so he wasn’t in serious danger.

The doctor prescribed medicine for Ji Ming. Zhang Meng took the prescription and was about to go get the medicine when Zhong Ling stopped her.

“If we let you get the medicine, Young Master Ji will be on his way to the underworld.” She said coldly, pointing at Jin Yue who was standing to one side, “You go get the medicine.” Jin Yue took the prescription from Zhang Meng’s hand and left.

Zhang Meng looked at Ji Ming guiltily, then turned to Zhong Huo and said: “It was this subordinate who caused Young Master Ji to be poisoned. This subordinate feels deeply ashamed and requests punishment from the master.” Zhong Huo: “You didn’t do it intentionally…”

“Ah Huo.” Zhong Ling interrupted her words, “Such a careless person naturally needs to be punished. Today she mixed poisonous mushrooms into the food, tomorrow she might poison the entire yamen to death.” Zhang Meng: “…Please punish this subordinate, master.”

In the end, Zhong Huo docked Zhang Meng’s pay for half a year and punished her by forbidding her from setting foot in the kitchen.

Zhong Ling was dissatisfied, but Zhong Huo was in charge of the yamen, so she couldn’t say anything more.

Zhang Meng had long accepted the fact that her assets were in the negative, so she had no complaints about being fined half a year’s pay. She even secretly rejoiced at Zhong Huo’s punishment of not allowing her to enter the kitchen. After all, she wouldn’t have to get up early and stay up late to busy herself with kitchen work anymore.

The next morning, although Zhang Meng didn’t cook, she still got up early and trimmed the flowers and plants in the yamen.

Thinking about how she had caused Ji Ming so much suffering yesterday, she felt guilty and personally cut a few bouquets of flowers in full bloom and arranged them in vases.

Passing by Ji Ming’s courtyard, she happened to see the window of Ji Ming’s room open from the inside.

Ji Ming was dressed in moon-white clothes, his long hair not yet combed up, his jade-like skin contrasting with his jet-black hair, like a figure stepping out of an ink painting.

“Young Master Ji.”

Ji Ming saw Zhang Meng and nodded to her.

Zhang Meng, holding the vase, walked to Ji Ming’s window.

“I’m truly sorry for yesterday. Today I specially picked a few bouquets of flowers as an apology. I hope you can accept them.” Ji Ming’s complexion was still a bit pale, but his spirit was much better than yesterday. He reached out to take the vase: “Constable Zhang is very thoughtful.” Ji Ming’s slender fingers gently brushed over the petals: “The flowers are very beautiful, thank you.” Zhang Meng: “I’m glad Young Master Ji likes them.”

When Zhang Meng was preparing to go out on patrol with her sword, she saw Zhong Huo and Zhong Ling seemingly arguing about something in the courtyard. She could faintly hear words like “marriage” and “delay”.

Zhang Meng wasn’t as gossipy as Jin Yue, so she didn’t pay attention to them. She just glanced at them casually and prepared to leave.

“Zhang Meng.”

Just as Zhang Meng stepped out of the yamen gate, Zhong Huo called out to her from behind.

“Master?” Zhang Meng stopped in her tracks.

Zhong Huo walked quickly towards her: “Come with me to inspect the people’s conditions.”

Zhong Huo’s expression was not good, as if covered by dark clouds, with the risk of thunder and lightning at any moment.

Zhang Meng: “Yes.”

From behind came Zhong Ling’s angry voice: “Ah Huo, come back! Don’t try to avoid…” Zhong Huo directly pulled Zhang Meng’s arm and quickly walked out of the yamen.

Only after leaving the yamen for quite a distance did Zhong Huo release Zhang Meng’s hand.

“Master, it’s not good to leave Miss Zhong Ling behind like this and just leave,” Zhang Meng said.

Zhong Huo glared at her: “Don’t mind that.”

“Oh.”

The sun was scorching. Zhong Huo was dressed all in white, walking in front. Zhang Meng looked at her and felt a bit dazzled.

The common people around them occasionally greeted Zhong Huo, and Zhong Huo, as if she had completely lost her previous anger, constantly smiled and responded to the people’s greetings.

Not long after, Zhang Meng saw Xu Lu Cha dressed in green.

Xu Lu Cha had skin like ice and bones like jade, beautiful eyes sparkling, a smile clear and extraordinary, and a small mole at the corner of his eye adding a touch of playful cuteness.

He walked up to Zhong Huo, bent his knees and bowed: “Master.”

Zhong Huo smiled and nodded.

Xu Lu Cha and Zhong Huo began to exchange pleasantries. Zhang Meng listened to them speak in flowery language and found it boring.

Zi Yi stood properly behind Xu Lu Cha. Zhang Meng smiled and waved at him.

Zi Yi blushed and lowered his head.

By the time Xu Lu Cha invited Zhong Huo to go to Yingyue Teahouse for tea and flower viewing, Zhang Meng had already prepared the menu she wanted to order in her mind.

The face-saving Zhong Huo was going to treat again, which she was delighted to see.

Zhong Huo accepted Xu Lu Cha’s invitation, and the two headed towards Yingyue Teahouse.

Zhang Meng and Zi Yi followed behind.

“This time, let’s order other dishes. Yingyue Teahouse has new dishes, which are said to be delicious. Let’s try them later,” Zhang Meng said in a low voice, leaning close to Zi Yi.

Zi Yi replied: “Zi Yi and the young master have tried them and didn’t find them particularly special. Zi Yi thinks the previous dishes were better.” Just as Zhang Meng was about to reply, Zhong Huo suddenly turned her head, and Zhang Meng quickly stood at attention.

Zhong Huo looked at Zi Yi and smiled: “I’ve heard that Young Master Zi Yi is skilled at chess. I’d very much like to experience it.”

At Yingyue Teahouse.

Zhang Meng and Xu Lu Cha stared at each other.

Zi Yi had been called by Zhong Huo to play chess, and they had been playing for nearly half an hour.

Xu Lu Cha had originally been sitting next to them, watching them play chess, and constantly trying to attract Zhong Huo’s attention.

But Zhong Huo’s mind was completely not on him, and after being interrupted a few times, Zhong Huo looked at Xu Lu Cha very apologetically: “Young Master Xu, when I’m playing chess, I don’t like others beside me. You can…”

Xu Lu Cha was furious inside, but on the surface, he put on an apologetic expression: “I’m sorry, Master. It’s all because Lucha doesn’t know better.” So, Xu Lu Cha had to walk out of the private room and come to Zhang Meng’s side.

Zhang Meng waved at him: “Young Master Xu.”

Xu Lu Cha smiled shyly and sat across from her at the table.

“I didn’t expect the master to like playing chess so much,” Xu Lu Cha said.

“I didn’t expect it either. She rarely plays chess in the yamen,” Zhang Meng replied.

Zhang Meng took out a sachet from her sleeve and handed it to him: “I’m sorry, Young Master Xu. The master doesn’t want it. I originally wanted to return it to you earlier, but I haven’t seen you these past few days, so…”

Xu Lu Cha’s hands tightened for a moment, but he quickly relaxed and took the sachet. A melancholy expression appeared on his face.

“How could a divine person like the master look at Lucha? It was just Lucha’s one-sided wishful thinking.” As he said this, his eyes reddened, and crystal-clear tears began to fall drop by drop.

Zhang Meng was startled and spoke helplessly: “Young Master Xu, how can you cry just like that? Don’t cry.”

Xu Lu Cha held a silk handkerchief, wiping his tears: “But what should Lucha do with his heartfelt feelings for the master?” As long as he cried, no woman could resist. The person in front of him would definitely help him, as long as she was a woman.

Xu Lu Cha looked at Zhang Meng with tears glistening in his eyes, his long, dark eyelashes dotted with a few teardrops, his clear black and white eyes full of hope: “Constable Zhang, are you willing to help Lucha?” As long as she helped him create opportunities to be alone with Zhong Huo, he would definitely be able to win Zhong Huo’s heart. Once Zhong Huo loved him, what would the Empress’s arranged marriage matter?

“I’m sorry, Young Master Xu, I can’t help,” Zhang Meng replied with difficulty.

Xu Lu Cha paused, his hand hanging by his knee slowly clenching. He cried: “It’s Lucha who has put Constable Zhang in a difficult position.” Crystal-clear tears fell drop by drop.

Zhang Meng: “If it were any other matter, I would definitely do my best to help you, but I’ve always stayed out of matters of love between men and women. I’m sorry, but I can’t help.”

Xu Lu Cha was about to say something when Zhang Meng put the menu in front of him: “Do you want to eat anything?”

Xu Lu Cha’s face stiffened. After a while, he responded dryly: “No need.”

“Don’t be polite. Order whatever you like.”

Xu Lu Cha: “No need.”

Xu Lu Cha wiped his tears and was about to speak when Zhang Meng took back the menu: “Then I’ll order first. When you think of something you want to eat, just tell me.”

Xu Lu Cha clenched his handkerchief and stood up: “Lucha will take his leave for a moment.”

Zhang Meng nodded, and Xu Lu Cha left.

Zhang Meng ordered many desserts and some snacks. If these couldn’t be finished, they could be packed to take away.

The waiter quickly brought the dishes. With a table full of food, Zhang Meng ate with great enjoyment, barely noticing when Xu Lu Cha returned.

Not long after, Zhong Huo and Zi Yi came out of the private room.

Zi Yi quietly stood behind Xu Lu Cha. Zhong Huo looked at Zhang Meng, who was eating heartily, then at Xu Lu Cha, who had been left aside, with a somewhat strange expression.

“Young Master, are you alright?” Zi Yi asked anxiously.

Xu Lu Cha’s face was gloomy: “What could be wrong? Zi Yi, let me tell you, if it weren’t for Zhong Huo, I wouldn’t even look at someone like her once! Not even once!”

Zi Yi: “…”

Xu Lu Cha slammed the table hard, his beautiful eyes full of shame and anger: “Someone like her is truly… despicable to the extreme! She deserves to never marry a husband in her life! Zi Yi, let me tell you, someone like her will absolutely, absolutely never marry a husband!”

Zi Yi: “…Young Master, are you really alright?”

Xu Lu Cha kicked the table leg hard: “What wouldn’t be alright? I’m very well!”

Zi Yi: “…Yes, Young Master.”

Xu Lu Cha took a deep breath, barely suppressing his anger: “How was your chess game with the master? Was it enjoyable?”

Zi Yi: “The master’s mind wasn’t really on the chess game. She frequently looked outside, and intentionally or unintentionally mentioned Constable Zhang to me. Zi Yi doesn’t understand her intentions.”

Xu Lu Cha picked up his teacup and said with a cold smile: “Zi Yi, it seems we’ve both been used as pawns by her.”

He wondered what abilities that Zhang Meng possessed to make Zhong Huo behave in such a manner.

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