Chapter 9

“Officer Zhang.”

Zi Yi walked up to her and began speaking somewhat awkwardly.

Zhang Meng was sitting outside the teahouse drinking tea. When she saw Zi Yi walking towards her, she almost choked. She hurriedly swallowed her tea and nodded to Zi Yi.

Zi Yi sat across from her, seeming to have difficulty speaking: “Yesterday, I… Officer Zhang… what do you think…”

Zi Yi’s words were unclear, but Zhang Meng thought she understood his meaning and quickly said: “The sachet is very beautiful, I like it very much, it’s just…”

Zi Yi’s face suddenly turned red. He hurriedly shook his head, interrupting her words: “That’s not what I wanted to ask about. I wanted to ask, yesterday, what did Officer Zhang think about my master’s actions?”

Zhang Meng was startled. Hadn’t he done something like a confession to her yesterday? Shouldn’t he be asking for her response today? Why was he asking about her opinion of Xu Lu Cha?

Yesterday Xu Lu Cha had indeed punished a servant, but there were many complicated and unsavory things in wealthy households. As long as no one died, it wasn’t something for the officials to get involved with.

Zhang Meng replied: “I didn’t think much of it. Since he angered Young Master Xu, that servant must have done something wrong.”

Zi Yi seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. He said: “He stole something very important from the young master, that’s why the young master was angry.”

“Oh.”

Zi Yi asked again: “Officer Zhang has a very good relationship with the lady official, I suppose you tell each other everything?”

Hearing this, Zhang Meng understood his meaning. Xu Lu Cha was probably worried she would tell Zhong Huo about him hitting someone yesterday, and had specially sent Zi Yi to probe.

Zhang Meng shook her head with a smile: “Zi Yi, you can tell your young master not to worry. I’m not one to gossip or meddle. Of course I won’t tell the lady official about yesterday’s events.”

Zi Yi also looked embarrassed: “I’ve been rude.”

Actually, Zhang Meng did have some fondness for Zi Yi, but not in a romantic way. She felt that in some ways, Zi Yi resembled her adoptive father.

They both came from servant backgrounds, both gentle and graceful.

Even though Zi Yi was always by Xu Lu Cha’s side, he hadn’t picked up Xu Lu Cha’s bad habit of fawning on the rich and scorning the poor. This was worthy of Zhang Meng’s admiration.

Zhang Meng had rested enough, so she stood up, preparing to go on patrol.

Zi Yi also hurriedly stood up: “May I walk around with Officer Zhang for a while?”

Zhang Meng nodded: “Of course, but the sun is quite strong, and I’ll be patrolling for a long time. I’m afraid Zi Yi might suffer a bit.”

Zi Yi: “It’s fine, I just want to walk with Officer Zhang for a while.”

Zhang Meng and Zi Yi walked side by side. Zi Yi kept trying to make conversation with her, but the topics were all about her relationship with Zhong Huo.

As Zhang Meng listened, she couldn’t help interrupting: “You’re acting strange today. Why do you keep asking about me and the lady official?”

Zi Yi paused, then hurriedly shook his head: “I was just curious.”

After that, Zi Yi stopped asking about Zhong Huo, but Zhang Meng felt he was even stranger.

Zi Yi was extremely nervous. Zhang Meng felt that to him, she was like a bomb that could explode at any moment. But even though Zi Yi was stiff all over, walking with his arms and legs moving in sync, he still insisted on patrolling with her, which made Zhang Meng feel somewhat sorry for him.

Actually, Zhang Meng considered herself to be friends with him, and usually spoke to him very naturally and openly. But now Zi Yi was inexplicably so nervous that it was making Zhang Meng nervous too.

After patrolling for about half an hour, Zhang Meng could hardly bear it anymore. She had to take two copper coins out of her sleeve.

“Zi Yi, let me show you a magic trick.”

“Isn’t this the Xu family’s third young master? Why aren’t you boating on the lake and admiring flowers with Miss Qian today?” A clear voice rang out. Xu Lu Cha looked up and saw it was the Zhang family’s second young master, Zhang Hong Yue. He smiled slightly: “So it’s Young Master Zhang. Miss Qian is a busy person, naturally she can’t always accompany Lu Cha. But why is Young Master Zhang so free today?” Zhang Hong Yue wiped the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief: “Hong Yue can’t compare to Young Master Lu Cha in terms of free time. I still have to go check the accounts at the shop later.” Xu Lu Cha smiled: “Young Master Zhang is truly clever and capable.”

After Zhang Hong Yue left, Xu Lu Cha’s smile faded.

Just the son of a small teahouse owner, yet he brags about his talents all day. How ridiculous.

Xu Lu Cha picked up the teapot and poured himself a cup of tea, drinking it slowly.

Not long after, a handsome young man in purple clothes hesitantly walked towards him.

Xu Lu Cha raised his beautiful eyes slightly and asked: “Zi Yi, I told you to get close to Zhang Meng. How did it go?” Zi Yi’s face reddened slightly, and he replied shamefully: “Young Master, Zi Yi has no experience approaching women, so…” “Oh?”

Zi Yi put a bulging bundle he was carrying on the stone table in front of Xu Lu Cha and opened it.

Inside were all kinds of snacks – candied hawthorns, maltose, sugar sticks, roasted sweet potatoes, and many small pastries.

“Officer Zhang bought these for Zi Yi. She thought Zi Yi hadn’t eaten today.”

Zhang Meng held up the sachet with one hand, examining it closely.

The sachet was very finely made, with tiny, dense stitches. Black and white threads were used to embroider mountains, rivers, and a fisherman with a sail – all lifelike.

The idea of a man embroidering things was just so adorable, no matter how you looked at it.

Although she had been living in this female-dominated world for eleven years, she had previously lived in the mountains and had hardly seen any men other than her adoptive father Yang Qing. While she found the concept of female superiority and male inferiority in this world novel, it had not at all affected the worldview she had formed in modern times.

Because in modern times, she rarely saw men doing needlework. Now that she had come to this world where all men did needlework, she found it to be a very novel thing.

“Are you planning to marry him?” A cold voice sounded behind her.

Zhang Meng hurriedly stuffed the sachet into her sleeve and stood up: “Lady Official.”

Zhong Huo’s face was gloomy: “Finally a man has taken a liking to you, Officer Zhang. Congratulations.”

Zhong Huo’s sarcastic manner made Zhang Meng feel confused and nervous.

But she still honestly told Zhong Huo her thoughts: “I don’t think Zi Yi necessarily likes me.”

Zhong Huo snorted coldly: “Although you’re annoying and stupid, maybe he’s blind.”

“…” What happened to the lady official’s usually dignified, calm, cultured, and elegant image?

Zhang Meng felt wronged. Just these past two days, it had seemed the lady official didn’t have such a big issue with her anymore. She didn’t expect it was just her imagination.

“Lady Official, I really don’t think Zi Yi has any feelings for me.” Today when Zhang Meng was patrolling with him, he was extremely nervous, as if Zhang Meng was a man-eating beast.

Later, after Zhang Meng performed a few magic tricks for him, he relaxed a little. But he still didn’t dare look at Zhang Meng, instead constantly staring at the snack stalls nearby. Although Zhang Meng was already penniless, seeing Zi Yi staring so longingly at the snack stalls, she had to spend money to buy him food.

So, half a month’s wages were gone again.

Zhang Meng said: “Please don’t tease me, Lady Official.”

Zhong Huo’s face was cold, her jet-black eyes turbulent. After a long while, she finally spoke: “Zhang Meng, come with me on an inspection tour tomorrow.”

A sachet? What’s so great about that? She had received them too.

In Yan City, she had received countless sachets from young masters of great families, and every one of those sachets was more beautiful than the one sewn by that so-called Zi Yi.

What was that person so proud of?

It’s just a sachet, she could embroider one too!

And the one she embroidered would definitely be more beautiful than the one Zi Yi made!

Zhong Huo forcefully slammed her ink brush on the table. On the rice paper on the table was a woman holding a sword, looking back with a bright and gentle smile. But Zhong Huo frowned, crumpled the rice paper into a ball, and threw it on the ground.

That person with no principles at all!

That fool who loses her head at the sight of a pretty face!

Does she accept sachets from any man?

How is she any different from those prodigal daughters in Yan City who specialize in toying with men?

Zhong Huo stood up and paced back and forth restlessly.

It’s just a sachet!

Who can’t embroider one?!

Zhong Huo opened her sewing box and took out an embroidery needle and silk.

It’s just a sachet!

“Lady Official, dinner is ready!” The door was suddenly knocked.

Zhong Huo’s movements paused. She hurriedly threw the needle and silk onto the bed and covered them with a quilt.

She tidied her clothes and went to open the door.

Seeing Zhang Meng standing outside the door, Zhong Huo’s face turned cold and she glared at her.

“I’ve told you before, knock gently. Next time you do this, don’t blame me for docking your pay.”

Zhang Meng: “…Oh.”

Zhang Meng went with Zhong Huo to have dinner in the back courtyard. On the way, they encountered Ji Ming.

Zhang Meng quickly and tactfully walked ahead, intending to leave them some private space.

Actually, Zhang Meng really thought Ji Ming was a good man. He was magnanimous, cultured, and gentle.

Usually, young masters from great families like Ji Ming, who had grown up pampered and revered since childhood, would more or less have some young master temper.

But Ji Ming wasn’t like that. The two times she had caused him trouble, he had spoken up for her. Not every young master would have such magnanimity.

Not long ago, because she felt guilty for always causing Ji Ming trouble, she kept avoiding him.

When he discovered this and learned of Zhang Meng’s thoughts, he smiled helplessly.

He said: “Please don’t feel guilty, Officer Zhang. You didn’t do it on purpose. And although those two experiences weren’t pleasant for Ji Ming, I don’t dislike them. Living a calm and uneventful life in the inner chambers all the time, it’s quite interesting to have a few thrilling incidents occasionally.”

At that time, Zhang Meng’s good impression of him maxed out. Later, when she meddled and advised Zhong Huo to listen to Zhong Ling and marry Ji Ming, it was also because of this.

She felt that although Zhong Huo was a good person and indeed outstanding, with her strange temper, only Ji Ming could tolerate her.

Zhang Meng looked back at Zhong Huo and Ji Ming.

A beautiful woman and a handsome man, one with a gloomy face, one with a gentle smile.

Although it was a bit strange, they were unexpectedly well-matched.

“Zhang Meng, come here! Why are you walking so fast! Are you rushing to grab food?! As a member of the yamen, being so greedy for food, aren’t you ashamed?!”

“…”

The lady official is really unlikable.

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