Zhang Meng quickly stood up and nodded to her, "Ma'am."
"You haven't untied it yet?" Zhong Huo looked at her and spoke stiffly.
Jin Yue looked at Zhang Meng in confusion, while Zhang Meng understood Zhong Huo's meaning and quickly replied, "I'll untie it when I bathe later."
Zhong Huo nodded. She stood there silently for a moment, then spoke again, "You two have a good relationship?"
Jin Yue replied, "Pretty good. Actually, ma'am, although Zhang Meng sometimes seems a bit silly, she's very easy to get along with, generous, and kind."
Realizing that Jin Yue was speaking well of her, Zhang Meng gave Jin Yue a grateful look.
Whether it was because of the darkening sky or not, Zhong Huo's face looked very gloomy.
Zhong Huo nodded slightly, "Not bad."
After saying this, she turned and left.
Jin Yue shrugged, "I've tried my best to help you, but it doesn't seem to have worked very well."
Zhang Meng nodded very resignedly, "I no longer hope to return to how things were with the ma'am before. As long as I don't offend her, it's fine."
When the sky was just beginning to lighten, Zhang Meng prepared breakfast again. However, it was her turn to patrol the streets in the afternoon today. So in the morning, she had a lot of free time, and she tidied up the flowers, grass, and trees in the government office a bit.
During this time, she saw Zhong Huo twice, but she quietly avoided her each time, and Zhong Huo indeed didn't notice her.
In the afternoon, Zhang Meng took her sword and went out.
The street was bustling with activity, carriages flowing like water and horses like dragons.
Along the way, Zhang Meng occasionally helped old gentlemen push carts, occasionally bought candied haws for little kids. Soon, she had finished patrolling the street.
It was still early, so she sat outside a teahouse, drinking tea that the teahouse owner had given her for free.
A handsome young man in purple clothes walked up to her.
"Miss, thank you for returning the jade pendant yesterday. It was a keepsake from the young master's father, and he cherishes it very much. Therefore, the young master has prepared a small gift and wishes to thank you in person. Would you be willing to grant him this favor?" Zhang Meng quickly swallowed the tea in her mouth and waved her hands repeatedly, "This small matter is not worth mentioning. It's just what I should do." Zi Yi still persisted, "If the miss is unwilling to accept the young master's thanks, he will certainly feel uneasy." "If I were to accept the young master's gift, I would be the one feeling uneasy." As Zi Yi was about to speak again, Zhang Meng interrupted him, "I appreciate your intentions, but I returned the jade pendant to your young master not for any reward. I would have done the same for anyone else." Zi Yi stood there troubled for a moment, then bent his knee to give Zhang Meng a bow before turning and leaving.
"Young master, she's unwilling to come."
Xu Lu Cha's hand, holding a white jade teacup, paused slightly. He slowly put down the teacup.
"Zi Yi, if she's unwilling to come, then I'll go meet her."
Xu Lu Cha lightly brushed his sleeve and stood up.
After Zhang Meng had drunk a pot of tea, she felt her parched throat was much better. She thanked the teahouse owner and left, holding her sword.
She first went to the vegetable market to buy groceries. The cart she had prepared earlier was standing quietly there, with a few children climbing on it to play games. After Zhang Meng shooed them away, she pushed the cart to buy vegetables.
"Young master, there's a strange smell here. Do we really need to go in?" Zi Yi said, covering his nose.
Xu Lu Cha just frowned slightly, then walked into the vegetable market without hesitation. Zi Yi hurried to follow.
Their well-dressed appearance quickly attracted everyone's attention. Especially Xu Lu Cha's beautiful appearance and otherworldly demeanor, which made many women stop in their tracks, enchanted.
Before long, Xu Lu Cha and Zi Yi were surrounded by women, unable to move forward.
"Young master, may I ask if you're married?"
"Young master, what do you need to buy? I can give it to you for free."
"Young master, you look unfamiliar. Are you new to Yun City?"
The women chirped incessantly with questions. Zi Yi's brows furrowed deeply as he stepped forward to block Xu Lu Cha from the women's brazen gazes.
"Our young master has urgent business. Could you please make way?" Zi Yi called out.
Xu Lu Cha lowered his head, dropping his gaze to conceal the deep disgust in his eyes. When he raised his eyes again, they were filled with clear, glistening tears. He slowly looked around at the surrounding women, then lowered his head, and a crystal-clear teardrop rolled down his cheek.
The women gasped, feeling guilty and heartbroken. To avoid upsetting the beauty further, they hurriedly stepped back in unison, making way for Xu Lu Cha and Zi Yi.
Xu Lu Cha kept his head down as he walked out of the circle, but when he raised his head to look ahead, he couldn't find the somewhat thin figure pushing the cart.
His eyes darkened.