The male protagonist is a black heart lotus

Chapter 8

“Zhang Meng, I’m really going back to my hometown tomorrow. Can’t you take a break?” Jin Yue asked while packing her luggage.

“The master won’t agree. There’s nothing I can do,” Zhang Meng said as she wrapped up the desserts she brought back from Yingyue Teahouse today and put them into Jin Yue’s bundle.

“Ask her again. Maybe the master will agree if she’s in a good mood,” Jin Yue said. She looked under the bed and reached inside to feel around. “Huh? Zhang Meng, where’s your vase?”

“The vase? I used it to hold flowers and gave them to someone. Why?”

Jin Yue was startled and cried out, “Why did you give it away? Did you take out the two little snakes I caught this morning?”

Zhang Meng’s heart skipped a beat. “Wh-what little snakes?”

“I caught two little snakes and kept them in there. It was even covered with a net. You didn’t know?!”

Zhang Meng’s face turned pale. “Young Master Ji…” She asked hastily, “Are the snakes venomous? I saw the net and just moved it aside without thinking much. Why didn’t you tell me you put snakes in there!”

Just as Jin Yue was about to answer, there was a sudden knock on the door.

“Zhang Meng, come out quickly! Young Master Ji fainted from being frightened by the snakes! Miss Zhong Ling is furious and looking everywhere for you!”

In the backyard.

The sun was setting, the sky already dark. The trees swayed in the wind.

“Huo, tell me, how should we punish her this time? I, Zhong Ling, have lived this long and have never seen someone as careless as her.” Zhong Ling angrily pointed at Zhang Meng.

Zhang Meng lowered her head, guilt-ridden. “This subordinate is sorry to Young Master Ji. Master, please punish this subordinate.”

Zhong Huo sat by the stone table, her expression stern. She looked at Zhang Meng and spoke, “You were indeed too careless this time. Fortunately, the snakes had their venom removed. Otherwise, the consequences would be unthinkable. But I know you truly did not do it on purpose…”

“Huo, regardless of whether it was intentional or not, someone like her must be punished.” Zhong Ling interrupted her.

Ji Ming rubbed his temples as he slowly walked out from the inner room. Black hair, white clothes, handsome features, but his somewhat pale face added a touch of sickliness.

Seeing Ji Ming come out, Zhong Ling stopped reprimanding Zhang Meng and hastily stood up. “Young Master Ji, if you’re feeling unwell, please go back and rest first.”

Ji Ming shook his head. “Ji Ming is fine. Miss Zhong Ling, please don’t blame Constable Zhang.”

Zhang Meng looked at Ji Ming with gratitude. “Young Master Ji, I’m really sorry to you this time. I’m willing to accept punishment.”

In the end, Zhong Huo docked half a year’s wages from Zhang Meng. Zhong Ling was very dissatisfied, but since Ji Ming spoke up for Zhang Meng, she could only relent.

Zhang Meng squatted down and picked up the shattered pieces of the vase from the ground one by one, placing them on a tray.

Zhong Huo stood behind her. “What’s going on with you these past two days? You weren’t this careless before.”

Zhang Meng lifted the tray and stood up.

“Master, I can’t figure out what’s wrong either. Maybe I’m just Young Master Ji’s bane.” She turned around, looking at Zhong Huo with some difficulty. “Master, could you approve a few days off for me these next few days?”