Chapter 2

Chapter 2

To avoid gossip, the carriage always stopped in the rear alley, and I always got out first.

I straightened my clothes and started away without looking back. My cousin normally went out of his way to avoid the unmarried female relatives staying at his home, which showed how much he disliked us. Naturally, I dared not linger around him.

Behind me, I heard him say in a peculiar tone, “Even a hired catamite receives a few false endearments and some cold silver for selling himself. Yet after serving you so laboriously, I get nothing at all.”

Here he went again.

My cousin was admirable in every way except for that merciless mouth. Everyone at the court trembled whenever he spoke.

I lowered my head and fished out ten copper coins. After some thought, I put five back.

Turning around, I said honestly, “I can only give you five. I need the other five to buy flatbread after work.”

He stared at me, his face dark, and forced out one word. “Scram.”

Feeling pardoned from a death sentence, I turned to do exactly that.

Then he opened his noble mouth again. “Leave the money. I want all ten coins!”

With a wounded heart and drooping head, I left all ten beside him.

…

I worked in the constables’ office. Junior constables like me spent most of their time taking abuse and accepting blame.

For example, now.

My superior handed me a stack of case files. “Ah Cheng, take these to Lord Xiao.”

I looked around. Every constable in the room gazed at me pleadingly.

Last month, our office had made a mistake. During a stakeout, we had accidentally let a criminal escape—the very criminal my cousin had gone to immense trouble to track down.

He had told us icily, “If your eyes are useless, you might as well gouge them out and eat them to fill your bellies. Then the Court of Judicial Review won’t have to waste food and wages supporting a pack of incompetents!”

Those words had made everyone too sick to eat for a full day.

Clutching the files, I rubbed my hands and put on a troubled expression. “As the youngest here, I naturally ought to serve everyone. It’s only that half my pay was docked last month, so I have to take odd jobs after work just to help support my family. If Lord Xiao makes things difficult and keeps me there to work, I…”

Before I could finish, the constables hurriedly stuffed silver into my purse.

I weighed it in my hand, then left in satisfaction.

I dawdled all the way to People First Hall and arrived just after my cousin had gone out on business. I waited awhile before he returned with his attendant.

One of the roof tiles was broken. Rain had begun to fall outside, and just as my cousin entered, a drop landed squarely on his cheek.

He wiped his face with a frown, looked at me, and complained, “So much water, and it couldn’t be stopped. Filthy stuff, splashing all over my face.”

My ears instantly burned.

Only an hour earlier, in the carriage, I had heard him say something very similar.

I cleared my throat and forced myself to remain calm. “Lord Xiao, this subordinate has brought the case files.”

Ignoring me, he sat down and began to read.

His attendant brought him tea and asked curiously, “Have some tea to cool your inner heat, Young Master. Your lips looked perfectly normal when we left. How did they become so red in barely an hour?”

My cousin stared at me with a shadow of a smile. “Constable Zhang, what do you think?”

My eyes darted around. “P-perhaps the weather is too dry.”

He did not touch the tea. Instead, he said meaningfully, “I drank too much on the way here. I can’t manage another sip, so Constable Zhang may have it.”

My cousin had many names for me. When he was in a decent mood, I was Cousin Ah Cheng. When he was being sarcastic, I became Constable Zhang. When angry, he coldly called me Miss Zhang.

And if he ever called me by my full name, Zhang Cheng, I had to start fearing for my life.

He was saying “Constable Zhang” with every breath now. Clearly, he was still annoyed that I had paid him too little.

Pretending not to notice his displeasure, I picked up the cup and drained it. I detected nothing at first, but the tea turned bitter as I swallowed.

It was so bitter that my tongue stuck out and tears sprang to my eyes.

His gaze traveled over my face before he tossed a handkerchief over it. I hurriedly wiped away my tears.

The attendant did not know whether to laugh or cry. “Young Miss, that’s lotus-seed tea for cooling excessive inner heat!”

My cousin said with complete composure, “I hear the greater one’s inner heat, the more bitter it tastes. Since Constable Zhang finds it so bitter, hers must be raging. In my opinion, inner heat should never be suppressed. It only creates needless misery.”

I wanted desperately to stuff something into his mouth and silence him.

The attendant bustled about, pouring tea and serving refreshments. I casually picked up an osmanthus cake and popped it into my mouth.

Still reading, my cousin glanced up and remarked, “Don’t eat the osmanthus cakes. I dislike the taste.”

I promptly stuffed several more into my mouth. If he disliked them, why had he ordered so many? Something was wrong with his head.

I viciously ate three in a row. I would eat them if I pleased! What did I care what he thought?

The attendant’s eyes dropped to my cousin’s robe. “Young Master, what is that on your clothing?”

We both looked down. There was a tiny white stain on the fabric.

My cousin was fastidious about cleanliness. Even the teacup he used at home was reserved for him alone. This was the first time I had ever seen him look so untidy.

I gloated as I teased him. “Did you hide somewhere to sneak a bite of milk cake, my lord? I suppose no one can resist something so sweet and fragrant that melts the moment it enters the mouth.”

He slapped the files onto the desk, leaned back, and fixed his eyes on me. “Indeed. Everyone knows milk cake is my favorite. All these years, the young ladies at the residence have made it for me, but I have never touched theirs. I still prefer Cousin Ah Cheng’s.”

If I had possessed any milk cake, I would have eaten it long ago. Why would I save some for him?

After puzzling over it, I asked, “When did I ever give you milk cake?”

With a perfectly calm expression, he replied, “In the carriage on the way to court. I told you not to stain my clothes, but you refused to listen.”

When had he eaten milk cake in the carriage?

He had clearly been eating…

My face flamed so hot I nearly screamed.

The attendant snickered. “The young miss has always loved food, yet she is so generous to you, Young Master.”

My cousin looked almost delighted. He propped his cheek on one hand and smiled without a word.

This subject had to end now.

I blurted, “I’ll repair the roof for you, my lord!”