As Meng Yuxiu drew closer, Chang Lili felt her heart pounding uncontrollably, as if it might leap out of her chest at any moment.

His eyes drew closer, his warm breath spraying onto her face, and she felt a burning, itchy sensation wherever his breath touched.

Chang Lili's face turned completely red, and her breathing became hot.

Meng Yuxiu, however, turned his gaze slightly and glanced in a certain direction.

Under the pale moonlight, the mother-in-law quietly closed the door, which had been slightly ajar, and sighed.

She didn't light a candle, but instead groped her way by the moonlight, and sadly walked to the wardrobe, from which she took out a wooden plaque-like object.

She held the object tightly, as if it were her most cherished treasure, her eyes glistening with tears.

“Yuan’er…” she said emotionally, “Your daughter has grown up now, found a good husband, and even became a foundry master. She’s quite successful.”

As she spoke, she took out the wooden plaque from her bosom and stroked it with her fingers, her expression filled with boundless affection.

The moonlight illuminated the wooden plaque, which turned out to be a memorial tablet inscribed with "Tomb of Empress Da Shun Yuan".

“But she still has the blood of the Great Shun in her veins. The people of the Great Shun are naturally good at making machines. Besides, she is your daughter. I don’t know how long I can hold out for some things!” Her voice was full of helplessness and bitterness, but only silence answered her.

She hugged the memorial tablet to her chest again, wiped away her tears, and said, "I only wanted her to live a peaceful and harmonious life, but she had her own things to do. She was very sensible and said she was selfish, but I think I, this old woman, am the most selfish. 'Let the child do what she wants,' you said that before, didn't you? Should I let go too?"

Under the trees in the courtyard, on the stone bench, Chang Lili's breath was already filled with Meng Yuxiu's scent. It was a unique scent of a man, not unpleasant, and this scent, like Meng Yuxiu himself, gave people a feeling of determination, a bit domineering, and irresistible.

In short, it will make your heart beat faster and harder to calm down.

It is unclear when it began, but for every inch Meng Yuxiu made progress, Chang Lili would regress an inch.

So the two people on the stone bench, one holding onto the stone table and leaning down, and the other leaning back, gripping the edge of the stone table with one hand.

Chang Lili's body trembled slightly as she leaned back, her fingers gripping the edge of the stone table with all her might.

She stared blankly at Meng Yuxiu, who was so close, and her fingers were about to reach the edge of the table.

At this moment, Meng Yuxiu advanced another inch, and Chang Lili subconsciously retreated, causing her to fall backward.

She suddenly widened her eyes, only to feel a tightness around her waist as a hand gripped her slender waist.

Meng Yuxiu looked at her, a stunningly beautiful smile curving his lips, like a summer evening breeze that was both refreshing and intoxicating.

Chang Lili was completely exhausted. She realized that, without knowing when it started, she was powerless against Meng Yuxiu.

Meng Yuxiu helped her up, then suddenly moved closer to her and lightly kissed her forehead.

Chang Lili felt that the warmth of those lips lingered where they had brushed against her, a warmth that lingered for a long time.

Her throat tightened, and she became like a frightened bird, head bowed, obedient yet alert.

"I...I know...but I...but I..." Chang Lili thought for a long time before she remembered where they had been talking, but the voice she was making didn't sound like her own.

Meng Yuxiu never let go of her; Chang Lili could feel the vibration of his vocal cords.

"But what are you going to do? You're not going to back out, are you? After we pledged our lives to each other, I'm yours now. Don't you want to take responsibility?" Meng Yuxiu said confidently, his slightly deep voice persuading him gently.

Chang Lili's mind went blank for a moment. She hadn't expected Meng Yuxiu to say something so explicit. She looked up at Meng Yuxiu in a daze.

Meeting Meng Yuxiu's innocent gaze, she forgot to remind him of his status as a general as usual, and instead subconsciously said, "No...no..."

Meng Yuxiu leaned closer again, their eyes met, and he lowered his voice and said, "Then I won't leave tonight."

Chang Lili was stunned for a moment, then pushed Meng Yuxiu away, touched her face, slapped her face repeatedly, shook her head, touched her forehead, patted Meng Yuxiu's forehead, and patted his face.

After a moment of confusion, she asked, puzzled, "Are you sick, or am I seeing things?"

"Hallucination?" Meng Yuxiu was also puzzled, then grabbed Chang Lili's hand with some displeasure and said, "This is not a hallucination."

"Then what... what did you just say? Are you... drunk? Yes! Drunk! You used to be so reserved!" Chang Lili blurted out.

Meng Yuxiu recalled what had happened at the mansion that afternoon and felt it was necessary to take action.

This afternoon, Jingmei rushed into the study with a box of fresh fruits and vegetables in her hand. They all looked extremely fresh and delicious exotic fruits. She said that they were sent by someone from the palace and were meant for Miss Chang.

Meng Yuxiu opened the box and looked inside, but couldn't find the note he was looking for. He only found the character "Ling" in a corner of the food box, and his face instantly turned dark.

Based on what happened last time, Jingmei realized that there was no such thing as an unsolicited favor; the person who frequently sent snacks to Chang Lili was plotting against their future general's wife.

She was extremely loyal to Meng Yuxi and immediately offered, "General, I will take care of these things of unknown origin."

Meng Yuxiu frowned and said, "Since it's for Lili, send it to her over there."

Jingmei hesitated for a moment, then had no choice but to obey. She had just left the study with the fruit when she saw Meng Yuxiu also push open the door and leave in a hurry.

Therefore, the guards who escorted Chang Lili back and forth between the General's Mansion and the Military Manufacturing Office arrived exceptionally early, and Chang Lili was brought back very early as well.

Upon seeing this, she knew that Meng Yuxiu had something to discuss with her. When she returned to the courtyard, she saw a basket of very tempting exotic fruits, with the character "Ling" engraved on the corner of the box.

Meng Yuxiu appeared just as she saw the box of fruit, carrying a food box in his hand. He glanced at the fruit seemingly unintentionally and said sourly, "This fruit looks pretty good, but it's not very fresh."

Chang Lili suppressed a laugh and said, "Yes! It's such a pity. Such a delicate thing should be kept indoors. How can it be left out in the yard to be exposed to the wind and sun?"

Meng Yuxiu slammed the food box on the table, his voice firm and resonant: "True gold must be tested by fire, and even the best fruit can only be eaten if it's not fresh."

Chang Lili wanted to continue arguing with Meng Yuxiu, but then she smelled a mouthwatering aroma, like the smell of meat.

Having just returned from the military equipment depot, she was already starving. She couldn't help but swallow hard and shamelessly asked, "What smells so good?"