But when he saw her yawning as she approached, Zhou Lue's eyes lit up. He rushed over to her, pulled her to sit down beside him, and began to talk enthusiastically.

"Do you know you've done a great service?" Zhou Lue patted her shoulder, looking mysterious and ingratiating.

Jiang Yingxue glanced at them and gave them a disdainful look.

Both of them were used to it, and Chang Lili asked curiously, "What's wrong? You mean setting up a trap array? Didn't we just celebrate yesterday?"

“Although it’s still about mechanisms, it’s not about setting up a trap array. Do you know that you just designed a new mechanism and caught the assassin!” Zhou Lue said, spitting as he spoke, more excited than if he had done something great himself.

Chang Lili suddenly widened her eyes and said, "So fast? These people really won't give up. Have they captured him alive? Have they confessed?"

She didn't have much hope, since the previous two attackers were all suicide squads, and there was no chance of capturing them alive.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Lue answered immediately: "You've come to the right person to ask me. It's said that the mastermind is called Hu Pin. We don't know him. Do you know him? What deep-seated grudge do you have with him? Is it a love feud?"

Seeing that he was talking more and more outrageous, Chang Lili couldn't help but look at him with disgust, then ignored him and walked to the long table, leaving him to talk to himself.

It turned out to be Hu Pin. Chang Lili had completely forgotten about him. Thinking back, she remembered that when she and Xiao Shu'er had a falling out, it was Xiao Shu'er who used Hu Pin to try and kill her.

Now things are really messed up. Because of what happened before, Hu Pin has also been dismissed from his post and disappeared. Now it seems he will have to settle accounts with Xiao Shu'er as well.

"We were about to capture Hu Pin, but his loyal subordinates risked their lives to fight their way out for him, allowing him to escape."

Chang Lili suddenly came to her senses and heard Zhou Lue say this.

While she was surprised, she felt that the road ahead was bleak and that the days to come would probably not be peaceful.

Perhaps because this matter caused such a stir, Hu Pin's side was also greatly weakened. For a long time, nothing else happened, and the hot summer passed in peace.

During this time, fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as ice, were continuously delivered to this area from Meng Yuxiu's side.

Chang Lili used to be disliked here, but now everyone gets along well with her. She and Meng Yuxiu are now a couple that everyone acknowledges and accepts.

As a result, Jiang Yingxue began to look at her with new respect and no longer clashed with her over a few glances at Zhang Ziqing or a few words exchanged with him.

But only the mother-in-law, watching Meng Yuxiu and Chang Lili laugh and argue, and although they occasionally had conflicts, their affection grew stronger day by day, made her increasingly restless and unable to eat or sleep.

If Chang Lili and Meng Yuxiu were to get together, how would Lili bear it if she found out the truth later? Could she bear it? Would her Yuan'er's spirit in heaven find peace?

Moreover, Meng Yuxiu slaughtered the remnants of the small states that had been annexed, and was like a jackal or tiger around Chang Lili.

She had secretly burned the letter Aunt Xin had written to her; she could only break up the couple.

During this period, not only Meng Yuxiu was thinking about Chang Lili, but Lu Ming and Xiao Lingshou also frequently sent letters to Chang Lili and would also send her some novel pastries.

As they exchanged letters, Chang Lili came to understand Xiao Lingshou better.

Although the two exchanged polite words, Chang Lili could sense that Xiao Lingshou rarely mentioned his own affairs. He mostly inquired about her recent situation, but always avoided the important points about his own affairs, glossing over them.

Chang Lili felt more and more that Xiao Lingshou was a lonely and stubborn person. The more she understood him, the more she felt sorry for her disciple.

As for Lu Ming, she felt much more relieved because in Lu Ming's letters to her these days, she mentioned Chu Huan more and more and Xiao Lingshou less and less. Although the mention of Chu Huan was mostly complaints, Chang Lili felt that this was a good sign.

The work of making prosthetics for the soldiers went relatively smoothly. Although there was a conflict between the soldiers over the prosthetics, the matter was quickly quelled thanks to Meng Yuxiu's prestige in the army and his ruthless methods.

As for Deputy Lieutenant Lu under Meng Yuxiu, who was also Lu Ming's father, he was promoted to deputy general because he had always been favored by Meng Yuxiu and was very popular with him.

This joyous occasion coincided with the birthday of Lu Ming, the beloved daughter of Deputy General Lu, so Deputy Lieutenant Lu decided to throw a grand birthday banquet for her.

In his letter, Lu Ming told Chang Lili this, his words filled with undisguised joy. He also sent Chang Lili the invitation to his birthday banquet. At the end of the letter, he casually added that because his father had always liked Chu Huan, and that when one person achieves success, even their relatives and friends benefit, Chu Huan was promoted to deputy lieutenant.

The gold-embossed invitation was truly dazzling, and Chang Lili beamed with joy: "It seems I have no choice but to go."

Since it's a birthday banquet, naturally I should bring a birthday gift. Chang Lili looked at the date on the table; there were still five days left, so I had plenty of time.

Meanwhile, deep within the palace, Xiao Lingshou sat by the window, his thin shoulders trembling slightly.

This was the scene that Lanlan saw when she entered the palace, and she was full of doubt.

If she turned to face him, she would be surprised to find that her master, whom she had followed for so long and who always had a cold expression, actually had a smile on his lips, and his body was trembling slightly as he smiled.

In his hand were some papers, the words on them written in a flamboyant and elegant style that left people speechless.

"Your Highness, Her Majesty the Empress has arrived," Lan Lan said.

No sooner had she finished speaking than Xiao Lingshou quickly stood up and hurriedly placed the object in his hand under the chessboard.

Lanlan recognized it at a glance. Ever since Chang Lili appeared, her prince had become abnormal. He had never been so flustered before.

The Empress entered quickly, and Lanlan politely bowed and withdrew, leaving only Xiao Lingshou and the Empress in the hall.

Xiao Lingshou stepped forward and bowed. The two had a falling out earlier and hadn't spoken for a long time, but he acted as if nothing had happened, remaining dignified, polite, and composed.

The Empress sighed and said, "Get up. You've been sulking with your mother these past few days, shouldn't you be feeling better by now?"

Xiao Lingshou said respectfully but distantly, "How could I dare to be angry with Mother? It's just that I have disappointed you and have no face to see you."

The Empress glanced at him, feeling a mix of melancholy and helplessness. She wondered when it had started, but she could no longer see through her beloved son's thoughts or figure out what he was thinking.

"Sit down. Your mother isn't here to hold a grudge against you for what happened before. You're always cooped up in the palace. What kind of behavior is that? You should go out and get some fresh air," the Empress said gently.

She saw Xiao Lingshou's brow furrow slightly, as expected, and became displeased. She said sternly, "You have to go whether you like it or not. Meng Yuxiu has a deputy lieutenant named Lu Sanshan who has now been promoted to deputy general. His daughter, Lu Ming, is also having her birthday. You must take this opportunity to go and offer your congratulations. I believe you can get to know many officials."

A look of confusion flashed in Xiao Lingshou's eyes. He felt that the name Lu Ming sounded very familiar. Just when the Empress thought he was going to refuse, she suddenly saw his brows relax and he said, "I will go."