With the flood season approaching in Huzhou, the prefect's memorial was delivered to the palace by fast horse. During the morning court session, the emperor brought up the matter and asked who was willing to go and handle it.

Meng Yuxiu stepped forward, bowed his head, and said, "Your Majesty, I know a little about dams. Please grant me permission to go."

"Granted." The emperor agreed.

Meng Yuxiu said, “Constructing facilities requires people skilled in casting. In the past, the capital has always sent blacksmiths to accompany the workers, but every year the flood control dams consume a lot of financial and human resources. It would be better to solve the problem once and for all. Chang Lili’s casting skills are extraordinary. She can work with the workers to build the facilities, and the national treasury will not be empty for no reason.”

Meng Yuxiu still had a few close ministers in the capital who spoke up for him. As for the other ministers, with Xiao Lingshou's guidance, they also followed the crowd's wishes at this moment.

The Minister of Rites said, “Your Majesty, the general is absolutely right. If the dam can be maintained for a few more years, the national treasury will not need to allocate silver every year.”

Saving Chang Lili's life was originally a secret plan to forge weapons, but unexpectedly... The Emperor said in a deep voice, "I can promise you that if she cannot repair the dam, I will settle all previous debts in one fell swoop!"

When the imperial edict reached the prison, Chang Lili, who was enjoying her time there, was released. The ink on her fingertips was still wet when a cold wind blew by. She shrank her neck and muttered, "It's so cold." A cloak was draped over her shoulders.

"Let's go home."

Meng Yuxiu lifted her up in his arms, and Chang Lili wrapped her arms around his neck.

During the two weeks she was in prison, Meng Yuxiu would appear every few days, each time bringing lots of delicious food. He knew the emperor wanted her to draw weapon designs, so he told her to show weakness and agree, and to take good care of herself.

Inside the general's mansion, servants prepared hot water, and Chang Lili comfortably lay in the water before devouring all the dishes on the table.

"Where is the general?"

"The people in Huzhou are urging us on. The general has gone to give his last instructions and plans to leave in two hours."

"Why won't he tell me..."

Chang Lili fell silent halfway through her sentence. She vaguely remembered Meng Yuxiu telling her something in the carriage, but she was too sleepy at the time and didn't pay much attention.

"I have to go out of the manor for a while, I'll be back soon." Chang Lili got up to leave, and the servants wanted to follow, but Chang Lili stopped them with a look, "None of you follow me."

After learning of her pregnancy, Meng Yuxiu took close care of her, often arranging for several people to protect her. Although she was happy that Meng Yuxiu was so concerned about her, she felt extremely uncomfortable because her every move was being watched.

Chang Lili walked along the street corner toward Lu's pawnshop. The shop door was tightly closed. She paused for a moment, and when she took a step forward, someone grabbed her arm.

The man was wearing a straw hat, so his face was not visible.

"Come with me."

It was Guo Yan. Chang Lili recognized her voice and followed her with a solemn expression, stopping at a secluded and abandoned house.

Guo Yan said, "Baiyue Tower has already been raided. The pawnshop cannot afford any more accidents. It is connected to tunnels in all directions. If it is discovered, we will be severely weakened."

Chang Lili nodded in sudden realization: "I'm looking for my mother-in-law."

"She's inside."

Guo Yan pushed open the gate of the mansion, and the inside was clean in stark contrast.

"Ali." Her mother-in-law walked shakily towards her. Chang Lili took her mother-in-law's hand, and her mother-in-law cried tears of joy: "It's good that you're out, it's good that you're out..."

Chang Lili comforted her, "I'm very lucky, I'll be fine! Grandma, don't worry."

Aunt Lu came out of the room, and the look in her eyes when she looked at Chang Lili was indescribably complicated.

Chang Lili said, "When I come back from Huzhou, I'm going to take my mother-in-law with me."

"Is the Three-Page Gate really that untrustworthy to you?"

Chang Lili shook her head: "I believe you are good people, but what you are doing is too dangerous. Your mother-in-law is just an old woman. Why did you have to involve her? The world has changed. You have to accept the facts."

"Changed?" Aunt Lu's expression turned cold. "Do you know what you're saying?! Anyone can say such things, but not you, because you are—"

"Xin'er!" the mother-in-law shouted.

Aunt Lu flicked her sleeve: "You're just an outsider. Only after you join us will you have the right to say that!"

"I will absolutely not join, forget about it!"

Chang Lili remained firm in her stance and pulled her mother-in-law aside to talk.

Looking at Aunt Lu, the mother-in-law was sure she wouldn't say anything shocking, so she put her mind at ease and asked her if she had suffered any injustices in prison recently.

Chang Lili raised her head and said, "With Meng Yuxiu here, who would dare to bully me?"

The mother-in-law nodded slowly.

“However…” Chang Lili hesitated for a moment. Her mother-in-law stared at her, and Chang Lili’s cheeks turned red. “I am carrying his child.”

The mother-in-law's vision blurred: "How could you be pregnant with his child?!"

"Why not?" Chang Lili asked in confusion. "He loves me, and I love him. Even though the child came a little early, the love is no less."

"Are you determined to drive your mother-in-law to her death? How am I supposed to explain this to her? No matter what, you two can't be together!" The mother-in-law was so angry she was incoherent. "You're still a young woman, how could you get pregnant?!"

After being scolded harshly, Chang Lili couldn't hide her grievances: "He's wanted to marry me for a long time. Once things in Huzhou are over, we'll pick an auspicious day and get married."

Chang Lili and her mother-in-law were arguing loudly. After listening for a few minutes, Aunt Lu's agitated emotions caused her internal injuries to flare up, and she almost vomited blood. "Lili, listen to me, this child must not be kept!"

Aunt Lu was firm and wouldn't listen to reason. Chang Lili immediately covered her lower abdomen and turned to look at her mother-in-law, who was standing with Aunt Lu.

Chang Lili's eyes widened in disbelief: "This is my child! How dare you hurt him? Grandma, am I still your most beloved granddaughter? Why would you agree to something that would make me sad? I'm never talking to you again!"

Chang Lili's eyes were red and she turned and ran away.

"How can I tell you the truth?" The mother-in-law's vision blurred, and she said sadly, "Xin'er, she's stubborn. To protect the child, she'll probably avoid me. Go and see Ali. She'll be leaving the capital soon, and I'm worried about her..."

Aunt Lu said bitterly, "That bastard in her belly—"

The mother-in-law exclaimed in shock, "Do you want Ali to die?! Think about how she looked just now. If anything happens to the child, how could she possibly survive?"

Chang Lili ran back to the general's mansion and immediately saw Meng Yuxiu standing at the door. She suddenly threw herself into his arms, her stubborn tears soaking her robes.

She racked her brains but couldn't understand why her mother-in-law was so against her being with Meng Yuxiu, when... she used to like him quite a bit!

"Who bullied you?" Meng Yuxiu's eyes turned cold, and the chilling aura made the gatekeeper lower his head and not dare to breathe.

“It’s my mother-in-law.” Chang Lili’s voice choked with sobs. “She doesn’t want me to keep the baby, she doesn’t want me to be with you. Why is that? Meng Yuxiu, please tell me… Waaah… Please tell me, okay? I don’t want to be separated from my mother-in-law.”

Meng Yuxiu didn't speak, but pressed her head against his chest with his large hand and wouldn't let go.