"You've really got the best of both worlds! I've always admired you, and now I admire you even more!" Chang Lili said happily.

Upon hearing this, Meng Yuxiu was genuinely pleased.

He was renowned for his military achievements, but even if he had won a great victory, been promoted, and been admired by thousands, he would not be as happy as he was at this moment.

However, Chang Lili's expression darkened. She thought to herself that Hu Pin and Xiao Shu'er were birds of a feather, neither of them were good people, and now she had to deal with both of them.

"But Hu Pin shouldn't be able to cause any trouble, right?" She was still a little worried.

Seeing her furrowed brows, Meng Yuxiu couldn't help but reach out and smooth them out. He said softly, "Don't worry, no matter what, I won't let him touch my people."

His hand left her forehead, but the warmth of his fingertips lingered, spreading to her entire cheek.

The words "my people" echoed in her ears like a spell.

Chang Lili hurriedly looked up at him, then looked away and lowered her head.

Her heart was pounding so hard she felt it was about to jump out of her chest.

Just now, I unexpectedly met Meng Yuxiu's gaze. On his handsome face, his calm eyes held an unprecedented tenderness.

Chang Lili felt like she was being melted by that gaze.

She was quite knowledgeable, having spent a long time in brothels. She knew that men often fell into the arms of women, but today she realized that women also had their own inescapable allure.

"Mmm." She nodded firmly, feeling her cheeks burning, and dared not look up at Meng Yuxiu again. "Well, I'll see you out."

A moment of surprise flashed across Meng Yuxiu's face before he came to his senses and reluctantly left the courtyard.

Once he stepped out of the courtyard gate, he muttered to himself, "An order to leave?"

Chang Lili's cheeks were flushed just now, and she looked much prettier than usual, but she also looked much stranger than usual, though he couldn't quite put his finger on why.

Chang Lili exhaled, trying to calm her wildly beating heart.

But the phrase "my people" just won't go away.

Inside the Hu residence, Hu Pin had already returned from the palace. Upon returning home, he flew into a rage.

"You brought me back this piece of junk? What good is it? I've lost all face in the palace today!" Hu Pin said angrily, panting heavily as he pointed at the broken nine-section whip.

"Young...Young Master, please calm down."

Hu Pin, the spy, had no choice but to suffer in silence. He had only handed the item to Hu Pin, but it was Hu Pin's own idea to go to the palace and speak to the emperor about it.

However, he didn't dare to talk back.

"It was my oversight. I will definitely continue to investigate this matter."

Having vented his anger, Hu Ping sat down, drank some tea, and said, "You said you found this thing in the General's Mansion, and that Meng Yuxi made it himself?"

"I haven't yet found out the name of the person who made this thing, but it's definitely not Meng Yuxiu's doing."

Hu Ping's smile was sinister: "Go investigate over there. Once you find the person, you'll be caught red-handed. That will be the day Meng Yuxiu falls off his horse."

But he was too happy too soon. He thought his methods were brilliant, but the news his men brought back was not what he expected.

"Chang Lili? You're saying this was made by Chang Lili?" Hu Ping was somewhat incredulous.

How could a little girl with thin arms and legs be able to forge iron and create such exquisite weapons? He simply couldn't imagine it.

But his subordinates' answer was affirmative.

"It was her?" Hu Ping paced back and forth in the room for a while.

Just as he was about to make up his mind to bring Chang Lili over for questioning, he heard his subordinate say, "Young master, we have also found out about another matter."

Hu Pin said impatiently, "Speak!"

"It's this Chang Lili, she's from the Military Manufacturing Department." After saying that, the man lowered his head and closed his eyes, giving off a "what's the use of trying" vibe.

Sure enough, Hu Ping roared in anger, "What? The Military Manufacturing Department? She's from the Military Manufacturing Department? A woman? Are you kidding me!"

After what seemed like an eternity of commotion, just as Hu Pin was about to lose his temper, his subordinate suddenly said, "Yes, I have never heard of a woman being allowed in the Military Manufacturing Department."

“A woman? That’s right!” Hu Pin suddenly seemed to be enlightened. “Prepare the carriage, I’m going to the palace.”

The emperor was busy with official duties and was reviewing memorials in the Qianqing Palace. When he first heard that Hu Pin was requesting an audience, he was initially unwilling to see him. However, after Hu Pin insisted on not leaving, he finally granted him an audience.

"Your Majesty, you said General Meng is in charge of the Military Manufacturing Bureau, but he did something utterly absurd. He actually allowed the Military Manufacturing Bureau to accommodate a woman!" Hu Ping said with disbelief.

The Emperor looked up in surprise: "A woman? This military workshop is where weapons are forged. Could it be that the woman also knows how to forge weapons?"

"Your Majesty, regardless of whether that woman can forge weapons or not, she is still a woman. Since ancient times, there has never been a reason for women to forge weapons for soldiers to kill the enemy. What decent weapons could a woman who can't lift a finger make?" Hu Ping said, adding fuel to the fire.

The emperor also frowned and pondered deeply. He also felt that it was not feasible for a woman to forge weapons.

Chang Lili hadn't thought about the issue of men and women. She loved crafting weapons and felt that she was no worse than a man at it.

Once her mother-in-law was feeling better, she packed her things and went to the military supply depot.

This military workshop is truly magnificent, far surpassing even the forges in the general's mansion and the blacksmith's furnace hidden in a secluded courtyard.

When the door was closed, nothing could be seen inside. But as soon as you entered, you heard knocking.

It was a noisy place, but looking at the bustling scene, Chang Lili felt her blood boiling.

She first went to report for duty, and then was taken to be assigned tasks. However, since she was new, she wasn't asked to forge weapons directly. Instead, she was asked to assist the old blacksmiths.

This is understandable, as Chang Lili went there with a humble attitude to learn.

But this place is harsh on people, and even harsher on women.

Everyone in the military manufacturing department pointed and gestured wildly when Chang Lili appeared, and they also gossiped behind her back.

Although she had never heard them say it herself, Chang Lili could sense the disdain and contempt in their eyes.

They really do look down on women.

At first, the blacksmiths ignored Chang Lili, but after half a day, they completely changed and started ordering her around.

In fact, Chang Lili knew perfectly well that they had overheard their conversation.

It's laughable and absurd that a woman would come to this military manufacturing site. It's said that she overestimated herself and that she used some kind of bewitching magic to bewitch Meng Yuxiu and get here.

After that, they made her do all sorts of things without any restraint, such as serving tea and water and helping her carry things.