Even after getting into the carriage, Chang Lili was still enjoying the wonderful feeling of having finished crafting the three hundred spears, and forgot to pester Ke Shou with questions, which relieved Ke Shou.

After Chang Lili left, everyone from the military workshop was gone. Only two night watchmen sat by the stove, chatting casually and dozing off.

A dark figure leaped over the high wall and landed silently in the military manufacturing compound.

The man was emaciated, and his night clothes clung tightly to his body, making him look even more like a monkey.

He circled the blacksmith's platform that Chang Lili had tidied up, unaware that on the roof of the armory, a man stood with his hands behind his back, coldly watching him.

The moonlight outlined his tall figure and his well-defined face, while the hem of his crimson robe swayed gently.

The monkey-like man, seemingly unable to find what he was looking for near the blacksmith's platform, turned and went into the small warehouse next door.

As soon as he entered, he saw piles of spears, each one of the finest quality, which were truly irresistible.

He pulled a small bottle from his pocket, his slightly curved eyes revealing a malicious glint.

"What's in the bottle?" Meng Yuxiu, who was originally standing on the roof, had somehow ended up standing by the warehouse door, arms crossed, watching the man with a leisurely air.

The man was startled. His eyes darted around a few times, then his gaze sharpened. He pulled out the cork from the bottle and raised his hand to pour the contents onto the spear.

Meng Yuxiu reacted quickly, appearing beside the man in the blink of an eye, and went to snatch the small white porcelain bottle.

The man looked like a monkey, and his movements were as nimble and agile as a monkey's.

Meng Yuxiu missed his target, but instead kicked the small bottle away from the man's hand.

The small bottle collided with another weapon, cracked, and the powder inside fell out. As soon as it landed on the weapon, the part of the weapon that was covered in powder quickly melted and turned into white smoke.

Meng Yuxiu understood in an instant that this person wanted to destroy the weapon made by Chang Lili, and he guessed who was behind it almost instantly.

This man was agile, but no match for Meng Yuxiu. He was quickly subdued, but when asked who ordered him to do so, he refused to say.

Meng Yuxiu was thinking of locking him up and interrogating him properly, but unexpectedly the man suddenly collapsed to the ground, groaned a few times while convulsing, and then stopped breathing.

“A death squad…” Meng Yuxiu said in surprise.

This made him even more certain that this person was acting under Xiao Shu'er's orders. Firstly, Hu Pin couldn't possibly be watching Chang Lili day and night. Even if he discovered that she had made a batch of spears, he would use this as an excuse to make trouble for him. Secondly, even if Hu Pin had the intention, he didn't have the brains to do it.

The following day, when Ke Shou reported the investigation results to Meng Yuxiu, before he could speak, Meng Yuxiu asked Xiao Shuer if there was anything unusual on her side.

Ke Shou said in surprise, "General, you are indeed a brilliant strategist. Hu Pin's side did not find anything unusual, but on the Princess's side, her personal maid Bai Mei secretly went out of the palace to meet someone. The person she met was a well-known gang leader in our capital."

Meng Yuxiu glanced at the sky outside. His journey to the imperial mausoleum had already been delayed for more than a day, and he could not wait any longer, otherwise it would be considered disobeying the imperial decree.

"Send more men to guard the military manufacturing site day and night, and ensure there are no mistakes," Meng Yuxiu ordered in a deep voice.

Ke Shou bowed respectfully and said, "General, please rest assured, I will handle this matter properly and ensure Miss Chang's safety."

Only then did Meng Yuxiu feel relieved and leave, riding swiftly towards the imperial mausoleum.

At the military manufacturing department, Xiao Lingshou remained aloof and detached, ignoring almost everyone except Chang Lili, with whom he would exchange a few words.

After all, he realized that without Chang Lili's hands-on teaching, he probably wouldn't be able to make the weapon he wanted.

"What exactly do you want to do? You still haven't told me, so even if I want to help you, I don't know where to start!" Chang Lili said helplessly.

Su Ling's gaze became somewhat distant: "I want to make a dagger, hidden in my sleeve, that can kill without leaving a trace."

Chang Lili raised an eyebrow and said approvingly, "Great idea!"

After all, she had made similar weapons before, and the hidden blade and the dagger were similar in function.

Su Ling's eyes showed a hint of surprise as he looked at Chang Lili and said, "Don't you think this kind of weapon is dirty, dark, and can't stand the light of day?"

"Huh?" Chang Lili looked at Su Ling in confusion. "Dirty? Dark? Something that can't stand the light?"

A somber look appeared on Su Ling's otherwise ethereal face: "To hide something in one's sleeve and strike when the other is off guard—isn't that dirty and sinister?"

"Isn't it to get rid of people who are a threat to us?" Chang Lili wondered.

That's how her hidden blade came about; it was a good use of its contents. But thinking about it brought back some memories she didn't want to recall.

"Let's not talk about that. It's not exactly dark and dirty, but it's always good to have something for self-defense," she said, taking a piece of iron and throwing it into the furnace. "If you're going to help someone, help them all the way. I'll teach you."

Su Ling's usually indifferent gaze seemed to be moved. He looked deeply at Chang Lili, lowered his head, and his lips twitched slightly, forming a barely perceptible curve.

"Sister Lili!" A crisp voice rang out, and Lu Ming quickly ran over, her face beaming with joy, holding a paper package in her hand.

Upon getting closer, she glanced at Su Ling, then quickly lowered her head, her rosy face turning even redder.

She said shyly, "I...I bought some delicious food for you to try." As she spoke, she moved closer to Su Ling, opened the paper package, and said like she was showing off a treasure, "Try it, it's donkey meat sandwiches from the nearby town, I heard they're really good!"

Chang Lili looked at Lu Ming, shook her head with a sigh, and felt that this girl was both silly and pitiful.

But she deliberately chose to touch a smelly rock. Su Ling turned around expressionlessly and said, "I don't eat food from outside."

Lu Ming was taken aback, but this naive girl misunderstood. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Young Master Ling, don't worry, this is very clean. I watched the boss make it with my own eyes. When I brought it back, I didn't touch anything dirty. Look, it's still warm."

Su Ling ignored her completely.

Chang Lili stepped forward, grabbed a donkey meat sandwich, and started eating it in big bites.

"Mmm! It's delicious!" Chang Lili gave a thumbs up and praised sincerely. "If Young Master Ling isn't going to eat it, you can have it. Don't waste it."

Lu Ming looked somewhat unhappy, dejectedly stuffing the donkey meat sandwiches in her hands into Chang Lili's hands.

She walked to Chang Lili's blacksmithing stand in a huff, lowered her head, twisted her fingers, and remained silent.

"What's wrong? Are you angry?" Chang Lili asked, leaning closer to Lu Ming.

Lu Ming turned away from her and continued twisting her fingers.

She didn't want to talk about it, and Chang Lili didn't ask either. She just stood there slowly eating the delicious donkey meat sandwich in her hand, feeling quite at ease.

After a while, Lu Ming finally couldn't hold back anymore. He lowered his head and said in a muffled voice, "Do you think he's disgusted that I, a man, am being so attentive to him?"