By evening, Chang Lili had returned from the military workshop. This was unlike her usual self; she used to be completely absorbed in forging weapons.
Meng Yuxiu once thought that apart from forging weapons, there was nothing else in the world that would make Chang Lili work so hard and study so diligently. But he never expected that applying makeup would make her so interested.
Was it for him?
Thinking this, Meng Yuxiu's lips unconsciously curved upwards, and joy spread across his eyes. That smile softened many of the vicissitudes of the years, turning this general who had experienced many battles back into the appearance of a young man.
Meng Yuxiu carried two plates of hibiscus cakes to the courtyard where Chang Lili lived. Upon seeing him, his mother-in-law hurriedly stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Why has the General come?"
Meng Yuxiu handed a plate of hibiscus cakes to his mother-in-law, showing no airs of a great general, and said gently, "Mother-in-law, you don't need to bow to me in the future, just call me by my name."
The mother-in-law said in a panic, "How...how can that be? These pastries...Is the General here to see Lili? I'll go and call her right away."
Meng Yuxiu stopped her, smiling and saying, "Why not? Chang Lili calls me by my name directly, so as an elder, Mother-in-law, there's no need for such formalities. This is a new type of hibiscus cake that the kitchen learned to make from the palace chefs. I brought some for you to try. As for Lili, I can find her myself. Mother-in-law, you don't need to bother with this. Go and do your work."
The mother-in-law looked at the pastries in her hand, and seeing the sincerity on Meng Yuxiu's face, she felt even more gratified. She nodded, smiled, and turned away, muttering repeatedly, "Good...good..."
Finally, she said in a very soft, unconscious voice, "Lili has really found a good home!"
Even though the voice was soft, Meng Yuxiu could hear it clearly with his skill, and his smile was even brighter.
He placed another plate of hibiscus cakes on the stone table under the shade of the tree, sat comfortably on the stone bench, and looked with great interest at Chang Lili's tightly closed door.
Chang Lili leaned against the door, having overheard every word of his conversation with her mother-in-law. She immediately realized that Meng Yuxiu was indeed a cunning old fox, always calculating and trying to please his mother-in-law.
Without thinking twice, she nervously ran back to her dressing table, carefully put away all the rouge and powder, wiped the powder off her face, straightened her clothes, and then pushed open the door, seemingly unintentionally walking out.
She was met in the face of Meng Yuxiu's gaze. Her back stiffened, but she forced a calm smile and walked over, asking, "What brings you here?"
Meng Yuxiu, however, kept looking at her, looking at her, and kept looking at her.
Gradually, Chang Lili became increasingly uneasy, and said angrily, "What are you looking at? Do I have flowers on my face?"
Meng Yuxiu curled the corners of his mouth and said, "No, but she has a beauty that could shame the moon and put the flowers to shame."
Chang Lili breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to herself that she hadn't wiped off her makeup properly and that's why she'd been noticed.
But the next moment, she looked at Meng Yuxiu in disbelief. He still had that faint smile, but compared to his usual solemn demeanor, Chang Lili didn't know if what he said was a joke.
She suppressed her heart palpitations, tried her best to calm down, and shamelessly said, "Of course! As the number one female blacksmith in the Yun Kingdom, I am both talented and beautiful!"
Meng Yuxiu looked at her with the same expression, a slight smile playing on his lips. Chang Lili finally blushed slightly: "You...aren't you going to say something?"
Meng Yuxiu seemed to come to his senses and pushed the hibiscus cake on the stone table towards Lili: "This is a new recipe from the cook, have a taste."
He spoke so casually, as if nothing had happened, but Chang Lili's heart was in complete turmoil, her palms sweating profusely, and her ears burning.
The sounds around her were mostly drowned out by her own heartbeat. She subconsciously said "Oh," picked up a piece of hibiscus cake, and hurriedly stuffed it into her mouth.
Her mind was in turmoil: "My God, is this Meng Yuxiu? Is this really General Meng Yuxiu of Yun Kingdom? Is this the Meng Yuxiu I know? The Meng Yuxiu that others say lives the life of a monk? He's simply a smooth-talking, charming playboy!"
"How is it?" Meng Yuxiu looked at her earnestly and asked gently.
Chang Lili blushed and asked blankly, "Huh?"
“Hibiscus cake!” Meng Yuxiu said, picking up a piece of cake, taking a bite, and nodding seriously. “Not bad.”
Chang Lili couldn't taste anything just now, but now she felt the sweetness slowly spreading in her mouth. The soft pastry melted in her mouth, leaving a faint aftertaste that was hard to forget.
"It's delicious!" she said, taking a big bite and chewing with a satisfied look on her face.
"It seems you've found another pastry you like. I'll have the chefs frequently go to the imperial kitchen to learn new dishes and pastries, so you won't get tired of them."
Meng Yuxiu spoke earnestly, but Chang Lili was unhappy: "I... I didn't say I'd get tired of it, why do you still remember that? Although I've eaten a lot of walnut shortbread, I still prefer walnut shortbread. These are all fleeting memories, walnut shortbread is my favorite!"
"If you like it, then eat more. Otherwise, I often worry that your figure might be blown away by a strong wind."
Meng Yuxiu was clearly joking, but Chang Lili was not convinced.
A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, and the swaying leaves cut the sunlight into countless tiny fragments of gold. As the leaves swayed, the fragments of gold seemed to dance at your feet.
Chang Lili ate happily, forgetting her earlier nervousness and shyness, as well as the heart palpitations that had made her blush.
She put her hands on her hips and said, "I...I am indeed thin, but how could I be so frail?"
Meng Yuxiu didn't take it to heart and gave her a dismissive glance.
Chang Lili immediately bristled, stood up, and said in embarrassment and anger, "Where am I so weak? I'm not like those pampered young ladies." As she spoke, she seemed to remember something and added, "Don't look at me as thin as I am; I have all the right features."
As soon as she said it, she regretted it. The blush that had just faded on her face turned red again. But words spoken are like water spilled, so she could only stand there with her hands on her hips, waiting for a way to back down.
Meng Yuxiu gave her a questioning look without any courtesy, scrutinizing her from top to bottom and then from bottom to top.
Chang Lili finally gave in, quickly sat down on the stone bench, and said angrily, "Your gaze is too... frivolous!"
Who would believe that the Great General of Yun Kingdom would look at a woman like that?
Meng Yuxiu disagreed, and instead said seriously, "It does look like it has everything it should, but..." He pondered for a moment, "it's still a bit too thin, and the feel of it is still lacking."
Chang Lili was stunned for a moment, then suddenly stood up, picked up a piece of hibiscus cake, and threw it at Meng Yuxiu: "Shameless!"
"So he said you're beautiful?" Lu Ming frowned, her small face full of seriousness.
Chang Lili blushed slightly, buried her head and randomly started typing, nodding haphazardly.
"Tsk tsk," Lu Ming analyzed with an air of experience, "Don't be fooled by men, they're all so smooth-talking."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
