Chang Lili secretly opened the door a crack and peeked out. She saw Meng Yuxiu holding a food box and immediately thought of those sweet and delicious snacks. Her mouth watered, and her stomach growled.
She closed the door, expecting Meng Yuxiu to come and knock on it, but after waiting for a long time, there was no response.
She finally couldn't resist pushing the door open and going out. She hadn't gone more than a few steps when she saw Meng Yuxiu take out the small dishes from the food box one by one and set them on the table. He even took out a small wine pot and two small white porcelain cups.
"You... want to have a drink with me?"
Chang Lili saw the plates of exquisite dishes from afar. She was initially reserved, thinking she would wait for Meng Yuxiu to invite her to eat, but she didn't expect him to bring wine as well.
Chang Lili doesn't usually drink alcohol, but after attending two banquets in the palace, the mellow and sweet wine left a lasting impression on her. Now, having not had any for a long time, she's itching to drink it again.
Seeing that Meng Yuxiu had brought wine, and knowing that the wine he brought was of good quality, how could he possibly resist?
Before Meng Yuxiu could answer, she sat down impatiently. Looking at the few exquisite dishes on the table, she took the wine pot first and said, "Since you are so sincere, how can I not give you, the great general, face?"
Meng Yuxiu was both amused and exasperated. Seeing Chang Lili's delighted expression as she smelled the aroma of the wine, he took the wine pot without a word, poured a cup of wine, and handed it to Chang Lili amidst her disappointed gaze.
He glanced at Chang Lili's expression as if she were savoring celestial nectar, poured himself a full glass of wine, and shook his head repeatedly, saying, "If others saw you drinking like this, they would definitely doubt that you are a girl."
Chang Lili's face darkened instantly: "What do you mean? Do you think I'm not a girl? Explain yourself!"
Meng Yuxiu rubbed his head with a slight headache: "That's not what I meant. I just think you have a chivalrous spirit. What ordinary girl has such heroic spirit? She can't lift a finger, let alone forge weapons."
Chang Lili looked at him with suspicion, somewhat confused as to whether he was actually praising her.
However, she quickly became engrossed in the taste of the wine and forgot to throw a tantrum.
The wine is sweet and refreshing upon first sip, comparable to the wines served in the palace, and even has a unique flavor.
"Good wine! Another cup!" Chang Lili said with great enthusiasm.
Meng Yuxiu smiled and poured her another cup, adding some vegetables to her bowl.
The two were bickering and drinking, enjoying themselves immensely, when a figure suddenly darted into the room.
Meng Yuxiu and Chang Lili both turned to look, and everyone was stunned.
Jingmei, carrying a few books and a small bundle, skipped and hopped into the yard, looking to be in a good mood.
She hadn't expected to see the general and his wife drinking and chatting happily when she came in, and she didn't know whether to go in or leave.
Chang Lili had unknowingly drunk several glasses of wine and was already slightly tipsy. When she saw Jingmei, the evening breeze brought her back to her senses. She had asked Jingmei to buy some things for her, but when she saw the wine, she was so happy that she forgot about it.
In fact, Meng Yuxiu had expected this. He remained calm inside, but pretended to be surprised and puzzled on the outside.
Watching Chang Lili put down her wine glass and rush over to pull the still-dazed Jingmei into the house, he smiled and took a leisurely sip of wine.
With a tense expression, Chang Lili closed the door and asked urgently in a low voice, "How...how could you just come in so blatantly?"
Jingmei, clutching her books and bundle, said aggrievedly, "I didn't know the general was here, and how else am I supposed to get in?"
Chang Lili scratched her head, thinking that Jingmei's words made sense. She peeked through the crack in the door and saw that Meng Yuxiu looked normal and was enjoying his meal. She breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It's nothing, it's nothing."
She took the things from Jingmei's hands and put them inside the house, then took Jingmei out.
After Jingmei left, Chang Lili held her wine glass and said with a guilty smile, "I asked Jingmei to buy some daily necessities for me."
Meng Yuxiu nodded thoughtfully: "I didn't expect you and Jingmei to have such a good relationship."
Chang Lili immediately changed the subject: "That's right, Jingmei is a good person. I remember when I first came to the General's Mansion, I was unfamiliar with the place and received a lot of help from her. I am a person who knows how to repay kindness!"
"But I haven't seen you repay her in any way. You're still asking her for help now," Meng Yuxiu said dismissively.
Chang Lili was stunned for a moment, then argued forcefully, "What do you know? This is... trust, yes! You see, I wouldn't feel comfortable entrusting this matter to someone else."
Meng Yuxiu rested his hand on his forehead, holding a white porcelain wine cup in the other. The glow of the setting sun subtly outlined his rugged features. Perhaps due to the alcohol, his gaze towards Chang Lili was somewhat intoxicated, and his smile held a hint of wickedness: "Since you're so grateful, when are you going to repay my life-saving grace?"
"Huh?" Chang Lili was in high spirits when she heard this and was taken aback.
"I owe you a life-saving grace, and I will repay you with my body. When will you marry me and become my general's wife?" Meng Yuxiu tapped the rim of the white porcelain cup lightly with his index finger, his voice lower than usual, like a captivating enchanting voice that made it impossible for anyone to refuse.
Chang Lili's slightly flushed face turned bright red in an instant, and it took her a long time to straighten her tongue: "You...you...you're mistaken. Speaking of saving a life, I also saved you. How should this be accounted for?"
The cloyingly sweet atmosphere that had been almost overwhelming suddenly dissipated. Meng Yuxiu frowned slightly and said unwillingly, "Speaking of which, we've only known each other for a short time, and I saved your life."
Speaking of what happened back then, Chang Lili was furious: "How dare you say that? You should know that I am a respectable girl from a respectable family. I have always been innocent when I went to brothels. You are the one who made me like this. How can I ever get married?"
Meng Yuxiu chuckled and said, "Then you might as well just marry me."
They had already pledged their lives to each other while in prison, but now that the arrow is on the bowstring, they feel differently, their hearts pounding like drums, unable to find peace.
The feeling of unreality is like the dim, ambiguous light of the setting sun, making one feel as if in a dream.
"This... I... How can I make such a big decision so casually..." Chang Lili muttered.
Meng Yuxiu poured her a full glass of wine and said softly, "Indeed, you don't need to rush. Anyway, the wedding requires a lot of preparation."
"That's good... Come on! Let's drink!" Chang Lili, her face flushed, raised her glass and drank it all in one gulp.
Although there were some mishaps along the way, the two still drank to their hearts' content, and Meng Yuxiu left only when the stars were twinkling in the sky.
Chang Lili returned to the room, lit the candle, sat in front of the mirror and looked at her flushed face, which was as beautiful as a peach blossom, with a hazy gaze.
Looking at herself in the mirror, she couldn't help but smile shyly and asked, "Chang Lili, do you want to marry me?"
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