"Put the pastries down and go about your business," Meng Yuxiu said, glancing at the box of pastries with disdain in his eyes.
Jingmei, filled with confusion, slowly left.
After Jingmei left, Meng Yuxiu disgustedly picked up the paper, stuffed it back under the plate containing the pastries, covered the food box with disgust, and carried the food box to the kitchen.
About half an hour later, when he came out of the kitchen again, he was carrying another food box.
When there were extras, it looked like he often carried snacks with him when he went to see Chang Lili.
Sure enough, Jingmei, holding another maid's hand, hid in the shadows and saw Meng Yuxiu carrying two food boxes and heading towards Chang Lili's courtyard.
The two whispered among themselves as they walked away.
Meng Yuxiu stood tall and straight, carrying a food box, his steps brisk, as if he were heading to the battlefield.
He glanced at the food box from his own household in his left hand, then at the food box from the palace in his right hand, and like a disgruntled child, revealed a disdainful expression.
At this time, Chang Lili had not yet returned. Usually, he would pick her up and drop her off, but today he had instructed someone else to do so. So he sat down on the stone bench under the tree in the courtyard and waited quietly.
"Why are you here so early today, General? Lili hasn't returned yet. I'll go make you a cup of tea." The old woman said, turning to leave.
Meng Yuxiu stopped her and told her not to bother with him, and she left reluctantly.
Meng Yuxiu felt that his mother-in-law was acting strangely today, even though she had been much closer to him lately.
He sat down on the stone bench, feeling increasingly suffocated.
After an unknown amount of time, the last rays of the setting sun were swallowed by darkness, and the stars were hung in the sky, scattering silver light.
Meng Yuxiu felt a sense of helplessness, as if he had been waiting for the flowers to wither away. His high morale also dropped significantly, and he even lost his fighting spirit.
He discovered that ever since he told Chang Lili that she didn't need to do things she didn't like and just be herself, Chang Lili had been letting herself go, indulging in forging every day and unable to extricate herself.
While feeling bored and lost in thought, Meng Yuxiu finally heard a familiar voice humming a tune, accompanied by leisurely footsteps approaching from afar, even running and jumping.
Meng Yuxiu suddenly realized that perhaps his greatest adversaries were the cold, hard weapons and the military manufacturing department.
Chang Lili had already entered the courtyard by then. She had no idea that there was someone sitting in the courtyard. It wasn't until she was almost inside the house that she felt a chill run down her spine.
She turned her head in alarm and looked into the courtyard. In the starlight, she could vaguely see a figure under the stone bench.
Her heart skipped a beat, thinking to herself that Meng Yuxiu must have killed too many enemies, making the general's mansion so sinister that it was haunted.
For a moment, her thoughts raced, unsure whether she should go over and investigate.
Then the "ghostly figure" under the tree suddenly spoke up: "What are you still standing there for? If you dawdle any longer, it'll be dawn soon."
"Meng Yuxiu?" Hearing that familiar voice, Chang Lili felt her heart, which had been in her throat, fall back down. She let out a long breath and said helplessly, "What are you doing sitting here? You didn't even turn on a light. You'll scare people to death!"
Meng Yuxiu said with a dark face, "I didn't expect you to come back so late."
Chang Lili lit the candles and brought out the lamp, illuminating a small space for her subordinates.
The surroundings were quiet, and the warm candlelight illuminated Meng Yuxiu's helpless face.
Chang Lili saw two food boxes on the stone table and figured he would probably come over around dinner time.
A pang of guilt shot through her, and she smiled ingratiatingly, saying, "Why didn't you send me a message? I knew you were waiting for me, so I must have rushed back as fast as I could."
Upon hearing this, Meng Yuxiu smiled and said, "I didn't expect you to come back so late, so I didn't call you."
Chang Lili didn't stand on ceremony and took the initiative to open the food box. The first box she opened was the box of pastries that Meng Yuxiu had ordered the kitchen to make.
The box was opened, revealing Chang Lili's favorite walnut shortbread.
As always, its sweet aroma is irresistible, making one's mouth water.
Chang Lili quickly picked up a piece and stuffed it into her mouth, saying indistinctly, "Bringing food is one thing, but why bring so much!"
She spoke with restraint, but her hands moved swiftly, quickly removing the lid of another food container.
This food box was clearly much more ornate, with intricate patterns carved on it. She muttered, "So many designs."
The food box was opened, and a fragrant aroma filled the air. The delicate and translucent pastries seemed to glow in the candlelight.
Chang Lili was stunned for a moment, then exclaimed in surprise, "A new kind of treat! This pastry looks so beautiful, and it smells like osmanthus? What kind of pastry is this?"
Whether it was a misperception or not, Chang Lili had tried her best to appear happy, but she felt that Meng Yuxi seemed disappointed and even had some hidden anger.
Did I appear too indifferent, making him feel that his efforts were not being rewarded?
"Osmanthus crystal cake." Meng Yuxiu's voice was somewhat cold.
Chang Lili quickly grabbed a piece and put it in her mouth. It melted in her mouth, sweet but not cloying, and the sweet fragrance of osmanthus lingered, leaving her with an unforgettable aftertaste.
She gave a thumbs up and exclaimed, "My goodness! It's just as delicious as walnut cookies..."
As she spoke, Chang Lili's voice suddenly changed, like a passionate and uplifting piece of music suddenly breaking its string and ending without a final note.
She noticed that Meng Yuxiu's face had turned somewhat bluish, which was not a good sign.
She felt that the man in front of her could change his mind faster than a woman, and his thoughts were harder to fathom than the bottom of the sea.
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