Jingmei, having been entrusted with a task, could only faithfully fulfill that task.
However, not long after Chang Lili received the things sent by Xiao Lingshou, Meng Yuxiu received the news.
Chang Lili wanted to hide it, but how could she possibly keep it a secret?
"Jing... Sister Jingmei... I can't say, General Chang... Madam told me not to say it." The little maid who delivered the things Xiao Lingshou brought to Chang Lili's courtyard looked at Jingmei, who was raising her eyebrows, and said pitifully.
Jingmei gently pulled her close and hugged her affectionately, saying, "Don't be afraid. You're working at the General's Mansion now. Our General's Mansion has always been generous to its servants, and the monthly allowance is the highest in the capital. Countless people would kill to get in, so why did we choose you?"
Jingmei spoke with great emotion, and the young maid shook her head nervously, her words barely audible: "I...I don't know..."
Jingmei smiled gently and said, "Because you look like an honest girl, you will surely be a loyal servant in the future. Once you come into the manor, won't you be loyal to the general and follow his lead without question?"
"Of course!" the maid replied firmly, her face flushed.
Jingmei patted her shoulder with relief and said, "That's good. Now, can you still hide anything from the General?"
As a result, Meng Yuxiu learned about Chang Lili's matter very quickly.
Meng Yuxiu was already unhappy about Xiao Lingshou sending things, and now that he knew Chang Lili had deliberately kept it a secret, he felt even more suffocated.
He was always a decisive person, and immediately decided to go find Chang Lili. As usual, he brought some snacks with him, but when he arrived, he couldn't help but have a stern face.
Some were happy while others were sad. Meng Yuxiu was feeling down, while Xiao Lingshou, who hadn't shown any joy for days, suddenly broke into a smile in the deep palace.
Although Jingmei honestly reported everything to Meng Yuxiu, including Chang Lili's request to help deliver the letter, Meng Yuxiu did not stop her from delivering the letter.
That jade pendant was truly a treasure. When Jingmei first arrived at the palace gate, the guards treated her coldly and even tried to drive her away. But as soon as she took out the jade pendant, they treated her with the utmost respect, as if she were seeing their own parents.
He even patted his chest and repeatedly assured that he would secretly deliver the letter to His Highness.
Soon, the letter reached Lanlan's hands. Lanlan didn't understand the origin of the letter, which had no writing on the envelope. After thinking it over, she handed the letter to Xiao Lingshou.
She noticed that Xiao Lingshou, who had been sullen all along, softened his frosty face when he received the envelope.
Xiao Lingshou couldn't wait to open the letter and read it. She should have kept her eyes to herself, but she still couldn't help but steal a few glances.
The letter was very short, and the handwriting was crooked and messy.
Lanlan found it strange and couldn't help but glance at it a few more times.
As someone the Empress had placed by the Crown Prince's side, she was extremely skilled in martial arts and had excellent hearing and eyesight; a few glances were enough for her to see the contents of the letter.
The letter writer was extremely disrespectful, not even using a respectful title for the eldest prince, and said without any politeness: "Disciple, your master is well. Thank you for the fine wine and the pastries and fruits. Your master has really gone to great lengths for you. Take good care of yourself and don't worry about me."
Lanlan glanced at the contents of the letter and felt uneasy. She forgot to look away and met Xiao Lingshou's cold, questioning gaze.
She hastily averted her gaze, took a few steps back, and said respectfully, "Your...Your Highness, I didn't mean it...I'm afraid there's a trap involved..."
"So we need to find out what's going on so we can report to my mother and ask her to help me eliminate all the dangers and keep me safe?" Xiao Lingshou looked away, as if he didn't want to look at her anymore, and said coldly.
Lan Lan suddenly knelt down. Although Xiao Lingshou was always somewhat cold, he was not usually short-tempered. This was the first time he had ever lost his temper since Lan Lan came to his side.
Lanlan had been by his side for a long time. Three years ago, when he went to observe mourning, she waited for him to return. Now that he was back, she thought they would be the closest people to each other, but that was not the case.
"No, Your Highness, no, I was just worried!" Lanlan said pitifully.
Xiao Lingshou's icy expression remained unchanged. He lowered his eyes and coldly said, "Get out."
Lanlan had no choice but to get up and walk out of the hall. But when she got to the hall door, she couldn’t help but secretly turn around to look. She saw Xiao Lingshou looking at the letter with a slight smile on his lips, as if the gloom that had been lingering in his heart for so many days had dissipated.
Lanlan couldn't help but clench her fists, pursed her lips, and walked out.
She thought of Chang Lili. She knew that Xiao Lingshou had been sending her things these days, and the two had been in contact. At this moment, she hated Chang Lili to the core.
Ever since she came to Xiao Lingshou's side, she has never seen him smile or open his heart to anyone. Even towards the Empress, he is cold and distant.
But ever since Chang Lili appeared, everything has changed. She felt that Chang Lili had taken away what should have been hers.
In the courtyard, Chang Lili became increasingly engrossed in studying the mechanical arts, feeling an unparalleled sense of carefree bliss.
Suddenly she sneezed, and not long after, she sneezed again, this time quite hard.
She frowned and rubbed her nose. When the old woman who helped clean the house returned, she saw her like this and said worriedly, "Maybe you're sick? You should go back inside quickly. You might have caught a chill from the wind. I'll go and make you some ginger soup."
Chang Lili frowned and said, "That's not necessarily true. I think someone is talking badly about me behind my back and deliberately cursing me!"
"Nonsense!" Her mother-in-law gave her a loving look. "Go back inside quickly, I'll go and make you some ginger soup."
Chang Lili knew how difficult it was for her mother-in-law to agree to let her participate in the third test.
If she doesn't come back this time, even if her mother-in-law has someone to take care of her, she'll probably be crying all the time.
"Okay." Chang Lili obediently tidied up the books on the table, then grabbed them and ran into the house.
Her mother-in-law gave her a loving look, then turned and walked towards the kitchen.
There were too many books on the stone table to carry at once. When Chang Lili went inside, put down the books she was holding, and turned back to the courtyard, she saw a person sitting in the courtyard with a cold and solemn expression, like a statue.
Chang Lili blinked and walked over, while Meng Yuxiu merely glanced at her.
For some reason, she felt that the gaze was somewhat...displeased?
This gaze piqued Chang Lili's interest. She sat down on the stone bench next to Meng Yuxiu, looking at Meng Yuxiu's cold profile with amusement.
"What's wrong? Did I do something to upset you after drinking last night?" Chang Lili thought seriously for a while, then turned and patted Meng Yuxiu's shoulder, saying, "If I did something, you must tell me so I can be happy. Besides, it's already happened, so there's no use in arguing about it."
To everyone's surprise, Meng Yuxiu's expression darkened further, and he turned to stare at Chang Lili, asking, "It's already happened, there's no point in dwelling on it?"
Chang Lili realized something was wrong; he was genuinely angry.
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