How could a place like this be without Xiao Shu'er?
Chang Lili rubbed her forehead, feeling her interest greatly diminished.
I still remember the last hunt. Xiao Shu'er had ulterior motives, and I almost fell into her trap. Thinking about it now, I feel a little scared.
So Chang Lili obediently stayed close to Meng Yuxiu, but her eyes kept darting around restlessly.
The Emperor was benevolent and preferred tranquility. Although he wanted to go out for a stroll, he did not want to see so many people, so he exempted everyone from the custom of going to pay their respects. Everyone was happy to be at ease.
Chang Lili followed Meng Yuxiu to her seat and, sure enough, spotted Xiao Shuer in the crowd. She couldn't help but roll her eyes.
Perhaps because the emperor would also be watching the competition, he sat quietly in his seat.
At this moment, a slight commotion arose in the crowd, and all eyes were turned towards Meng Yuxiu and Chang Lili.
Chang Lili met the probing gazes of those people and thought to herself, "As expected, this outfit is too eye-catching."
Little did they know that while some of the people's discussions were about her, they weren't entirely about her.
Many people are more concerned about why Meng Yuxiu would participate in such a competition.
And this year's equestrian archery competition also featured another person.
Despite their surprise, the many beautifully dressed young women at the banquet turned their attention to the other side after their initial astonishment.
Meng Yuxiu, who used to attract attention wherever he went, was not even taken seriously!
What exactly attracted them?
Chang Lili couldn't help but look in that direction, but her view was blocked by a group of girls who were eagerly waiting.
Meng Yuxiu's displeased voice came: "Stop looking, there's nothing to see."
Chang Lili looked at him in surprise, wondering why he was displeased.
"Your appearance only makes me more curious." She rested her chin on her hand and smiled slyly.
"Lili? Sister Lili?" A familiar, crisp voice came from behind.
Chang Lili turned around in surprise and saw Lu Ming peeking out from the banquet and calling her softly.
Her eyes lit up, and without saying a word, she got up and went over, only to hear Meng Yuxiu say in a low voice, "Don't run around."
She turned her head and smiled sweetly: "I'll be back in a bit."
As he spoke, he headed towards Lu Ming, leaving Meng Yuxiu behind with a helpless, faint smile.
"What's wrong with these rich young ladies? They're all like butterflies and bees trying to collect nectar." Chang Lili asked before even sitting down, completely unafraid of being overheard.
Lu Ming, being a very easygoing person, chewed the pear in her mouth a few times upon hearing this and said impatiently, "You didn't know?"
"What should I know?" Chang Lili frowned slightly.
“Tsk tsk, let me tell you, isn’t General Meng the dream husband of every… no, almost every girl in the capital?” Lu Ming said with great interest.
Chang Lili frowned deeply and reluctantly said, "Is that so?"
"The one who came today is quite remarkable." Lu Ming even stopped eating the pear and said with great interest, quite like a storyteller in a teahouse.
Chang Lili also became interested and readily picked up the teacup on the table to take a sip: "What's so amazing about it?"
"The man who came today was already famous before he was promoted to deputy commander-in-chief. Now, he is a legendary man that almost every girl in the capital is willing to give her all for just one passionate encounter with." Lu Ming's voice rose and fell, making the story vivid and moving.
Chang Lili almost spat out her tea. She coughed a few times and exclaimed in surprise, "Really? That's so exaggerated?"
"Of course it's true!" Lu Ming gestured towards the group of girls.
The girls were blushing, all looking overjoyed. There were even suppressed screams coming from all directions, and some even fainted while touching their foreheads.
"Huh? What's so special about this person? I'd like to see for myself." Chang Lili was utterly amazed.
Lu Ming stared intently at Chang Lili and said mysteriously, "It is said that he is more handsome than Pan An and soon earned the title of the most handsome man."
Chang Lili couldn't help but peek at Meng Yuxiu, only to see him leisurely drinking tea. Even sitting there, one could tell that he was tall, handsome and unparalleled.
"They even stole Meng Yuxiu's title?" She pulled her head back, unable to imagine what kind of extraordinary talent could have stolen Meng Yuxiu's thunder.
Lu Ming held up all ten fingers and shook them: "No, no, his title of 'Number One Handsome Man' is the title of 'Number One Handsome Man in the World,' not 'Number One Handsome Man in the Capital.'"
"Who exactly is this person?" Chang Lili asked curiously.
Lu Ming, however, scoffed: "What do you mean by the most handsome man in the world? It's just a gimmick. How can he compare to Su Ling?"
Chang Lili couldn't help but chuckle: "I also think that, how can he be compared to Su Ling?"
Lu Ming became happy and continued enthusiastically, "This man is called Chu Moyu. He was recently promoted to Deputy Commander of the Palace Guard. However, it is said that he was promoted at such a young age because the daughter of the Palace Guard family has taken a liking to him and wants to get engaged to him."
"Is that so? It seems that being good-looking really can put food on the table," Chang Lili exclaimed.
Thus, in her mind, Chu Moyu became a pretty boy, a pretty boy with red lips and white teeth, who obtained an official position by virtue of his good looks.
"But he's quite pitiful too. It's said that he was begging on the road when he was a child, and was taken in by Si Chuqian, the commander of the Imperial Guards." Lu Ming picked up a pear and ate it again.
Thus, in Chang Lili's mind, Chu Moyu became a villain who had been afraid of hardship since childhood and was now willing to do anything to get rich.
She shook her head: "There's always a reason why someone is pitiful."
Before she could finish speaking, she wondered why she hadn't heard any noise from Xiao Shu'er's side for so long. She looked up and saw that Xiao Shu'er was still sitting obediently in her seat.
Chang Lili rubbed her eyes in disbelief and indeed found that Xiao Shuer was acting strangely.
Normally arrogant and domineering, she was surprisingly well-behaved, with her head down, looking unhappy but trying to suppress it.
Chang Lili couldn't help but become very interested. What on earth could have made Xiao Shuer make such a wonderful expression?
"What's wrong with Xiao Shu'er today? She's not causing trouble for anyone, which is unlike her!" Chang Lili said with great interest.
Seeing that Xiao Shuer was in a bad mood, her mood improved.
Lu Ming immediately put her fingers to her lips and made a "shh" sound, saying nervously, "With so many people here, just call her by her name, so no one can hear us."
Chang Lili waved her hand dismissively: "What's there to be afraid of? I've already offended her long ago."
Lu Ming looked helpless; she had long heard about the feud between Chang Lili and Xiao Shuer.
Xiao Shu'er didn't have a good reputation, and Lu Ming and Chang Lili were close, so naturally they put Xiao Shu'er on the enemy list.
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