However, after staying in the mansion for two days, Chang Lili became impatient, her mind preoccupied with her blacksmithing platform.
After lunch today, she sat idly in the courtyard, looking at the black scabs on her hands that were about to fall off. She felt frustrated and even tried to peel them off herself.
But just as her claws tentatively scratched at the scab, she heard someone clear their throat behind her.
She immediately withdrew her hand, obediently turned around on the stool, and looked at Meng Yuxiu.
Meng Yuxiu was both amused and annoyed: "You couldn't hold back after just two days."
Chang Lili complained, "You don't understand at all. This feeling is like not seeing each other for a day feels like three autumns, and two days have passed, but it feels like six years have passed."
Meng Yuxiu was somewhat displeased, and hesitated to speak. After thinking about it, he realized that it was one thing for him to be angry with Xiao Lingshou, but why should a dignified general be angry with a cold, hard weapon?
It's not a bad thing that she's so obsessed with weapon crafting and doesn't care about romantic relationships.
Thinking this made him feel happier, and he smiled and said, "I know you're feeling restless, so I've found you a place to relax."
Chang Lili asked expectantly, "Where are we going?"
She was thinking of going to see some kind of armory, but then she heard Meng Yuxiu say, "The Empress is holding a banquet tomorrow, but I don't have time to go. Why don't you go in my place to relieve my boredom?"
"Huh?" Chang Lili was disappointed. Remembering how long it took to get to the Emperor's palace, she frowned and said with disdain, "I'm not going."
Meng Yuxiu raised an eyebrow: "Last time you entered the palace, I saw you looking around, and I thought you really wanted to go and see it."
Chang Lili pouted in dissatisfaction and ignored him.
Meng Yuxiu smiled calmly and said leisurely, "The Empress's banquet is naturally extremely luxurious. The top-notch singing and dancing goes without saying, but the tea and pastries on the table are of the finest quality, along with countless delicacies from land and sea..."
Chang Lili's eyes gradually brightened. Before Meng Yuxiu could finish speaking, she straightened up and looked at him intently. She then pretended to be reserved and said, "I can go for you, but I can't go for nothing."
As he spoke, he straightened his head and extended his hand to Meng Yuxiu, making it clear that he was offering money to avert disaster.
Meng Yuxiu smiled and shook his head, looking quite regretful.
"What are you laughing at?" Chang Lili asked, displeased.
“I laugh at you for only thinking about immediate gains, not knowing how to play the long game,” Meng Yuxiu said slowly. “Are you still thinking about learning mechanical arts?”
Chang Lili's confusion turned into shock, but upon closer reflection, it was no wonder that Meng Yuxiu had already discovered that she was secretly making the nine-section whip.
She immediately replied enthusiastically, "Alright, leave this to me, General, don't worry!"
The wind rustled the leaves overhead, and the sunlight dappled the leaves into fragments of gold. Meng Yuxiu looked at her and chuckled.
Upon hearing that the Empress was going to hold a welcoming banquet for the eldest prince, Xiao Lingshou, Meng Yuxiu recalled what he had seen when he left the palace and guessed the reason.
Xiao Lingshou had been back in the palace for some time, but the Emperor paid no attention to him. He even held a horse and archery competition with great interest, but did not bring Xiao Lingshou or the Empress along. It was understandable that the Empress was angry.
It seems that even though she made a scene in front of the emperor, she didn't get any benefit from him.
Now, she is probably still angry and has decided to hold a banquet for her son to welcome him back.
Coincidentally, just as Meng Yuxiu received the Empress's invitation, the Emperor issued an imperial edict instructing him to properly reorganize military affairs in the coming days.
Meng Yuxiu then had Ke Shou investigate other officials, discovering that on the military side, Hu Pin and Meng Yuxiu had both received imperial edicts, followed by the prime minister and the censor-in-chief.
Several of the most important civil and military officials were dismissed by imperial decree; the emperor's intention was self-evident.
Even the most clueless person wouldn't dare joke about their own life.
So, everyone tacitly agreed to send the women of the household to the banquet.
After a moment's thought, Meng Yuxiu felt that sending female relatives to the banquet hosted by the Empress was the most appropriate thing to do, since the Empress was in charge of the inner palace.
The moment this thought crossed his mind, Chang Lili's face immediately appeared in his head.
Without a doubt, she was the only choice.
“However…” Chang Lili looked troubled, “There are so many complicated rules and regulations in the palace, I don’t understand them. What if I make a mistake and lose my life?”
Seeing her earnest and worried expression, Meng Yuxiu smiled and said, "You are a member of my General's Mansion, and you represent my General's Mansion. No one dares to do anything to you. Besides, if you really cause any trouble, don't you still have me?"
Chang Lili was stunned for a moment, looking at her silly reflection in his clear eyes, and her face involuntarily flushed.
She quickly turned her face away, feeling her heart pounding uncontrollably.
She discovered that Meng Yuxiu was very different from before. His eyes used to be deep and unfathomable, which made people feel uneasy.
But now he often wears a smile, and his eyes are pure.
And his words were so explicit, yet she was secretly pleased.
She suppressed the urge to smile and said, "That's right. I'm attending the banquet on your behalf. Even if I lose face because I don't know etiquette, it's still the face of your General's Mansion. If I cause trouble, it's your General's Mansion that will suffer."
As she spoke, she laughed heartily, envisioning the grand spectacle of the banquet.
Meng Yuxiu smiled but remained silent, which was taken as tacit agreement.
After Meng Yuxiu returned to the backyard to rest, the servants and maids who were familiar with him pushed and shoved each other, eagerly serving him tea and water, and boldly said, "General, General, it's much more lively in the manor now that Miss Chang has returned."
Meng Yuxiu gave a helpless smile: "She's very noisy, which naturally makes the place more lively."
Another maidservant quickly said, "General, you've been laughing too much. But it's not a long-term solution for Miss Chang to stay in our household without any official status. When will you marry Miss Chang, General?"
After she finished speaking, the maids and servants beside her nodded repeatedly, and even the corridor echoed with voices of agreement saying "That's right."
Meng Yuxiu looked up and saw several mothers from the kitchen peering into his direction from the corridor.
He put down his teacup, sighed, and said, "Just say what's on your mind, don't beat around the bush."
The mothers in the kitchen were the least afraid of Meng Yuxiu, and upon hearing his words, they practically rushed over.
“General, it’s really not appropriate for a young lady to be without a proper status. Besides, without a title to tie her down, she might run away one day!” a mother said excitedly.
No one else cared what was being said, they just nodded vigorously.
Meng Yuxiu's mind flashed to Xiao Lingshou's expressionless face, and he said with a bit of annoyance, "Don't talk nonsense."
“General, if you don’t marry Miss Chang soon, what if she moves out and breaks up with you?” After one mother finished speaking, the others looked worried and nodded in agreement.
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