“There must be something fishy going on.” Chang Lili muttered to herself, nodding seriously.
She had stayed in the room for three days and had hardly spoken to any of the maids or servants. She was feeling extremely stifled. Her dark brown eyes darted around, and she made up her mind.
She stepped out of the house and stretched. She could occasionally see servants coming and going. The general's mansion was as peaceful as ever. However, the maids and servants who were usually familiar with her were now looking at her strangely and were no longer taking the initiative to talk to her.
Chang Lili sat in the courtyard taking a nap, observing the maids and servants. Finally, she couldn't bear it any longer and called out to one of the servants.
"Little Si, Little Si, come here, come here."
The servant who was called to stop looked at her in confusion, seemingly hesitant and not moving forward.
Chang Lili pulled him over and asked, "What's wrong with you? What happened? I used to call you brother, but now you're not willing to talk to me?"
She hooked her arm around Xiao Si's shoulder, and Xiao Si was so frightened that he quickly pushed her away, looking terrified: "Men...men and women are different, Miss Chang, please don't do this."
"What did you call me? It's only been three days, and you've already turned your back on me?" Chang Lili pushed him away, feeling annoyed.
She thought for a moment and realized that the emperor might have actually issued an imperial edict. Not only an edict, but perhaps some kind of punishment involving the extermination of nine generations of one's family, which was why these people looked at her like that and kept their distance.
Chang Lili nervously grabbed Xiao Si: "What exactly happened? If you still remember our friendship, tell me."
After hesitating for a while, Xiao Si sighed and said, "I heard that the Princess fainted on the spot during the hunt in Xishan that day. It seems that you were also involved in this."
Chang Lili immediately waved her hand and said, "I didn't do anything excessive to her. She's always picking on me. I was just defending myself."
Xiao Si shook his head and said, "Our general bribed the imperial physician and made it public that you were too frightened that day and are now seriously ill."
"Huh? But I..." Chang Lili looked at herself, meaning that she was clearly unharmed.
Xiao Si was in high spirits and spoke more casually. She patted Chang Lili's arm and said, "Of course you're fine. It was just a public announcement. Besides, everyone in the mansion keeps it a secret. The general has been pretending to be absent-minded these past few days, seeking medical help everywhere to cure your illness, and even asking the emperor for rare and precious medicines."
Chang Lili stroked her chin, lost in thought.
It seems that Meng Yuxiu really went to great lengths to save her; he was truly painstaking. Otherwise, the imperial decree would have been issued long ago.
Seeing that she was distracted, Xiao Si patted her shoulder with displeasure and said with spittle flying, "The general also swore that when you wake up, he will marry you. In this life, he will marry no one but you!"
Chang Lili seemed to hear a scene from a play, and she was completely stunned, letting out a confused "Ah".
Xiao Si then realized that he had become too proud. Chang Lili was the future general's wife. How could a lowly servant like him overstep his bounds?
He slapped himself in the face and said fearfully, "I deserve to die. I shouldn't have said these things. Miss Chang, please, for the sake of our past relationship, don't tell the general that I told you these things."
Chang Lili was still a little dazed. She waved her hand and said, "Don't worry, go do whatever you need to do."
Xiao Si, having finally loosened his grip, hurriedly ran off.
A great general's words and oaths cannot be changed.
Meng Yuxiu went to great lengths to protect her and even made such a vow. It seems he is truly a good person worthy of entrusting one's life to. Now he still remembers what happened before and actually intends to take responsibility for her.
Chang Lili actually felt happy, even overjoyed.
Thinking about it more carefully, Meng Yuxiu really treated her well. He not only protected her, but also gave her the opportunity to learn mechanical arts. He really wanted to teach her as the future wife of a general!
Chang Lili was filled with gratitude. She thought shyly that since he had such a kind heart, she, Chang Lili, could not be ungrateful and had to do something to repay him.
After thinking for a while, she nodded firmly, deciding to show off her skills and cook some of her best dishes to entertain Meng Yuxiu. After all, whether she could learn mechanical arts still depended on his approval.
As the saying goes, poor children learn to be independent early. This mother-in-law worked hard to raise Chang Lili and also fell ill. Chang Lili was grateful and learned to do laundry and cook at a young age. She was also a very good cook.
She had some connections with everyone in the mansion, even those working in the kitchen.
She walked into the kitchen naturally, without hiding anything, and told the kitchen staff directly that she wanted to use the kitchen to cook a meal to thank the general for saving her from dire straits.
"Then please use this kitchen as you please. Our general is truly blessed!" The auntie washing vegetables in the kitchen smiled so much that her eyes narrowed into slits.
Chang Lili rolled up her sleeves and said shamelessly, "Of course, there aren't many people in this world who have this kind of luck."
The aunt pulled the others aside, lowered her voice, and said excitedly, "It seems that this girl also has feelings for our general. She probably agreed to let the general marry her!"
Another auntie seemed even happier than if her son were getting married: "I knew it! Someone like our general wouldn't be unwilling to marry Lili. Although she's not a princess or a noblewoman, I think this girl is just as good as any of those princesses or noblewomen."
"I bet you're just trying to curry favor with her because she's about to become a general's wife," an older woman teased.
The two of them burst into laughter.
Soon, the news that Chang Lili was moved by Meng Yuxiu's sincerity and agreed to marry him spread throughout the mansion in no time.
Chang Lili was completely unaware of this and was busy working in the kitchen.
Although Meng Yuxiu was a military general, he was very kind to the servants in his household and was extremely protective of his own.
Therefore, these servants were not restrained in the general's mansion. When they heard that the general was going to get married, they were all happy for Meng Yuxiu and even took it upon themselves to make arrangements.
"The future general's wife is cooking for the general himself. It seems something unusual is bound to happen tonight," a maid in her early twenties said with a sly smile and certainty.
A young-looking maid nudged her, blushing as she said, "What are you saying, Sister Mei Jing!"
Both of them were holding bright red objects in their hands, which looked like satin.
"Alright, alright, that's enough, let's get to work." Mei Jing said with great interest.
The two walked toward Meng Yuxiu's room. The young maid, who looked rather inexperienced, said, "We need to hurry. Everyone else is busy, but we haven't done anything yet."
At this moment, a group of maids and servants were gathered in Meng Yuxiu's room, bustling about busily.
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