Chang Lili, who was chatting with people all over the mansion to pass the time, finally couldn't help but start inquiring about Meng Yuxiu's whereabouts.
"The general is at the manor today. It seems he's worried that the people from that night might come and cause trouble. He's not only had people guarding the manor gates, but he hasn't left the manor these past few days either." The enthusiastic maid couldn't stand Chang Lili's overly familiar manner and told her everything she knew.
Chang Lili nodded thoughtfully and then went to Meng Yuxiu's study.
She hesitated in front of the study for a long time, but couldn't bring herself to knock on the door.
She didn't know what was wrong with her. Ever since Meng Yuxiu sent her back to the courtyard that night, she actually felt a little embarrassed to face Meng Yuxiu, embarrassed to be carefree in front of him, and embarrassed to do whatever she wanted in front of him.
She raised her hand and then lowered it again, hesitating for a long time before finally knocking on the door.
Meng Yuxiu's voice came from the study: "What's wrong? Did you do something wrong?"
Chang Lili rolled her big, round eyes, then pushed open the door defiantly: "What guilty conscience do you have!"
As soon as she opened the door, she saw Meng Yuxiu standing in front of his desk writing something. Tall and elegant, his already handsome face was even more captivating because of his focused expression.
Chang Lili abruptly withdrew her gaze, her voice unconsciously softening, and her tone becoming much gentler: "I haven't done anything wrong. I just came to ask you about the hunting in Xishan."
Meng Yuxiu looked up in surprise and asked, "Hunting in the Western Hills? Why are you asking about this? Could it be that you..."
"Well! I just wanted to ask you, hunting inevitably requires a bow and arrow, do you need me to make you a bow and arrow? The bow and arrow I make will definitely be better than ordinary bows and arrows!" Chang Lili said eagerly.
Meng Yuxiu slowly put down his brush and looked at Chang Lili, whose eyes were darting around: "As the saying goes, 'If someone is being overly solicitous, they must have ulterior motives.' Have you been staying in the manor for too long and are itching to get your hands dirty?"
Chang Lili smiled awkwardly, wondering how to ask Meng Yuxiu to take her hunting in Xishan. She felt it would be too shameless and couldn't bring herself to ask.
“That won’t do. You’ve offended Xiao Shu’er and Hu Pin. Going out now would be like a fish jumping onto a chopping board.” Meng Yuxiu shook his head and said without a doubt.
Chang Lili had a sudden inspiration and said with bright eyes, "Yes, you are right. If I don't stay in the General's Mansion and you are not here to keep watch, I will definitely be in trouble."
Meng Yuxiu glanced at her, who was flattering him, with amusement.
"Then you definitely can't miss the hunting trip in Xishan these next few days, right?" Chang Lili asked, trying to entice her.
Meng Yuxiu had already seen through her true colors, and with a slight smile, he said, "Of course."
Chang Lili pouted and said aggrievedly, "What should we do? If you go hunting in the Western Hills, what will become of me, a weak woman with no strength to even kill a chicken, and my old and frail mother-in-law, staying here?"
Meng Yuxiu also sighed and said helplessly, "Yes, what should we do?"
He looked at Chang Lili, who immediately withdrew her gaze from him.
He said with a laugh, "Then I think I'll skip the hunting party. I can't go out and have some fun while you get into trouble in my house."
"No, no, no," Chang Lili was a little at a loss. "This... this hunt, is it possible to be absent? Isn't it mandatory for all civil and military officials to participate?"
“I have special circumstances, but I believe His Majesty will understand,” Meng Yuxiu said solemnly.
Chang Lili was worried and said helplessly, "It's not like this is the only way. You can take me with you when you go hunting. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"
“That won’t do. This kind of occasion isn’t for just anyone.” Meng Yuxiu said this, but he already had a plan in mind.
Chang Lili's audacity caused Xiao Shu'er such a big setback. Xiao Shu'er will definitely not let it go and will only be worse than before. Naturally, he cannot leave Chang Lili alone in the mansion, as that would be too risky.
Finally, after much pleading and cajoling, Chang Lili finally obtained Meng Yuxiu's consent to go hunting in the Western Hills with him, unaware that Meng Yuxiu had already planned this all along.
"Great! I'm here in Xishan!" She happily hugged Meng Yuxiu.
He should get used to this sudden hug; after all, this girl always does this when she's happy.
He blushed as he smelled the woman's faint fragrance.
Chang Lili was completely unaware. When she first entered the study, she was still shy and reserved, but now she had completely forgotten her previous reserve.
Although she hugged Meng Yuxiu, she was so immersed in joy that she did not realize that something was amiss.
Although Meng Yuxiu decided to bring Chang Lili along, he couldn't help but worry, because if something happened, the scene would inevitably be chaotic.
He solemnly instructed, "During the trip to Xishan, you must stay close to me and not wander off at will."
Chang Lili smiled slightly and said, "Don't worry, I'm so afraid of death, I'll definitely hold on to you. Of course I cherish my own life. How about this, just to be on the safe side, how about I learn some mechanical arts from Master Lu and the others? That way I can protect myself!"
Meng Yuxiu joked, "I think you want to go to the Western Hills, but you're also unwilling to stay cooped up in the mansion these past few days, so you're thinking of tinkering with the iron furnace, right?"
"Of course, I also want to learn how to protect myself, so that you won't have to worry about me!" Chang Lili said, looking away.
Meng Yuxiu, feeling playful, said, "You should go out first. This trip to Xishan is of great importance, and I still need to think about it."
Chang Lili opened her eyes wide and said unwillingly, "You...you're going back on your word! You just agreed, how can you go back on your word?"
Meng Yuxiu said solemnly, "You should go out first. Of course, I'm doing this for your safety."
Although Chang Lili was unwilling, she couldn't act too recklessly since she had received so much kindness from Meng Yuxiu, so she obediently left the study.
She muttered resentfully, "What! A general of the nation, so fickle and untrustworthy!"
After Chang Lili left, Meng Yuxiu chuckled. Suddenly, a man dressed in black appeared and knelt respectfully before Meng Yuxiu, saying, "General, I haven't found much information about that girl and her mother-in-law. I only know that they have always lived like an old woman and a young girl, leading a very ordinary life. But I can't find anything more. It's as if these two people appeared out of thin air."
Meng Yuxiu took out a delicate and small sleeve arrow from his sleeve, the one that had fallen out of Chang Lili's sleeve that day.
"This is truly unfathomable. You may leave now," he said, carefully examining the hidden dart in his hand.
After the man in black left, he continued to examine the hidden arrow closely.
To his amazement, even Master Lu could not have made such a fine hidden arrow.
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