Rising Prosperity Like Blooming Sesame

Lily Evans recounted everything that had happened at the Marquis Valor Estate to Margaret Evans and Dr. Rowan Lin. Margaret listened, utterly alarmed and anxious, her heart pounding with worry—as if she truly feared Alexander Hayes would take a concubine and wrong her precious Lily. Throughout the story, she kept shooting nervous glances at Alexander.

Alexander Hayes, catching his mother's gaze, couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Mother, why do you keep looking at me like that? I never thought about taking a concubine. Lily is more than enough for me."

Margaret Evans immediately asked, "Really?"

Alexander Hayes grinned, "Of course it's true. How could I ever lie to you, Mother?"

Margaret Evans huffed, "Well, you better not let my daughter suffer even a bit."

Dr. Rowan Lin chimed in from the side, backing Lily up: "Son-in-law, I heard you loud and clear, and I’m a witness. If you ever break your word and bring home some woman who bullies our Lily, I won’t let you off easy! If that day comes, we’ll bring Lily back home—and with a daughter as wonderful as ours, the line of suitors would stretch from Jin all the way to Chu!"

Alexander Hayes chuckled, wrapping his arm around Lily Evans’s shoulders. "With a wife as precious as Lily, I’m more afraid she’ll run off than anything! How could I ever let her be wronged?"

Lily Evans felt a sweet rush in her heart and playfully stuck out her tongue at Alexander Hayes.

The whole family chatted and laughed, nibbling on snacks as they prepared for the New Year’s Vigil.

The smaller families of the Prince’s estate each returned to their own courtyards, ready to spend a sweet and cozy New Year’s Vigil together.