Dismantling the Greenhouse

"Egghead, eat some meat! Yuanbao told me your family was so poor when you were little that you barely had enough to eat. Now that you're at our place, don't be shy—eat your fill, and have as much meat as you want!"

"Egghead, how old are you this year? Are you married yet? What kind of girl do you like? Want your auntie to set you up? I hear the second daughter of the Jiang family from the northeast village is a good match—should I find a matchmaker for you?"

At the family banquet welcoming Alexander Hayes, Mrs. Wang beamed as she urged him to eat more meat while peppering him with questions, perfectly embodying the older generation's love for gossip and matchmaking.

Thankfully, Alexander was quick-witted and spun a few white lies, claiming he already had a fiancée back home, which finally put a damper on Mrs. Wang’s matchmaking enthusiasm.

After waiting for everyone to get busy, Alexander finally found a moment to corner Sean Hayes, his face troubled: "General, when are you going back to the capital?"

Alexander shed his usual goofy facade, his handsome face suddenly serious, reminding Sean of the cold and formidable War God he used to know.

"No rush. We'll wait until the time is right," Alexander said.

"Well, since I've found you, should I notify the Marquis and Madam?" Sean asked.

"No need. For now, don't let my parents know," Alexander said, standing with his hands behind his back, a fierce glint in his eyes. "Sean, keep my whereabouts a secret. Don't tell anyone. The poisoning and attack were orchestrated by someone close to me. I need to expose them first."

Sean straightened up and replied, "Yes, General! I'll have the shadow guards investigate this matter discreetly."

"Yuanbao, Egghead, what are you two chatting about? The new clothes just arrived—come try them on and see if they fit!" Lily Evans popped her head out, calling to them with a smile.

Alexander's fierce expression instantly melted into the goofy, loyal-dog look as he called out, "Darling, I'm coming!" and dashed over eagerly.

Sean watched his general transform into a giant puppy and nearly had a meltdown inside. He reminded himself to keep flattering Lily Evans—she was the only woman the general had ever acknowledged, the future Princess of Qin!

Lily had bought a bunch of new clothes from the tailor for the whole family—three sets each, including for Yuanbao’s newly arrived cousin, Egghead.

Sean took his own clothes and, judging by the fine fabric and workmanship, knew they must have cost a fortune. He thought back to the poverty of Haizi Village and compared it to Lily’s wealth, secretly admiring her skills.

And so, Sean settled into the Evans household, playing his role as Egghead under Alexander’s strict orders, while secretly investigating the poisoning and assassination attempt.

Meanwhile, trouble was brewing outside. Governor Yale had brought officials to dismantle the Evans family's greenhouse.

The villagers gathered around, whispering anxiously. Some worried about their own livelihoods, while others secretly gloated, hoping to see the Evans family knocked down a peg.

Belle hurried over to Lily, her face pale. "Madam, Governor Yale is here with a group of officials. They’re tearing down the greenhouse!"

Lily’s expression darkened. She handed the clothes to Belle and strode out, her voice crisp: "Everyone, follow me to the greenhouse!"

The Evans family and their allies rushed after her, determined to defend their hard-earned prosperity.

The crowd surged toward the greenhouse, the air thick with tension and anticipation for the showdown to come.