"So, it looks like Lanxiang feels bound to Jasper Cheng just because she lost her innocence to him? No matter how you try, she won't leave him?" Lily shook her head, utterly baffled.
Xina sighed and nodded. "That's exactly how it seems. What can we do..."
Standing nearby, Belle kept her head down, silent. She bit her lip, remembering how—if not for Lily's wisdom—she might have ended up married to Li Ergou, living a life worse than a stray dog.
Thinking about her loving days with Steward Yuan, cherished by her in-laws, Belle felt a surge of gratitude for Lily’s foresight and sharp judgment. If she'd listened to ordinary advice, she would've resigned herself to marrying Li Ergou just because of what happened.
Lily, having understood the situation, told Xina, "Just keep Jasper Cheng here for now."
"Yes, ma'am." Xina replied, then slipped away into the night, heading back to Moonwatch Tower.
Inside the room, Lily and Belle sat in silence. After a while, Belle suddenly spoke, her gaze sincere and solemn: "Princess, thank you."
Lily was taken aback, but she understood Belle’s gratitude. Smiling, she shook her head. "It wasn’t all me. You fought for your own happiness too."
Belle’s eyes sparkled, but she quickly changed the subject, bringing up the plantation.
The reclamation of the plantation was going smoothly. The old soldiers of the Hayes Regiment worked like two men in one—no supervision needed. Everyone knew this land was their future, their retirement. As long as the plantation thrived, their livelihood was secure. The General and his wife would never abandon them.
"At this pace, we’ll finish half a month ahead of schedule," Belle said with a grin. "Even though it’s winter, our greenhouse technology means we can still cultivate seedlings. The yield could easily double!"
Lily nodded. Instead of relying on imported spices, they could now secretly grow their own. That meant Edward’s ocean fleet could spend more silver on munitions and bring them in under the radar.
The next day, Lily had to teach at the Royal Academy of Mathematics. Meanwhile, the children at the suburban villa had all been settled in, with teachers hired to start their literacy classes. As the foreign language teacher, Lily was about to step in and substitute for them.
Another busy day was about to begin. Lily washed up and lay down early—her head hit the pillow and she was out like a light.
When Alexander Hayes finished washing up and came into the room, Lily was already fast asleep.
Alexander Hayes looked at his sleeping wife, torn between laughter and tears. Lily’s monthly cycle had just ended, which meant she hadn’t conceived last month either.
Alexander sighed, his heart full of contradictions. He wanted Lily to give him a chubby son as soon as possible, but he also knew she was so busy and hardworking. If she got pregnant now, it might be too much for her.
If she had to give up everything and rest at home just because she was pregnant, with Lily’s ambitious nature, she’d never agree to it.
Besides, even if Lily were willing to set everything aside, she was simply too important. Without her, so many things just wouldn’t work.
Alexander gazed at Lily’s sleeping profile, gently lay beside her, and wrapped her in his arms, stroking her hair. He thought to himself: Forget it, we’ll wait a little longer for a child. I don’t want to slow her down, and if pregnancy ever hurt Lily, I’d never forgive myself. Better to wait until things settle down and Lily isn’t so busy.