Lily Evans immediately started cooking, with Lucky trailing behind her like a little shadow, eagerly helping out in the kitchen.
Sean Hayes watched from the side, sighing nonstop. His once mighty and imposing general—how did he end up like this! If those admirers of the War God General in the capital saw this, their jaws would drop!
But Lily Evans was completely oblivious. Back when she cooked, Lucky often helped with stoking the fire and chopping vegetables, so she was an expert at directing him—one moment tossing him a radish to peel, the next handing him greens to wash.
And so, our War God General cheerfully squatted on the ground peeling a radish, while Sean Hayes’s mouth twitched—he honestly couldn’t bear to watch!
Meanwhile, Leonard Li had just turned things around and earned Lily Evans’s promise of a home-cooked meal. In high spirits, he hummed a little tune, took a bath, dressed up, and lifted the curtain to go out—only to be startled by a stranger at the door who looked like a gate guardian.
"Who are you?" Leonard Li eyed Sean Hayes suspiciously. Judging by his build and posture, this man was clearly a top expert—probably one of Alexander Hayes’s men.
"I am... Country Bumpkin..." Sean Hayes struggled to introduce his new name. (土蛋, literally "country egg," is a playful nickname meaning bumpkin or yokel. Used here as a humorous alias.)
Both Sean Hayes and Leonard Li’s mouths twitched at the same time.
After a pause, Sean Hayes added, "I’m Lucky’s... eldest cousin..."
Leonard Li looked at Sean Hayes with sudden sympathy in his eyes.
This guy must be Alexander Hayes’s most capable subordinate—a big shot who could call the shots in the capital. Tsk, "Country Bumpkin"? (土蛋, literally "country egg," is a playful nickname meaning bumpkin or yokel. Used here as a humorous alias.)
"Country Bumpkin, hahahahaha!" Leonard Li looked at Sean Hayes and burst out with a boisterous laugh.
Sean Hayes stared at the hysterically laughing Leonard Li, his face dark. He silently wondered at the heavens: This guy is the heir to Lord Huainan—he can’t just kill him to keep his mouth shut!
Leonard Li wandered over to the kitchen and saw Lily Evans bustling about, imagining how wonderful it would be if this woman stayed at Lawrence Manor forever.
"What are you looking at!" Lucky, squatting at the door peeling a radish, shot Leonard Li a cold glare, shattering his daydream.
"Hey, Lucky, peeling radishes, huh!" Leonard Li flicked his hair and squatted down beside Lucky at the doorway.
"Hmph." Lucky glanced at him, snorting in annoyance. If it weren’t for this guy, his precious Lily wouldn’t have to work so hard in the kitchen!
Leonard Li glanced back at Lily Evans, then leaned over and whispered to Lucky: "General Hayes, your fiancée, Princess Mira from the neighboring kingdom, has arrived in the capital. Tsk, at the Imperial New Year Banquet, the emperor will grant the marriage and bestow a title. When do you plan to return to the capital to accept the title and marry her?"
Lucky swept Leonard Li a cold look, and whispered back: "I have only one wife—Lily. That princess, whoever wants her can marry her. She has nothing to do with me."
"This alliance concerns the fate of two nations—it’s no small matter. If General Hayes defies the imperial decree, aren’t you afraid your whole family could be executed?" Leonard Li stared into his eyes.
Lucky’s eyes flashed with disdain: "What does my business have to do with you? Just be a good little playboy heir, eat your meal and get lost!"
Leonard Li grinned at Lucky, "General Hayes, if something is destined not to be yours, it’s better to let go early. Otherwise, you’ll only hurt yourself and others. I happen to need a wife—maybe I’ll take good care of Lily for you instead."
In an instant, the menacing aura around Lucky surged—his killing intent was so fierce that even Sean Hayes, who was far away, shivered.
But Leonard Li just kept on smiling, still looking at Lucky with that playful, devil-may-care attitude.
Lucky took a deep breath, leaned close to Leonard Li, and whispered in a voice cold as ice: "As long as I’m here, no one will ever take Lily away from me."