Princess Jade Hayes has a best friend, Wu Caiwei, whose husband Zhang Mu is sworn brothers with Prince Alexander Hayes. Wu Caiwei and Zhang Mu have a son, Little Clown, and Wu's elderly father helps them run Princess Jade Hayes's spice shop in the Capital. Oh, and over in Haizi Village, there are all sorts of relatives—cousins and neighbors. At the Royal Academy of Mathematics, there's Wu Hua, Princess Jade Hayes's star pupil, whose family includes his aged parents and a younger brother. And don't forget, across from the Prince's Manor, the school is packed with Princess Jade Hayes's students...
Then there’s Princess Jade Hayes’s mother, Lady Wang, and her stepfather Lin Ying—they have a son, Lin Xiaowu, a mischievous little rascal who loves nothing more than causing trouble at the academy. And loyal confidants: Bai Lu, Steward Yuan and his wife, plus Bai Lu’s younger sister, Gu Yu...
Lord Huainan rattled off the names of everyone Princess Jade Hayes cared about, like he was showing off his personal treasure collection.
With every name, Princess Jade Hayes’s face grew darker, her mood sinking further.
Princess Jade Hayes frowned, her eyes locked onto Emperor Leonard the Enlightened—if looks could kill, he’d be shredded on the spot.
Bella Bell finally snapped and roared, "Enough! Enough! Leonard Li, you conniving bastard! Shameless! Rotten to the core! How could I ever have been so blind to fall for you?"
Emperor Leonard the Enlightened turned as pale as a ghost, unable to face Bella Bell or Princess Jade Hayes—he just kept his back to them, utterly defeated.
Lord Huainan, seeing the hesitation in Princess Jade Hayes and Prince Alexander Hayes, smirked, "Prince Alexander, I know you’ve already moved your people out of the manor. But you two have such a huge circle—relatives, friends, all sorts. Can you really protect every last one? If you kill me or Leonard Li today, the assassins we planted years ago will be unleashed, and everyone you care about will be wiped out!"
Lord Huainan finished, then shot Emperor Leonard the Enlightened a smug look and laughed, "All thanks to Leonard Li! He’s been so close to you for years—he knows exactly who matters to you. We've spent years laying traps, planting assassins around your friends and family. If Leonard Li and I die today, your loved ones will join us in the afterlife!"
Before Lord Huainan’s words had even faded, Bella Bell stormed past Princess Jade Hayes and marched straight up to Emperor Leonard the Enlightened, eyes blazing. She slapped him hard. "You conniving scoundrel! So you planned this all along! Did you marry me just to keep Master’s favorite disciple hostage? So I, Bella Bell, am just another pawn for you two, held as a hostage—is that it?!"
Emperor Leonard the Enlightened’s face stung with pain. Head lowered, he muttered, barely audible, "Bella... I... I..."
"Nothing you say will ever reach me again! My true feelings—fed to the dogs! Leonard Li, from now on, I, Bella Bell, am done with you!" Furious, she ripped her sleeve in two, flinging half in Leonard Li’s face, then swept away to stand beside Princess Jade Hayes and Prince Alexander Hayes, her choice clear for all to see.
Lord Huainan eyed Prince Alexander Hayes and Princess Jade Hayes, their faces twisted with rage, and laughed uproariously. "You two are still such amateurs! Did you really think this was all I could do? Alexander Hayes, if you’ve got the guts, strike now! Just watch—your loved ones will be picked off one by one, their blood staining the throne you covet! Go on, kill us if you dare! Do you dare?!"