Leonard Li was so frightened that his limbs went weak, scrambling on all fours to crawl out.
Alexander Hayes looked at Leonard Li's cowardly display, speechless. He grabbed Leonard by the collar and hauled him back.
"Do I look like someone who'd hurt you?" Alexander Hayes said helplessly to Leonard Li. "First, my identity as a descendant of the Lee clan can't be proven—it's too difficult, and I'm not obsessed with tracing my roots. Second, now that the feudal lords are itching for action, if I take the throne, they'll refuse to acknowledge me and attack the capital, plunging the country into chaos. Third, I simply don't want to be emperor. Do you think Lily would be happy living in the palace?"
Leonard Li nodded, "That's true. Lily definitely doesn't want to be empress. But I don't want to be emperor either! I was never trained as a crown prince—how am I supposed to know how to rule?"
"Anyway, the imperial edict is here. Do what you want with it." Alexander Hayes stood up to leave. Leonard Li hurriedly picked up the edict and chased after him, shouting, "Where are you going!?"
"To the Huainan Palace," Alexander Hayes replied, glancing back at Leonard Li. "To see your father."
Leonard Li's face turned green instantly. "You—you told my father about this? He'll definitely force me to take the throne! If I refuse, he'll break my legs! Prince Alexander, you're just pushing me to be emperor!"
Alexander Hayes pursed his lips, looking innocent. "I only discussed it with Lord Huainan. I never said I'd force you. Of course, how your father chooses to pressure you is none of my business."
Leonard Li was left utterly betrayed, clutching the imperial edict as he sat on the floor, watching Alexander Hayes walk out.
This happiness came so suddenly, Leonard Li was completely at a loss.
How did it happen that Alexander Hayes launched a palace coup, chopped down the old emperor, and this pie just landed on his head out of nowhere!?
Just as Leonard Li was sitting on the floor, distressed, footsteps sounded outside. Leonard drooped his head and grumbled, "Prince Alexander, this is way too sudden. I wasn't prepared at all. Sigh, I'm really not emperor material. You're making things so hard for me..."
"Hahaha, this is the first time I've heard someone complain about being made emperor!" A silvery female laugh rang out. Leonard Li looked up and saw Lily, smiling as she walked in.
"Lily, even you're here to laugh at me!" Leonard's face flushed, especially when he noticed Bella Bell following beside Lily.
Lily and Bella Bell entered, Bella's cheeks rosy. Lily laughed, "We owe it all to Bella Bell for impersonating me and sneaking inside. That's how we managed to catch the old emperor so quickly."
Leonard Li scratched his head, embarrassed as he glanced at Bella Bell. "Bella Bell is really... amazing..."
Lily smiled at the two of them, then addressed Leonard Li: "Young Lord Leonard, have you thought about what Prince Alexander discussed with you?"
Leonard Li looked troubled. "Lily, this is all so sudden. I really wasn't prepared."
Lily glanced at Leonard Li, then said to Bella Bell, "Bella, go stand guard outside. I have something to discuss privately with Young Lord Leonard."
Bella Bell looked at Leonard Li, then said, "Yes, Master."
Bella Bell stepped outside to guard the door. Leonard Li blinked at Lily, knowing she had something to say to him.
Lily looked at Leonard Li and got straight to the point: "Young Lord Leonard, do you still want to marry Bella Bell?"