Forensic Imperial Concubine

"Murry." Felix contemplated the question long and carefully, and decided to visit Matthew after he returned. He didn't send any of
his henchmen to frame Alexander, so he thought that Matthew couldn't find out that he also framed Alexander. To be safe, Felix
felt it necessary to confirm his thought by himself.
Murry pushed the door in. "Your Highness, it's very late already. Why don't you turn back and get some rest?"
"Murry, Uncle Matthew will return tomorrow. You should go to the storehouse..." Felix paused. He thought he should give Harper
a gift, but he felt so grumpy that the gambling house he had given Harper was snatching half of his business. Harper apparently
cared only for money. He couldn't stand the idea of giving her another gambling house. The very thought of it made him feel ill.
"What gift do you think Aunt Harper would enjoy?" Felix wondered.
Murry scratched his head. He was a married man, but his wife was so gracious that any gift he gave her would delight her for a
few days. Harper was another story. How could he know what Harper would like?
"Women like perfumes, cosmetics, silks, satins and velvets, don't they?" Murry suggested tentatively, "Your Highness, you
acquired a pearl as big as man's fist a few days ago, right? All women like pearls."
Felix's eyes lit up and he said, "Go and bring me that pearl. I will send it to Aunt Harper tomorrow as my gift."
"Yes, Your Highness." Murry turned to walk out, but then he stopped and turned back awkwardly. "Your Highness, Her Highness
said she liked it. She already took it away from the storehouse..."
Felix froze. He had almost forgotten about that. "That all right. I'll ask my wife for it myself. You may leave now."
As soon as Matthew and his wife arrived at the city gate, Owen left them quietly. As Francis' personal servant, he had taken a big
risk to sneak out of the imperial capital. If he were found to be with Matthew, he could get in trouble.
"I'll go with you." Harper wanted to check Francis' condition straightaway.
A hint of pleasant surprise flashed through Owen's eyes, but then he looked at Matthew timidly. Constant fear of Matthew's
displeasure had made a mark on him. It was relieving to see that the prince didn't seem displeased.
He just took a thick cloak and helped his wife put it on. Then, he helped her out of the carriage. Fred followed Harper to protect
her.

After Matthew's procession entered the city, Owen, Harper and Fred avoided drawing attention to themselves and slowly entered
the city, heading to Francis' mansion.
Smiling brightly, Owen glanced at Harper from time to time. "Lady Harper, His Highness must be very happy to see you."
Harper nodded, absent-minded. She was thinking about something else and barely heard Owen's words. She was trying to
guess who had set Alexander up, Felix or Francis.
Fred raised his eyebrows and glanced at Owen, but said nothing. He knew Matthew's character very well, and that anyone who
coveted Harper's beauty or hurt her had better be ready to have his arms and legs broken.
Owen led Harper through a backdoor to enter Francis' mansion. The mansion was lively with visitors around. The emperor sent
his greetings, and Sherry sent tonics every day. Since the mansion was crowded with people, it was less conspicuous to enter
from the back door.
Owen took Harper straight to Francis' room. The prince was reading a book. He frowned in disapproval as Owen pushed the
door open. "What did I tell you? I wish not to be disturbed by anyone. Ask them to leave. I don't like to deal with these things."
"Your Highness, I'm back. Look who has come with me!" Owen raised his voice. Francis raised his head to see who was behind
him.
Harper took off her veil and looked at Francis' pale face. She stepped forward and expertly checked his pulse. When she saw
him in thin clothes, she asked reproachfully, "Why are you still wearing such thin clothes before you have recovered?"
"You're back, Aunt Harper." Francis was overwhelmed. Like a naughty boy who had broken the rules, he dared not look into her
eyes. "I... I didn't hurt myself on purpose."
Harper was perplexed. She had begun to suspect that he was targeting Alexander, but when looking at him, she was doubtful.
"How have you been feeling these days?"
"I just feel weak. My wound has been slightly painful." Francis touched his injured belly. "It was an emergency. I found myself
standing in front of the assassin at the time of the attack. I thought I was doomed..."
"Leave it in the past." Harper checked his wound. The wound on his abdomen was quite severe. With his chronic weakness, it
was almost fatal for him to be stabbed.

"You..." Harper wanted to ask why he had risked his life for the emperor, but she didn't. Even though the emperor was his father,
and had loved him these years, giving him whatever he needed in his weakness, there still seemed to be a missing piece to the
puzzle. "Well, your wound is recovering well, and the poison in your body has been removed. I'll write another prescription to
speed up your recovery. Please follow the prescription."
"Thank you very much, Aunt Harper." Francis' smile was as innocent as ever. He took out a sugar figurine and gave it to his aunt.
"Take this as a thank you gift, Aunt Harper."
Looking at the sugar figurine in his hand, Harper thought, 'Although I know the figurine is me, it doesn't look like me. Yet, as the
prince, he is actually doing a good job in making the sugar figurine.'
"Thank you." Harper took it over. "Your mansion is very lively with all these guests."
A touch of sadness arose on Francis' face. "Do you know how to stop them from visiting me again, Aunt Harper? I am a patient
and I need to rest in peace. I don't like the noise."
Harper couldn't help laughing. If Felix had all those officials visiting him, he would be thrilled and heartened, but Francis only felt
burdened by it.
"You don't like to have people around?" asked Harper gently.
Francis shook his head and said, "They come here only for the sake of my father, not because of me. I don't like to see them."
Harper somehow felt pity for him, so she stroke his head. Even though he was a few years older than her, he still seemed like a
child to her. "Aunt Harper, will you visit me after I recover?"
"I will." Harper didn't hesitate to agree. After all, they still had communication and interaction, so they would certainly meet again.
Moreover, before she found out whether he was the mastermind behind the plot against Alexander, she would continue treating
him as she always did.
"My injury has kept me confined to this bed for a long time. No one talks to me. Aunt Harper, can I visit you and Uncle Matthew
tomorrow?" Francis giggled innocently.
"Your wound hasn't healed yet," Harper refused indirectly.
"I'm all right now. They don't let me get out of bed as they think I am too weak. With your help, I'm already stronger." Then, he
took the quilt off him, got out of the bed, walked towards Harper and said, "See! I told you I'm fine."

Harper knew that he had almost made a full recovery. He only needed nourishment. Over the years, the poisonous medicine had
almost ruined his physical condition. Now, even though his poison had been cleaned up, his body was still weak and needed to
be nourished.
Harper gave her another bottle of medicine and said, "Take a pill every day to strengthen your body and replenish your vitality. If
you don't want to take the medicine, you can have medicated meals."
"Don't worry, Aunt Harper. I will do exactly as you say." Francis' cooperative attitude triggered a personal memory in Harper.
During her childhood in her previous life, when her brother was unwell, she would look after him, and he would always tease her
to cheer her up. Their father was consoled to see his two children support each other.
Harper's eyes began to lose their focus. She was not really looking at Francis, but someone else. She had seldom given any
thought about her previous life since she came to this world, but she had been thinking about her family of previous life more
often in recent days.
"You must get better quickly, or..." Suddenly, Harper came to her senses and changed the topic. "I should go back to my mansion
now. You should rest well."
"Let me walk you out."
"No, thanks. I came in through the back door. I don't need all that attention. You have already refused to see those officials. If
they see you go out with me, you will surely be bothered by them. Anyway, you need to have a good rest, as I said. When you
are fully recovered, you can come and go just as you please."
Francis didn't insist, so he told Owen to walk Harper out. He gazed after her silhouette as she disappeared.
"Wake up! She is gone." A mocking voice rang out abruptly.
Without turning his head, Francis asked, "Why did you come back now?"
"The power of the River City was crushed by Matthew. They found out that it was the Scarlet Devils who framed Alexander.
Matthew slaughtered almost all the members of Scarlet Devils and we suffered great losses." Wearing an exquisite ferocious
mask, Marquis Scarlet asked, "Is Harper the one who healed you from poison?"
"Yes."
"You like her?" he asked tentatively after a moment's hesitation.

Francis turned around, walked to a chair and sat down. "She's Matthew's wife, and they love each other very much."
"You didn't answer my question. Do you like her?" Marquis Scarlet asked stubbornly. He didn't know much about Harper, but
Matthew's love for her was indeed out of the ordinary. If Francis liked Harper, he wouldn't just sit back.
"What if I like her?"