Forensic Imperial Concubine

The empress's palace was crowded with people, and the ladies from different families all sat in specific seats that represented
their status. Upon their arrival, a eunuch announced outside, "Here come Lady Harper, Lady Isabella and Lady Caroline."
"Harper and Isabella are really inseparable friends. They even came here together, like sisters," the empress teased them with a
smile. "If I didn't know that Harper is actually a daughter of the Chu Clan, I would have thought that she was actually a daughter
of the Bu Clan."
"Greetings, Your Majesty," the three newcomers said in chorus after they came in.
"Arise quickly, please," the empress responded at once. She sounded happy. She fixed her eyes on Harper's outfit, and said, "I
was just talking about you two and said that you are such close friends. I'm glad to see you here. Please sit down."
Harper looked at her seat, and then looked at Isabella's seat. She stayed still, not moving to her own seat. Seeing this, the
empress got the point right away, and commanded directly, "Maid, put Isabella's seat next to Harper's."
"Yes, Your Majesty," a maid replied at once, and did as she commanded.
"Thank you, Your Majesty,"
Harper said. She then helped Isabella sit down, as if it were a matter of course. Everyone present was eager to see what Harper
would say and do, because she was a controversial figure in the imperial capital.
"Today is His Majesty's fiftieth birthday, and it's a beautiful day for our celebration. You don't need to be restrained or formal
today. Later, let's go all together to the Grand Hall, to celebrate His Majesty's birthday," the empress then announced to all her
guests.
"Yes, Your Majesty," everyone answered.
In her boredom, Harper chatted mainly with Caroline. Isabella, on the other hand, was greeting with several other ladies. Joyce
Jun was simmering with resentment over her recent encounter with Harper. But they were in the Imperial Palace now, and
Harper's status was very high, so she was totally unable to make a complaint.
"Harper," the empress called abruptly.
Unfortunately, Harper had all her attention focused on her chat with Caroline. Consequently, she didn't hear the empress calling
her.

The smile on the empress's face faded slightly. When she was about to call again, Joyce Jun had already called out, "Harper,
you are so lofty and arrogant that you don't even take Her Majesty seriously. You just turned a deaf ear to her."
"Harper," Isabella also called at once. She had not paid much attention at first, but when she noticed that the atmosphere in the
hall had become awkward, she turned her head and alerted Harper with a hard pinch. The latter then turned around and asked,
"What's up?"
"Harper, Her Majesty called your name several times, but you pretended not to hear her. Don't you take her seriously?" said
Joyce Jun in a voice dripping with sarcasm.
Ignoring her sarcasm, Harper stood up and bowed to the empress. "Please forgive me, Your Majesty. The noise in the hall
prevented me from hearing you. Please forgive me."
"It doesn't matter," the empress said as she waved her hand and gestured for Harper to sit down. However, Joyce Jun still
wanted to make a bigger issue out of it.
"Your Majesty, how can you tolerate such disrespect?" Joyce Jun sulked.
"Joyce," the empress called out and frowned. She was actually annoyed about Joyce Jun. This day was a major event and she
was not supposed to make a stir like this. In particular, the empress didn't want to clash with Harper for the time being. If Harper
was put on the alert by this, she would be unable to carry out her plans.
Joyce Jun was still indignant, but she didn't dare to go against the empress, so she just turned her head and pretended to ignore
Harper. The empress then turned to Harper with a smile.
"Harper, what kind of birthday gift will His Majesty get from Matthew this time? Do you have any idea?" she asked.
"The birthday gift was prepared by Matthew, so I have no idea about that. I'm sorry I can't give you any clue," Harper replied with
a smiling face. Despite being Matthew's wife, she wasn't required to prepare a gift for the emperor. Besides, even though the
emperor's birthday was a big event, it meant nothing to her or to Matthew.
"I'm sure the birthday gift prepared by Matthew is good," the empress said. She didn't really care that Harper claimed to know
nothing of Matthew's gift. She only cared about her plans that day. If her plans succeeded, then the emperor would receive the
best birthday gift from her.

Therefore, she was not provoked by Harper's reply. She cast a glance at the two maids beside Harper, and then began talking to
her daughter-in-law beside her.
"Your Majesty, it's about time for the birthday banquet to begin," a maid informed the empress.
"The birthday banquet is about to begin. Now all of us shall go to the Grand Hall together," the empress then said to everyone.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The empress led all the ladies to the Grand Hall. Because Harper was Matthew's wife, which made her a princess, she was not
far behind the empress. Yet, the empress suddenly grabbed Harper by the arm and asked her to walk with her.
"Harper, can you walk with me? Let's chat for a bit," the empress said smilingly, as she held Harper's arm. "Now, His Majesty
thinks very highly of Matthew, and even asked him to be responsible for the safety of this birthday banquet. Now that you have
some time away from Matthew, you can talk with me."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Harper replied plainly and made a slight nod. She was becoming a bit curious about what the empress had
up her sleeve.
The empress patted the back of her hand complacently. When they arrived at the Grand Hall, it was still early and the birthday
banquet had not begun yet. So the empress went to the side hall to rest for a while, and the others sat at their own seats and
waited for their families.
The empress also took Harper into the side hall. When they entered the side hall, Harper glanced at Fred. Fred, however, only
blinked his eyes. He didn't resist when he was blocked outside the side hall.