Forensic Imperial Concubine

When Nancy returned, she saw that the spell doll was still on the table. Nancy was a little worried. "Your Majesty, we need to be
careful with this spell doll. We don't know where it came from but it's obviously a voodoo doll. It could get us in big trouble if
someone else finds us with it. You know how His Majesty detests the use of voodoo curses."
The empress nodded and put the spell doll away quickly. "Take care of all the other people who saw the spell doll. I can't afford
the risk of being accused of practicing voodoo curses."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Nancy knew exactly what the empress meant. Anyone who knew about the spell doll must be silenced. And nobody kept a
secret better than the dead. There were so many people in the palace, and if any of them leaked the information, the empress
would be imperiled. Felix was still held in confinement and the emperor was trying to support Francis. So they had to take extra
care at this critical juncture.
"Nanny Nancy." As soon as Nancy emerged from the Sleek Palace, she met Francis. Her face hardened a little and she greeted
him promptly and formally.
"Your Highness."
"I wish to visit Mother. Is she inside?"
"Her Majesty is not feeling well, and she went to bed after breakfast. I'm afraid she is unavailable at this moment."
"Mother is not feeling well? Have you summoned the imperial physician yet?"
"Yes. The imperial physician said Her Majesty needed more rest," Nancy answered meekly. "If Her Majesty knew that you came
here to visit her, she would be delighted. But she needs some more rest to get better."
"Well, I will come to see Mother some other day."
After that, Francis turned his heels and went away. His movements were slow and graceful. He had been an invalid for many
years, so even now he had a long way to go until full recovery. His face was still pale, as if he hadn't been in the sun for years.
Nancy's eyes followed Francis' retreating back. She always felt that despite the seeming gentleness and harmlessness of the
prince, he had a natural elegance about him. Besides, Francis had demonstrated his keen intellect since he was a child, and

gained a reputation as a prodigy at the age of five. But since then, he had spent most of his time lying in his sickbed in a long
struggle with his illness.
"Your Highness, will you pay a visit to Lady Sherry today?" Owen asked.
"No, let's get out of the Imperial Palace now." Francis frowned and covered his mouth with a handkerchief as he coughed.
Seeing this, Owen wrapped a cloak around his master's shoulders and tied it for him. "It's getting warmer now, but it's still a little
cold. Your Highness, you're still recovering and you should be more careful to avoid a cold."
"Do you think I am so weak?" Francis asked, with an ironic smile.
"Your Highness, you are weak and reckless. You got yourself drenched in the rain not long ago, remember? Finally, you've
begun to recover, but now you're walking around and tiring yourself out. If you don't take care of yourself and get well soon, Lady
Sherry will be fretting over you." Pressing his lips tightly, Owen tried to make a stern face. "And Lady Harper..."
The smile on Francis' face faded at the mention of Harper. Seeing this, Owen broke off immediately. The word had already
spread through the whole palace that Matthew had broken into the Imperial Academy of Medicine in the evening for his wife.
Everyone had heard the news that Harper was pregnant. Even the emperor had sent some gifts to her as a reward, though
nobody knew his real feelings.
"Now that Aunt Harper is pregnant, I should prepare her a gift," Francis said abruptly. "Can you give me some suggestions for
the present?"
"I have no idea, Your Highness." Owen was caught off guard by this question.
"What does she like?"
"I have no idea, Your Highness."
"What sort of gifts do pregnant women want to receive?"
"I really have no idea, Your Highness." Owen felt quite useless. He had never served Harper or any pregnant woman before, so
he didn't have a clue about their likes and dislikes.
"You know nothing at all! Tell me, why should I keep you if you can't be of any use to me?" Francis tapped Owen's forehead and
teased him. "What a waste of food!"

"Your Highness, I don't eat much..." Owen muttered, feeling aggrieved. "As long as you don't drive me away, I could eat less in
the future."
Francis smiled, "Are you suggesting that I don't have enough money to keep an idler? Don't worry, eat as much as you like. I can
afford it."
Hearing this, Owen breathed a sigh of relief. He looked at Francis mournfully and said, "Your Highness, you always like to tease
me."
"Teasing you is the only entertainment I have left. Can you imagine how boring and dreadful my life would be, if you deprived me
of that little joy?" Francis said slowly. "Speaking of which, I haven't really enjoyed viewing the Imperial Palace before. Even
though I lived here for twenty years, I haven't been able to take a walk since my illness began at the age of five."
"Do you want me to accompany you as you walk around the Imperial Palace?" Owen asked thoughtfully.
Francis shook his head. Come to think of it, he didn't care about the Imperial Palace now. Its views didn't interest him anymore.
The places he truly wanted to visit were the temples, the shops, the streets. He wanted to be accompanied and to feel that he
was not alone in this world. He remembered how she took him out and bought him snacks. Those memories seemed like a
luxury for him now, and he feared that he would never have such experiences again.
"Let's get out of here. Felix's confinement will end in just a few days," Francis said with his eternally gentle voice and his
characteristically sunny smile. But the light in his eyes was as sharp as a cold sword waiting to strike at any
moment.