Forensic Imperial Concubine

"There's no need for you to do anything. I'm just in a bad mood; that's all."
Harper couldn't hold back her chuckle. With her hand covering her mouth, she said, "Such being the case, I'll help you have fun
today. Since you're going to the Great Jade Kingdom, you may end up having a hard time along the way. After all, it's a really
long and tiring journey."
"I won't take you there," Matthew flatly said. He was so annoyed by Francis' cunning plan. But even if Francis wasn't plotting
against him, he still wouldn't take Harper to the Great Jade Kingdom along with him. That was because, in his opinion, the threat
posed by Rolando was far greater than that posed by Francis.
Harper simply nodded her head in agreement. "His Majesty won't allow me to go with you anyway. They won't feel at ease
unless I stay in the imperial capital."
"Harp, I don't want to be separated from you."
"The worst-case scenario is that it will take a month at the most for you to go to the Great Jade Kingdom and come back. Please
don't worry. I'll be waiting for you in the imperial capital."
Matthew buried his head on Harper's neck. After staying silent for some time, he opened his mouth and said, "You... You are not
allowed to meet Francis no matter what."
At that moment, Harper seriously wanted to burst out laughing, but she tried her best to refrain from doing it. "Although Francis is
very handsome, I am already your wife. And even if I didn't have you, there's still no way I would choose him. I wonder what's
making you this jealous."
"If you didn't have me, who would you choose?" Matthew asked in a threatening tone. "Zack, Shawn, or Carlson?"
That was the last straw; Harper couldn't hold back anymore and burst into laughter. "Matthew, your jealousy is completely
uncalled-for. I'm faithful, but you always suspect me. Are you seriously forcing me to try to consider one of them?"
"What? How dare you tease me? I'll make you pay!" Upon saying that, Matthew began to tickle his wife. Unable to bear it, Harper
kept on begging for mercy. It was only then that he finally let go of her. "I'll leave the twenty-four secret guards to take care of
you. While I'm not in the imperial capital, you must protect yourself well. Can you promise me that?"
"Okay, okay, I promise I will protect myself well, take good care of myself and wait for your return," Harper said with a smile. "I'm
already starting to miss you even before you leave. Your status as the prince is very annoying."

"I can give up my status. What do you think?"
After raising her head and giving it much thought, Harper replied, "No way. You have offended so many people. If you lose your
status, you'll only be giving those people a chance to get back at you. Although your status is very annoying, it is still useful as a
means of protecting yourself."
"Well, it's all up to you. I'll let you decide whether I give it up or not. Now, tell me, do you want it or not?" Matthew asked, with a
trace of banter visible in his eyes.
"Of course I want it!"
"Really?"
"Yes!" Harper answered without a hint of hesitation.
"Are you sure about that?"
"Of course I'm sure!" Harper was quite confused. Why did he have to repeat the same question?
Matthew burst into laughter. "Since you have asked for it, I would definitely make you feel satisfied before I leave. I'm sure you'll
be quite pleased with it," Matthew said, wearing a cunning smile on his face.
The corner of Harper's mouth twitched slightly. It was not until then that she realized her husband was being ambiguous once
again. He had been cold and arrogant once, but now he had turned into a wicked wolf. At that moment, she felt that she would
rather he was arrogant and cold as before.
After that, Matthew carried Harper with his arms, turned around and walked straight into the bedroom. "Let's get inside so we can
have a good talk."
"You are so naughty!" Harper exclaimed, her face flushed red. Even though they had been married for over a year, Matthew
seemed to have become more and more skilled at flirting with her while she turned increasingly shyer.
Matthew thought that Francis wouldn't make a move until he had left the imperial capital. However, in the dead of the night, news
came from the Imperial Palace that the emperor was assassinated and killed.
The bells sounded hauntingly clear in the quiet night. Matthew and Harper both sat up immediately. "It's the bell indicating death.
It rang nine times. His Majesty died!"

Realizing this, Matthew immediately got up and put on his clothes. "You can sleep a little longer. I'll go into the Imperial Palace to
check what happened."
"Okay." With that, Harper wrapped herself with the quilt and watched Matthew dress up quickly. Although the emperor had been
wasting away, he still could manage to hold on for another month. However, he just died all of a sudden. Something didn't seem
quite right about his death.
Meanwhile, Lucas, who was sleeping in the brothel, was awakened by the ringing of the bells. Hearing the deafening sound of
the bells, he covered his face with his hands and cried silently, "Father."
"Your Highness." Yvette's voice came through. "We got word from the Imperial Palace that His Majesty has been assassinated
by Prince Felix."
Lucas was left utterly dumbfounded when he heard the news. Then, he sneered, "Felix has been stripped of his title as the crown
prince and placed under house arrest. How on earth could he possibly enter the Imperial Palace to assassinate Father? This
was probably Francis' doing. I wasn't expecting that Felix still wouldn't be able to escape tragedy in the end. I'm afraid that he
must have been killed already."
"Your Highness, what shall we do?" Yvette asked. At that point, she had a serious look on her face, and there was no trace of
charm left in it. Every fiber of her being was giving off a murderous intent.
Wiping the tears on his face with his sleeve, Lucas said, "Don't do anything. I will go on acting as a ridiculous prince who goes
whoring, gambles, and keeps his hands off of politics."
"Your Highness, now that His Majesty is gone, you won't have any more chance if you don't make a move right away. After all,
His Majesty has prepared a posthumous edict to appoint you as his heir long ago," Yvette reminded him. At that moment, she
was so vexed and anxious that she swung the door open and walked in. "For as long as we can provide the posthumous edict,
you will be able to ascend the throne smoothly in just ways."
"Yvette, Francis is simply waiting for me to make a move. Once I begin to take action, I'm certain that I will be doomed beyond
redemption." Upon saying that, Lucas stood up and walked toward the window, looking at the direction of the Imperial Palace.
"We can't make a move right now. Besides, we can't let anyone find fault with us. Otherwise, we'll only get ourselves in
trouble!"