Forensic Imperial Concubine

When the news that Lucas had been assassinated and killed reached the imperial capital, it came as a great shock to everyone.
However, they only sighed slightly rather than feel sad about it. After all, Lucas had gained quite a bad reputation when he was
alive. Now that he was gone, the courtiers merely chatted about him curtly. It didn't take too long before Lucas had been
completely forgotten.
Because of this, Harper couldn't help but think that it was quite hilarious. The image of Lucas as a playboy who indulged in
gambling and sex was a masterpiece laid by the late emperor himself. He had shaped Lucas so successfully that all of the
courtiers were fooled into thinking that Lucas was nothing but a playboy whose death was not to be regretted. If the late emperor
only knew that his effort had all been in vain, he would probably furiously jump out of his coffin.
"What are you pondering about?" Francis asked. After a couple of days of recuperation, he was already able to get out of bed
and have a walk. Although he had been seriously injured, he managed to recover very quickly. Perhaps it was all thanks to the
Imperial Academy of Medicine not hesitating to use any precious medicine to treat him.
Looking at the huge Imperial Palace which extended into the distance, Harper slowly said, "I heard that Lucas unfortunately died,
but the courtiers all said that there was nothing to regret about his death. I wonder why they all think this way. Had Lucas done
anything so outrageous that was so against reason and nature? Had he committed murder and arson, raped the wife or daughter
of any man, or forced a girl of good family to become a prostitute? As a noble prince of the Bright Dynasty, his death is
considered as something not to be regretted. Given all of the things they are saying, I believe that he would not be able to rest in
peace."
Clutching his chest with his hand, Francis coughed violently. When Harper turned her head to look at him, she couldn't help but
frown slightly. "You haven't fully recovered yet. You should not come out in case you may catch a chill. If you get sick because of
that, you'll be the one to suffer."
Francis stopped coughing and said, "Today during the imperial court session, I reprimanded the courtiers for their rude
comments about Lucas' death and ordered the appropriate department to investigate and find out the murderer. I believe there's
going to be a result real soon. Lucas hadn't done anything outrageous. It just so happened that he was a playboy."
"Yes, he was a playboy who lost his life through playing," Harper said in a light voice, completely devoid of any emotion. "By now,
your wound should have already scabbed and your health is steadily improving. So, when will you allow me to leave the Imperial
Palace?"

A glimmer of light flashed across Francis' eyes. "The imperial capital is not peaceful at the moment. The situation is so bad that
even a prince could be killed. Uncle Matthew has a lot of enemies. I cannot allow you to stay in his mansion all by yourself," he
replied.
"Our mansion will be having a guest in a couple of days. As the hostess of the mansion, I have to go back to make arrangements
in order to receive the guest. It's the duty I have to fulfil," Harper gently said as she looked at Francis. "Besides, the secret
guards will be there to protect me. I'll be fine."
"If..." Francis looked Harper straight in the eye. "What if I say that I want you to stay?"
Avoiding eye contact with Francis, Harper turned around and continued to look at the red walls and green roofs in the distance.
"The courtiers have been asking you to ascend the throne as soon as possible. You are not getting any younger, and it's about
time for you to get married. You should have someone take care of the household for you. I carefully observed the daughters of
the courtiers who are at marriageable ages. It's just not a handful of them who are beautiful, talented, and gentle. Once you see
them yourself, you're going to like them for sure."
"I won't like them!" Francis roared in anger. Perhaps it was because he was being too emotional that it even affected his wound,
and he even had to hold onto the railing to keep himself upright. Seeing that, a young eunuch rushed to his side to support him,
only to be pushed away. Instead, Francis reached out to grab Harper's arms, forcing her to look at him. "Harper, I've told you
many times before. I don't like those women, and I'll never like any of them!"
"Francis, you're going overboard," Harper said in a rather indifferent tone, looking at Francis calmly.
Despite her reaction, Francis didn't loosen his grip on her arms. Instead, he stared at her with a pair of eyes filled with such pain
and asked, "Harper, why? Why are you so cruel to me?"
Harper quickly turned her head away to avoid looking at Francis directly. Her heart was much too small to accommodate any
man other than Matthew. In truth, she just couldn't see, or simply chose not to see the merits of any other man.
"Harper..."
Before Francis could say anything else, Harper shook off his hands and turned away completely. She didn't want to listen to
whatever it was that he was going to say. Seeing his empty hands and the repulsive back of Harper, Francis could not help
clenching his fists. In an instant, his eyes burned red with hatred. 'Is it because you only have eyes for Matthew that you're
unwilling to give me a chance?' he thought to himself.

"Francis, you've forgotten yourself." Jason's voice came through from behind. Francis then turned around toward the direction
the voice came from. The hatred in his eyes had disappeared, replaced by the usual tenderness.
"Jason, when did you arrive?"
"I got here the same time you did," Jason replied, looking at Francis, who looked like such a perfect actor. "Don't you ever get
tired of pretending even in front of me?"
"What are you talking about, Jason? I don't quite get what you're saying," Francis said with a gentle smile on his pale face.
"Lucas' remains will be sent back to the imperial capital in a couple of days. By then, I will have to bother you with his funeral."
"Francis!" Jason exclaimed, reaching out his hand to grab Francis' robe. "Why are you still deceiving yourself?"
Francis calmly tugged his robe from Jason's grip, straightening it without leaving so much as a wrinkle. "Jason, aren't you
deceiving yourself as well?"
"You can't keep her in this place forever. Let her leave, Francis." Jason didn't want to let Harper to stay in the Imperial Palace
any longer, which would only torment Francis. As far as he was concerned, Harper's indifference, her coldness, along with her
behaviors and expressions, were only bringing Francis great pain, because none of them showed that she cared for
him.