Forensic Imperial Concubine

In a private room inside the teahouse, a man had already been waiting for Luther. "How is everything going in the city?" Luther
asked.
"Everything is fine," the man replied.
"Where did Prince Matthew and his wife go today?" Luther asked specifically.
"They had been to the morning market and then the Treasure Pavilion. I am not sure what they bought from there."
"The Treasure Pavilion?" Luther frowned. He knew well about the Treasure Pavilion, as it was notorious for selling fake, shoddy
and defective goods in the Birch Pass. The Treasure Pavilion had cheated many people. Yet, the pavilion was very careful in
their dealings and they hardly left any evidence against them. So Luther allowed them to keep running their business.
"Prince Matthew didn't lift the roof of the Treasure Pavilion?" Luther asked curiously. The pavilion was notorious. So he assumed
that if the pavilion dared to cheat Matthew and his wife, the consequences would be serious.
"Not yet. Princess Harper seemed happy when she came out of the pavilion. She carried a box with her, and asked the
shopkeeper of the pavilion to send all the things she procured to your mansion," the man answered cautiously. "General, but why
are you keeping watch on Prince Matthew?"
"Prince Matthew and his wife are our honorable guests. The Birch Pass is in the south domain. What if there is a lawless intruder
in the city? And what if he hurts them in the city under our watch? My intention is not to spy on them. I'm sending you to protect
them secretly. If anything happens, I can be there to rescue them in time," Luther said slowly as he took a sip of tea.
The man scratched his head and said with embarrassment, "General, you are amazing. Sorry to misunderstand you."
"Okay, you may take your leave now," Luther ordered in a low voice. The Birch Pass had a mixed population, including people
from the Bright Dynasty, the South Kingdom, and even other kingdoms. Since he was the commander in chief of the garrison in
the south domain, he had heavy responsibilities. He didn't dare to act carelessly at such a critical moment.
The ascension of the new emperor to the throne had led to major transformations in the whole Bright Dynasty. Meanwhile, the
South Kingdom had invited guests from other kingdoms to watch their Worship Ceremony. Luther felt uneasy seeing the strange
events unfolding around him.
"Luther." A soft and gentle voice abruptly came from behind. When Luther turned back, he was surprised to see one of his old
acquaintances. He quickly smiled and said calmly, "I knew you must be alive." Looking at the acquaintance, who stood in the

dark, he added, "Why are you here? What are you going to do this time?"
The person in the dark maintained his silence. He just looked at Luther quietly for a long time before he said slowly, "My purpose
is, well, someone here in the Birch Pass."
"Who?" Luther asked calmly. The people his acquaintance was looking for couldn't be someone who had been in the Birch Pass
for a long time, but would be among the few people who came there recently. That would be the reason his acquaintance would
have taken the risk to be here now.
"Can you make a guess?"
the man asked. The expression on Luther's face changed. He speculated who that person would be, but he didn't speak it out.
He thought it would be better to pretend ignorance, as long as it didn't come to the last step.
But it seemed that the man had read Luther's mind, so he too didn't reveal any names. "When will the envoy team to the South
Kingdom set out?" the man asked.
"Tomorrow morning."
"Okay. I need a favor from you." The man's voice was remote and empty. "You are supposed to send people to escort the envoy
team to the South Kingdom. I need you to hide me in that team."
"Are you planning to go to the South Kingdom?" Luther was surprised. The South Kingdom was notorious for the various
poisonous insects there. Also, the temperature there was unusually high with the air containing a thick layer of miasma. He was
worried that the man wouldn't survive such torrid conditions. He asked in surprise, "Well, I'm afraid that your body can't stand the
high temperature there, can you?"
"I'm good now. You don't have to worry about me, Luther."
"Are you sure about going there?" Luther struggled and tried to dissuade him. He didn't want the man to go to the South
Kingdom. He was worried that the environment there wouldn't suit him, and that would make him worse and weaker.
"I have to go."
"Well, then come to the barracks tonight and I'll help you to be in the escort team." After a moment's silence, Luther promised the
man. He didn't want to ask what his purpose was, nor did he want to ask whether he would try to harm Matthew and his wife.

After the escort team passed the Birch Pass, they would be in the territory of the South Kingdom and no longer under his direct
responsibility. If anything happened there, the blame would fall squarely on the South Kingdom. Moreover, Matthew was not a
mediocrity that anyone could bully. If the man wanted to hurt Matthew, he needed to think carefully before he took any action.
Luther's quick promise surprised the man. "Don't you wish to know what I'm going to do?"
"I don't want to ask!" Luther replied frankly. "If you are planning to hurt Prince Matthew and his wife, you'd better think twice
about that. Both of them are tough nuts. If you act against them, you'll be the one to suffer."
"Why do you trust them so much?" the man asked with a little disappointment.
"I don't trust them blindly. I just feel surprised that you are willing to deal with them by putting yourself into danger. You are no
longer the same man I knew before, because the man I knew would never have risked his life. Is it because of Princess Harper?"
Luther asked.
The man fell into silence. He didn't answer the question, even after a lengthy pause. But Luther didn't want an answer. He
added, "Meet me tonight, at midnight, at the barracks."