Forensic Imperial Concubine by Erika Black

As Zack gazed at Harper's receding figure, the bitter smile on his face started to wear off. After all, it

was too late now. If he had

asked the emperor's permission to marry Harper before he had sanctioned her engagement, they

wouldn't have been in their

current situation.

Meanwhile, the moment Harper reached their mansion's gate, she saw the steward running towards

her. He was in such haste

that he almost bumped into her. "What's the matter? Why are you in such a hurry?"

"Oh, My Lady, thank heavens you finally came back. Please come inside and take a look. His

Highness, Carlson, is making a

scene inside the mansion!" The steward looked at Harper as if she was his savior.

"His Highness? Carlson?" Harper couldn't believe it. She immediately wondered why Carlson would

have come and caused

trouble, especially at this hour.

"That's right. His Highness is making a fuss in our mansion. Please go and check the situation inside."

The steward hurriedly led

Harper to the hall. Carlson was known as an unruly man, and yet no one dared to offend him because

of his identity. If he threw

a tantrum, even the emperor would have a headache, not to mention that they were mere citizens.

As soon as Harper arrived at the door to the main hall, she saw Carlson rolling on the floor. Nicole was

angry and anxious, but

she had no idea what she could do because she was pregnant. She could only try to persuade Carlson

to get up, but he refused

to listen. Charles was already furious about the whole situation, but he did not dare to do anything to

Carlson.

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Harper slowly walked in and stood behind Carlson. She kicked him on the back with her left foot before

saying, "What is this?

Your father stopped giving you pocket money, so you're going to clean the floor of the Chu Clan

mansion and ask your aunt for

money instead?" Carlson stiffened and turned around, only to be greeted by Harper's wicked grin. He

immediately jumped up, took Harper's hand and dragged her out of there. "We should go, Harper. You

can't marry Uncle Matthew!" Harper was dumbfounded while she listened to his words. She quietly

thought to herself, 'What is Carlson talking about? He doesn't want me to marry Prince Matthew? He

should really stop thinking that he can do anything at will just because his father is a prince. Matthew is

a prince as well!' "What are you doing, Carlson?" Harper was starting to get anxious. If the news that

Carlson had dragged her out of the Chu Clan mansion reached Matthew, he would definitely come over

as soon as he could and make a big deal out of it.

Carlson was entirely ignorant of Harper's concerns. "Uncle Matthew is not a good man. If you marry

him, you will not be happy. I'll take you away, far away from him." "Carlson!" Harper stopped Carlson's

hand which was tightly secured on her wrist to show that she was unwilling to be dragged away by him.

"This is His Majesty's order. The whole country belongs to him. Where are you taking me to? What's

more, considering my social status, it's an honor for me to marry His Highness. Why are you acting like

this? Let go of me!" Carlson was actually very anxious. "What honor could you be talking about? His

Majesty is not—"

Smack! In a moment of desperation, Harper slapped Carlson in the face. "Do you think before you

speak those words? How dare

you say anything as you like! Have you forgotten what your father and brother taught you?"

By then, Carlson was so shocked by the slap, and even Nicole was petrified. If Carlson had finished his

statement and the

emperor heard it, Prince Allen would definitely be blamed. In a way, Nicole felt grateful to Harper for

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slapping him.

Carlson was taken back because of the slap. He stopped dragging Harper and realized that she was

right. Indeed, he said

something without thinking much of it. But in his opinion, Matthew's mansion could only be compared to

hell, and if Harper

married Matthew, she would be like a sheep being placed in a tiger's mouth. He would never allow

such a thing to happen, so he took it upon himself and came to the Chu Clan mansion. He had one

thought and that was to take her away regardless of any repercussions. "Harper, you have to trust me

on this. Come with me—" "Where are you taking my fiancee to, Carlson?" Before Carlson could finish

speaking, a cold and familiar voice resounded. It startled everyone, making all of them tremble. Still,

they turned to the direction of the person who spoke.

Barry pushed the wheelchair, and slowly approached them. Meanwhile, Matthew's gaze was focused

on Carlson's hand that was

still holding Harper's wrist. He narrowed his eyes and Barry drew his sword, preparing to chop off the

hand.

Surprised by the turn of events, Harper pushed Carlson back. He seemed to have felt the danger and

drew back his hand to

avoid being cut off.

"Carlson!"

Startled, Nicole stumbled to Carlson and pulled him behind her. "Your Highness, I didn't know you were

coming. Please forgive

me for not welcoming you at the gate."

"Your Highness." Charles bowed to Matthew as well.

Meanwhile, Harper was stunned and she could only stand still. Somehow, she felt that Matthew was

displeased, and perhaps it

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was because she had pushed Carlson away.

"Harper," Charles shouted. All the people present knelt on the ground, but Matthew didn't ask them to

get up. Charles secretly

looked around and saw that Harper remained standing. Sweat started to form on his forehead again.

He tugged at Harper to

remind her, but to no avail. She didn't kneel down. Instead, she walked straight to Matthew and made a

salute.

Matthew took a closer look at her wrists and his eyes darkened.

"A few days ago, I saw a pair of jade bracelets on your wrists. I thought they looked very beautiful. Why

aren't you wearing them

today?"

Upon hearing those words, Harper blinked a little. Obviously, she didn't expect that Matthew would

even notice the jade bracelets

on her wrists so she was taken aback. "I'm afraid that they will break, so I put them away for now."

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