Forensic Imperial Concubine by Erika Black

The empress's palace was crowded with people, and the ladies from different families all sat in specific

seats that represented

their status. Upon their arrival, a eunuch announced outside, "Here come Lady Harper, Lady Isabella

and Lady Caroline."

"Harper and Isabella are really inseparable friends. They even came here together, like sisters," the

empress teased them with a

smile. "If I didn't know that Harper is actually a daughter of the Chu Clan, I would have thought that she

was actually a daughter

of the Bu Clan."

"Greetings, Your Majesty," the three newcomers said in chorus after they came in.

"Arise quickly, please," the empress responded at once. She sounded happy. She fixed her eyes on

Harper's outfit, and said, "I

was just talking about you two and said that you are such close friends. I'm glad to see you here.

Please sit down."

Harper looked at her seat, and then looked at Isabella's seat. She stayed still, not moving to her own

seat. Seeing this, the

empress got the point right away, and commanded directly, "Maid, put Isabella's seat next to Harper's."

"Yes, Your Majesty," a maid replied at once, and did as she commanded.

"Thank you, Your Majesty,"

Harper said. She then helped Isabella sit down, as if it were a matter of course. Everyone present was

eager to see what Harper

would say and do, because she was a controversial figure in the imperial capital.

"Today is His Majesty's fiftieth birthday, and it's a beautiful day for our celebration. You don't need to be

restrained or formal

today. Later, let's go all together to the Grand Hall, to celebrate His Majesty's birthday," the empress

then announced to all her

guests.

"Yes, Your Majesty," everyone answered.

In her boredom, Harper chatted mainly with Caroline. Isabella, on the other hand, was greeting with

several other ladies. Joyce

Jun was simmering with resentment over her recent encounter with Harper. But they were in the

Imperial Palace now, and Harper's status was very high, so she was totally unable to make a

complaint. "Harper," the empress called abruptly. Unfortunately, Harper had all her attention focused on

her chat with Caroline. Consequently, she didn't hear the empress calling her.

The smile on the empress's face faded slightly. When she was about to call again, Joyce Jun had

already called out, "Harper, you are so lofty and arrogant that you don't even take Her Majesty

seriously. You just turned a deaf ear to her." "Harper," Isabella also called at once. She had not paid

much attention at first, but when she noticed that the atmosphere in the hall had become awkward, she

turned her head and alerted Harper with a hard pinch. The latter then turned around and asked,

"What's up?" "Harper, Her Majesty called your name several times, but you pretended not to hear her.

Don't you take her seriously?" said Joyce Jun in a voice dripping with sarcasm. Ignoring her sarcasm,

Harper stood up and bowed to the empress. "Please forgive me, Your Majesty. The noise in the hall

prevented me from hearing you. Please forgive me."

"It doesn't matter," the empress said as she waved her hand and gestured for Harper to sit down.

However, Joyce Jun still

wanted to make a bigger issue out of it.

"Your Majesty, how can you tolerate such disrespect?" Joyce Jun sulked.

"Joyce," the empress called out and frowned. She was actually annoyed about Joyce Jun. This day

was a major event and she

was not supposed to make a stir like this. In particular, the empress didn't want to clash with Harper for

the time being. If Harper

was put on the alert by this, she would be unable to carry out her plans.

Joyce Jun was still indignant, but she didn't dare to go against the empress, so she just turned her

head and pretended to ignore

Harper. The empress then turned to Harper with a smile. "Harper, what kind of birthday gift will His

Majesty get from Matthew this time? Do you have any idea?" she asked. "The birthday gift was

prepared by Matthew, so I have no idea about that. I'm sorry I can't give you any clue," Harper replied

with a smiling face. Despite being Matthew's wife, she wasn't required to prepare a gift for the emperor.

Besides, even though the emperor's birthday was a big event, it meant nothing to her or to Matthew.

"I'm sure the birthday gift prepared by Matthew is good," the empress said. She didn't really care that

Harper claimed to know

nothing of Matthew's gift. She only cared about her plans that day. If her plans succeeded, then the

emperor would receive the

best birthday gift from her.

Therefore, she was not provoked by Harper's reply. She cast a glance at the two maids beside Harper,

and then began talking to

her daughter-in-law beside her.

"Your Majesty, it's about time for the birthday banquet to begin," a maid informed the empress.

"The birthday banquet is about to begin. Now all of us shall go to the Grand Hall together," the empress

then said to everyone.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The empress led all the ladies to the Grand Hall. Because Harper was Matthew's wife, which made her

a princess, she was not

far behind the empress. Yet, the empress suddenly grabbed Harper by the arm and asked her to walk

with her.

"Harper, can you walk with me? Let's chat for a bit," the empress said smilingly, as she held Harper's

arm. "Now, His Majesty

thinks very highly of Matthew, and even asked him to be responsible for the safety of this birthday

banquet. Now that you have

some time away from Matthew, you can talk with me."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Harper replied plainly and made a slight nod. She was becoming a bit curious

about what the empress had

up her sleeve.

The empress patted the back of her hand complacently. When they arrived at the Grand Hall, it was still

early and the birthday

banquet had not begun yet. So the empress went to the side hall to rest for a while, and the others sat

at their own seats and

waited for their families.

The empress also took Harper into the side hall. When they entered the side hall, Harper glanced at

Fred. Fred, however, only

blinked his eyes. He didn't resist when he was blocked outside the side hall.