Forensic Imperial Concubine by Erika Black

Seeing Francis' grief, Harper felt sorry for him. As a very handsome man, when he wept in front of

others in despair, even the

stone-hearted Harper couldn't suppress her sympathy. She even held back from what she wanted to

ask.

"Was it you who plotted against Alexander?" Matthew asked what Harper intended to ask. Seeing that

she turned her head

aside, he understood that she didn't want to ask more questions, but he thought it would be better to

clarify things.

With a bitter smile on his face, Francis said, "Uncle Matthew, do you think I am that ruthless? How

could you even think I would

conspire against a child?"

Francis knew what had happened to Alexander. Alexander was framed for murder and put into prison.

If Harper and Matthew

hadn't been to save him by finding evidence in his favor, he would have been executed already.

"So, you were really not the chief conspirator?" Matthew didn't hide his suspicion.

"No. It wasn't me," Francis said, looking at Harper. "If it was really me, I wouldn't hide it from you. What

I want is very simple. I

just wish to take revenge on my father."

"All right. You are not supposed to say these words casually," Matthew said in a flat tone. You'd better

get back to your mansion

right now. Since you've been in my mansion for a long time today, it would invite suspicion from others."

Hearing that, Francis stood up downheartedly and said in an indistinct voice, "Uncle Matthew, Aunt

Harper, if you want me to do

something, please let me know. Also, I wouldn't hesitate to let you know anything you want to know

from me."

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"Send Prince Francis back to his mansion,"

Matthew ordered the steward. Francis was then escorted back to his mansion. Harper remained silent

as she was immersed in

thoughts about what Francis had told them. Matthew felt her silence quite surprising. "Don't think too

much," Matthew said, holding Harper in his arms. "I'm here with you." Resting her body in her

husband's arms, she said, "It's not easy to be a member of the royal family, is it?" "Well, that's a hard

truth, and you're not the only person to share that thought," Matthew consoled her. "Why would His

Majesty poison his own son? Francis was poisoned with something that was highly toxic. What made

him hate Francis so much that he decided to torture him in this way?" Harper asked in confusion. The

emperor always seemed to be very fond of Francis, but he had been poisoning him for more than a

dozen years. Harper just couldn't make out the contradiction.

"Because of a prophecy," Matthew intoned. "At the time of Francis' birth, an eminent monk was in the

imperial capital. He said that Francis was an incarnation of a disaster star. He also said that he had too

hard a fate, and because of this fate, His Majesty would end up in the hands of death, sooner or later."

"His Majesty poisoned his own son just because of such a groundless prophecy?" Harper was

shocked. But soon, she recalled that the people here were all superstitious, and the emperor had been

kind to Francis by not killing him as soon as he heard the prophecy. Matthew snorted coldly, "He

cherishes his own reputation. He feared for his life, but didn't want to take the blame for killing his

own son. So, he came up with a vicious idea and that was to poison Francis. When Francis turned too

weak to take care of

himself, he would just die out of his weakness. By then, His Majesty could get rid of the big load in his

mind, and also remain

safe from any accusations of killing his own son."

Harper sighed, "No wonder Francis found it hard to accept the truth. Matthew, do you believe in

prophecies?"

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"No, I don't," Matthew asserted. "I don't believe in heaven, earth, Buddha or the ghosts. What I only

believe in is you."

With a smile appearing on her face, she said, "Matthew, believe me. I deserve your trust."

"Yes, I know." The smile on Matthew's face was as dazzling as the moon breaking through the clouds,

and this fascinated her, "Darling, your smile makes my eyes blurry." "What? You don't like it?" Matthew

asked in surprise. "Yes, I do like it. But, don't smile at others in this way, or I will be very jealous,"

Harper said frankly. She was an honest person, and bore no formalities. If she liked someone, she

would admit her feelings; and if she didn't, she would never pretend liking them.

"Don't worry. I am not going to do anything you don't like," Matthew promised in a gentle voice, and

looked even more charming

with the expressions on his face. "Just regard what Francis told as true. But don't let your guards down,

and we should be on

alert."

"I'll ask Howard to further investigate into it," Harper said in a serious tone.

After reflecting for a while, she continued, "I have never seen Jason. I have met all other sons of His

Majesty, except him."

"You remind me. I haven't seen him for a long time either. He has remained outside and seldom comes

back to the imperial

capital. This time, he didn't even make it for his father's birthday, and just presented a gift through

someone."

"How come His Majesty is not angry with him?" Harper asked.

"He simply doesn't care," Matthew sneered. "The older he becomes, the more importance he attaches

to his throne. He is

always afraid that someone might usurp the throne. Naturally, he became hypervigilant. He's not just

afraid of me. Anyone else

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whom he foresees as a potential threat is also his enemy.

Harper was thinking about something else. "To prevent his sons from usurping the throne, he wouldn't

mind resorting to extreme

means. But isn't he afraid that his sons would also resort to some extreme means?"

Matthew was dumbfounded to hear Harper's question. He seemed to have thought of something, but

he failed to seize it.

At the same time, in the Imperial Palace, the emperor was seemingly looking quite good recently.

Although Felix had annoyed

him, he looked radiant. "Andy, fetch my pills."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Andy fetched the Longevity Pills and aided the emperor in having one. "Your

Majesty, the Longevity Pills

have already begun their magic. You look much more spirited now," he said.

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