Forensic Imperial Concubine by Erika Black

What? A look of bemusement appeared on Harper's face. She had no idea what Zack could have

meant.

Gritting her teeth, Caroline told her in detail what Zack had found. "Before you left the imperial capital,

Zack received some news

from Joy City. He sent his men there to investigate, but only to find that all the inhabitants were dead

and... a waist token from

Prince Matthew's mansion was left there."

Harper frowned and nodded. "Thank you for the news, Caroline. Now that I know about it, I'll look into

it."

"I don't believe Prince Matthew would do any such thing, but it was a fact that a waist token from his

mansion was found there.

Although Zack worries about your safety in Prince Matthew's mansion, he has no doubt about the deep

affection between you

and Prince Matthew. Therefore, he only wanted me to tell you about this." Caroline feared that Harper

would think she and Zack

were attempting to ruin their relationship intentionally.

"I know you both mean well. And I will certainly look into this matter. I thank you and Zack both," Harper

said, patting Caroline on

the shoulder to comfort her. She intended to find out the truth about the matter.

"I'm glad that you don't blame us. Zack has been hesitating for such a long time. He didn't know

whether to tell you. He might

have discovered more information but hasn't told me yet. If you have time, you can talk to him about it.

Perhaps you can learn

something more." Caroline was being prudent. The reason why her capabilities were so little

recognized by others was because

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she was in the shadow of Zack, who was so outstanding, and the Bu Clan had always spoiled her. Now

that she had become

Mrs. Kong, George's Wife, she still had her girlish liveliness, but in fact she was also quite mature and

astute.

"Okay, I will find an opportunity to have a word with Zack."

Harper didn't go back home until she finished lunch together with Caroline at her mansion. That was

because Matthew had told her that Felix would pay a visit to Matthew's mansion today and she had no

wish to encounter Felix. However, as soon as she came back home, she found that the atmosphere

was tense and strange. When she walked in, she saw Matthew playing with the black dog. The big

pearl on the black dog's neck looked very dazzling. At that moment, Felix sat on one side of Matthew

while Francis sat on the other side. Francis, however, seemed as dejected as a doormat. When Francis

saw Harper come in, he stood up immediately as if she were his savior. However, as Matthew glared at

him, he sat down right away and looked at Harper, silently beseeching her with his eyes. "Felix,

Francis," Harper greeted the two princes calmly. "Have you had lunch?"

Francis shook his head. He had been sitting there since his arrival that morning. Matthew entertained

him with nothing but tea. Francis was very starving, but nobody had said a word about lunch. They just

sat here. "And have you had lunch, darling?" Harper asked Matthew since no one responded to her

previous question. "Not yet," Matthew said. That was his first time to open his mouth since the brothers

came that morning.

"Tell the kitchen to cook lunch and send it here," Harper ordered the servants. "I don't suppose Felix

and Francis have had lunch

yet either. How about joining us?"

"No, they won't stay here for lunch," Matthew declared.

"Since Aunt Harper has already invited me to stay for lunch, I won't turn it down," Felix said. When he

looked at the huge pearl

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hanging on the black dog's neck, his eyes were bleak with disappointment. He had taken the pearl from

his wife and given it to

Harper as a gesture of goodwill, but his gift turned out merely to be jewelry for a dog. Felix's wife had

been angry at him for

taking that pearl. Nonetheless, he managed to hold back his anger when he remembered his aim. "I'll

stay for lunch too," Francis said in a low voice. "Francis, don't you think Father will feel sorry for you

when he learns that you came to Uncle Matthew's mansion despite your injury? You must remember

that you almost died of the injury, yet you still run around and make everybody else worry about you,"

Felix satirized Francis. The latter always pretended to have no interest in power, and yet he visited

Matthew as soon as the couple came back to the imperial capital. It seemed obvious to Felix that his

brother was also ambitious.

Francis glanced at Felix. Then he lowered his head in moody silence, just looking at the cup and

allowing Felix to taunt him

freely.

Francis' silence was provoking to Felix. "I heard that you have a close relationship with Zack Bu.

Everybody knows that Zack will

inherit his father Franklin's position. Your friendship with him will get you twice the result with half the

effort when you begin

working at the court."

"Politics bores me. I have no interest in it," Francis finally replied. "Zack only came to relieve my

boredom once in a while. He

assumed my life was very dull."

Felix snorted coldly and said, "Even if you have no feeling for politics, Father wants you to take part in

it. Do you really think you

can refuse him?"

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Francis lapsed again into silence. Obviously, he was in no position to go against the emperor's

decision. After all, apart from

Matthew, who dared not to cooperate with the emperor? Francis shifted his eyes to Harper as he

thought about that. He thought

Harper was the only other person who dared to resist his father.

"Your silence speaks volumes. So, in fact, you still intend to get involved in politics." Felix sneered at

his pretense of innocence.

"Actually, among all our brothers, you are the most loved by Father. Even Lucas cannot compete with

you in that respect."

Francis remained silent. In fact, he envied Lucas the most. Although Lucas was indifferent to politics,

he got along well with

courtiers of all the factions. As arrogant and domineering as Matthew was, he had never shown any

hostility or unkindness to

Lucas. Furthermore, Lucas was the only person who didn't cause distress to their father by being

friendly with Matthew and

Harper.

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