Forensic Imperial Concubine by Erika Black

"I'm not full yet," Francis said, feeling aggrieved to be chased away so soon. When Harper came over,

she heard what he said

and she gave Matthew a reproving look, as if she demanded to know what was going on here.

Matthew reached out to take her hand and pulled her down to sit next to him. "Do you want some

more?" he asked Harper.

"No, I've already had a good enough lunch at the Kong Clan's mansion. Has Felix left?" Harper asked

as flatly as she could,

hoping that she wouldn't have to see that man.

"Yes. When he walked away, he stared fiercely at the dog several times as if he desperately wanted to

fight it." Matthew reported

this amusing detail.

With a wicked smile, Harper commented, "If that had really happened, then the rumor that Felix had

lost his mind and was

fighting with a dog would spread all over the imperial capital tomorrow!"

"Ha ha." Francis laughed out loud. When Harper and Matthew turned their faces to him, he smiled

awkwardly and asked, "I had

no idea there was actually such a disease that could drive people so mad that they would fight with a

dog. Is that really

possible?"

"Of course there is such a disease. It's known as the mad dog disease," Harper explained. "Just as the

name suggests, a person

with this disease behaves like a mad dog. He will bite anyone or anything that he sees. So he would

also fight with a dog, just

the same as a mad dog."

Francis opened his mouth slightly, as if he were totally dumbfounded by this extraordinary thing. But in

a moment he realized that

Harper was implying that Felix was like a vicious, violent mad dog.

"So, was Felix suffering from that disease from the moment he came here? He was acting as if he

wanted to tear me apart. It

was really creepy," Francis asked. Teasing Felix was a clever strategy to ingratiate himself with Harper.

Harper didn't like Felix,

so he wanted to emphasize that he didn't like him either. Felix made his life difficult wherever he went,

and he was nearly at his wit's end to deal with that. But Harper merely gave him a bland smile in

response. Seeing the two of them both smiling, Matthew felt a bit jealous and uncomfortable. Then he

picked up a piece of braised pork and took a bite from the fatty section of it, and then offered it to

Harper. "It tastes excellent. Have a try," he suggested. Harper then took a bite and chewed it slowly,

savoring the quality. "Mmm, it tastes good. Megan's cooking is improving."

Matthew's mouth curved into a smile. It was clear that he was in a good mood. Francis also kept the

smile on his face, but his smile was fake. The scene of domestic happiness in front of him became a bit

hard for him to see after a while. He then said, "It's obvious that you love each other very much. I really

admire it. Well, I think I'd better leave now, so that I won't disturb you. I'll pay you a visit another day."

Francis got up slowly and walked out steadily. As his figure receded, Matthew lifted up his eyes to

Harper. He then said, "Harp, I want to have the exquisite lotus-nut sweet soup made by you." "Okay, I'll

cook that for you later, but you have to eat lunch first now," Harper replied obediently. Francis,

meanwhile, could hardly keep himself from smiling as he heard them talk from behind. Now he

understood that

Matthew, who was cold and indifferent to everyone and everything else, only showed love and affection

in front of his wife.

Francis felt infinitely jealous that Matthew had such a tender and warm domestic life. He wished that he

were Matthew, so that he

could act like a spoiled child in front of Harper.

After Felix left Matthew's mansion, he went directly into the Imperial Palace to speak with the empress.

The empress was still worried about Francis' rising. She did not yet know that after Felix had spent

some time with Francis, he

realized that his weak brother was harmless and that Matthew was the real danger.

"Your Majesty, Prince Felix is here," Nancy reported to the empress.

"Oh? Bring him in!" the empress said eagerly. She was holding a hand warmer in her hands. When she

saw Felix appear grumpy as he entered, she frowned and said, "Don't your servants take care of you?

They haven't even prepared a hand warmer for you. It's so cold today. You might catch a cold."

"Mother, I'm not fragile like an old man," Felix said with a wry smile. Then he threw his cloak off. Nancy

quickly rushed over, took the cloak, and placed a hand warmer in his hands. Even though Felix said he

did not need one, as servants, they had to have everything prepared. That was their responsibility.

Although Felix thought that holding a hand warmer was a bit feminine, he decided to humor his mother

and obey her request.

Accordingly, he accepted the hand warmer like a good son and sat opposite the empress.

"So, did you gain anything today at Matthew's mansion?" the empress asked softly. Matthew's attitude,

state of mind, and

positions were what they cared about now. The emperor intended to assist Francis to make an entry

into court life because

Francis had saved him. This coming change greatly threatened Felix and the empress. After all,

Francis always had a force

behind him that was as powerful as the empress's family. Moreover, Sherry was a favorite of the

emperor. If Francis really began

to work as an official, he would become a great opponent for Felix. In that event, Felix would be

desperate for Matthew's support.

"A bumper harvest," Felix said as the maid gave him warm tea and he opened the lid. The tea leaves

floated in the warm water.

"Francis knows little of politics, and cares even less."

"People from the royal family know how to disguise themselves. There is no one in the world who does

not want to sit on the

throne," the empress asserted confidently. "You must be careful. Don't be fooled by him."

Felix frowned and said, "Francis' health is greatly improved now, but he is still very weak. He saved

Father at the expense of his

own body. He is just a feeble invalid and we have no reason to be afraid of him. What's more, Francis

is a coward. He even

didn't dare to contradict me after I gave him so many provocations today. I don't think we should spend

too much time or energy

on him."

"Francis..." the empress murmured as she tried to recall what he looked like. Although he had lived in

the Imperial Palace for

many years, she had actually seen him very few times. That was because he had been bed-ridden

most of his life. The

impression she had gathered from her few sightings of him was that Francis was a very sick man, with

a weak body but a

handsome face. That was the empress's impression of him.