Forensic Imperial Concubine

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."
"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?"
"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
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.