Forensic Imperial Concubine

Rolando's way of playing Go was gentle and unassuming as usual. Harper, on the other hand, was fast and straightforward.
Throughout the whole game, they were neck and neck, giving them both a feeling of satisfaction. With a smile on his face,
Rolando remarked, "It always makes me happy to play Go with you. When I play with others, I always feel that there is
something missing."
"Is it because my Go skills are so bad?" Harper joked.
Rolando glanced at Harper and chuckled. "What are you saying? If your skills are bad, then most of the people I know who claim
to know how to play Go don't really know how to play the game! Harper, you are being way too modest."
"It's not that I'm too modest," Harper denied. "It's just... it's not easy to get your praise." She then made a move on the board.
"Especially now that you are the famous Emperor Rolando. Everyone thinks highly of you. The Great Jade Kingdom will be
better and better under your rule, and I am sure of it."
Rolando raised his head to look up at Harper. Then he made a move on the board. "Do you like the Great Jade Kingdom?" he
asked.
"Of course! The people here all look incredibly happy. It seems like everyone is content with the lives they are leading. I've never
seen such enthusiastic citizens in my life," Harper replied. To Rolando's ears, Harper's voice sounded ethereal, like a feather
softly caressing him in the heart, calming it down and making it joyous.
"Well, if you like, you can come to the Great Jade Kingdom any time you want," Rolando said tenderly. "I heard what happened
to you in the South Kingdom last time. It's... unbelievable. You're a strong woman."
"Are you talking about the time I entered the Labyrinth Swamp?" Harper asked. "Well, I was forced to do that at that time. I
literally had no other choice, so I was incredibly relieved when I managed to come out alive. But if you ask me to go inside that
wretched place once again, I would definitely say no. What I experienced inside was the most terrible thing I have experienced in
my life, and probably in the future lives I'll have. It is so full of traps which are all deadly."
"Well, I'm sure Matthew would stamp with fury if you went in there again," Rolando joked, chuckling. Then, out of the blue, he
said, "I was extremely worried when I heard that you had entered the Labyrinth Swamp."
"It's my fault to let you feel worried," Harper replied with a soft smile on her lips. "But the Great Jade Kingdom is very far away
from the Labyrinth Swamp. Don't worry. I won't have the chance to be forced into it again."
"If anyone in the Great Jade Kingdom dares to force you to do anything, tell me. I will not let them go alive," Rolando said firmly.

"Speaking the Great Jade Kingdom, I have not had the chance to see any of the beautiful scenery in here!" Harper said to lighten
the mood.
Rolando laughed. "I'll take you to see the scenery of the imperial capital some other day. It won't be so much better than that of
the Bright Dynasty, but it definitely would not be worse. Also, if Lilian finds out that you're here, she will be very happy."
Rolando's eyes suddenly became as deep as the ocean, making it hard to see through him.
"Lilian." At the mention of Lilian, Harper felt a little peculiar inside. The first time she saw her, she was with Rolando. At that time,
she wanted to thank Rolando for saving her life. Lilian immediately became hostile towards her just because she saw her beside
Rolando.
"Do you remember when you saved Caroline and me who were trapped in the fire in the Holy Chant Temple and I went to thank
you for saving our lives? That was when Lilian first saw me and she gave me a cold shoulder. She didn't even try to hide her
disdain for me. It was as if I was her rival in love! At that time, I truly felt how dedicated she was to her own feelings. Despite
being a princess, she was ready to abandon everything just to follow a monk. I really admired her for her boldness that she
makes it public that she loves you." Harper had never seen someone willing to do such a thing for love.
"If you like someone, what are you capable of doing?" Rolando asked suddenly.
"Me?" Harper thought about it carefully for a few moment. "Well, I think I'll be doing it differently. First, I don't think I would be able
to handle telling everyone how I feel about a person. If I'm not sure that the person I like likes me back, I wouldn't bring any kind
of pressure on him or anything like that. But I'll make sure that he understands what I feel for him. Now, if he really doesn't like
me, I'll distance myself from him. I won't make him think that I'm hard to deal with."
"What if he likes you back?"
This made Harper cover her mouth and giggle like a little girl. "Is it really necessary for me to answer that?" she asked, looking
embarrassed. She then took a deep breath and said, "Well, if the person and I love each other so much, why don't we just be
together?"
"What if you two are unable to be together for various reasons, and he must marry another woman?" Rolando asked calmly. That
was one side of being a part of the royal family that was rarely seen by the public. As the heir to the throne, he had fewer
choices, which made him frustrated.
"That only proves that we are not meant to be together," Harper said coolly. "I don't believe in promises, and in love, there are no
excuses. Since he agreed to marry another woman, it means that he is not the right person for me."

Rolando stared at Harper with eyes filled with a complex and complicated expression. "If Matthew betrays you, will you leave him
without hesitation?" he then asked.
"Definitely." Harper's reply was so curt and decisive that Rolando couldn't believe his ears. He had a clear idea of how deep and
loving Harper and Matthew's relationship was, and for him, Harper would never leave Matthew. But then she just said that once
he betrayed her, she would leave him without even thinking about it. Would she be able to really do that?
"Are you sure about that?" Rolando asked wide-eyed.
"Maybe I would feel excruciating pain at the beginning, but for me, it's better to experience short, stabbing pains than dull,
dragged-out pains. As the saying goes, time heals all wounds. I may hurt, but I will be okay." Harper then made a move on the
board. "But then I believe that he would never betray me."
Rolando's eyes darkened. "You trust him very much."
"I know what kind of person my man is," Harper replied firmly.
Rolando didn't say anything more. He knew what kind of person Matthew was. It was not easy for him to love someone. Once he
started liking someone, he wouldn't give up until he made her his. The only way to make him look for a new love was to erase all
his memories. But was it possible for him to forget everything? It was surely impossible!
The silence was broken by one of Rolando's men. "Your Majesty, I just received some terrible news. Lady Lilian is in so much
pain right now and the baby might be in danger."