Forensic Imperial Concubine

Hailey grew anxious to see Mavis' stubbornness. She then looked at Charles helplessly. Even he looked embarrassed at that
moment. Hailey only hoped that he would help her to convince Mavis. He said to Mavis, "Mother, I think we can talk about
helping Harper return to the Imperial Academy of Medicine later. The last few days have been very eventful. So we'd better keep
a low key for the time being."
"Then, let's talk about Hailey's request also later," Mavis said in a determined tone. "We can discuss it when you decide to deal
with Harper's matter."
"Mother, what is the harm in recording Hailey as Kelly's daughter? Harper will still be Kelly's daughter too. It's a good thing for us.
I mentioned this to you even at the time when Harper was still a little kid. But you had refused it at that time. Now that they've
already grown up, I think we should take a call on this. If Hailey continues to be considered as a concubine's daughter, it's not
good for our reputation," Charles continued. He did not give up and kept making efforts to convince Mavis. "I promise that I will
be good to Harper no matter what."
Mavis, however, merely turned her head away, paying no attention to Charles. She knew him better than anyone else. She was
very well aware of the fact that Harper had been living a hard life in the Chu Clan mansion all these years. In the past, Harper
used to be very naughty and unreasonable. So Mavis did not like her that much. But now, Harper had changed. She had grown
up to be a mature and considerable girl. And Mavis felt that it was her duty to protect her at any cost.
"Harper!" Charles called out to Harper in a stern voice. Failing to persuade Mavis, he turned to Harper, intending to threaten her
to agree. But Harper still kept her head buried in Mavis' arms. She did not even lift her head. He continued, "You're old enough to
make your own decisions. I hope that you can consider it carefully. As the lady of our mansion, you should be more considerate
towards others."
"She should be more considerate to others?" Mavis scorned at Charles. She let out a crooked smile. "You should say this to
Hailey. As the elder sister, she should be the one who should be more considerate to her younger sister. I didn't want to make
things difficult for her. As long as she recommends Harper to regain her post as a physician, I will agree to have her recorded as
Kelly's daughter. Otherwise, no way!"
"Mother, I will try my best to help Harper to return to the Imperial Academy of Medicine. Hailey is just a physician. I don't think
she is capable of convincing His Majesty. As long as you agree on it, I will try my best to help Harper regain her job as a
physician!" Charles was far from resting her laurels. He kept trying to convince Mavis.

But Mavis did not fall into his trap. She remained unmoved. She was very well aware of Charles' credibility. She wouldn't agree
on it unless Harper successfully returned to work in the Imperial Academy of Medicine.
Charles was getting increasingly impatient with Mavis' stubbornness. Ultimately, he left with Hailey at once. Seeing them leave,
Mavis sighed and said, "Don't worry, Harper. I won't agree to their demand."
"Grandma, I feel sorry for putting you in a dilemma," Harper said with red eyes. "I could allow Yvonne to be recorded as my
mother's daughter. But I can't bear it if any of Lady Sue's children is recorded as my mother's child."
"But my dear, can you tell me the reason?" Mavis was a little confused to hear Harper's words.
"Because my mother was dead because of Lady Sue. If Lady Sue hadn't got pregnant before marriage, my mother would not
have gone into depression and fallen ill, which eventually caused her death. Although I know Hailey is my sister, I just can't bear
to see her becoming my mother's daughter!" Harper replied in a somber tone. "Besides, Hailey and Howard were born before
me. They ruined the reputation of the Chu Clan as well as that of my father! This is something I can't tolerate as well."
Mavis was left dumbfounded when she heard Harper's words. She froze for a few moments. Then she pulled herself out of her
thoughts and stroked Harper on her head, gently saying, "I got it. You can go back now. I will protect you. If you don't agree, I will
never allow them to have their way this time."
"Thank you, Grandma. I'll be leaving now. Goodbye."
Even after Harper left, Mavis remained thoughtful. There was a hint of confusion in her eyes. "Annie," she called out.
"Yes, here I am. What can I do for you, My Lady?"
"Do you remember when Sue gave birth to her children after she married into our mansion?" Mavis asked. She remembered that
it was said that Sue delivered before completing her full-term pregnancy. Yet the kids never looked like premature babies.
"Lady Sue delivered seven months later, My Lady. Her children were born one month before Lady Harper was born," Annie
answered firmly after she thought for a while. "At that time, everyone said that Lady Sue gave birth to premature babies.
However, on the contrary, they seemed to be stronger than Lady Harper, who was born at full-term."
"Harper just mentioned that Sue got pregnant before she married into our family..." Mavis frowned slightly. Deep inside her mind,
a completely different concern was shaping up. She was now worried that if what Harper said was true, then were Hailey and
Howard Charles' own children? What if they were not?

The moment this thought came to Mavis' mind, she started to feel restless. She recalled that before Daniel, her youngest son,
went missing, he had asked her to take good care of Harper. Slowly, as Mavis started thinking about the terrible things Sue had
done in all these years, she became more and more suspicious.
"No, Annie, I think something is weird. Go and check it carefully. I want to know everything in detail about Sue," Mavis ordered
calmly. "Don't let anyone come to know that I'm investigating it before things are clear."
"Yes, My Lady."
As Annie got involved in investigating what had happened in the past, Harper remained busy with her plan. Now that she had
successfully planted the seed of suspicion in Mavis' mind, Mavis would become more alert now. That way, Charles and Hailey
would not be able to carry out their plan so easily. Harper now wanted to look for someone who could threaten Charles. Taking
charge of the family affairs in the Chu Clan mansion was not enough at all. Harper needed a helper.