Forensic Imperial Concubine

Chapter 32 The Undercurrent (Part Two)

"Congratulations!" Harper clapped. But she thought that Hailey was such a fool. Katrina had always been favored by the emperor even if she was without a child. As it was, Hailey had always been the one who mainly tended to her. Now that Chloe requested a sudden change of physicians, she was up to something. Hailey was a fool to not have realized this.

"Lady Chloe is pregnant. You must be careful," Charles warned. He had been in politics to know that something was up. "If you do have any problems, go ask Lady Katrina for help."

"I know, Father."

"Or you could find another imperial physician to take care of Lady Chloe with you. This way, you'll be more relieved by exhausting duties," Charles suggested. People in the Imperial Palace had been known to resort to ruthless means in murdering their enemies. Getting rid of an unborn baby would be a piece of cake. If Hailey walked into their traps, the Chu Clan would suffer great losses. It would be even harder for Katrina to stay in the palace alone.

"Lady Katrina's afraid of problems coming with Lady Chloe's pregnancy, so she dares not send any other physician to Lady Chloe. After all, Lady Chloe specifically requested me to take care of her. But I am afraid of what other people would do to Lady Chloe." Hailey lowered her voice to a whisper. The emperor had always been greatly attached to the child ever since Chloe announced her pregnancy. If Chloe gave birth to the child, she'd be promoted to a higher position. If there was a mistake in the process of her pregnancy, it would be by the hands of the other concubines.

"Be careful."

"Yes, Father." Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

Harper ate her food, pretending as if she hadn't heard their conversations. Charles had always shown his favor towards Hailey and Felicia in front of her all these years, so she was used to it. Her old self

would've felt bitter about it, but now, she felt detached by the matter.

"By the way, how is Lady Katrina?" Charles asked. Suddenly it occurred to him that Mavis asked Harper to go to the Imperial Palace.

"Lady Katrina is doing great, but she misses Grandma and Father so much," Hailey smiled. "Lady Katrina even asked me to bring a piece of invaluable ginseng for Grandma."

"That's so kind of her." Mavis grinned. Though her daughter was an imperial concubine, she still cared for her health.

"Does His Majesty often go to Lady Katrina's place?" Charles asked. The emperor always loved beautiful women.

Hailey blushed and said, "Lady Chloe is now His Majesty's favorite. Though he can't be intimate with her because of her pregnancy, he will still often accompany her. Lady Loren, who has just entered the Imperial Palace is also closely favored by him."

Charles nodded thoughtfully and cast a glance at Harper. But she calmly ate her food, not noticing the way her father glared at her.

"Father, have you heard of Prince Matthew's disability and his last fiancee's death?" Hailey suddenly asked.

Charles snorted, "Who wouldn't? His Highness has bad karma. He has brought it to the women around him! Look at it. They were just engaged and his fiancee was already dead."

"His highness is disabled. Is that true?" Hailey asked softly. There was an unknown emotion threaded across her words that Harper couldn't help but look up from her food.

"Of course. His Majesty even sent an imperial physician to examine him. Aren't you in the Imperial Academy of Medicine? Why do you still ask?" Charles asked casually, unaware of what his eldest daughter was up to. "His Highness is a powerful man, and His Majesty has always been very suspicious of him. Now he is in charge of the interdependent judicial departments—the Ministry of Punishments, the Council of Review, and the Department of Supervision. Though everyone thinks he lost his influence, his Black Flag Army is still as powerful as ever, so nobody dares to offend him."

"Father, I've heard that the Black Flag Army is highly disciplined and powerful. Is it true?" Harper asked curiously.

"It's said to be, but I haven't seen it. His Highness had brought with him one hundred soldiers of the Black Flag Army when he returned, which were stronger than any soldiers in the Imperial Palace." Charles remembered the murderous and domineering aura that emitted from every single one of the soldiers from the Black Flag Army. Though they had done nothing, Charles knew that he'd be dead if he dared plan something against Matthew.

"So the Black Flag Army is very powerful?" Harper prodded. "His Highness is disabled, so who's the new leader of the Black Flag Army?"

"A general named Lewis Huai. He has been working for His Highness in the army." The emperor was worried about the Black Flag Army the most. Lewis Huai was an orphan with nothing to lose, so the emperor had nothing to hold against him. When Matthew was disabled and Lewis Huai took over his position, the emperor was so angry that he smashed many valuable treasures in the Imperial Study!

With a smile, Harper took a sip from her cup. "His Majesty must be worried about His Highness's marriage. Since His Highness has bad karma, no one would be willing to give their daughter away."

"Yes, His Majesty is indeed worried about His Highness's marriage." A sly look flashed in Charles' eyes. It was common that heroes were always attached to beauties. If Matthew were to get married

with a woman he loved, he'd be distracted. As long as Matthew had a weakness, he'd no longer be invincible. But so far, Matthew's every fiancee had died not long after their engagement had been announced.