Forensic Imperial Concubine

The empress's palace was crowded with people, and the ladies from different families all sat in specific seats that represented their status. Upon their arrival, a eunuch announced outside, "Here come Lady Harper, Lady Isabella and Lady Caroline."

"Harper and Isabella are really inseparable friends. They even came here together, like sisters," the empress teased them with a smile. "If I didn't know that Harper is actually a daughter of the Chu Clan, I would have thought that she was actually a daughter of the Bu Clan."

"Greetings, Your Majesty," the three newcomers said in chorus after they came in.

"Arise quickly, please," the empress responded at once. She sounded happy. She fixed her eyes on Harper's outfit, and said, "I was just talking about you two and said that you are such close friends. I'm glad to see you here. Please sit down."

Harper looked at her seat, and then looked at Isabella's seat. She stayed still, not moving to her own seat. Seeing this, the empress got the point right away, and commanded directly, "Maid, put Isabella's seat next to Harper's."

"Yes, Your Majesty," a maid replied at once, and did as she commanded.

"Thank you, Your Majesty,"

Harper said. She then helped Isabella sit down, as if it were a matter of course. Everyone present was eager to see what Harper would say and do, because she was a controversial figure in the imperial capital.

"Today is His Majesty's fiftieth birthday, and it's a beautiful day for our celebration. You don't need to be restrained or formal today. Later, let's go all together to the Grand Hall, to celebrate His Majesty's birthday," the empress then announced to all her guests.

Your Majesty," everyone

simmering with resentment over her recent

the empress

Harper had all her attention focused on her chat with Caroline. Consequently, she didn't

she was about to call again, Joyce Jun had already called out, "Harper, you are so lofty and

she noticed that the atmosphere in the hall had become awkward, she turned her head and alerted Harper with

you pretended not to hear her. Don't you take her seriously?" said Joyce Jun in a voice dripping with

the empress. "Please forgive me, Your Majesty. The noise in the hall prevented me from hearing

doesn't matter," the empress said as she waved her hand and gestured for Harper

how can you tolerate such

supposed to make a stir like this. In particular, the

she didn't dare to go against the empress, so she just turned her head and pretended to ignore Harper. The empress then turned

Majesty get from Matthew this time? Do you have

Harper replied with a smiling face. Despite being Matthew's wife, she wasn't required to prepare a gift for the emperor. Besides, even though the emperor's birthday was a big event, it

birthday gift prepared by Matthew is good," the empress said. She didn't really care that Harper claimed to know nothing of Matthew's gift. She