Forensic Imperial Concubine

Lilian wandered outside of the Harmony Palace, lost, confused, and heartbroken. Even the memory of how she got where she was muddled. As she came upon the palace gates, she realized how hollow she felt inside, and fear was the only emotion nestled within her chest. Her body shook hard, as if it was exposed to harshest winter known to man. After taking a deep breath to regain composure, she began to look up, and that was when she saw the plaque that said "Harmony Palace". It was a sign written by Rolando himself. Now, as she recalled everything little he had done ever since they met, Lilian realized that he actually had expressed his love for Harper from the very beginning—it was just no one had paid it any serious thought. It was hard for anyone to believe that Rolando, who occupied such an esteemed position, would fall in love with a married woman.

"I was so stupid," Lilian murmured helplessly. Once upon a time, she truly believed that Rolando had finally fallen in love with her after all the efforts she had exerted. Now, she was slapped with the reality that none of that was ever true, and that none of that would ever happen.

"My Lady, it's going to be alright," Daisy murmured, trying to comfort her master. Deep inside, however, she knew that the wound caused by such a rejection would take years to heal, if it even did.

"Let's go back," Lilian said sadly and quietly. With her still being in the process of accepting that Rolando would never see her as a romantic partner, the next thing that was viable for her was to be close to him. 'I will never ask for anything. I just... want to be close to him,' she thought, as they head back to the Bliss Palace.

When Harper finally woke up, Patrick immediately put its head against her chest. Harper rubbed its head gently and said, "I'm fine. Don't worry."

"You are not fine. You've frightened everyone," Rolando said in a concerned tone. "Are you hurting anywhere?"

Harper struggled to sit up. The last thing she remembered was her body feeling like it was being torn apart. She must have fainted during that process because she couldn't remember anything else. "I just feel... sticky, maybe from all the sweating. But I don't think any part of my body is particularly painful," she responded.

"Well, that's good. I will ask someone to bring some warm water here. You can take a bath as long as you want," Rolando proposed at once.

"That would be nice. Thank you, Rolando," said Harper.

a bath. Forsythia stood by the door, guarding her lady

doing. How could he not? But he did not care. He would wait as long as necessary and do whatever

looked energetic and refreshed. Rolando was sitting at the table, waiting patiently for her to finish.

answered,

want to know what

merely gazed at her and replied, "If you want to tell me, you will. But if you don't, even if I

attitude Rolando had. Choosing to ignore it, she continued, "The Heavenly Book recorded the cultivation methods of the Qin Clan. It didn't say anything about the methods one should undergo to

surprised, but then he smiled sarcastically. "I didn't expect that the Heavenly Books everyone in the world would kill to get a hold of merely recorded the Qin Clan's cultivation

that's the truth," Harper said as she took a glance at the now singular Heavenly Book lying on the table. She took it and then began reading for

attentively. He had studied the Heavenly Book himself for many years, so although he couldn't translate the words as smoothly as Harper did, he was still able to read quite a few passages. Because of that, he was able to corroborate that what Harper was reciting was true. Indeed, this Heavenly Book only

an enchanted barrier around your room. Nobody could get in. Do you have any idea what that was and why that happened?" Rolando asked softly. Somehow, he still couldn't believe that the secret held by the Heavenly Book within it was just some record of cultivation methods. He was

over every character in the Heavenly Book as she responded, "That was because the cultivation methods were not fully recorded. There

want to press her for answers anymore. He was not sure about whether or not she really suffered from that, but he did feel the pain. It was unbearable, and it was something that he

I'm planning on proceeding with the coronation ceremony of the empress. What do you think?" Rolando asked

at him and asked, "It's your business. Why are you asking for my