Forensic Imperial Concubine novel Chapter 567

"I'm not full yet," Francis said, feeling aggrieved to be chased away so soon. When Harper came over, she heard what he said and she gave Matthew a reproving look, as if she demanded to know what was going on here.

Matthew reached out to take her hand and pulled her down to sit next to him. "Do you want some more?" he asked Harper.

"No, I've already had a good enough lunch at the Kong Clan's mansion. Has Felix left?" Harper asked as flatly as she could, hoping that she wouldn't have to see that man.

"Yes. When he walked away, he stared fiercely at the dog several times as if he desperately wanted to fight it." Matthew reported this amusing detail.

With a wicked smile, Harper commented, "If that had really happened, then the rumor that Felix had lost his mind and was fighting with a dog would spread all over the imperial capital tomorrow!"

"Ha ha." Francis laughed out loud. When Harper and Matthew turned their faces to him, he smiled awkwardly and asked, "I had no idea there was actually such a disease that could drive people so mad that they would fight with a dog. Is that really possible?"

"Of course there is such a disease. It's known as the mad dog disease," Harper explained. "Just as the name suggests, a person with this disease behaves like a mad dog. He will bite anyone or anything that he sees. So he would also fight with a dog, just the same as a mad dog."

Francis opened his mouth slightly, as if he were totally dumbfounded by this extraordinary thing. But in a moment he realized that Harper was implying that Felix was like a vicious, violent mad dog.

"So, was Felix suffering from that disease from the moment he came here? He was acting as if he wanted to tear me apart. It was really creepy," Francis asked. Teasing Felix was a clever strategy to ingratiate himself with Harper. Harper didn't like Felix, so he wanted to emphasize that he didn't like him either. Felix made his life difficult wherever he went, and he was nearly at his wit's end to deal with that.

But Harper merely gave him a bland smile in response. Seeing the two of them both smiling, Matthew felt a bit jealous and uncomfortable. Then he picked up a piece of braised pork and took a bite from the fatty section of it, and then offered it to Harper. "It tastes excellent. Have a try," he suggested.

Harper then took a bite and chewed it slowly, savoring the quality. "Mmm, it tastes good. Megan's cooking is improving."

Matthew's mouth curved into a smile. It was clear that he was in a good mood. Francis also kept the smile on his face, but his smile was fake. The scene of domestic happiness in front of him became a bit hard for him to see after a while. He then said, "It's obvious that you love each other very much. I really admire it. Well, I think I'd better leave now, so that I won't disturb you. I'll pay you a visit another day."

Francis got up slowly and walked out steadily. As his figure receded, Matthew lifted up his eyes to Harper. He then said, "Harp, I want to have the exquisite lotus-nut sweet soup made by you."

"Okay, I'll cook that for you later, but you have to eat lunch first now," Harper replied obediently.

Francis, meanwhile, could hardly keep himself from smiling as he heard them talk from behind. Now he understood that Matthew, who was cold and indifferent to everyone and everything else, only showed love and affection in front of his wife. Francis felt infinitely jealous that Matthew had such a tender and warm domestic life. He wished that he were Matthew, so that he could act like a spoiled child in front of Harper.

After Felix left Matthew's mansion, he went directly into the Imperial Palace to speak with the empress.

The empress was still worried about Francis' rising. She did not yet know that after Felix had spent some time with Francis, he realized that his weak brother was harmless and that Matthew was the real danger.

"Your Majesty, Prince Felix is here," Nancy reported to the empress.

"Oh? Bring him in!" the empress said eagerly. She was holding a hand warmer in her hands. When she saw Felix appear grumpy as he entered, she frowned and said, "Don't your servants take care of you? They haven't even prepared a hand warmer for you. It's so cold today. You might catch a cold."

"Mother, I'm not fragile like an old man," Felix said with a wry smile. Then he threw his cloak off. Nancy quickly rushed over, took the cloak, and placed a hand warmer in his hands. Even though Felix said he did not need one, as servants, they had to have everything prepared. That was their responsibility.

Although Felix thought that holding a hand warmer was a bit feminine, he decided to humor his mother and obey her request. Accordingly, he accepted the hand warmer like a good son and sat opposite the empress.

"So, did you gain anything today at Matthew's mansion?" the empress asked softly. Matthew's attitude, state of mind, and positions were what they cared about now. The emperor intended to assist Francis to make an entry into court life because Francis had saved him. This coming change greatly threatened Felix and the empress. After all, Francis always had a force behind him that was as powerful as the empress's family. Moreover, Sherry was a favorite of the emperor. If Francis really began to work as an official, he would become a great opponent for Felix. In that event, Felix would be desperate for Matthew's support.

"A bumper harvest," Felix said as the maid gave him warm tea and he opened the lid. The tea leaves floated in the warm water. "Francis knows little of politics, and cares even less."

"People from the royal family know how to disguise themselves. There is no one in the world who does not want to sit on the throne," the empress asserted confidently. "You must be careful. Don't be fooled by him."

Felix frowned and said, "Francis' health is greatly improved now, but he is still very weak. He saved Father at the expense of his own body. He is just a feeble invalid and we have no reason to be afraid of him. What's more, Francis is a coward. He even didn't dare to contradict me after I gave him so many provocations today. I don't think we should spend too much time or energy on him."

"Francis..." the empress murmured as she tried to recall what he looked like. Although he had lived in the Imperial Palace for many years, she had actually seen him very few times. That was because he had been bed-ridden most of his life. The impression she had gathered from her few sightings of him was that Francis was a very sick man, with a weak body but a handsome face. That was the empress's impression of him.