Forensic Imperial Concubine

Chapter 188 Harper's Intentions (Part One)

Within days, the news spread far and wide about how the emperor sanctioned the marriage between Harper and Matthew. Everyone had different reactions, but the most worried would have to be the Bu Clan.

At that time, Isabella was pacing back and forth in the room. The anxiety was so apparent on her face. Meanwhile, Franklin's temples had started to ache, and so did Caroline's.

"Father, Prince Matthew's fiancees all died before they could get married to him. With this, I can't help but feel afraid that Harper might die in her boots too." Caroline openly surmised her worries.

"If that's the case, it's honestly not the worst thing that could happen to Harper," Zack responded with a bitter smile on his face.

"Zack, what do you mean by that?" Caroline asked in confusion.

Franklin and Zack looked at each other and as if on cue, the father and son shared tacit understanding. Charles was loyal to the emperor. The emperor wanted Harper to marry Matthew so that she would be able to spy on him. If she was tasked to assassinate Matthew and failed to do so, then her life would be a living hell.

"Father, is there anything we can do to save her?" Zack expectantly asked. He just found out that he actually liked Harper more than as a friend. He didn't expect that the emperor would promptly set up a marriage between Harper and Matthew.

Franklin shook his head. Matthew was a thorn in the flesh of the emperor. Harper was the only woman who was somehow related to him and was still alive. Everything would have been fine if the emperor hadn't thought of this fact. However, now that the emperor had figured it out, she might really meet the end of her life.

"Franklin, Prince Matthew is not a good man. Harper saved our Zack and Caroline. You can't just stand there and do nothing," Isabella said, holding her husband's hands. "Franklin, I am begging you. You need to do everything in your power to save Harper."

"Isabella, you have to understand. It's not that I don't want to help her, the reality is that I am incapable to do so. If Prince Matthew refused the marriage proposal, I could still try and find a way. However, Prince Matthew has already given his word to His Majesty. I'm afraid there is no turning back."

"Why is this situation so dependent on Prince Matthew's decision alone?" Isabella was becoming more and more confused with their conversation. She just couldn't understand. All she knew was that Matthew wasn't a man whom Harper could spend the rest of her life with. He was cruel and heartless. If the girl were to actually marry him, her life would be ruined.

"To rid Harper of Prince Matthew, it will be as difficult as ascending to heaven." Zack was also a little desperate. "Early tomorrow, I'll go to meet Harper and find out about her thoughts on the matter," he said.

"Well, you can go and ask for her opinion in person. I am sure she has her own ideas. If she doesn't want to marry him, then I would try my best to deal with Prince Matthew!" Franklin immediately decided. Although it was indeed very difficult for him, he was certain in his heart that he would do his best.

Zack had asked Harper to meet him at a small tea house near the Chu Clan mansion. Although it was just last night when he had asked her to marry him, there was no embarrassment on her face when they met. It was as if the proposal did not happen and they were just best friends.

"Hello, Zack."

"Here you are, Harper!" Zack poured a cup of tea for Harper as soon as she sat down. "Your favorite flower tea."

"Thank you." She smiled at him while she took the cup. Without any hesitation, Harper slowly drank the tea with a serene and calm expression on her face.

That was a surprise for Zack because he had thought that he would see a worried Harper that day. After all, he had seen the resistance she showed last night when he confessed, but it seemed like she had already buried everything that happened.

"Harper, are you okay?" he asked with so much hesitation.

"I'm fine. You don't have to worry about me." Harper put down her teacup on the table before speaking. "I know what you're thinking. You must be worried that I would resist to the marriage. You have nothing to worry about. Prince Matthew is not that frightening to me."

Zack shook his head. "I'm here to tell you that if you don't want to marry him, you can tell me. My clan will do our best to help you. In return though, you will have to endure the hardship of being married into the Bu Clan." Material © NôvelDrama.Org.

When she heard that, Harper covered her mouth and giggled. "Zack, you can't let anyone hear that. If others heard that marrying into the Bu Clan would feel like enduring hardship, then people would think I'm the dumbest in the world. There are so many girls who want to marry you."

"But I know you're unwilling to marry me, right?" Although he said that in a low voice, Harper still heard it. For a moment, her smile froze. In fact, even she knew that it would be a blessing to be his wife. However, she couldn't bring Bu Clan into the conflicts between the emperor and Matthew.

"I am saying this with all the sincerity that I have. I am grateful that the Bu Clan could consider stepping forward and helping me at this time," Harper said slowly while she looked directly into Zack's eyes. "However, I think it would be better for the Bu Clan to stay out of it. After all, no one would be able to survive if they were to engage in a fight between His Majesty and Prince Matthew."

"What about you?" Zack was anxious to hear her response. "I am certain that if you declare your engagement to me, then His Majesty would have no choice but to cancel the marriage between you and Prince Matthew."

"But Prince Matthew would certainly oppose to that," Harper explained. "Zack, you know Prince Matthew better than me. Although he has his disabilities right now, it doesn't mean that he will always have these—for the lack of a better word—disadvantages. Moreover, he is not a weak person. It's not wise for the Bu Clan to stand up and turn against him."

Zack remained silent. He had to admit that Harper made some good points. Although the Bu Clan had always been strong and powerful, Matthew was undeniably a very influential person, whom the Bu Clan couldn't afford to offend.

"But do you have an idea about His majesty's real intentions? You know why he wants you to marry prince Matthew?" Zack ceased to give up. In his perspective, Harper getting married to Matthew would be like a sheep being placed into the tiger's mouth. Clearly, the emperor and the Chu Clan only regarded her as a pawn. Once she got married to Matthew, she could begin counting down the days leading to her death. On top of it all, it was known that Matthew was extremely cruel and ruthless that it was very likely that she would end up in tragedy, one way or another.