Forensic Imperial Concubine by Erika Black

As Douglas pondered silently, a red rose suddenly bloomed in the sky. Much like a firework, it was beautiful but temporary.
Matthew gave Harper a searching look. This was the special signal bomb she used to inform him she needed rescue. But she
was right by his side now, so who was giving off that signal?
"Rolando is in danger, and he's asking for our help."
Feeling slightly guilty at what she'd done, Harper chuckled ruefully. "I was worried that if Rolando ran away, finding him would be
difficult since I had no way to contact him. So I gave him a signal bomb."
"You do know that his death would save us a lot of trouble, right? There's no need to worry about him,"
Matthew said lazily. "Even if we don't save that bastard, it's not as if he'll die."
Harper pushed him lightly and said, "We can take this opportunity to coerce Rolando to hand over the Heavenly Books and the
half Sacred Seal. It's the perfect chance, and we can't miss it. It won't be that easy to catch him next time if he runs."
Matthew looked at Harper and asked, "That's all there is?"
"I swear, that's all!"
Harper said immediately. She wouldn't dare to have anything else to do with Rolando, not with such an overtly jealous husband
around. There was no telling what cruel way he'd choose to release that anger.
Her reaction pleased him. At once, he stood up and called his subordinate, "Barry!"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Take the two of them back to the stronghold outside the city. I'll go with Harper to see if Rolando is dead."
With that, he put his arm around Harper's waist and flew away instantly. Patrick, who had been gnawing at a bone, was surprised
to find its master had vanished. After giving the beast a pitiful look, Barry tried to soothe it.
"His Highness and Her Highness will be back soon," he said.
Barry didn't know if Patrick could understand him, but it jumped from Douglas's head to his, then solemnly continued biting on
the bone.
Rolando never dreamed that he would have to go to Matthew one day for help, but he knew he was no match for his rivals.
Seriously injured, Miguel and Rupert were still stubbornly by his side.
Blood dripped down Rolando's hand that was holding the sword. The killers surrounding him still kept coming closer, intent on
killing him.
"Your Majesty, we will create a diversion to help you escape. Please run as soon as you get an opening."
Miguel's face had turned deathly pale. He was used to being unrestrained, but he had to curb this considering the situation. .

"Hand over the Heavenly Books as well as the Sacred Seal, and I'll spare your life,"
the assassin in the lead said coldly. He wore a bronze mask that hid his face.
Rolando gave his left hand a slight shake to rid it of the blood. Despite being at a disadvantage, he stood his ground. "No, it's the
only thing saving my life right now."

"Your kingdom has been overthrown. You're no longer an emperor. Why don't you just give the things up?"
"Even though I am no longer an emperor, I still won't give them to you."
On the surface, Rolando appeared kind and gentle. Few knew that behind his kind facade was a ruthless heart. He would deal
his enemies a deadly blow without hesitation whenever he had the chance. "Go to hell!" the leader said in a low voice. "Kill him."
Following the man's order, the assassins once again blockaded them. They had caught Rolando and his men before making it to
Phoenix City, despite the three hiding their identities. At first, Rolando had assumed the assassins were Matthews' men. Once he
discovered they weren't, he decided to plead to the man for help. When Harper and Matthew arrived, they sat on the side and
observed the fight. Matthew said, "The leader is a man with unfathomable strength. If I join hands with Rolando, perhaps we can
win." That surprised Harper. "Is he that powerful?"
"Rolando seems to be weak right now. Yes, the assassins surrounding them are powerful, but why is Rolando so weak? I
thought he would be stronger." "He has been poisoned," Harper pointed out. She knew what Rolando was really like. Good at
disguise, he hid a ruthless heart behind a smiling face. Although charming on the surface, he would be the first to stab you in the
back when your guard was down. But Rolando looked different today. He looked like he was forced into a corner. There was no
other reason for him to ask Matthew, of all people, for help. "Matthew, you have been taking your time watching this show. Are
you planning to help?" Rolando was pretty angry. Matthew hadn't made a move since he arrived. He just hided in the dark and
watched him struggle in embarrassment. What a bastard! Matthew gestured for Harper not to move and made his way into the
fray. He said, "You are in such a pitiful state. I've never seen you like this, so excuse me for taking a minute to take it in." "Have
you seen enough?"

Rolando knew that Matthew was heartless, but the man's indifference still bothered him. He was starting to regret asking him for
help.
Matthew said frigidly, "You asked for my help. How about you show the proper respect I deserve and ask me to save you."
Rolando choked on his own blood. His anger at Matthew seemed to get the best of him.
"Your Highness, can't we talk about it later?" Miguel begged Matthew, not having the heart to see his master in this state.
"No, we can't,"
Matthew said icily. "Your master is as cunning as a fox. If I save him, he will run away immediately. Perhaps I won't be able to
catch him when he does, so we need to strike a deal first. Then, we'll talk about the rescue."
The assassin leader frowned at Matthew's sudden appearance. He seemed to ponder something. "Your Highness, this is a
private matter. Please don't interfere."
"Private matter?" Matthew swaggered up to him.
"Yes. Please don't meddle, and I'll show eternally grateful to you." The leader's voice sounded hoarse, like a polished stone lying
in the desert for years, steady and lifeless. "Your Highness, don't be fooled by this man. He is trying to kill us. This is not a private
matter, at all!" Rupert turned anxious. "He wants..."
Before Rupert could finish speaking, the leader made his move and went after his vital organs. The man hadn't done anything
since their arrival, but he was now out for blood. However, that was when Matthew and Rolando attacked him at the same time.

Although they were sworn enemies, they worked well together. They were well-versed in each other's moves. The man seemed
to have foreseen this. He forced Matthew back with one hand, and caught Rolando's sword with the other, stilling Rolando's
movement. The leader grinned. Just then, a figure appeared like a ghost out of nowhere, stabbing the leader in the stomach.
Shocked, the leader tightened his hold, breaking the tip of Rolando's sword. Turning livid, he was determined to get back at the
figure who'd
ambushed him and aimed the tip at his attacker.
"Watch out!" With a cry of surprise, Rolando released his sword and pulled Harper into his arms. Then he turned around,

intending to block the man's attack with his body.
As the tip of the sword flew in their direction, a light flickered in Harper's eyes. Suddenly, the sword tip bounced off of them by a
enchanted light barrier. The leader retreated, covering the wound in his stomach and looking at the woman in Rolando's arms.
Finally catching up to what had happened, Matthew pulled Harper from the arms of Rolando, "She is my woman. Don't you dare
touch her again."
Rolando smiled and waved his hand. "If you don't take good care of her, I will take her away from you."
"You shouldn't save him and let him die instead."
Matthew held Harper in his arms, slightly trembling and grateful for what Rolando had done. If it hadn't been for him, Harper
would have been injured and wouldn't have time to activate the enchanted light barrier.
Harper looked at the wounded man and said, "You'd better leave now."
The leader narrowed his eyes, intent on killing them. He was about to ask his men to kill them when he caught sight of what
Harper was holding. It was the dagger that had stabbed him. Although it was stained with blood, it didn't look red. Instead, it
looked a strange blue. There was obviously something covering the dagger.
The man looked at his abdomen in surprise. "You poisoned me!"
Harper smiled cheekily. "Yes, it's the Spiritual Poison. If you don't find a place to get the poison out, you'll lose all your martial
arts."
The leader's lips shivered violently. Unwilling as he was, he ordered his men to retreat. Once their enemies had all left, Rolando
sat on the ground and said, "You two are more cunning than me."
"Is that something to say to your saviors?"
Harper rolled her eyes at Rolando and threw him a pill. "Take this. It's an antidote."
Rolando didn't hesitate and swallowed it before Miguel and Rupert could say anything to stop him. "It's sweet. Give me a few
more of them."
"Do you think this is sugar?
No!" Harper said solemnly, then shot out more antidotes at Miguel and Rupert. The two thanked her and swallowed them as well.
If Harper wanted to kill them, they could not run away anyway. Besides, their master had taken the pill without a thought. There
was no reason for them to be wary of it.
"Harper, how much do you know about Phoenix City?"
Rolando looked at Harper, who was treating his wounds, and asked in a low voice.
"I don't know much,"
Harper answered, without raising her head. "I only came to Phoenix City a few times. I know everything on the surface. But I'm
certain Darren didn't and will never let me see its dark side. So you should know more about it than I do."