"Do you still want more?" Harper was astounded.

After stirring the soup with a spoon, Matthew said, "No, I'm done with it. It's my turn to feed you."

Harper felt uncomfortable and rolled her eyes. She said curtly, "Matthew, I can drink on my own."

"I like to feed you. What? Don't you like it?" Matthew's voice was still calm and even, but Harper understood the threat contained in his words. So she obediently opened her mouth and drank the ginger soup fed by him, but she also stared at him with big eyes, protesting silently.

He fed her at a moderate pace, paying no attention to her protests. Just when Harper finished drinking, Matthew said to Francis, "Get out of here now that you're awake."

Opening his mouth, Owen wanted to retort, but he was frightened away by a single glance from Matthew. He dared not say a word, completely

marquis in our dynasty?"

"Marquis Scarlet is the leader of a secret society of assassins. Hodge's son was saved by him," Harper explained slowly. "He is a heartless and wicked man who has committed all sorts of crimes."

"I don't know him. Hodge's son was found lying at the foot of the mountain and brought back by the guards from Hodge's mansion," Francis said, and the look on his face didn't seem to be false or affected.

"Did you arrange your rescue of the emperor on purpose?" Harper asked again. If Francis had arranged that event deliberately, she would really doubt his intentions.

Francis smiled bitterly. "How could I have arranged for it? Now I wish I had not rescued him, so that I would still be ignorant of the truth of my illness. I would even prefer that I died in the hall that day, rather than be heartbroken now!"