Chapter 16 A Masked Man (2/2)

In accordance with Charles' orders, the steward called several maids to clean the Emerald House and by nightfall, the house was fully cleaned. Hot water was brought by Nina and Anabel to help Harper bathe.

”You can go and rest. I don't need anyone to look after me.” Once everyone had been dismissed, Harper bathed herself. A sly expression flashed through her face when she saw the wound on her arm. That day, only her four maids knew that she was going to pick herbs for Mavis, yet someone cut off the rope and tried to kill her. She wondered which one of them had betrayed her.

Immersed in her thoughts, Harper didn't even notice that someone entered the room until she smelled the faint trace of blood and saw a sword on her neck.

A very ferocious mask greeted her when she turned to look. ”You're bleeding,” Harper said.

”Shut up! Don't make a sound or I'll kill you!” The man's breath became shorter and the smell of blood was stronger. Harper was certain that he was seriously injured.

”You're seriously injured. I'm a physician. If you trust me, let me get dressed and clean your wounds. What do you think?” Harper offered tentatively.

”If you try to call for help, I'll kill you instantly!”

”Don't worry. If I call for someone, my reputation will be destroyed,” Harper said calmly. ”I'm walking on eggshells around the Chu Clan. Sue, the hostess of the mansion, would like to find a reason to kill me. If I call for someone, she will take this chance to kill me.” The smell of blood became heavier and the man looked even fainter.

”Come out quickly and don't try to ask for help. I'll kill you before you can utter a word!”

With a nod, Harper put on her clothes after the man retreated behind the screen. The man sneaked into the Chu Clan mansion with injuries. If someone searched for evidence, she wouldn't be able to stop them from arresting him with any excuse.

The man's eyes darkened as he saw the silhouette flickering on the screen. 'How dare this woman be so bold!' he thought to himself.

It didn't take long for her to finish and fetch the medicine box. Harper studied his bloody shoulder and cut his clothes near the wounds. The grievous wounds made her frown and say, ”I need to clean your wounds. It'll be a little painful. Try to bear it and don't scream.”

The words made the man frown. Did he look like the kind of person who would scream out of pain? But when he saw her deep in concentration to clean his wounds, he swallowed down his anger and pretended not to hear her words.

It didn't take her too long to handle the wounds, and she even wiped away the bloodstains in the room. She then lit sandalwood to remove the smell of blood in the room. Every move was skillful as if she was used to doing it.

When he saw how she behaved, the man felt unreasonably uncomfortable. ”Why are you so good at this? Do you often have men breaking into your room?”

The words made Harper roll her eyes. ”I just don't like the smell of blood, nor do I want any trouble. You better leave as soon as possible. As far as I know, my father will search the whole mansion soon and there's no place you can hide from him in here!”

”Are you afraid that you'll be implicated?”

”Of course I am. I worked so hard to deceive him and make him change his mind on killing me. If I make trouble again, I'll be courting death.” The man made a face when Harper offered him a cup of tea after she tidied up.

”What's this?”

”Longan and reds date tea. You've lost too much blood. Drink some of it and it'll be beneficial to your health,” Harper explained as she poured a cup of tea for herself, sitting far away from the man. Eventually, they heard noise from outside the room.

The man glanced at Harper and gulped down his tea. He then jumped out the window and disappeared into the night like he wasn't even there at all.

The cup the man used was turned upside down as if no one used it at all. Then Harper took a medical book and quietly read it. She looked bewildered when Charles broke into her house with his men.

”Father, it's so late. What's the matter?”

Seeing her wet hair, tea cup and medical book, Charles squinted at her. ”Harper, did you see anyone come in?”

”No. I've been in my room all this time and didn't see anyone. Why not call my maids here? You can ask them about it.” Harper shook her head.

Charles then thought that it was impossible for a girl like Harper to hide a man in her room. ”It's fine. There was a thief in the mansion. I was worried about you, so I came here to have a look,” he said with a frown.

”Thank you, Father. I'm fine.”

”That's good. It's late. Go to bed early.”

”Yes, Father.”