The Legend of Zhen Huan: Rebirth of An Lingrong: Counterattack to Become the Queen Mother

Chapter 303 Ling Huan joins hands to explore the mystery

Zhen Huan's eyes were determined as she spoke softly, "Mei Zhuang, the harem is full of twists and turns. Where should we start looking for clues?"

Mei Zhuang thought for a moment and responded, "Huan'er, I think there must be something behind the missing prescription. Perhaps we can start by looking at the herbs prescribed in the prescription and investigate whether any unusual herbs have entered or left the palace recently."

An Lingrong nodded in agreement. "Sister Meizhuang, this is a very good idea. I know a thing or two about spices and herbs, so we can check it out together."

Concubine Hua said anxiously, "What are you waiting for? Send someone to check it out!"

Therefore, everyone assigned young eunuchs and palace maids to go to the Imperial Hospital, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the small kitchens of each palace to inquire about medicinal materials.

Not long after, a palace maid returned with a report: "Your Majesty, I found some discarded medicinal residue in a corner of the Imperial Garden. It looks suspicious."

Zhen Huan hurriedly said, "Take me and the others to see it quickly."

Everyone came to the corner of the Imperial Garden and saw that the medicinal residue was emitting a faint strange smell.

An Lingrong squatted down and examined it carefully, frowning. "There are several rare herbs mixed in this medicine residue, which are not used in ordinary palace prescriptions. If these herbs are not mixed properly, they can cause coma."

Mei Zhuang was shocked and said, "It seems that someone must have secretly prepared the poison with the intention of murdering everyone in the harem!"

Concubine Hua shouted angrily: "Who on earth is this idiot who is so audacious! Don't let me find him, or I will make sure he is killed without a burial place!"

Zhen Huan said calmly, "Don't worry, let's take a closer look around here, maybe there are other clues."

As she was talking, Chun'er came running over with a sachet in her hand: "Sisters, I found this sachet in the flowers over there, and it smells weird."

An Lingrong took the sachet and sniffed it. "This sachet contains rosemary and some unknown spices. Too much rosemary can make people dizzy. This sachet is probably not simple."

Zhen Huan looked at Chun Er: "Chun Er, where did you pick it up?"

Chun Er pointed to a bush of flowers not far away and said, "It's right over there. I thought this sachet looked nice and wanted to pick it up to give to my sister. I didn't expect it to smell so strange."

Mei Zhuang said, "It seems there must be something fishy going on around here. Let's look deeper into the flowers."

Everyone walked deep into the flowers and found a hidden little house.

Hua Fei shouted, "Go in and take a look!"

When they pushed the door open, they saw that the house was filled with various medicinal herbs and spices, as well as some utensils for boiling medicine.

Zhen Huan's face darkened: "This must be the place where the person who secretly mixed the medicine is."

An Lingrong found a notebook on the table and flipped it open. "Huan'er, Sister Meizhuang, this contains some prescriptions and spice formulas, as well as some letters exchanged with the princess. It seems the princess is involved in this matter."

Mei Zhuang asked, "But the princess is under house arrest now. How is she controlling all this?"

An Lingrong said, "There must be someone she trusts behind the scenes. We have to find this person."

At this time, footsteps were heard outside the house.

Hua Fei shouted, "Who?"

A eunuch walked in and saw Zhen Huan and others, so he turned around and tried to run away.

Zhen Huan shouted, "Stop! Who are you? What are you doing here?"

The eunuch knelt down with a thud and said, "Your Majesty, I was ordered around by someone. I'm just an errand boy and I don't know anything."

An Lingrong asked, "Who ordered you to do this? Was it the princess?"

The eunuch trembled and said, "It was an aunt of the princess. She asked me to bring some herbs and spices here, and asked me to watch them and make sure no one found out."

Zhen Huan asked, "Where is my aunt now?"

The eunuch said, "In the small courtyard behind the princess's palace."

Zhen Huan said to Mei Zhuang, "Sister Mei Zhuang, take some people and capture that aunt."

Mei Zhuang took the order and left.

Zhen Huan and others continued to search the house, hoping to find more evidence.

An Lingrong found a packet of medicinal powder in a secret compartment. "Huan'er, this powder looks extremely poisonous. If it's sprinkled on food or clothing, the consequences will be disastrous."

Concubine Hua gnashed her teeth and said, "This princess is so cruel! She actually wants to harm us like this!"

Zhen Huan said, "Wait until Sister Meizhuang captures that aunt and we must interrogate her thoroughly. We must not let their conspiracy succeed."

After a while, Mei Zhuang came back with her men, escorting the aunt back.

Mei Zhuang said, "We caught her behind the princess's palace. She tried to resist, but we subdued her."

Zhen Huan looked at her aunt and asked, "Why did you help the princess prepare poison in the palace? Do you know that this is a serious crime?"

But my aunt said stubbornly: "My Lady, I dare not disobey the Princess's orders. I only know how to be loyal to the Princess."

An Lingrong said, "If you tell the truth, perhaps you can get a lighter sentence. Otherwise, you know the consequences."

My aunt sneered, "I'm not afraid. Your Highness the Princess will definitely protect me."

Hua Fei angrily said, "You still dare to be so stubborn! Drag her away and give her twenty lashes first, and see if she will continue to talk!"

Zhen Huan stopped Concubine Hua and said, "Sister, please don't torture me yet. Let's think of a solution."

An Lingrong thought for a moment and said, "Huan'er, I have a plan that might get her to speak."

Zhen Huan asked, "Lingrong, what's your plan?"

An Lingrong whispered a few words in Zhen Huan's ear.

Zhen Huan nodded: "Let's give it a try."

An Lingrong said to her aunt, "Aunt, do you think the princess will protect you? Now the princess herself is in danger, and her conspiracy has been exposed. If you don't confess, once the emperor finds out, your entire family will be executed. Do you want to implicate your family?"

My aunt's face changed and she hesitated.

An Lingrong continued, "If you confess now, we can plead for you in front of the Emperor, saying that you were coerced by the princess. Perhaps we can even save your family's lives."

The aunt thought for a long time and finally spoke up. "Your Highness, I will tell you everything. It was the princess who ordered me to prepare the poison in the palace. She also asked me to win over some young eunuchs and palace maids to secretly monitor the ladies. I also asked the young eunuchs to steal the prescription. The princess wanted to take advantage of the ladies' illness or accidents to seize control of the harem."

After hearing this, Zhen Huan and others were shocked and angry.

Zhen Huan said, "Take this aunt and the people involved away and wait for the Emperor to make a decision."

After this incident, Zhen Huan said to An Lingrong and others: "The struggle in the harem is becoming more and more dangerous. We must stick together closely and not slack off in the slightest."

An Lingrong said, "Huan'er, as long as we work together, we will be able to protect peace in this harem."

Concubine Hua also said, "That's right. With me here, who dares to stir up trouble? Let's work together to uncover all the evil spirits in the harem!"

In the face of these numerous crises, Zhen Huan and An Lingrong work hand in hand. Their friendship is as strong as steel. On the unknown and dangerous road of the palace, they are fearless and continue to write a legendary scroll that belongs only to them. Every hardship is turned into ink, and every difficulty is cast into a chapter. In this deep palace, they have embarked on a thorny but unswerving road.