in2ebook Chapter 286 Ling Huan explores the secrets and searches for the mastermind
Chapter 286 Ling Huan explores the secrets and searches for the mastermind
Concubine Hua's eyebrows were raised, her eyes filled with murderous intent. "I don't believe I can't find the person behind this! I will tear him into pieces to relieve my hatred!"
Zhen Huan frowned slightly, her expression solemn. "Don't worry, Sister Hua Fei. This matter requires further consideration. The most urgent task is to clarify the cause and effect of the disappearance of these herbs."
An Lingrong nodded slightly. "Huan'er is right. I've already instructed Baoque to secretly inquire about the recent whereabouts of everyone in the Imperial Hospital. Perhaps they can find some clues."
Chun'er blinked her big eyes and said eagerly, "I want to help too! I can ask my little maid to keep an eye on those young eunuchs to see if they have any unusual behavior."
Mei Zhuang smiled gently: "Chun'er, you are so impatient. But it would be good if more people were paying attention. But you must be careful not to alert the enemy."
A few days later, Bao Que returned with a report: "Your Majesty, I discovered that Imperial Physician Liu from the Imperial Hospital had recently been conversing with a mysterious person in a corner of the palace wall. The mysterious person was veiled, and his face could not be seen clearly, but his behavior was furtive."
Zhen Huan's eyes glared. "Doctor Liu? What kind of person is he?"
An Lingrong pondered for a moment. "This Imperial Physician Liu has relatively little experience in the Imperial Hospital, but I've heard he's always been trying to climb the ladder. Could he be being bribed?"
Hua Fei snorted coldly: "No matter what his reason is, arrest him and interrogate him, then everything will be clear!"
Zhen Huan shook her head. "Sister, we have no evidence, so we shouldn't act rashly. Let's try to get close to him first and feel out his reaction."
So, Zhen Huan invited Imperial Physician Liu to come to the palace to "recuperate" for her.
Imperial Physician Liu came forward with great trepidation and, after bowing, said, "Your Majesty, I wonder what is ailing you?"
Zhen Huan sat upright on the couch and smiled gently, "Doctor Liu, I've been feeling restless lately and haven't been able to sleep well at night. I've heard you're an excellent doctor, so I've specially asked you to come and see me."
Imperial Physician Liu hurriedly said, "Your Majesty is blessed with great fortune, so she will be alright. Let me take your pulse carefully."
While feeling her pulse, Zhen Huan said seemingly unintentionally, "Doctor Liu, I've heard that the palace's medicinal materials have been a bit unstable recently. Do you know anything about this in the Imperial Hospital?"
Doctor Liu's hands trembled slightly, and he said with forced composure, "Your Majesty, I am only focused on medical skills and don't know much about medicinal materials."
An Lingrong whispered softly, "Doctor Liu, please don't hide anything. This matter of medicinal herbs concerns the safety of everyone in the harem. If the Emperor learns of this and someone keeps it secret, it will be a grave crime."
Doctor Liu's forehead was covered in sweat. "Your Majesty, Imperial Concubine An, I...I really don't know."
Concubine Hua's eyes widened as she scolded, "You little dog slave! I see you're guilty! Why don't you tell the truth?"
Doctor Liu was so frightened that he fell to his knees with a plop. "Please forgive me, Madam! I do know a little, but I was forced to do this!"
Zhen Huan slowed her tone, "Doctor Liu, if you tell the truth, I can guarantee you a lighter sentence. Who ordered you to do this?"
Doctor Liu hesitated again and again: "It was... it was Eunuch Zhao from the Imperial Household Department. He came to me and said that a master needed a batch of precious medicinal herbs from the palace. If I could help, I would definitely reward him handsomely in the future. I was confused for a moment, so..."
Zhen Huan and An Lingrong exchanged a glance, and An Lingrong asked, "Who is that sir?"
Doctor Liu trembled and said, "I only heard Eunuch Zhao call him Lord Sun. I really don't know anything else."
Zhen Huan said, "Please leave first. Do not mention this matter to anyone, or I will not forgive you."
Doctor Liu crawled out as if he had been pardoned.
Concubine Hua angrily said, "What the hell are Eunuch Zhao and Lord Sun doing?"
Zhen Huan said, "Looks like we have to go meet Eunuch Zhao."
Everyone arrived at the Imperial Household Department. Eunuch Zhao saw Zhen Huan and the others and smiled broadly, "Your Highnesses, your presence is a great honor to our humble home. I wonder what you may be wishing for?"
Zhen Huan said coldly, "Eunuch Zhao, do you know what crime it is to smuggle medicinal herbs from the palace?"
Eunuch Zhao's expression changed: "Madam, what do you mean? I don't understand."
An Lingrong asked, "Eunuch Zhao, Imperial Physician Liu has already confessed. Do you still want to quibble?"
Eunuch Zhao sank to his knees and said, "Please spare me, my ladies! I am only following orders. This was all Master Sun's idea. He said he had an urgent need, and I dared not disobey."
Zhen Huan asked, "Who exactly is this Lord Sun? What does he want the herbs for?"
Eunuch Zhao said with a sad face, "Your Majesty, this Lord Sun is an official in the court. I only know that he has connections with some people from the underworld. I really don't know what he wants the herbs for."
Mei Zhuang said from the side: "If these medicinal herbs from the palace were to be used by evil people, the consequences would be disastrous. We must investigate as soon as possible."
Zhen Huan said, "Eunuch Zhao, if you want to stay alive, do us a favor. Go and make an appointment with Lord Sun. Tell him that something has happened with the medicinal herbs and he needs to come and handle it personally."
Eunuch Zhao hesitated and said, "Your Majesty, this...if Lord Sun blames me, I can't bear the consequences."
Hua Fei said sternly: "If you don't go, I will kill you right now!"
Eunuch Zhao said helplessly, "Old slave, go. Old slave, go."
Lord Zhao arranged to meet Lord Sun in a secluded spot in the Imperial Garden. Zhen Huan and the others, along with their guards, had already set up an ambush.
Lord Sun came and saw Eunuch Zhao. He said impatiently, "Eunuch Zhao, why are you so flustered?"
Eunuch Zhao stammered, "Sir, something went wrong with the medicinal herbs. It seems that Imperial Noble Consort Xi and the others have noticed it."
Lord Sun's face changed: "You useless thing! You can't even handle such a small matter!"
At this time, Zhen Huan and others came out.
Zhen Huan sneered, "Lord Sun, you are so bold! You actually dared to smuggle medicinal herbs from the palace!"
Seeing that the situation was not good, Lord Sun turned around and tried to escape, but was stopped by the guards.
Lord Sun forced himself to remain calm and said, "Empress Xi, please do not listen to the slanderous words of this villain. I am innocent!"
An Lingrong said, "Master Sun, you colluded with gangsters to smuggle medicinal herbs. The evidence is irrefutable, yet you still dare to quibble!"
Lord Sun sank to his knees. "Please spare me, my ladies! I was instructed by someone else. It was... it was Prince Ning. He said he needed these herbs to develop a new medicine, and I dared not disobey."
Zhen Huan and the others were all shocked: "Prince Ning? Why would he do this?"
Lord Sun cried, "I really don't know. I was only responsible for helping him get the herbs."
Zhen Huan said, "Take Lord Sun away. This matter must be reported to the Emperor."
Everyone came to the Yangxin Palace and told the emperor what had happened.
The emperor's face was gloomy. "I never thought Prince Ning would do such a thing. I will send someone to investigate thoroughly."
Zhen Huan and the others thanked the Emperor: "Your Majesty is wise and wise. We only hope that this matter can be solved soon and peace can be restored to the harem."
After leaving the Yangxin Palace, Zhen Huan said, "Prince Ning has always lived in seclusion, so why is he involved in this? There must be something hidden behind this."
An Lingrong said, "Yes, Huan'er. We must be careful too. We might be implicated in this matter."
Concubine Hua said, "Who cares if he's Prince Ning? If he dares to harm us, I will never let him off lightly!"
Mei Zhuang said, "Let's go back to the palace first and wait and see what happens."
However, the matter did not end there. After Prince Ning learned that Lord Sun had been arrested, he sent a trusted confidant to infiltrate the harem to harm Zhen Huan and others.
One day, Zhen Huan and An Lingrong were walking in the palace garden when suddenly, an arrow was shot at them.
Zhen Huan exclaimed, "Be careful!"
An Lingrong quickly pulled Zhen Huan to hide behind a bush of flowers.
The guards rushed over upon hearing the noise and searched everywhere for the assassin.
Zhen Huan angrily said, "Prince Ning is so audacious! How dare he assassinate someone in the harem!"
An Lingrong said, "Huan'er, we must find a way to deal with this as soon as possible. We can't just sit there and wait for death."
Concubine Hua also arrived with her men: "I have always said that Prince Ning will not give up! We must take the initiative!"
Mei Zhuang said, "But we are still unclear about Prince Ning's intentions, so we can't act blindly."
Zhen Huan pondered for a moment: "Let's strengthen the palace guards first, and then try to find out what Prince Ning is trying to do."
So, everyone began to arrange for the guards in the palace. At the same time, Zhen Huan sent Xiao Yunzi to secretly investigate the relationship between Prince Ning and the people in the martial arts world, hoping to find clues to resolve the crisis. In this undercurrent harem, they once again fell into a thrilling battle, and their friendship and courage became more and more tenacious in these tests, and continued to write their own legendary stories.