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

Chapter 169 Ling Huan's dangerous journey and unfulfilled ambition

Zhen Huan snorted softly, "Lingrong, although the matter between Concubine Jing's brother and the zither player has been reported to the Emperor, I still feel a vague sense of unease in my heart."

An Lingrong nodded slightly. "Huan'er, your concerns are not without reason. Concubine Jing has been in the palace for many years, and her foundation is not easily eliminated. Her brother's influence outside the palace will probably not give up just yet."

As she was speaking, Zhen Huan's personal maid, Huanbi, hurried in, looking panicked. "Your Majesty, this is terrible! Concubine Jing has suddenly fallen ill in the palace, and her symptoms are very strange. The Emperor has sent the imperial physician to treat her, but now, rumors are spreading throughout the palaces that some ominous entity may be causing trouble."

Zhen Huan frowned. "Concubine Jing is ill? How could it be such a coincidence at this critical moment? Lingrong, what do you think?"

An Lingrong pondered for a moment. "Huan'er, I'm afraid there's another conspiracy behind this. Concubine Jing has just been demoted and confined to her house, and she's contracted this strange disease. Perhaps she's trying to gain the Emperor's sympathy, or... she has other motives."

Zhen Huan stood up and said, "Let's go and take a look. Although we have many grievances with her, if there is really an epidemic spreading in this palace, it is not what we want."

When they arrived at Concubine Jing's palace, they saw her lying on the bed, her face pale and her breathing weak. The emperor stood beside her, his brow furrowed.

Zhen Huan bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I heard that Concubine Jing was ill, so I came to visit her. I wonder if the imperial physician has a diagnosis?"

The emperor shook his head: "I just arrived too, and the imperial physician is treating me."

At this time, the imperial physician stepped forward and reported, "Your Majesty, Concubine Jing's illness seems to be caused by a rare poison, but we are unable to determine the exact nature of the poison. Moreover, this poison has never been seen in the palace, so we need to examine it more carefully."

An Lingrong's heart moved, and she whispered to Zhen Huan, "Huan'er, could this poison be related to those previous conspiracies?"

Zhen Huan's eyes were stern: "Don't make it public, let's see first."

Coming out of Concubine Jing's palace, Zhen Huan said to An Lingrong, "Lingrong, I always feel that there are two dark hands behind this, manipulating everything. We must find out the truth as soon as possible, otherwise the harem will fall into chaos again."

An Lingrong said, "Huan'er, I'll go to the Imperial Hospital and ask the doctor who's familiar with poisons for more information. You stay in the palace and keep an eye on everything going on."

An Lingrong went to the Imperial Hospital and found a senior doctor, Zhang. She bowed and said, "Doctor Zhang, I'm here to ask for your advice. Do you have any clues about the poison that Concubine Jing has been poisoned with?"

Doctor Zhang sighed, "Young Master An, this poison is truly bizarre. I've searched numerous medical texts but haven't found any similar records. However, I've heard there's a poison that came from the Western Regions, made from a variety of rare flowers and herbs. Those poisoned will initially appear seriously ill, then gradually lose consciousness."

An Lingrong was shocked: "Is there a solution?"

Doctor Zhang shook his head: "It is still unknown at this point. I, this old minister, need more time to study it."

An Lingrong returned to Zhen Huan's palace and informed her of the situation. Zhen Huan worriedly said, "If this poison came from the Western Regions, then the person behind it must have put a lot of thought into it. But how did this poison get into Concubine Jing?"

While the two were discussing, Chun Changzai came running over with a sachet in her hand: "Sister Huanhuan, Sister Lingrong, I found a sachet in the Imperial Garden. It's so beautiful, with strange patterns embroidered on it."

An Lingrong took the sachet, sniffed it carefully, and her face changed: "Chun Changzai, where did you get this sachet?"

Chun Changzai said, "It's in the flowers in the corner of the Imperial Garden. Sister, what's wrong?"

An Lingrong said, "There's something wrong with this sachet! The fragrance seems to be mixed with the scent of some poison."

Zhen Huan hurriedly asked, "Chun Changzai, have you ever touched the spices inside?"

Chun Changzai shook his head: "No, Chun'er just thought it looked nice, so he picked it up."

An Lingrong said, "Huan'er, this sachet may be the key to Concubine Jing's poisoning. We must find out who it belongs to."

Zhen Huan and An Lingrong then began to investigate the origins of the sachet in the palace. After questioning the palace maids and eunuchs, they learned that the sachet was made by a new palace maid who was always by her side.

Zhen Huan and An Lingrong came to the palace maid. Zhen Huan asked directly, "What's the matter with your sachet? Why did it appear in the imperial garden and was it carrying poison?"

The maid turned pale with fear: "Your Majesty, I didn't know! This sachet was made by a palace maid, but I didn't know it contained poison."

An Lingrong looked at the palace maid and said, "Maid, tell me the truth. Where did this poison come from?"

The maid fell to her knees with a plop. "My Lady An, it was... it was the maidservant beside Concubine Jing who gave me some spices and asked me to make them into sachets, saying they could repel mosquitoes. I didn't know they were poisonous!"

Zhen Huan angrily said, "It's Concubine Jing again! What's her intention? She staged this poisoning drama herself and even wants to drag others into it."

An Lingrong said, "Huan'er, let's take this maid and the sachet to see the Emperor and let him make the final decision."

Arriving before the Emperor, Zhen Huan told him everything that had happened: "Your Majesty, this so-called poisoning of Concubine Jing was actually a drama she staged herself, in order to elicit Your Majesty's pity or to frame others."

The emperor was furious: "How dare Concubine Jing tease me like this!"

An Lingrong presented the sachet: "Your Majesty, this is the evidence. The spices in this sachet were provided by Madam Jingfei, and they contain poison."

The emperor's face turned pale. "I will not forgive you easily! Concubine Jing's behavior is truly unbecoming of a concubine. I will demote you to a commoner and banish you from the palace!"

Zhen Huan and An Lingrong thanked the Emperor and left the palace. Zhen Huan breathed a sigh of relief: "Lingrong, this time I have finally completely solved the problem of Concubine Jing."

An Lingrong said, "Huan'er, I hope so. But I wonder how many eyes are watching us from the dark in this harem."