coobybook Chapter 170 Ling Huan unites to overcome danger
Chapter 170 Ling Huan unites to overcome danger
Zhen Huan patted her chest lightly and sighed, "Lingrong, the matter of Concubine Jing is over, but my heart is still uneasy."
An Lingrong held Zhen Huan's hand and whispered, "Huan'er, don't be afraid. With you and I together, even if there are thousands of difficulties and dangers, we can overcome them."
Zhen Huan nodded slightly. "I hope so. But I've been having ominous dreams lately, as if there's a bigger conspiracy lurking in the dark."
An Lingrong's eyes glared. "Huan'er, even though dreams are illusory, we must be on guard. We must make plans early."
As they were talking, Chun Chang came in, skipping and jumping: "Sister Huanhuan, Sister Lingrong, what are you talking about?"
Zhen Huan forced a smile: "Chun'er, it's nothing. Why are you so happy today?"
Chun Changzai said with a smile, "Sister, I heard that a troupe of actors came from outside the palace, and they sing very well! The emperor has approved it, and they will set up a stage in the palace tonight to perform."
Zhen Huan and An Lingrong exchanged a glance, and Zhen Huan said, "A troupe? They came so suddenly, there must be something fishy going on."
An Lingrong agreed: "Huan'er is right. We must be careful in our response."
At night, the stage was brightly lit. Zhen Huan and An Lingrong sat in the front row, seemingly concentrating on watching the play, but in fact they were paying attention to the movements around them.
Halfway through the play, the female role on stage suddenly threw a silk handkerchief, which landed right at Zhen Huan's feet. Zhen Huan was startled and did not pick it up.
An Lingrong whispered, "Huan'er, there's something wrong with this handkerchief!"
Zhen Huan responded softly, "Let's keep quiet and see what else they do."
At this moment, a young eunuch from the audience hurried over and tried to pick up the handkerchief. An Lingrong shouted, "Stop! Don't touch this handkerchief."
The young eunuch trembled with fear and knelt down hurriedly, saying, "My lady, please forgive me. I just saw that the handkerchief had fallen to the ground and I was afraid it would get dirty."
Zhen Huan sneered, "Humph! I'm afraid it's not that simple. Who are you with?"
The young eunuch hesitated, "I...I'm from the Imperial Household Department, and I'm in charge of today's stage affairs."
An Lingrong became suspicious: "The Imperial Household Department? Tell the truth, was someone instructing you to come and get this handkerchief?"
The young eunuch's forehead was covered with sweat and he dared not speak.
Zhen Huan angrily said, "If you don't tell me, I will have you dragged away and severely punished!"
The young eunuch was terrified and cried, "Your Majesty, I dare not hide anything. It was Concubine Li who sent me here. I only know that there seems to be a secret on this handkerchief, but I really don't know anything else."
Zhen Huan and An Lingrong were both startled. Zhen Huan asked, "Noble Lady Li? Hasn't she fallen out of favor for a long time? How dare she still stir up trouble?"
An Lingrong pondered for a moment: "Huan'er, it must be because we didn't uproot her before, so she had the opportunity to take advantage of us."
Zhen Huan gritted her teeth and said, "Such a sinister person must not be tolerated any longer. Let's go to Concubine Li's palace and ask for the truth."
The two of them brought their people to Concubine Li's palace. Concubine Li saw Zhen Huan and An Lingrong coming, her expression changed slightly, but she still pretended to be calm: "Two sisters, you are visiting so late at night, I wonder what's the matter?"
Zhen Huan threw the handkerchief to the ground and said sternly, "Lady Li, do you recognize this handkerchief? What is your intention in instructing the young eunuch to be under the stage?"
Concubine Li took a look at the handkerchief and pretended to be surprised: "Sister, what do you mean? I have never seen this handkerchief before, let alone anything about the little eunuch."
An Lingrong stepped forward and said coldly, "Lady Li, don't try to quibble. That eunuch has already betrayed you, and you still dare to be stubborn?"
Concubine Li sneered, "Humph! How can I trust that little eunuch's words? I'm afraid someone is deliberately instructing him to frame me."
Zhen Huan scolded, "Lady Li, do you think you can get away with this? If you tell the truth, perhaps you can get a lighter sentence. Otherwise, I will make you regret it."
Concubine Li was silent for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter: "Zhen Huan, An Lingrong, do you think you can be proud forever? Everyone in this harem wants you dead, and I am just one of them."
An Lingrong angrily asked, "Why are you so cruel? We have no grudges against you, so why do you keep plotting against us?"
A trace of resentment flashed in Li Guiren's eyes: "No grudges or hatred? After you entered the palace, the emperor's attention was attracted by you. I went from being favored to being out of favor, all of this is because of you."
Zhen Huan said, "Lady Li, if you had relied on your true abilities to win our favor, we would have nothing to say. But you resorted to such despicable tactics, which is truly despicable."
Concubine Li snorted disdainfully, "Despicable? In this harem, only the victors are worthy of talking about nobility."
Zhen Huan and An Lingrong said no more to her and came before the emperor with the evidence.
Zhen Huan bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Concubine Li secretly instructed the young eunuch to use a brocade handkerchief to murder me and Ling Rong under the stage. Her intention is worthy of death. Please understand this, Your Majesty."
The emperor frowned. "Is this true? Do you have any solid evidence?"
An Lingrong presented the handkerchief: "Your Majesty, this handkerchief is the evidence. It has a special fragrance on it that will cause a person to become unconscious if they come into contact with it for a long time. Concubine Li is trying to use this to frame us and disturb the peace of the harem."
The Emperor took the handkerchief, sniffed it, and his face darkened. "How bold, Concubine Li! I will never allow such a chaotic and chaotic environment to permeate the harem."
Zhen Huan took the opportunity to say, "Your Majesty, Concubine Li has refused to change her ways despite repeated admonitions. Please punish her severely to serve as a warning to others."
The Emperor nodded and said, "I will take care of it myself. Banish Concubine Li to the cold palace. Without my permission, she is not allowed to leave."
Coming out of the Emperor's palace, Zhen Huan sighed, "When will this harem strife end?"
An Lingrong said, "Huan'er, as long as we stick to our hearts and support each other, we can get through any storm."
However, troubles arose before one thing subsided. Zhen Huan suddenly became unwell and fell into a coma. An Lingrong was extremely worried and searched everywhere for the imperial physician.
Doctor Wen from the Imperial Hospital arrived and, after a careful examination, frowned, "My Lady An, Concubine Xi's condition is very strange. It seems she has been poisoned by a chronic poison, but I'm having trouble pinpointing the source."
An Lingrong was horrified. "Doctor Wen, you must save Huan'er. Who in the harem is so cruel and vicious as to do such a murder?"
Doctor Wen shook his head and sighed, "Young Master An, I will do my best. However, this poison is quite difficult to treat, and it will take some time to develop an antidote."
An Lingrong stayed by Zhen Huan's bedside all night, secretly vowing in her heart that she would find out the mastermind behind the incident and avenge Zhen Huan.
The next day, An Lingrong searched everywhere in the palace and found that there was nothing unusual in Zhen Huan's diet. So where did the poison come from?
Just as she was thinking hard, Bao Que came running to her and said, "My lady, I heard that recently there is a young palace maid who often hangs around the palace of Concubine Xi, and her behavior is suspicious."
An Lingrong's eyes lit up: "Quick, take me to see it."
They found the little palace maid in a secluded corner. When the little palace maid saw An Lingrong coming, she turned around and tried to escape.
An Lingrong shouted, "Stop! If you dare to run, you will be killed immediately."
The little maid collapsed to the ground in fear, crying, "Please spare my life, my lady. I was forced into this situation."
An Lingrong asked, "Why are you lingering near Empress Zhen Huan's palace? Did you poison her?"
The young palace maid shook her head repeatedly, "My lady, I didn't poison you. It was Concubine Ning who instructed me to do so. I simply followed her instructions and sprinkled some powder outside the Empress's palace. I honestly didn't know it was poison."
An Lingrong was shocked: "Concubine Ning? Why would she poison Zhen Huan?"
The little maid cried and said, "I only heard Ning Changzai say that Concubine Xi was blocking her way and she had to get rid of her in order to gain a foothold in the harem."
An Lingrong was furious: "This Concubine Ning is truly despicable!"
She brought the little palace maid and evidence and came before the emperor again.
An Lingrong bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Concubine Ning has ordered the young palace maid to poison Empress Zhen Huan. Zhen Huan is now unconscious and in critical condition. Please, Your Majesty, take action for the Empress."
Upon hearing this, the Emperor was furious: "How dare Concubine Ning act so presumptuously! I will not let her off lightly."
An Lingrong presented the evidence: "Your Majesty, this is the young palace maid's confession and the poison powder found on her that was given to her by Concubine Ning."
The Emperor's face turned pale. "Immediately throw Concubine Ning into prison and await your punishment. If anything happens to Zhen Huan, I will bury her with me."
After thanking her, An Lingrong hurried back to Zhen Huan's bedside. She held Zhen Huan's hand and murmured, "Huan'er, you must get better. I will never let those bad guys succeed."
Under the meticulous care of Imperial Physician Wen, Zhen Huan's condition gradually improved. Slowly opening her eyes, she saw An Lingrong's tired yet relieved face and said with emotion, "Lingrong, thank you for your hard work."
An Lingrong's eyes were filled with tears: "Huan'er, I'm glad you're awake. As long as you're okay, everything I do is worth it."
Zhen Huan sat up slightly: "Who wants to harm me this time?"
An Lingrong told Zhen Huan everything that had happened. Zhen Huan angrily said, "This Concubine Ning, I have never had any deep hatred with her. Why is she so cruel?"
An Lingrong said, "Huan'er, in this harem, some people have lost their minds in their quest for favor. We must be even more cautious in the future."
Zhen Huan nodded: "That's right. We can no longer sit and wait for death. We must take the initiative to find those enemies hiding in the shadows and protect ourselves and those around us."
An Lingrong said firmly, "Huan'er, I will advance and retreat with you."