The Legend of Zhen Huan: Year after year, we share the spring breeze

The next morning, when An Lingrong woke up, Shen Meizhuang was no longer by her side.

She caught a cold yesterday and took the medicine prescribed by Wei Lin. She slept until dawn and felt much better.

She stretched herself, and just as she was about to adjust her posture for a nap, she heard a faint noise coming from outside. The sound was a little far away, and she couldn't hear it clearly, but she didn't care - after all, she was now a person under house arrest, and what was happening outside had nothing to do with her.

She closed her eyes and was just beginning to fall asleep when Ju Qing hurried into the hall, her voice filled with panic: "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!"

An Lingrong turned over, facing inward, and said lazily, "No matter how big the matter is, it's not as important as your Madam sleeping."

Ju Qing stamped her feet anxiously, her voice rising a few notches: "The Empress of Jingren Palace has passed away!"

After hearing this, An Lingrong slowly sat up, rubbed her eyes, and asked with a hint of doubt in her tone, "Who did you say passed away?"

Ju Qing looked anxious, her voice trembling: "It's the Queen!"

"What!" An Lingrong suddenly opened her eyes wide, and the sleepiness on her face disappeared in an instant.

She was stunned for a moment, then threw back the quilt, quickly got out of bed, and said in a hurried tone: "What's going on? Tell me clearly!"

Ju Qing shook her head, her face pale. "I don't know either. Concubine Hui asked Xiao Shi to pass on the message, and she only said this!"

An Lingrong's heart trembled, and her expression grew solemn. She quickly walked to the window, opened it, and peered into the distance. She could hear a faint commotion coming from the direction of Jingren Palace, as if many people were gathered there.

Inside Jingren Palace, the concubines were already kneeling on the ground in unison, with their heads lowered, not daring to breathe.

Yongzheng sat at the top, his face terribly gloomy.

Su Peisheng stood aside and reported cautiously, "Your Majesty, the maid who serves you personally said that today she fetched water and called the Empress to get up, but no one answered, so she withdrew. Half an hour later, she called again, but still no one answered. Then she went into the hall to check, and found... that the Empress had passed away."

At this point, he secretly glanced at Yongzheng's face and saw that his brows were furrowed and his eyes were full of anger. He hurriedly continued, "The palace maid said that the Empress had a dagger used to peel fruit stuck in her chest. Whether it was suicide or murder is unknown."

Upon hearing this, Yongzheng slammed his hand on the table and said in a cold voice, "Suicide? It is a serious crime for a concubine in the palace to commit suicide. How could she commit suicide?"

Su Peisheng was so scared that he quickly lowered his head and dared not say anything more.

Yongzheng suppressed his anger and asked in a cold voice, "Who came here yesterday?"

There was a dead silence in the hall, and the eunuchs and palace maids in the corner were shaking with fear.

One of them raised his head tremblingly, glanced at Yongzheng secretly, and then quickly lowered his head.

This action did not escape Su Peisheng's eyes.

He gave a look and the eunuchs nearby immediately grabbed the man and pinned him to the ground.

"Be honest!"

The young eunuch's face was pale as he trembled as he uttered a few words: "The Imperial... The Imperial Noble Consort has been here..."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the hall focused their attention on Zhen Huan.

Zhen Huan straightened up slightly, her expression calm and her tone indifferent: "I did come here, but I did not see the Queen."

Yongzheng looked at them coldly, his voice questioning: "Why did you come here?"

Zhen Huan bit her lip. "Yesterday, a young eunuch came to Yongshou Palace and said that the Empress had summoned me to speak, so I came. When I arrived, I didn't see the Empress, so I returned to the palace."

Yongzheng was obviously not satisfied with this statement: "You mean, she called you over, but she herself was not in the palace?"

Zhen Huan nodded: "Yes."

"She's not in the palace, where can she go?"

"I don't know."

"Why didn't you tell me last night in the Yangxin Palace?"

"I do not wish to bring up this matter and cause the Emperor to be upset."

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became solemn. Everyone held their breath and even breathed carefully, for fear of making any sound.

"Su Peisheng, go find the eunuch who delivered the message."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Su Peisheng bowed and accepted the order, then quickly retreated.

A moment later, he hurried into the hall with a young eunuch.

Zhen Huan looked over and saw that it was indeed the person who delivered the message yesterday.

The young eunuch's face was pale, clearly terrified. He fell to his knees upon entering the hall, trembling all over, his voice trembling slightly. "Your Majesty," he said, "yesterday the Empress gave me a purse and asked me to pass it on to the Imperial Consort. I did as I was told. I know nothing else."

Yongzheng turned his gaze to Zhen Huan, frowning slightly: "What purse?"

"Your Majesty, it was just an ordinary purse with a note inside, asking me to go to Jingren Palace to meet you overnight. I then went as I was told."

"Where's the note?"

Zhen Huan gritted her teeth and said, "I have already burned it."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the palace focused their attention on Zhen Huan.

Yongzheng's expression grew increasingly gloomy, his tone clearly filled with displeasure. "I have issued an imperial decree to seal off Jingren Palace. And you, relying solely on her words, defied my decree to meet with her? I cannot believe you are such a tactless person."

"Your Majesty, everything I said is true."

Yongzheng looked at her with a dark and unclear expression, but suspicions were already forming in his heart. He knew that Zhen Huan was always cautious and would never easily disobey the imperial decree, let alone go to the sealed Jingren Palace late at night.

Her confession was full of loopholes and it was clear that she was hiding something.

"Royal Concubine, you are so hesitant when you speak. How can I trust you?"

Zhen Huan knelt on the ground without saying a word.

Yongzheng was angered by her attitude, "Su Peisheng, go check!"

A moment later, the chief steward of the Ministry of Punishment and several maids entered the hall and began a careful search.

At the same time, all the eunuchs and palace maids serving in Jingren Palace were arrested and taken to the Ministry of Punishment.

Yongzheng looked at Zhen Huan kneeling on the ground, feeling a little distressed. After thinking for a moment, he cleared his throat and said, "This matter is of great importance. Everyone in the harem must be careful in what they say and do."

A simple sentence.

Su Peisheng understood the implication of his words, and went outside the palace. He called a young eunuch and ordered, "Go and call Concubine Wen."

The "everyone" the emperor mentioned naturally includes those who are under house arrest.

A moment later, An Lingrong came hurriedly.

"Concubine, please pay your respects to the Emperor!"

Hearing this voice, Sun Heyin, who had been keeping her head down, suddenly raised her head and said subconsciously, "Your Majesty, Concubine Wen has been under house arrest for a month, and it hasn't even started yet. How can she come out so easily?"

Yongzheng glanced at her indifferently.

Although Yongzheng had intended for her to come, An Lingrong had no choice but to take the responsibility herself: "Your Majesty, I apologize. I heard that something terrible had happened here, and I was deeply worried. That's why I came here without permission. Once the truth is revealed, I will continue to be under house arrest and will never dare to disobey Your Majesty's will."

"It's hard for you to be so sincere."