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

As Zhen Huan and An Lingrong were talking, the young eunuch Xiao Fuzi suddenly ran over, looking panicked: "Empress Xi, Empress An Lingrong, something terrible has happened! The Emperor has suddenly fainted in the Imperial Study!"

Zhen Huan turned pale and screamed, "What! Why did the Emperor suddenly faint? Can we call the imperial physician?"

Xiao Fuzi hurriedly replied: "The imperial physician has already rushed over, but the situation is still unclear."

An Lingrong frowned and said, "Huan'er, there must be something fishy going on. We must go and take a look."

The two hurried to the imperial study. Zhen Huan was extremely anxious along the way. "Lingrong, the emperor has been in good health recently. How could he suddenly faint? Could someone have poisoned him?"

An Lingrong's expression was solemn. "It's hard to say now. We'll know after the imperial physician's diagnosis. But in the harem, all kinds of conspiracies and tricks emerge one after another. We have to be on guard."

Arriving at the Imperial Study, they saw the Emperor lying on a couch, with the Imperial Physician beside them taking his pulse. Zhen Huan and An Lingrong hurried forward, and Zhen Huan anxiously asked, "Imperial Physician Li, how is the Emperor doing?"

Imperial Physician Li stood up and saluted, then slowly said, "Your Majesty, the Emperor has been poisoned by a chronic poison. Fortunately, it was discovered in time, so his life is not in danger for now, but he will need to recuperate for some time."

Zhen Huan angrily said, "Chronic poison? How could there be such a poison in this palace? Someone must be deliberately plotting to murder the Emperor!"

An Lingrong said calmly, "Doctor Li, do you know what kind of poison this is? Where did it come from?"

Imperial Physician Li shook his head. "This poison is quite rare, and it's hard for me to tell for sure right now. We need to return to the Imperial Hospital for a thorough study, and then check if there's anything suspicious in the palace recently."

Zhen Huan ordered, "Then Imperial Physician Li, please return and research immediately. Make sure you find the antidote as soon as possible. This palace and Empress An Lingrong will fully cooperate."

After Li Yuyi left, Zhen Huan said to An Lingrong, "Lingrong, we need to investigate the emperor's recent diet and daily life to see who had the opportunity to poison him."

An Lingrong nodded: "Huan'er, I think the imperial kitchen and the emperor's attendants are all suspects. Let's go to the imperial kitchen and ask them first."

The two of them arrived at the imperial kitchen, where the eunuchs knelt on the ground. Zhen Huan sternly said, "The emperor fainted in the imperial study. He was poisoned by a slow-acting drug. Do you know what happened?"

The head steward of the imperial kitchen said tremblingly, "Your Majesty, we servants really don't know! Imperial meals are prepared strictly according to the procedures, and the ingredients are all inspected."

An Lingrong asked, "Has anyone been sneaking around the Imperial Kitchen recently, or has any strange creature entered the Imperial Kitchen?"

A eunuch thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, a few days ago a young palace maid came and delivered some special seasonings. She said it was from Concubine Xiang, and she wanted to make a new dish for the Emperor."

Zhen Huan and An Lingrong exchanged a glance, and Zhen Huan said, "Xiangpin? It's her again! She was involved in the Yaoji incident last time. Could she be behind this again?"

An Lingrong said, "Don't jump to conclusions yet. Let's go ask Concubine Xiang."

They arrived at Concubine Xiang's palace. When Concubine Xiang saw Zhen Huan and An Lingrong coming, her eyes were a little evasive: "Empress Xi, Empress An Lingrong, how come you have time to come to me today?"

Zhen Huan said bluntly, "Xiangpin, the Emperor has been poisoned by a chronic poison. Some say you asked a young palace maid to deliver special seasonings to the imperial kitchen. Is that true?"

Concubine Xiang waved her hands hurriedly: "Your Majesty, this is unfair! I did ask the maid to deliver the seasoning, but it was just ordinary seasoning, not poison!"

An Lingrong sneered, "Xiangpin, you've been involved in these things time and time again. Do you think we can trust you?"

Xiangpin cried, "Your Majesty, someone really framed me. Even if I were foolish, I would never dare to murder the Emperor!"

Zhen Huan looked at Concubine Xiang and said, "Concubine Xiang, if you were really framed, do you know who wanted to frame you? Or is there anyone suspicious around you?"

Xiangpin thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, I've been feeling something's amiss with the maid Cuiyu lately. She often talks to a young eunuch behind my back, and when I ask her about it, she just stammers."

An Lingrong asked, "Then where is this jade now?"

Xiangpin said: "She should be serving in the side hall."

Zhen Huan and An Lingrong came to the side hall and saw Cui Yu packing her things. Zhen Huan shouted, "Cui Yu, do you know that the emperor has been poisoned?"

Cuiyu's face changed, but she quickly calmed down: "Your Majesty, I don't know. What does this have to do with me?"

An Lingrong stepped forward and stared into Cuiyu's eyes. "Cuiyu, if you don't tell the truth, don't blame us for being ruthless. Are you colluding with someone to murder the Emperor?"

Cui Yu fell to her knees with a plop. "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. It was...it was one of Concubine Jing's former maids. She found me, gave me a large sum of money, and asked me to mix that packet of stuff with the seasoning and send it to the imperial kitchen. I really didn't know it was poison!"

Zhen Huan and An Lingrong were both shocked. "Jingfei's nanny? Isn't she under house arrest? How can she still stir up trouble in the palace?"

Cui Yu cried and said, "My Lady, that nanny said she had a way, and that as long as the matter was done, she would take me out of the palace and live a good life."

An Lingrong asked, "Where is Madam now?"

Cuiyu said, "I don't know either. She just said she would come to see me again."

Zhen Huan said, "Lingrong, it seems the conspiracy behind this is becoming increasingly complex. We must quickly report this to the Emperor and strengthen the palace guards to prevent that maid from committing crimes again."

An Lingrong nodded. "Okay, Huan'er. Let's go to the Emperor first, and then have the Imperial Household Department and the guards search the palace thoroughly to see if we can find any trace of that nanny."

The two arrived at the emperor's bedroom, where he had already regained consciousness. Zhen Huan hurried forward, tears in her eyes: "Your Majesty, you are awake? I was so frightened."

The emperor said weakly, "Hanhuan, what's wrong with me?"

Zhen Huan told the emperor everything that had happened. The emperor was furious and said, "How unreasonable! I will tear the person behind this into pieces!"

An Lingrong said, "Your Majesty, the most urgent task now is to find Concubine Jing's nanny and prevent her from harming Your Majesty again. Empress Zhen Huan and I have already ordered the Imperial Household Department and the guards to search."

The emperor nodded. "Well, you did the right thing. If you can catch the person behind this, I will reward you handsomely."

After Zhen Huan and An Lingrong thanked her, they began to assist in the palace search, checking everywhere, leaving no corner untouched.

Finally, in a remote warehouse, the guards found the nanny's whereabouts. She was about to sneak out of the palace when she was caught by the guards.

Zhen Huan and An Lingrong rushed to the warehouse. Zhen Huan asked, "Mammy, why did you want to murder the Emperor? Did Concubine Jing order you to do so?"

The nanny sneered, "Hmph! Concubine Jing? She can't even protect herself right now, how can she order me around? I'm doing this just for myself. I've been bullied in the palace for years, and I want to make those who are favored feel the pain of losing!"

An Lingrong said, "You vicious woman, for your own selfish desires, you actually dared to murder the Emperor. Do you know that this is a grave crime punishable by the extermination of your entire clan?"

Nanny's face changed, realizing she had committed a heinous crime, and she collapsed to the ground: "My Lady, I know I was wrong, please spare my life!"

Zhen Huan said, "You have committed such a heinous crime, you will not be forgiven. Hand her over to the Emperor for punishment!"

The guards took the nanny to see the emperor, who ordered her execution and implicated her family.

Zhen Huan and An Lingrong successfully resolved the crisis once again. Zhen Huan sighed, "Lingrong, when will this harem struggle end? Although we have escaped danger time and time again, we are also exhausted."

An Lingrong sighed, "Huan'er, as long as we stick to our original intentions and support each other, we will one day be able to gain a firm foothold in this harem and no longer be troubled by these conspiracies and intrigues."

However, they also know that the harem's dynamics will never cease, and new challenges await them. Undeterred, they continue to bravely forge ahead towards the supreme throne of harem master in this harem filled with danger and conspiracy, writing their own legendary stories.