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

Zhen Huan and An Lingrong walked side by side on the path back to the palace. Zhen Huan whispered, "Lingrong, although the matter of Concubine Xiang has been resolved, I still feel a little uneasy."

An Lingrong turned her head to look at her: "Huan'er, don't overthink it. The Emperor has already ordered the disposal of Xiangpin's remaining followers. I believe there will be no more trouble in the short term."

Zhen Huan shook her head slightly: "You and I both know how deep the waters of this harem are. The calmness is just an appearance."

An Lingrong sighed, "Then we can only take it one step at a time and respond accordingly. But we must be doubly careful in the future."

At this time, Chun Changzai came over and said, "Sister Huanhuan, Sister Lingrong, what are you talking about? Chun'er just made some snacks, they are delicious. Come and try them, sisters."

Zhen Huan smiled: "Chun Er is always so considerate."

The three of them came to Chun Changzai's palace and tasted some snacks. Chun Changzai chirped, "Sisters, there's nothing interesting going on in the palace lately. It's so boring."

Zhen Huan said with a smile, "Chun'er, in this harem, being safe and sound is the greatest blessing. Don't always look forward to fun things, because behind the fun may be disaster."

Chun Changzai blinked: "What Sister Huanhuan said seems to make sense. Chun'er understands."

A few days later, news came from the Ministry of Internal Affairs that a flower-viewing banquet was to be held in the palace, and all the concubines in the palace were required to prepare flower displays.

Zhen Huan said to An Lingrong, "Lingrong, this flower viewing banquet is likely to be another silent contest. You and I must prepare well."

An Lingrong nodded. "Huan'er, I have some newly cultivated fragrant flowers with a unique fragrance that would be a great addition to the banquet. What about you?"

Zhen Huan thought for a moment and said, "I'll ask the kitchen to make some exquisite flower-themed cakes to complement the flowers."

On the day of the flower viewing banquet, all the concubines gathered in the garden. Concubine Xia was still arrogant. She looked at Zhen Huan and An Lingrong and sneered, "Hmph, let's see what good things you can come up with."

Zhen Huan ignored her and said gently to An Lingrong, "Lingrong, don't pay attention to what she said."

An Lingrong said softly, "Huan'er, I won't take it to heart."

When it was Zhen Huan's turn to present her creations, the palace maids presented her with exquisite floral pastries, each shaped like a vivid flower. The Emperor praised her, saying, "Han Huan is very ingenious. This pastry is truly a work of art."

Zhen Huan bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I am so kind. I simply wanted to add a touch of elegance to this flower viewing banquet."

Next came An Lingrong. She ordered her maids to arrange the spices and flowers. A gentle breeze blew, and the fragrance filled the air, intoxicating everyone. The emperor sniffed the flowers and said, "Lingrong's spices and flowers are truly unique. Their fragrance is refreshing."

An Lingrong said modestly, "As long as Your Majesty likes it, I am glad. This is something I have carefully cultivated. I only hope it can make Your Majesty smile."

However, halfway through the banquet, a palace maid suddenly exclaimed, "Oh no, Madam! How come the flowers have suddenly withered?"

Everyone looked over and saw that the precious flowers displayed by one of the concubines had instantly dried up. The concubine's face turned pale: "What...what's going on?"

Zhen Huan and An Lingrong exchanged a glance, both sensing something fishy. An Lingrong stepped forward to investigate, her brow furrowed, "This flower looks like it's been tampered with, like it's been poisoned."

Zhen Huan asked, "Lingrong, do you know what kind of poison it is?"

An Lingrong shook her head: "We need to investigate further. But for something like this to happen at the flower viewing banquet, it must have been intentional."

At this time, some concubines whispered: "These flowers were prepared by Concubine Li. Could it be that she was careless?"

Concubine Li hurriedly defended herself, "It's not me! I don't know why the flower is like this. Someone must be trying to frame me!"

An Lingrong squatted down and carefully observed the soil around the flowers. Suddenly, she found some tiny particles. She picked up the particles and smelled them. "This is a special poison powder that can quickly wither plants."

Zhen Huan pondered, "Who could have spread the poison powder here?"

An Lingrong stood up and said, "Let's cordon off this area first. Don't let anyone disrupt the scene. Then we'll start investigating the palace maids and eunuchs around here."

Zhen Huan nodded: "As you say."

They began to ask the palace maids and eunuchs nearby, but everyone said they had seen nothing unusual.

Just as she was frowning, Baoque whispered to An Lingrong, "Your Majesty, I just saw a young eunuch looking furtively this way. As soon as I approached, he ran away."

An Lingrong's eyes flashed: "Quick, catch up!"

Zhen Huan also took the guards to chase after him, and finally blocked the young eunuch in a remote corner.

Zhen Huan snapped, "Why are you running? Did you do something to the flowers?"

The young eunuch slumped to his knees, "Your Majesty, spare me! It was…it was Concubine Ning who ordered me to do this. I dared not disobey!"

Zhen Huan and An Lingrong were both shocked: "Concubine Ning? Why would she do this?"

The young eunuch trembled as he spoke, "Concubine Ning said she couldn't stand Concubine Li's favor and wanted to make her look bad at the flower viewing banquet. She also said she couldn't let Concubine Zhen Huan and Concubine An Lingrong get too complacent."

Zhen Huan angrily said, "How could Concubine Ning be so cruel!"

An Lingrong said calmly, "Huan'er, don't be impatient. We still need to find evidence. We can't just rely on this little eunuch's one-sided statement."

Zhen Huan took a deep breath and said, "You are right. Let's go to Concubine Ning's palace and take a look."

When they arrived at Ningpin's palace, Ningpin was not panicked when she saw Zhen Huan and An Lingrong coming.

Zhen Huan asked directly, "Concubine Ning, why did you instruct the eunuch to poison Concubine Li's flowers at the flower viewing banquet?"

Ningpin sneered, "Zhen Huan, what makes you say I ordered it? Just based on what that little eunuch said?"

An Lingrong asked, "Concubine Ning, if it weren't for you, would you dare let us search your palace?"

Ningpin's expression changed slightly: "How dare you! This is my palace, you have no right to search it!"

Zhen Huan asked, "Ningpin, if you have nothing to hide, why are you afraid of our search?"

Concubine Ning was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled and said, "Okay, go ahead and search. I want to see what you can find."

Zhen Huan and An Lingrong took the palace maids to search Ningpin's palace carefully, and finally found the remaining poison powder under a flower pot.

An Lingrong picked up the poison powder and said, "Concubine Ning, how do you explain this?"

When Concubine Ning saw the poison powder, her face turned pale: "This... this is not mine. Someone deliberately put it in my palace to frame me!"

Zhen Huan scolded, "Even now, you're still trying to make excuses! Do you think you can escape your guilt this way?"

Concubine Ning fell to her knees with a thud: "Zhen Huan, An Lingrong, I know I was wrong. I was jealous of Concubine Li and of you all, which is why I did this. Please forgive me."

Zhen Huan and An Lingrong exchanged a glance, and Zhen Huan said, "Ningpin, what you have done is truly despicable. But considering that you can admit your mistakes, we will report this matter to the Emperor, and he will make the final decision."

After coming out of Ningpin's palace, An Lingrong said to Zhen Huan, "Huan'er, when will this harem struggle end?"

Zhen Huan sighed, "As long as we stick to our original intentions and don't let ourselves be consumed by this darkness, we will one day be able to change the atmosphere in this harem."

Not long after, news came from the palace that the emperor was going out of the palace to pray for blessings and would take several concubines with him.

Zhen Huan said to An Lingrong, "Lingrong, I'm afraid this time out of the palace won't be peaceful. We need to make more preparations."

An Lingrong nodded. "Huan'er, I'll bring some homemade spices with me, just in case. What about you?"

Zhen Huan said, "I will bring some common medicines and clothes."

On the day of leaving the palace, Zhen Huan, An Lingrong and other concubines followed the emperor's carriage. Along the way, the scenery was picturesque.

Chun Changzai said excitedly: "Wow, the world outside is so beautiful!"

Zhen Huan smiled and said, "Chun'er, don't be too playful. Always follow us closely."

An Lingrong also warned: "Chun Changzai, it's not as safe outside the palace as it is inside. You must be careful."

After arriving at the place of prayer, everyone settled down. In the evening, An Lingrong was sorting spices in her room when Zhen Huan arrived.

Zhen Huan said, "Lingrong, I always feel that this place of prayer is a little eerie. Will something happen?"

An Lingrong comforted her, "Huan'er, don't scare yourself. I'm here, and my spices can ward off evil."

However, in the middle of the night, Zhen Huan was suddenly awakened by a burst of crying. She hurriedly got up and woke An Lingrong: "Lingrong, listen, what is that sound?"

An Lingrong also sat up and listened carefully: "It sounds like a woman crying. Could there really be some wronged spirit in this place?"

The two put on their clothes and decided to go out to check. They walked in the direction of the sound and found a dilapidated house where the crying sound came from.

Zhen Huan mustered up the courage to push open the door, only to see a woman huddled in a corner crying.

Zhen Huan asked softly, "Who are you? Why are you crying here?"

The woman raised her head, her face filled with fear. "My Lady, save me! I was abducted and brought here. They want to sacrifice me to some evil god."

An Lingrong frowned. "How could such a thing happen? Huan'er, we can't just ignore it."

Zhen Huan nodded: "Of course we have to take care of it. Let's take her back to our residence first, and then find a solution."

After bringing the woman back, they asked her for details. She said her name was Azhi, and she was a villager from a nearby village who was abducted by a group of criminals.

Zhen Huan said, "We will tell the emperor tomorrow and let him deal with these evildoers."

The next day, Zhen Huan and An Lingrong reported the incident to the Emperor, who was furious and ordered a thorough investigation and severe punishment for the perpetrators.

After many twists and turns, the matter was finally resolved. Through these experiences, Zhen Huan and An Lingrong's friendship grew stronger and stronger. They continued to write their own legendary story in the harem and the world outside the palace. No matter what difficulties and challenges they faced, they worked hand in hand and never backed down.