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

"Sister, this incident with Concubine Hua's remnants was really thrilling. I'm still scared!" An Lingrong held Zhen Huan's hand, her eyes full of worry.

"Yes, Lingrong, this harem is like a bottomless pit, with conspiracies following one after another, and we never know where the next danger will be." Zhen Huan said with a frown.

"Sister, we have to think of a way. We can't always be so passive. Those people are like poisonous snakes in the dark, ready to bite us at any time." An Lingrong bit her lip.

"Lingrong, you're right. We can't just sit there and wait for death. We have to take the initiative." Zhen Huan's eyes became firm. "Let's start by checking the people around us to see if there is anything unusual."

"Okay, sister, I think we can start with the palace maids and eunuchs. They are the most well-informed in the palace." An Lingrong nodded in agreement.

So, Zhen Huan and An Lingrong began to question the palace maids and eunuchs in their own palaces separately.

"Xiao Zhu, have you discovered any suspicious people or things recently?" Zhen Huan asked her personal maid.

"Your Majesty, I have noticed that there is a young eunuch who has been sneaking around our palace recently. I don't know what he is doing." Xiao Zhu replied.

"Oh? Did you see who he is?" Zhen Huan's eyes lit up.

"He is a young eunuch in the Imperial Garden, his name is Xiao Liuzi." Xiao Zhu said.

On the other hand, An Lingrong also received similar news from the palace maid.

"Sister, the palace maids here said that there is a little palace maid who often comes into contact with some strange maids and looks very mysterious." An Lingrong hurried to find Zhen Huan.

"Lingrong, I have a clue here too. It seems we have to investigate this Xiao Liuzi and that little palace maid carefully." Zhen Huan said.

They brought people to the Imperial Garden and found Xiao Liuzi.

"Xiao Liuzi, what are you doing here?" Zhen Huan asked.

"My queen, I...I'm working." Xiao Liuzi looked panicked.

"Work? You're acting sneaky, there's clearly something wrong. Tell me! Is someone instructing you to do something bad?" An Lingrong shouted.

"My queen, I didn't, I really didn't!" Xiao Liuzi collapsed to the ground in fear.

"Hmph! Why don't you tell the truth? Take him away and torture him!" Zhen Huan said angrily.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Liuzi immediately begged for mercy: "Your Majesty, spare my life! I've already said that it was...it was Concubine Jing who asked me to keep an eye on you to see what you do every day."

"Jingpin? Why would she do this?" Zhen Huan frowned, confused.

"I don't know, my queen. I was just following your orders." Xiao Liuzi said crying.

"Lock him up first, and we'll go ask Concubine Jing." Zhen Huan said.

Zhen Huan and An Lingrong came to Jingpin's palace.

"Empress Jingpin, why did you send someone to monitor me?" Zhen Huan asked.

"Zhen Huan, you misunderstood, I didn't." Jingpin looked a little unnatural.

"Empress Jingpin, we have witnesses, why don't you admit it? Xiaoliuzi has already confessed." An Lingrong said.

"Huh! Someone must have framed me. How could I do such a thing?" Jingpin said excitedly.

"Empress Jing, we have always gotten along well. Why are you doing this?" Zhen Huan looked at Concubine Jing with disappointment in her eyes.

"Zhen Huan, I really didn't do that. You have to believe me." Jingpin said earnestly.

Just then, the queen arrived with a group of people.

"What are you doing here? It's so lively." asked the queen.

"Empress, Zhen Huan and An Lingrong suspected that I sent someone to monitor Zhen Huan, but I really didn't!" Jingpin cried to the Queen.

"Empress, we have witnesses. Xiao Liuzi has confessed everything. It was Concubine Jing who ordered him to do it." An Lingrong said.

"Hmph! Jingpin, you disappoint me so much! How dare you spy on Zhen Huan in the palace? What are your intentions?" the Queen asked sternly.

"Empress, I am innocent!" Concubine Jing knelt down and begged for mercy.

"Lock up Concubine Jing first and wait until the matter is thoroughly investigated." The Queen ordered.

"Empress, could it be that someone deliberately framed Concubine Jing to cause disputes between us?" Zhen Huan suddenly said.

"Oh? Zhen Huan, why do you say that?" The Queen looked at Zhen Huan.

"Your Majesty, Concubine Jing has never had any major conflicts with us. There is no reason for her to suddenly monitor me. I think there must be something fishy going on." Zhen Huan analyzed.

"Well, you make sense. Then let's investigate it more carefully to see if there are any other clues." The queen nodded.

After some investigation, it was discovered that it was a nanny who was bribed by the remnants of Concubine Hua. She imitated Jingpin's handwriting and wrote a letter to Xiao Liuzi, instructing him to monitor Zhen Huan and try to stir up conflict between Zhen Huan and Jingpin.

"So that's how it is. Jingpin was almost wrongly accused." Zhen Huan sighed.

"Yes, the conspiracy in the harem is really hard to guard against. We have to find that nanny." An Lingrong said.

After a search, the nanny was finally found and severely punished, and Concubine Jing was also released.

"Zhen Huan, thanks to you for believing in me this time, otherwise I would have no way to defend myself." Concubine Jing said to Zhen Huan gratefully.

"Empress Jingpin, we are sisters and cannot be separated by these conspiracies." Zhen Huan said with a smile.

However, before one crisis was resolved, another arose. A strange rumor began to spread in the palace, saying that the reason why Zhen Huan and An Lingrong were able to repeatedly resolve crises was because they used witchcraft.

"Sister, this is ridiculous! Witchcraft? How could they make up such a lie?" An Lingrong said angrily.

"Lingrong, this must have been done on purpose by someone who wants to completely destroy us. We must find out who is behind this as soon as possible." Zhen Huan frowned.

"We can start by investigating those who first spread the rumor," An Lingrong said.

They started a new investigation, searching the palace for clues. This time, they found that the rumor originated from a palace maid near the cold palace.

"You! Why do you spread such rumors?" Zhen Huan questioned the palace maid.

"Your Majesty, I... I heard it from a young eunuch. He said it was true and that some witchcraft items were found in the palace where you and Concubine An live." The maid said tremblingly.

"Nonsense! There is no such thing at all. Who is that little eunuch?" An Lingrong said angrily.

"I don't know, he didn't say." The maid replied.

"It seems that this is another carefully planned conspiracy. We can't let them succeed." Zhen Huan said.

They continued to investigate and found that the rumor was actually spread by a young lady who had always been jealous of Zhen Huan and An Lingrong. She had joined forces with some people who were dissatisfied with Zhen Huan and others, hoping to make Zhen Huan and An Lingrong fall out of favor in this way.

"Hmph! They are so hateful! We can't let them bully us like this." A trace of anger flashed in Zhen Huan's eyes.

"Sister, let's tell the Queen about this and let her judge the matter." An Lingrong said.

When the queen learned about this, she was furious and severely punished the ladies, palace maids and eunuchs who were involved in spreading the rumors.

"Zhen Huan, An Lingrong, you have been wronged again this time. If something like this happens again in the future, you must tell me in time." said the Queen.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Zhen Huan and An Lingrong bowed to express their gratitude.

After these events, Zhen Huan and An Lingrong understood more clearly that in the harem, they must always be vigilant and support each other in order to survive in the endless palace fighting.

"Sister, no matter what happens in the future, we can't be separated." An Lingrong held Zhen Huan's hand tightly.

"Yes, Lingrong, our friendship is more important than anything else. We must work together to protect our sisterhood and the peace of the harem." Zhen Huan said firmly.