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

Zhen Huan and An Lingrong hurried to the Imperial Hospital, only to find it in a state of disarray. Medicine cabinets were open, herbs scattered across the floor, and several imperial physicians collapsed, unconscious. Zhen Huan quickly approached one of them and gently checked his breath. Her brows furrowed as she spoke worriedly, "He's still breathing, but unconscious. Who could have done this?" Her eyes were filled with anxiety, and she bit her lower lip.

An Lingrong arrived shortly afterwards, her eyes quickly scanning the surroundings. She bent down to pick up a herb, placed it on the tip of her nose and sniffed it. Her brows furrowed slightly as she shook her head and said, "The medicine cabinet is in disarray. It seems as if someone is looking for some specific herb. But why is that?" Her eyes were filled with confusion as her fingers subconsciously stroked the herbs.

Mei Zhuang also hurried over at this time. When she saw this scene, she couldn't help but cover her mouth and exclaimed: "The Imperial Hospital is a forbidden place in the palace, how could it suffer such a change? It must be someone's deliberate planning!" She stroked her chest with one hand, her face full of shock.

Zhen Huan turned around and ordered Xiao Yunzi, "Xiao Yunzi, go to the area around the Imperial Hospital and check if there are any suspicious people." Xiao Yunzi took the order and disappeared from everyone's sight like a gust of wind.

Zhen Huan turned to look at An Lingrong: "Lingrong, you are quite knowledgeable about medicinal herbs and pharmacology. In your opinion, what kind of poison did these imperial doctors get?"

An Lingrong carefully looked at the unconscious imperial physicians again. She gently lifted the eyelids of one of the imperial physicians and checked his tongue coating. After a moment, she said solemnly, "Sister, this poison seems to be a chronic poison with a slow onset. It will cause people to gradually fall into a coma. If they are not rescued in time, their lives may be in danger. It's just that it's difficult for me to determine the composition of this poison at the moment. It requires in-depth inspection." Her brows were furrowed, and her eyes were full of tension and concentration.

Chun'er ran with her face flushed red. She came panting, her eyes full of fear: "Sisters, what should we do? Something happened in the Imperial Hospital. Will it endanger the safety of everyone in the harem?" She grabbed Zhen Huan's sleeve tightly, her body trembling slightly.

Zhen Huan gently patted Chun'er's hand and said softly, "Don't be afraid, Chun'er. We will get to the bottom of this matter."

After a while, Xiao Yunzi returned and reported, "Your Majesty, I found some footprints in the backyard of the Imperial Hospital. Judging from the traces, it seems that they were left by multiple people, and the footprints lead to a remote palace."

Zhen Huan's eyes flashed, and she said resolutely, "Let's go and take a look at the palace."

They followed the footprints to the remote palace. The palace gate was closed, exuding a gloomy atmosphere. Zhen Huan stepped forward and knocked on the door. "Is anyone there?" No one answered.

Zhen Huan signaled the guards to knock on the door, and it was thrown open, and a pungent medicinal smell hit her face. The palace was filled with various bottles and jars, strange instruments, and many unknown herbs.

An Lingrong was the first to step in and look around. Suddenly, she found a medical book in the corner. She opened it and took a closer look. Her face turned pale: "Sister, this book contains a lost poison recipe, which is very similar to the poison that the imperial physician was poisoned with. I think someone has made poison based on it with the intention of murdering others." Her voice trembled slightly, and her eyes were full of anger and shock.

Mei Zhuang asked, "But who is the mastermind behind this? Why did they attack the imperial physicians?"

Zhen Huan pondered for a moment and said in a deep voice, "This person must be trying to disrupt the situation in the palace. If something happens to the imperial physician, the health of everyone in the harem will be in jeopardy. Then everyone will be in a panic."

Chun'er stamped her feet angrily, her little face flushed red, and she said angrily: "How can people be so cruel! For their own selfish desires, they completely disregard so many lives!" She waved her little fists, her face full of anger.

An Lingrong continued to search the palace and found a handkerchief on a table. It was embroidered with an intricate pattern. She picked it up and examined it carefully. An idea struck her: "Sister, I think I've seen this handkerchief before with a young lady in the palace, but I can't remember where I am."

Zhen Huan took the handkerchief, stared at it for a moment, and said, "No matter what, this handkerchief is the key clue. We can take it to ask the ladies in the palace, and we will definitely find something."

So, Zhen Huan and the others questioned the young ladies one by one in the palace. When they asked Li Changzai, she saw the handkerchief and her face changed slightly, but she quickly forced herself to be calm and said, "This handkerchief...I accidentally lost it before. How did it end up in your hands?"

Zhen Huan stared at Li Changzai with a sharp gaze: "Li Changzai, please don't lie. This handkerchief is related to the affairs of the Imperial Hospital. If you know about it and don't report it, you will be guilty of a serious crime."

Upon hearing this, Concubine Li fell to her knees, weeping, "Your Majesty, I... I was forced into this. It was Eunuch Sun from the Imperial Household Department who coerced me into leaving the handkerchief in the palace. I really don't know why."

Zhen Huan and the others were all shocked. It was the Imperial Household Department again! What on earth was this Imperial Household Department planning?

Zhen Huan said coldly, "Go and find Eunuch Sun. I want to hear his explanation."

When Eunuch Sun was brought in, he saw Zhen Huan and the others and was so frightened that his legs went weak and he knelt down to beg for mercy: "Your Majesty, spare me, Your Majesty, spare me!"

Zhen Huan sternly demanded, "Eunuch Sun, why did you threaten Concubine Li by placing the handkerchief in the palace? What connection do you have with the Imperial Hospital?"

Eunuch Sun trembled and said, "Your Majesty, this is Concubine Hua's brother. He wants to rebuild his power in the palace, so he ordered this servant to act secretly in the Imperial Hospital, intending to frame the concubines and cause chaos in the harem so that he can seize power. This servant is only following orders. Please spare my life, Your Majesty."

Upon hearing this, Zhen Huan and An Lingrong were furious.

Zhen Huan shouted angrily: "Brother Hua Fei is wishful thinking! Hua Fei has fallen, and he is still trying to stir up trouble." Her face flushed, her eyes were blazing with anger, and her hands were clenched into fists.

An Lingrong said, "Sister, we must not let him succeed. First, find the antidote and wake up the imperial doctors, then report this to the emperor and severely punish Hua Fei's brother." Her eyes were firm, her teeth were clenched, and she was determined.

Everyone searched far and wide for an antidote. An Lingrong, with her expertise in spices and herbs, finally developed one after a lot of effort. The imperial doctors took the antidote and gradually regained consciousness.

Zhen Huan brought the evidence to the emperor and reported the whole story to him in detail.

Upon hearing this, the Emperor was furious. "Brother Hua Fei, how dare you be so presumptuous! Pass on my decree; have Brother Hua Fei and his accomplices imprisoned and severely tortured. No mercy will be shown!"

After dealing with this matter, the harem returned to peace for a while. However, Zhen Huan and An Lingrong knew that this was just a facade and new conspiracies could arise at any time.

One day, Zhen Huan was playing the piano in the palace. The music was melodious, but it could not hide her melancholy.

An Lingrong listened at the side and sighed softly, "Sister, when will this harem struggle end? I'm really tired." Her eyes were tired, and she lowered her head slightly, looking at her hands.

Zhen Huan stopped, held An Lingrong's hand, and said softly: "Lingrong, I know this road is difficult, but we can't give up. As long as you and I are united as sisters, there will be a day when the clouds will clear and the moon will appear." Her eyes were firm and warm, as if they could dispel the haze in An Lingrong's heart.

However, at this seemingly peaceful moment, a young palace maid came hurriedly to report: "My ladies, a large number of dead fish have suddenly appeared in the pond in the imperial garden, and the water is turbid and smelly."

Zhen Huan and An Lingrong exchanged glances, each seeing an ominous premonition in the other's eyes. They knew a new crisis was about to arrive...

Afterwards, Zhen Huan, An Lingrong, Mei Zhuang and the others discussed a countermeasure. Mei Zhuang said, "This incident in the Imperial Garden pond is probably no accident. Let's go check it out first and then make a decision."

Everyone arrived at the Imperial Garden's pond, only to see a dense mass of dead fish floating on the surface, a patch of white, and the water emitting a nauseating odor. Zhen Huan covered her nose with her sleeve and said, "The water in this pond used to be clear. How could it suddenly become like this? Someone must be secretly plotting something bad."

An Lingrong squatted down and carefully observed the mud and water plants around the pond. She stood up and said, "Sister, there seem to be some strange traces around the pond. It seems like someone dumped something."

Chun Er came over curiously: "Sister, could it be that someone poisoned us?"

Zhen Huan shook her head: "There is no conclusion yet. Let's order someone to clean up the pond first, and then investigate the cause."

While cleaning the pond, the eunuchs fished out a porcelain bottle. Zhen Huan took it, opened it, sniffed it, and frowned, saying, "The lingering smell in this bottle is very strange, like some kind of poison."

An Lingrong took it and examined it carefully, saying, "Sister, I've never seen this poison before. Let's ask Imperial Doctor Wen to take a look."

Doctor Wen arrived and carefully examined the porcelain bottle. His expression was solemn. "Your Majesty, this poison is extremely rare. It is extracted from a poisonous weed from the Western Regions. It is extremely toxic. Not only can it kill fish instantly, but it can also be fatal if humans accidentally come into contact with it or ingest it."

Zhen Huan was shocked. "How could such poison appear in the palace? And who was so bold as to dump it into the pond?"

Mei Zhuang pondered, "Could it be someone connected to the previous incident at the Imperial Hospital? They're trying to create even greater panic."

An Lingrong said, "It's very likely. We can start by investigating the origin of this porcelain bottle."

Everyone searched for the porcelain vase's origin and found that it was found in the residence of a newly arrived lady in the palace. This lady was the niece of a minister in the court, named Lady Lin.

Zhen Huan and others came to Lady Lin's residence. Lady Lin looked flustered when she saw everyone coming.

Zhen Huan asked, "Miss Lin, is this porcelain bottle yours?"

Lady Lin hesitated and said, "My Lady, this... this porcelain bottle was found by chance. I had no idea it contained poison."

An Lingrong scrutinized her. "Miss Lin, don't try to quibble. How could such a poison be easily obtained? You must be aware of the situation."

Lady Lin fell to her knees and cried, "My Lady, I was framed. It was a eunuch from the Imperial Household Department who secretly placed this porcelain vase in my room. I only discovered it today."

Zhen Huan shouted angrily, "It's the Imperial Household Department again! How many conspiracies and intrigues does this Imperial Household Department have?"

An Lingrong said, "Sister, it seems we need to conduct a deeper investigation into the Imperial Household Department. There must be a vast conspiracy behind this."

Therefore, Zhen Huan and others once again turn their attention to the Imperial Household Department, determined to uncover the truth behind this series of events. In the process of exploration, what kind of obstacles and dangers will they encounter, and whether they can successfully protect the peace of the harem? Everything is unknown. Only the firm friendship and fearless courage support them to continue moving forward on this thorny road in the harem.