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

Zhen Huan and An Lingrong hurried to the Imperial Gardens, only to find a crowd of palace maids and eunuchs gathered around the pond, all clutching their hands and noses, expressions of disgust on their faces. The once lively fish in the pond now floated on their white bellies, their bodies turned upside down. The water was a dark, inky black, emitting a nauseating, rancid stench.

Zhen Huan frowned slightly, covered her nose with her sleeve, her eyes full of worry: "How could this beautiful pond suddenly become like this? Someone must have done it on purpose." Her eyes slowly swept around, as if looking for something suspicious.

An Lingrong leaned forward slightly, carefully observing the water and dead fish in the pond, her brows furrowed. "Sister, the color and smell of this water are extremely strange, it doesn't seem to be naturally formed. I suspect someone has put poison or dirt in the water." As she spoke, she gently dipped a little pond water with a handkerchief, put it close to her nose and sniffed it, then her face changed slightly.

At this time, Chun'er also rushed over. She was so irritated by the stench that she stepped back, her little face wrinkled: "Oh, what's this smell! Sisters, why is this pond like this?" As she spoke, she waved her little hands in front of her nose.

Mei Zhuang arrived shortly afterwards, her expression solemn: "There must be something fishy about this matter. I'm afraid someone wants to stir up trouble in the harem again." There was a hint of coldness in her eyes, and her hands clenched unconsciously.

Zhen Huan turned around and said to Xiao Yunzi beside her, "Xiao Yunzi, go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and find some people to deal with this pond. Also, check who has been near here recently."

Xiao Yunzi took the order and left. Zhen Huan then said to everyone, "Let's go back to the palace first and wait for Xiao Yunzi to investigate thoroughly before making any plans."

Back at Zhen Huan's palace, everyone sat together in a solemn atmosphere.

An Lingrong was the first to break the silence: "Sister, I always feel that this matter is related to some disputes in the palace recently. The incident in the Imperial Hospital was just settled a few days ago, and now there is another incident in the Imperial Garden. Could it be the work of the same group of people?" There was confusion in her eyes, and her fingers gently circled the corner of her clothes.

Mei Zhuang nodded and said, "Ling Rong has a point. There are many people in the harem who want to harm us. Although Brother Hua Fei has been punished, his followers may not be completely cleared out." There was a hint of worry in her eyes, and she sighed softly.

Chun'er blinked her big eyes and said, "Could it be the Queen? She has never liked us sisters and always tries to make things difficult for us." Her voice was crisp and innocent.

Zhen Huan shook her head slightly: "Chun'er, don't speculate casually. Don't speak nonsense without evidence." She looked at Chun'er with a serious look in her eyes.

Not long after, Xiao Yunzi returned with a report: "Your Majesty, the people from the Imperial Household Department have gone to deal with the pond. I have heard that recently several young eunuchs have been sneaking around in a remote corner of the Imperial Garden. One of them looks like one of the eunuchs from Concubine Hua's former palace."

Zhen Huan's eyes glared. "It's definitely related to the remnants of Concubine Hua's gang. Xiao Yunzi, keep watching them and see if they make any more moves."

"Yes, your majesty." Xiao Yunzi stepped back.

A few days later, Zhen Huan and An Lingrong were walking on a path in the palace when they suddenly heard a quarrel.

"You slut, how dare you block my way!" It was the voice of the Rouran princess.

"Princess, please forgive me. I didn't mean it." A palace maid knelt down and begged for mercy.

Zhen Huan and An Lingrong exchanged a glance and quickly stepped forward. They saw the Rouran princess's face filled with rage, while the palace maid on the ground trembled with fear.

Zhen Huan stepped forward and advised, "Princess, please calm down. This palace maid must have made an unintentional mistake. You are a magnanimous person and should not take it to heart with her." She had a gentle smile on her face, but her eyes revealed a hint of vigilance.

The Rouran princess snorted when she saw Zhen Huan, "Empress Wan, the maids in the harem are becoming more and more unruly. I have never seen such ignorant servants on the grasslands."

An Lingrong said softly, "Princess, this palace is different from the grassland. The palace maids are bound to make mistakes. Just punish them slightly. Don't get angry and hurt yourself." She lowered her head slightly, her eyes humble.

The Rouran princess sneered: "Empress An is kind-hearted. This princess is not so good-tempered."

At this time, Chun'er ran over, holding a kite in her hand: "Sisters, you are here. I was just thinking of flying a kite, it's fun." She was slightly startled when she saw the Rouran Princess, and then saluted: "Hello, Rouran Princess."

Princess Rouran saw the kite in Chun'er's hand and a hint of interest flashed in her eyes: "What is this?"

Chun Er smiled and said, "This is a kite. Princess, haven't you seen one before? It flies so high in the sky. It's so fun."

The Rouran princess asked curiously, "Can I try it?"

Chun Er hesitated for a moment, then looked at Zhen Huan, who nodded. Chun Er then handed the kite to the Rouran princess and said, "Princess, please try it."

The Rouran princess took the kite and ran down the path, trying to get it to fly, but failed after several attempts. She was a little annoyed: "Why is this thing so difficult to make?"

Chun'er ran over and patiently taught the Rouran princess: "Princess, you have to do this: run against the wind, and then slowly let out the line..."

With Chun'er's help, the kite finally flew up. Princess Rouran smiled happily: "Haha, it's flying! How fun!"

Zhen Huan looked at this scene and breathed a sigh of relief. She said to An Lingrong, "As long as the princess can live in harmony with us, there will be less disputes in the harem." There was a faint smile on the corner of her mouth.

An Lingrong nodded: "Yes, sister. I hope so."

However, the peaceful days did not last long. One day, Zhen Huan was resting in the palace when she suddenly felt unwell, dizzy, nauseous and vomiting. When An Lingrong learned about it, she rushed to the palace.

Seeing Zhen Huan lying on the bed with a pale face, An Lingrong was anxious: "Sister, what happened to you?" She sat on the edge of the bed, holding Zhen Huan's hand, her eyes full of worry.

Zhen Huan said weakly, "I don't know. I just felt so uncomfortable all of a sudden."

An Lingrong stood up and said to the palace maid, "Go and get the imperial physician."

The imperial physician arrived and examined Zhen Huan carefully, frowning, "Your Majesty has been poisoned by a chronic poison that has been lurking in your body for a long time and has only recently taken effect."

An Lingrong was horrified. "Chronic poison? Doctor, do you have an antidote?"

The imperial physician shook his head and said, "This poison is quite rare. I need to go back and consult ancient books to develop an antidote."

After the imperial physician left, An Lingrong sat by the bed, thinking to herself: "Sister has always been cautious, how could she be poisoned by a chronic poison? There must be someone secretly poisoning her." Her eyes revealed a hint of anger and determination, and she vowed to find out who was behind it.

Zhen Huan opened her eyes slightly, looked at An Lingrong and said, "Lingrong, don't worry about me. I have been mentally prepared for the struggle in the harem." Her voice was weak, but revealed a hint of strength.

An Lingrong gripped Zhen Huan's hand tightly, the strength seeming to convey all her determination. Her eyes were burning with anger, and she bit her lower lip and said, "Sister, don't worry. I will find the person who poisoned her and make him pay!" Zhen Huan looked at An Lingrong and nodded slightly. Although there was worry in her eyes, there was also trust. "Lingrong, I believe you. But this matter in the imperial garden pond is too strange. Let's go and take a look first."